I know I’m way late to the party, but I finally sat down and watched Fifty Shades of Grey for the first time—and I’ve got some thoughts. Big ones.

The BDSM community loves to drag this movie, calling it abusive, unrealistic, or just plain harmful. But my take? It’s not the floggers or the contract that bothered me. The real issues are communication gaps, experience imbalances, and the one subplot that truly is dangerous: Christian’s grooming backstory.

In this episode, I break down:

• Why the real power imbalance isn’t money, but experience.

• How the movie does show negotiation, safewords, and even aftercare (just not the way you’d expect).

• Why trauma doesn’t “explain kink,” but it does explain Christian’s walls in relationships.

• And the biggest red flag of all: the Mrs. Robinson subplot, and why it’s the most harmful part of the story.

At the end of the day, Fifty Shades is fiction—not a field manual. So let’s talk about what it got wrong, what it surprisingly got right, and what lessons kinksters and vanilla folks alike can take away from it.

🎙️ Unmasking Kink is here every Friday—subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

This week on Unmasking Kink, Nova Monroe explores one of the simplest yet most powerful tools in the kink world: the Yes/No/Maybe List. Whether you’re brand new to BDSM or just looking for a better way to communicate with partners, this little checklist can make all the difference.

Nova breaks down what it is, why it matters, and how to use it—without overthinking or overcomplicating. Plus, a special milestone: the podcast has officially hit 200 downloads!

Tune in for practical tips, a bit of personal reflection, and a preview of Nova’s printable Yes/No/Maybe List that will soon be available on Etsy.

✨ Clearer communication, safer play, and more fun—that’s the power of Yes/No/Maybe.

In this episode of Unmasking Kink, I share my first experience attending a munch! What it's like, how to prepare and what you can expect when you walk into your first one.

We'll cover everything from event descriptions and table markers to conversation starters, group dynamics and what organizers really want you to know. Plus, I are tips on preparing ahead, how I accidentally stumbled into mine, and the lessons I walked away with.

Whether you're brand new to kink, or looking for community, this episode breaks down the who, what, when, where, why and how of munches in a way that's welcoming, real and a little bit personal.

Recourses mentioned - Show Notes – Unmasking a Munch

Finding Events & Munches

• FetLife – Events Search
• BDSM Events Calendar

Understanding Munches & Etiquette

• Wikipedia – “Munch (BDSM)”
• Threshold Society – Munch Etiquette
• EhBC – Munch Tips

For Newcomers to Kink & Events

• Kink Academy – “What to do when you’re new.”

Find all I’ve got going on at the website

• Unmaskingkink.com