Faking It with Ariel and Morgan

Ariel Leigh Cohen & Morgan Smith
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Biweekly

Two intimacy coordinators reveal what actually happens behind the scenes of film and TV's most iconic intimate moments. We're Ariel and Morgan, two professional intimacy coordinators who choreograph sex scenes for film and TV. We pull back the curtain on how intimacy is really made—from the awkward logistics to the craft that makes it look effortless. On Faking It, we break down: Heated Rivalry: the back arch, the bed share, and why good gay sex wins over hockeyThe hottest no-contact scene in cinema history (Secretary)Why Brokeback Mountain's tent scene needed more lubeThe invisible Buffy sex scene that required flawless pantomimeBarbarella's orgasm machinePEN15's honest depiction of teenage arousal Get behind-the-scenes secrets, absurd Hollywood stories, real talk about love and sex, and a front-row seat to the art of pretending. New episodes every week. Subscribe now so you don't miss the next breakdown. Catch us on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and all podcast platforms. Follow usInstagram & TikTok: @FakingItThePodPatreon: bonus episodes and scene requestsWebsite: FakingItThePod.com

  1. 11h ago ·  Video

    Off Campus: The Greenest Green Flag in TV?

    Consent can be hot. Who knew? (Us. We knew.) In this episode, two intimacy coordinators break down the sex and relationship scenes in Off Campus — and ask whether it's really the greenest green flag on TV. What starts as a classic hockey romance somehow turns into one of the healthiest, hottest conversations about intimacy we've seen on screen. Together, they discuss why this scene works so well, how consent builds chemistry instead of killing it, and why emotional safety might actually be the sexiest thing a character can bring to the bedroom. In this episode:  How Off Campus approaches sex after sexual assault experiences Why awkward and silly can be incredibly sexy  The filmmaking choices that sell emotional intimacy  Ariel's very STRONG opinions about the show's nudity choices  Three completely ridiculous ways we'd ruin the scene When foreplay becomes... fiveplay? Sixplay? Plus, they kick things off with a spicy industry rant about fake intimacy coordinators, why proper training matters, and why "straight to penetraysh" is almost always the wrong answer.  Scene discussed: Off Campus Season 1, Episode 4 ("The Breakup"), approximately 13:34–21:05. Credits Off Campus (Season 1, Episode 4: "The Breakup") | Based on the novels by Elle Kennedy | Created by Louisa Levy | Showrunners: Gina Fattore & Louisa Levy | Directed by Samantha Bailey | Intimacy Coordinator: Katherine Kadler | Starring Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli Hashtags #OffCampus #RomanceTV #IntimacyCoordinator #BehindTheScenes #TVBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

  2. Jul 15 ·  Video

    Obsession (2025): The Horror of Non-Consent | Intimacy & Stunt Coordinator Jen Albert

    Intimacy coordinators Ariel and Morgan are joined by Obsession's own intimacy and stunt coordinator Jen Albert to break down the 2025 horror film's most disturbing intimacy, violence, and non-consent scenes. Together, they explore how Obsession evolved from script to screen, where the line between stunt coordination and intimacy coordination begins and ends, and why one of the film's most unsettling moments is terrifying without relying on gore. In this episode:  Why the infamous bedroom scene is so disturbing  How intimacy coordination differs from stunt coordination  The theatrical cut vs. the streaming cut  Behind-the-scenes stories from filming Obsession Bloody dolls, Sugar glass, and Foam Bricks How actor collaboration and rehearsal shaped the final scenes When horror and intimacy collide Plus, Jen shares what changed from the original script, how the cast approached portraying non-consent, and what really went into filming the movie's iconic brick scene. Scenes discussed: Obsession (2025), approximately 44:46–45:32 and 1:36:56–1:37:24. Subscribe for behind-the-scenes breakdowns of film and television's most iconic intimacy scenes. Credits Obsession (2025) | Written & Directed by Curry Barker | Starring Inde Navarrette, Michael Johnston, Megan Best | Intimacy Coordinated and Stunt Coordinated by Jen Albert Hashtags #Obsession #HorrorMovies #IntimacyCoordinator #StuntCoordinator #FilmPodcast Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

