"If watching traditional porn has ever left you feeling disconnected or guilty, or if it just hasn’t quite gotten you “there,” you’re not alone. The industry as a whole has missed the mark for me time and time again, and I know many women who feel the same, opting for spicy books instead. I’m more of an imagination girl when it comes to self-pleasure, so for a while, I disengaged from porn content as a whole—that is, until I found audio-erotica.
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Audio-erotica is quickly emerging as a creative and empowering alternative to porn. It invites you to tap into your imagination and explore desire on your own terms—which is right up my alley. I got to chat with Caroline Spiegel—the innovative mind behind the audio-erotica app Quinn—and we covered everything from how this medium is shaking up the world of erotic content to why it’s resonating so deeply right now, especially with women.
Caroline Spiegel
Caroline Spiegel founded Quinn, a subscription-based app for audio erotica, as a Stanford University senior recovering from an eating disorder. During her recovery, she struggled with sexual dysfunction. Frustrated with the dearth of sexual dysfunction solutions for women, she launched Quinn in 2021. Quinn audios are romantic novels condensed into 15 to 20-minute clips, allowing its 300,000 users to choose from a curated set of voices.
What is audio-erotica?
Audio-erotica is a type of porn that delivers sensual storytelling through sound. There are no visuals—all you need are your headphones and your favorite sex toy (or your fingers!). Unlike traditional adult content, which often relies on explicit visuals, audio-erotica invites you to fully tune into yourself, engage your imagination, and actively participate in crafting your ideal erotic fantasy.
“Mental framing,” or how we visualize any situation through our specific lens, allows us to shape our own context of the scene. While anyone can (and does) use mental framing, a study done by sex-ed platform OMGYes and The Kinsey Institute found that 90 percent of women are more likely to use it when imagining sexual fantasies—which is why audio-erotica works so well for them.
“It’s personal, private, and allows for a deeper emotional connection without relying on the usual tropes of mainstream porn,” explains Spiegel. With stories crafted to fit a wide variety of kinks and fantasies, you’re not just scrolling through the tired storylines typically created to fit the male gaze.
How is audio-erotica different than smut?
You know we love a good spicy romance book around here, but reading smut or listening to it on audiobook doesn’t hold a candle to audio-erotica. This is because audio-erotica is more than just words. It utilizes sounds—from the suction of a kiss on the neck to the changes in breath at the moment of penetration. An entire audio landscape exists behind just the dirty words, creating a fully immersive experience for the listener. Not to mention, the actor behind the audio can be anyone (as opposed to a pre-determined character in a book), so you can imagine absolutely anything, making it a wildly empowering experience. So, if you feel like you’ve read a level-five spice book and want to kick things up a notch on your next night in, may I suggest a 15-minute audio story?
Why women are gravitating toward audio-erotica
Audio-erotica caters to women in a way visual porn simply doesn’t. Not only does it offer that “intimate and immersive experience,” as Spiegel describes, but it actually prioritizes pleasure for those whose desires are not often represented in mainstream porn—including People of Color, trans, and disabled folks, or those with body image issues. Using your imagination allows you to fully insert yourself into whatever fantasy you’re craving organically, in a completely individualized way.
“Audio-erotica invites you to fully tune into yourself, engage your imagination, and actively participate in crafting your ideal erotic fantasy.”
Digital creator, podcast host, and New York Times best-selling author Christina Najjar details her experience with audio erotica during an interview with Spiegel, noting that it doesn’t make her “feel gross afterwards” in the same way that visual porn does. “I like it because it triggers my erotic imagination,” she explains. I resonated with this deeply as someone who has felt an immense amount of shame for consuming any porn before finding audio-erotica. Spiegel and Najjar compare reaching orgasm through watching visual porn to McDonald’s—it’s cheap, it’s quick, but it doesn’t offer that same personalized and fulfilling experience as audio-erotica does.
