Six People Rachel Napoleon Wants To Kiss
As co-host of "Girls on Porn", Rachel Napoleon has spent six years turning search terms into thoughtful sex-focused conversations. Now, she’s turning her attention to the six people she wants to kiss.
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There’s a lot of porn in the world—most of it overlooked, much of it strange, and almost none of it treated with the same critical attention as, say, television. But for the last six years, Rachel Napoleon has been doing exactly that. As co-host of "Girls on Porn," she and her co-host Laura Ramadei dissect search terms from across the internet—edging, bukkake, hotwife, alien fetish—and ask: where did this come from, why is it hot, and what does it tell us about what people want?
“Each episode is based on a search term,” Rachel explains, “and we’re really delving deep into the internet, finding the history, the psychology, our personal preferences, statistics, what makes it hot.” They pull in cultural references, ethical porn platforms, and academic research. “There’s so much history in every term,” she says. “And we’re just trying to help people be more comfortable talking about it.”
The podcast isn’t sensational; it’s curious. A typical episode might move from the origins of a niche kink to a pop culture tangent to a moment of genuine vulnerability. They compare videos across a spectrum, including content made by independent creators. Rachel is especially drawn to data. “I love a number,” she says. “Numbers are hot.”
She’s also drawn to performance. Rachel studied acting and moved to New York 14 years ago from Michigan. “I always knew I was a city girl,” she says. “New York is the love of my life.” She worked Off-Broadway, did TV, and bartended to make it all work. Eventually, she started managing Bernie’s, a restaurant in Greenpoint that she describes as “the best restaurant gig anyone could ever have.” It’s more than a job, it’s a scene. “Every night feels like hosting a party,” she says. “And I love to host a party.”
She speaks about the restaurant with real affection. Her co-workers are friends. “When I hire people,” she says, “I hire for personality. I don’t want to work with boring people.” Her business partners are all having babies this year. Rachel, meanwhile, is planning a solo trip to Europe. “I’m just representing the single community,” she says, half-joking, half-not.
She still dates, with mixed results. “I’m trying to find the love of my kinky little life,” she says. Men between 30 and 40 tend to ignore her. Men younger or older tend to get it. And there’s a clarity to how she talks about desire—its textures, its politics, its mess. “Sex is all about power dynamics,” she says. “Sometimes even the strangest things make sense when you look at them that way.”
Below, Rachel tells us the six people she wants to kiss this summer (and beyond).
SIX PEOPLE RACHEL NAPOLEON WANTS TO KISS
Ralph Fiennes: First of all, have you seen how ripped this man got? On top of him giggling on NYE with Anderson and Andy, this man is having a moment. (And if you haven’t seen The English Patient? Watch it right now.) Rumor has it he’s a kinky guy (a friend told me once he’s known in the London theatre circle for being into golden showers) plus he may or may not be currently dicking down Chelsea Handler? You know she wouldn’t be doing it unless it’s really good. Reader, my interest is piqued!!!!
The guy from the Super Saver on Manhattan Avenue: She was a girl, he was a cashier at the local dollar store. Need I say more? I never even got his name, but he was so swaggy and yet a little mean to me in the perfect way. I loved going there to flirt and get my Swiffer dusters. Sadly, according to his brother, who works the counter now, he moved back to Yemen. I wonder if he ever thinks about me…
My ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend: Preferably while my ex is watching. And tied to a chair. And that’s all I’ll be saying about that.
Daniel Craig: One of the first celebrity sex dreams I ever had featured this gorgeous hunk of a man. Also, his mouth is always sort of pursed, like his lips are perpetually ready to be kissed. Plus, it would satisfy my childhood dreams of being a Bond girl. Anyone else?
Dr. Robby in The Pitt: Ok, yes, this is the third hot older man on my list, so sue me, I have a type! But god, I just want to hold this man as he crawls into bed after a long shift at the ER, caress his hair, and kiss the wrinkles on the outsides of his eyes. He works so, so hard. I just wanna make him feel good.
Shane from The L Word: I couldn’t help but wonder, do straight women even exist anymore? If you thought you were, watch this show. Shane will change something in you. There was no one hotter to me than Shane in her low rise jeans, messy hair, no bra in 2005. And you just know her lips are soft.
