Laura Ramadei and Rachel Napolean: The Ladies Behind Girls On Porn

Earlier this year, we caught up with the Girls On Porn. Meet Laura Ramadei and Rachel Napoleon, the Co-Hosts of GOP, a sex podcast that aims to provide its listeners with reviews on porn so they're able to better navigate their options online and find inclusive, ethical porn. We met Laura several years back when she attended our original Ladies' Night event. At the beginning of this year, after listening to a couple of episodes and realizing, "hey, we know that cool, confident chick!" we asked Laura and Rachel if they'd be interested in catching up. While in the city, Laura and Rachel swung by our Flatiron District office and we caught up over lingerie and coffee. We asked the GOP if they'd tell our followers a bit about themselves and what they do— because we know all you sexual gods and goddesses deserve to find porn (and podcasts) that make you feel good. Let's dive in, lingerie lovers!

  
  
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 
      
LR: My name is Laura. I’m a performer, writer, producer, and podcaster. I co-host Girls on Porn!
  
RN: My name is Rachel. I'm an actress, writer, and podcaster originally from Michigan. I've lived in New York for almost ten years.
  
  
  
  
How does your job make you feel empowered?     

LR: I feel empowered, in anything I do, when I have the ability to make space for other people, to disrupt the systems that oppress or harm those who are marginalized. Usually, my contributions are small, but I feel most empowered when I know I am at least striving to make a difference. With the podcast, we are ultimately trying to disrupt the monopolized mainstream porn world, by pointing folks to ethical, inclusive porn. We’re moving the needle a few listeners at a time, but are starting to make a real impact I think!
  
RN: Taking something that's traditionally viewed as shameful or taboo, and celebrating it.  Making people feel comfortable about their sexuality and knowing that I've in any way helped people feel seen.      
  
What’s the hardest part about your job?

LR: Honestly, it’s truly hard to make time to watch as much porn as we do. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it. It can also be hard to endure criticism as sex positive people, from both ends of the spectrum. Some people think we’re “vilifying male sexuality” and some people think we aren’t progressive enough. It’s important that we hear and take this feedback, but it can be hard not to take things personally when we care so much about what we’re putting out into the world.  
  
RN: Convincing people that not all porn is bad. There's this idea that anyone involved in sex work is doing it out of survival, not because they feel empowered or enjoy it. I think it's a huge misconception and just a result of the puritanical beliefs that are so hardwired into our society we aren't even aware of it.

Or, watching a kink that is something I'm not particularly into. But I'm truly against kink-shaming, and just because it doesn't get me off doesn't mean it isn't hot to someone else. Also: I signed up to look at everything!
     
    
How do you deal with nasty or critical viewers/commenters/
   
   
LR: We listen. If the feedback is meaningful, or if someone is expressing themselves from a genuine place of hurt, we do our best to empathize. The nasty stuff we don’t really care about.  Attracting the attention of a few trolls means we’re doing something right.
  
RN: I try really hard to not take them on personally. Just try to realize that everyone is allowed to have an opinion and I won't always win the argument.
 
  
    
     
What has surprised you the most in the process of researching and producing these segments?
   
LR: I continue to be surprised at what I am still learning, and what I’m newly turned on by. I think sexuality and sex education are life long journeys, and I live in awe of how vast, profound, playful, funny and compelling my own sexuality is and can be.
         
RN: The amount an asshole can stretch. I really never realized. It's shocking how much stuff people can fit in there.
    
     
Has this job changed your opinion or opened your eyes to anything?
  
LR: Absolutely. Mostly I feel like it’s just deepened my knowledge and understanding of so many kinks and proclivities. Humans are curious, bizarre, magical creatures and I love knowing so much about how we each explore, contend with, and embrace our cravings and vices. 
  
RN: It's helped me begin to understand peoples' kinks or fetishes. That sometimes, we like things just because we know we're not supposed to. Like drinking pee. A lot of watersports fans say they love it because they know it's wrong or dirty—it's the taboo of it.
  
   
If you had to put it simply, what do you think women are wanting and missing from the current pornography industry?
  
LR: Representation. Pleasure. Believable sex. Production value. The safety of knowing that no one was harmed in the making of the porn they’re watching. These things aren’t altogether missing, but inclusive, safe porn can be hard to find, especially if you’re just going to one of the major aggregate sites.  
  
RN: Female pleasure and body inclusivity. Seeing sex and orgasms that look real, or honest to what they want. Also production value. I think everyone assumes that all porn has bright florescent lighting and fake boobs, which is not the case.
   
  
   
  
If you were to write your own porn, what would it look like?
  
LR: There would have to be a great inciting incident, but ideally minimal story—just enough to lock us into the scenario and tease some heat. And—though you can’t achieve this with writing alone—we’d definitely need real, palpable chemistry between performers. 
     
RN: It would definitely be romantic and maybe even a period piece! I love a good setting, so maybe outdoors in the sunlight with lots of white cotton fabric. I'm into power dynamics so maybe an age or status difference. There definitely has to be the sense of "we shouldn't be doing this," because that's a major turn-on for me.
  
  
Do you find that lingerie has an effect on your confidence, attitude, and/or sexuality? 
    
LR: Absolutely. I think it’s fun. I think it’s a way of saying (even just to yourself) that you’re sexy and attention must be paid. To me it’s a way of honoring your body as a temple, garnishing it with the appropriate offerings and ritualistic decoration.
  
RN: Absolutely. I love being in lingerie. It makes me feel incredibly sexy and confident. I've always been a sexual person, so wearing something that's purely built for my own enjoyment to look at, or maybe for someone else to look at, is erotic for me. I'd wear lingerie all day if I could. And you know what? It's quarantine so I CAN.
      
   
What does self-love look like for you?
  
LR: Kindness. Sometimes that means taking time to unwind. Sometimes that means masturbation and physical self-care. Sometimes it means letting go of your internal criticisms and treating yourself. For me, it's usually a night in, a long-ass shower or bath, some wine and weed and maybe a good movie. Simple stuff.
  
RN: Lots of selfies. I really believe in the power of a sexy pic. For yourself! Maybe I'm vain. But I think getting dressed up and feeling beautiful, even if to just take a photo of myself is a way of celebrating me. And sure, yeah I'll probably post it somewhere on the internet.
  
   
What would be your advice for younger individuals who are really coming into themselves and their sexuality?
  
LR: Self-love, like any kind of love, doesn’t come easy. But you’re worth working hard for.
   
RN: Nothing is weird. Nothing is wrong. Try everything and never judge yourself. Don't let the system tell you otherwise!!!
   
  

    
Who inspires you?
  
LR: People who have embraced and championed their adversities and truly grown from them, and become all the more interesting, courageous, and vulnerable despite the obstacles they’ve overcome and challenges they’ve faced. Bad bitches.
   
RN: Erika Lust. She was the first filmmaker that made me realize porn could be beautiful. Angela White, a porn star who got her degree in gender studies and did her thesis on the female experience in the Australian porn industry. Also, she's the first person to win the AVN female performer of the year three times. Betty Dodson, who was the leader of the pro-sex feminist movement and still teaches women how to masturbate and have an orgasm. She's 90.
   
    
Are you working on any exciting projects?
  
LR: We are! We’re hoping to bring Girls on Porn into the TV format. That endeavor is early days, but we do have some momentum just starting to build on that front. Hopefully, we’ll have more to share about that sooner than later. 
  
RN: This was the most exciting thing I've done all week!!!!!!!!!
  
  
Follow Laura and Rachel on Instagram.

Check out our IGTV with more questions for the GOP.

Check out the GOP Podcast.