Additionally, according to Spiegel, audio-erotica creates a “judgment-free space where people can explore their desires on their own terms.” When you remove the pressure and performative elements present in traditional porn (which hardly prioritizes the female gaze anyways), it lets you breathe and find out what turns YOU on. Without the distraction of visuals, Spiegel’s personal struggles with sexual dysfunction dissipated. “I could actually connect with my own imagination and experience desire in a way that felt real and personal,” she explains.
My personal experience with audio-erotica
Like many women, traditional porn has always missed the mark for me. I’ve frequently found myself quickly clicking out of videos that do more to turn me off than get me going. Sometimes, I’ve even felt like the type of sex I crave isn’t present at all in mainstream media and that I should learn to like what is. I mean, if this is what everyone likes, that makes me abnormal, right? Not necessarily. With that said, I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time I tried listening to audio-erotica.
I’d seen content from Quinn pop up everywhere, from my Instagram feed to my favorite podcasts, but it took me a while to bite. My work as an intimacy coordinator takes me to many an article about the art of staging sex, but once I got listening, it was something almost otherworldly. I started listening by engaging in research, and then I quickly needed to take a breather. My heart was racing; my skin was clammy… in short, it caught me way off guard in the best way. And I’m sure you’ve guessed it, but I’ve returned time and time again.
“The idea that this kind of porn can be completely individualized seemed a little too good to be true, but honestly, it’s changed my sex life for the better.”
I’ve found that listening to audio-erotica really has helped me discover a side of my sensuality that I didn’t know existed. The power I feel over my desire has given me confidence in the bedroom with my partner and the vocabulary to ask for what I want. The idea that this kind of porn can be completely individualized seemed a little too good to be true, but honestly, it’s changed my sex life for the better. I’m able to tap into fantasies I wouldn’t have ever dared search for through visual porn, and I feel no shame in doing so. I know what I’m listening to is expertly crafted, ethical, and made with people just like me in mind.
Where to start if you’re new to audio-erotica
Starting any kind of sexual exploration can be daunting, but diving into audio-erotica offers a uniquely immersive way to engage with desire. If you’re curious about where to begin, consider what kind of experience you crave.
Spiegel explains that listeners are often drawn to a wide variety of content. One day, you might feel drawn to the kind of content Spiegel describes as “soft, intimate, and filled with praise,” choosing to explore a storyline that “leans into warmth, vulnerability, and a sense of deep affection.” On another day—or the same, I don’t judge—you might want to explore a more commanding storyline that takes a “more intense, commanding, and high-energy” approach, “often involving power dynamics, teasing, and elements of control.” Start with what sparks your interest—a slow-burn romance, a playful tease, or an assertive power dynamic—and experiment from there.
There’s no shortage of platforms out there to explore, each offering its unique take on audio-erotica. While I’ve personally found my niche on Quinn, platforms like Dipsea also offer categories that include queer stories, straight stories, group stories, hook-ups, and more for a wide variety of options. There are also platforms like Ferly that self-describe as “your audio guide to mindful sex,” showcasing a mix of sexy stories and explanations on everything from the science of sex to virtual journals to track how sex makes you feel. Bloom and Lelo are also wonderful places to start. Each platform operates in its own distinct style, so there really is something for everyone.
Why you should try audio-erotica
Whether you love traditional porn or need something a little bit more individualized, engaging with audio-erotica allows for limitless self-exploration. The beauty of audio-erotica—and desire itself—lies in the ever-evolving nature of taste and desire. You can fully tailor your experience to your mood or headspace for the day. So rather than committing to one specific style or category, you can shift between experiences based on your emotions, fantasies, or even curiosity about something new without the guilt of traditional porn. It’s a refreshing option for anyone looking to explore their desires a little deeper or simply have a new type of orgasm.
At its core, audio-erotica as a medium isn’t just about eroticism—it’s about agency. It lets listeners tune in to their desires in a way that feels both personal and empowering every step of the way—and that’s something I think we can all get behind.
Sydney Cox, Contributing Sex & Relationships Writer
Sydney Cox is a Chicago-based writer and intimacy coordinator who is passionate about exploring the complexities of human connections and teaching readers to advocate for themselves. Sydney’s work has been featured in various publications, where they aim to foster open and honest conversations.