In this episode, I’m exploring the other side of the slash and unmasking what it really means to be a submissive.

Submission is often misunderstood as weakness or obedience, but that’s not what it is at all. It’s trust, it’s choice, and it’s connection. I talk about what submission looks like for me, why communication and safewords are signs of strength, and how giving power can be just as intentional as holding it.

From brats and rope bunnies to service subs, littles, and masochists, I share the many sides of submission and how each one expresses trust in a different way. Whether you’re new to kink or just curious about the other side of the dynamic, this episode is all about finding strength in surrender.

💜 Episode Title: Unmasking a Sub 🎙️ Host: Nova Monroe 🎧 Listen now on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you get your shows.

This week on Unmasking Kink, I’m talking about Shibari. Rope bondage, Japanese rope art, whatever you call it, it’s one of the most beautiful and meaningful parts of my kink journey. I’ve been self-tying for three years, but this week I got to rig for the first time, and it completely changed how I see connection and creativity.

In this episode, I talk about how rope brings me calm, the difference between tying yourself and tying someone else, and why safety and communication matter more than anything. I share my favorite places to learn, what kind of rope to start with, and the beauty in slowing down to create something together.

It’s not about control. It’s not about sex. It’s about art, trust, and the way rope can feel like a really good hug.

Here are a few resources I mention in the episode:

Rory’s Brainworks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RorysBrainworks

HookedOnKnots on Fetlife: https://fetlife.com/hookedonknots

Fetlife (main site): https://fetlife.com

Listen, learn, unmask.

When is the right time to bring up kink while dating, and how do you do it without it getting weird? In this episode, I explain why there really is no wrong way to ask, as long as it comes from honesty and respect. I share how to start the conversation naturally, how to set boundaries with confidence, and why clear communication and defined expectations are the foundation for real relationships, not just play.

In this episode, I break down what Daddy Dom/little girl really means from my perspective as a little. I share:

• What being a little looks like in my everyday life

• The difference between littles and middles

• Real-life caregiving moments with Scorpio

• Bratting as part of personality, not just behavior

• What Daddies get out of the dynamic

• Busting common myths about DD/lg

DD/lg isn’t about children or abuse. It’s about two consenting adults choosing roles that bring comfort, structure, and joy. For me, it’s about balance, playfulness, and trust.

This week on Unmasking Kink, I dive deep into safe words, what they are, how they work, and why they matter. From Homer Simpson to Fifty Shades of Grey, safe words in pop culture don’t always get it right. But in real life, they’re the backbone of trust in kink.

I'll share my first experience with safe words, explore verbal and non-verbal options, and explain why safe words aren’t just for bottoms, tops need them too. Plus, a look at group play, CNC, and what to do if a safe word is ignored.

Safe words are the seatbelts of kink: most of the time you don’t need them, but when you do, you’ll be grateful they’re there.

One-true-way attitudes are everywhere in online kink spaces: “real subs never have limits,” “a Dom should never apologize,” “if you’re not 24/7, it’s not real.”

In this episode, Nova Monroe breaks down why those statements are harmful, shares how she handles gatekeeping attitudes, and offers a better way: building your own rulebook.

💜 Listen in, roll your eyes with me at the gatekeepers, and remember — the only true way is the one that works for you.

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!