  3. Jul 1 ·  Video

    Pose: Directing Intimacy & Queer Love | Co-Creator Steven Canals

    Two intimacy coordinators sit down with Pose co-creator Steven Canals to break down how the FX series directed intimacy, queer love, and its groundbreaking sex scenes. They discuss how the scene evolved from script to screen, the challenges of directing intimacy before the role of intimacy coordinator was fully established, and why portraying queer love with tenderness, not spectacle, mattered so deeply. In this episode: The collaborative process between director, actors, and intimacy coordinatorBalancing choreography with actor freedom and authenticityHow intimacy coordination has evolved over the past decadeWhy queer intimacy deserves the same emotional depth as any love storyThe importance of consent, vulnerability, and trust in intimate storytellingA filmmaker's lens on queer intimacy Plus, Steven shares behind-the-scenes stories from making POSE, reflects on the show's lasting cultural impact, and tells us exactly how he'd ruin his own scene if he had to. Scene discussed: POSE Season 2, Episode 8 ("Revelations"), approximately 3:38–5:47. Subscribe for weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. Credits POSE (Season 2, Episode 8: "Revelations") | Creators: Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy | FX (2019) Hashtags #PoseFX #QueerTV #QueerIntimacy #IntimacyCoordinator #TVBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

  4. Jun 24 ·  Bonus Video

    Sense8 Finale: Going Out with a (Cluster) Bang | Sex Scene Breakdown [Bonus]

    In this bonus episode, two intimacy coordinators break down the orgy scene from the Sense8 series finale — how it was choreographed and why it remains one of the most ambitious intimacy sequences ever filmed. From choreography and consent practices to lighting, camera movement, and the challenge of coordinating a massive ensemble scene, they break down how the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski created a sequence that feels emotional, sensual, and deeply connected rather than purely explicit. In this episode: Why foreplay matters for the audience, not just the charactersThe logistics of coordinating large-scale intimacy scenesBoundary-setting techniques, including touch mapping and traffic-light systemsWhy scenes of this scale require multiple intimacy coordinatorsThe importance of diversity, representation, and body variety in intimate storytellingA filmmaker's lens on ensemble intimacy Then, as always, they hand out their Spice Scale scores before completely ruining the scene with some truly terrible creative notes. Scene discussed: Sense8 finale special, approximately 2:21:00 – 2:26:00. Subscribe for weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. Credits Sense8 (Season 2, Episode 12: "Amor Vincit Omnia") | Creators: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski | Netflix (2018) Hashtags #Sense8 #Wachowski #BehindTheScenes #IntimacyCoordinator #TVBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

  5. Jun 17 ·  Video

    Sense8: The Psychic Orgy | How the Cluster Sex Scenes Got Made

    Two intimacy coordinators break down the famous psychic orgy from Sense8 and explain how the cluster sex scene was actually made. From gym workouts and hot tubs to morning cuddles and group intimacy across continents, they're unpacking what makes this sequence so memorable and why it still feels unlike anything else on TV. They get into it all: The surprisingly complicated consent questions that come with sharing other people's experiencesThe challenge of choreographing a massive multi-location orgy without rehearsalThe actor's experiences behind the scenes and how an intimacy coordinator could have helpedPlus: German bathhouses, intimacy coordinator wedding hacks, Britney Spears throwbacks, and an extended discussion about what happens if someone in your cluster decides to have sex during your grandmother's funeral. Want to watch along? Their reaction covers the orgy scene in Season 1 Episode 6 (Demons): 32:08-39:32.  ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — SENS8 (S1E6 "Demons") Creators: Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski; J. Michael StraczynskiDirectors: Lana Wachowski; Lilly WachowskiWriters: Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski; J. Michael StraczynskiProducers: Grant Hill; J. Michael Straczynski; Lana Wachowski; Lilly Wachowski Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Jamie Clayton; Freema Agyeman; Miguel Ángel Silvestre; Alfonso Herrera; Brian J. Smith; Max Riemelt; Tina Desai; Doona Bae; Tuppence Middleton © 2015 Netflix / Studio JMS / Anarchos Productions / Georgeville Television. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- It's Pride Month! Give back to your community this month by donating to some of our favorite organizations: The Trevor Project LA LGBT Center Advocates for Trans Equality Subscribe for weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. #intimacycoordinator #tvbreakdown #behindthescenes #queertv Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

  6. Jun 3

    Dicks: The Musical | The Incest Factor Explained

    Two intimacy coordinators break down the sex and "incest factor" scenes in Dicks: The Musical and what the film is really doing with them. Megan Thee Stallion. Nathan Lane. Puppet penises. A gay sex scene between twins that somehow becomes a camp masterpiece. The A24 musical is absurd, offensive, and genuinely hilarious. They go behind the scenes that are not safe for work, unless your work is really cool. In this episode: Why unrealistic sex can be funnier than realistic sexWalking 69s and spit takesLGBTQ+ representation on screenPuppet intimacy in theaterThis episode is for you if: You love A24's weirdest moviesYou want to hear intimacy coordinators lose their mindsYou need queer comedy that isn't serious for onceWatch along timestamps: Opening scene: 0:50Sleepover scene: 1:10:00Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of film and TV's wildest intimate scenes. Credits Dicks: The Musical (2023) | Director: Larry Charles | A24 Hashtags #DicksTheMusical #A24 #IntimacyCoordinator #QueerComedy #FilmBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

  7. May 20

    Secretary: What It Gets Right About BDSM | A Sub Is Born

    Two intimacy coordinators break down the sex scenes in Secretary and explain what the film gets right — and wrong — about BDSM. Plus, the sexiest no-contact intimate scene in film history. Maggie Gyllenhaal. James Spader. A desk. And a worm that somehow becomes the hottest moment in the movie. Secretary changed how Hollywood talked about kink on screen. But does it hold up? Ariel and Morgan break down the iconic, controversial, and deeply weird BDSM film that people are still arguing about 20 years later. In this episode: • The worm scene — why anticipation and eye contact are sexier than touch • The Peter problem: she's asking for domination. He's giving nothing. • Why "no safe word, no conversation" is doing a LOT of heavy lifting • Kink as emotional connection vs. kink as self-harm replacement • Breath work that deserves awards and hand spasms that steal the show The verdict: No notes. (Okay... some notes.) Watch along timestamps: • Peter scene: 1:08:00 • Worm scene: 1:10:00 • Aftercare/gardening scene: 1:41:00 This video is for you if: • You love cult classics from the early 2000s • You want to understand why Secretary is still discussed • You're curious about BDSM representation on film • You're a fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal or James Spader Subscribe for bi-weekly breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic intimate scenes. Credits Secretary (2002) | Director: Steven Shainberg | Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Spader | Lionsgate Hashtags #SecretaryMovie #BDSMfilm #IntimacyCoordinator #CultClassic #FilmBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

  8. May 6

    Brokeback Mountain: No Lube, No Warning | Intimacy Breakdown

    Two intimacy coordinators break down the intimacy scenes in Brokeback Mountain, from the tent scene to what the choreography leaves unsaid. Brokeback Mountain changed queer representation forever. It also left audiences with a lot of questions about how these scenes actually function. From the infamous first tent scene to the long-awaited reunion, Ariel and Morgan break down what's working, what's not, and why these moments feel so tense without ever fully landing. In this episode: The reality of prep, lubrication, and pacing for anal penetrationHow tension overtakes intimacy and why that leaves scenes feeling incompleteThe difference between awkwardness that serves the story vs awkwardness from unclear choreographyHow the intimacy goes from zero to 100 and stays therePlus: beans, spit logistics, near broken noses, and a very real conversation about how an intimacy coordinator would approach these scenes today. A storyteller's lens on queer cinema Ariel and Morgan zoom out to talk about Brokeback Mountain's massive cultural impact, the historical context it exists in, and why representation matters, even when the intimacy itself has room for growth. Justice for lube. That's all they're saying. Watch along timestamps: Tent scene: 27:30Rasslin' scene: 32:51Reunion scene: 1:03:07Subscribe for bi-weekly behind the scenes breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic sex scenes. Credits Brokeback Mountain (2005) | Director: Ang Lee | Focus Features Hashtags #BrokebackMountain #AngLee #IntimacyCoordinator #QueerCinema #FilmBreakdown Support the show Connect & Support the Show Watch video versions on Spotify and YouTube. Suggest a Scene & Get Bonus Content: Join our Patreon to request scenes and unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Follow Us: Instagram & TikTok @FakingItThePod Website: FakingItThePod.com Theme Song: Faking It by Mike Goetz Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode — subscribe wherever you listen. Love the show? A 5-star rating helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers. For entertainment and educational purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights remain with their respective owners.

See All (28)

Trailer

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Two intimacy coordinators reveal what actually happens behind the scenes of film and TV's most iconic intimate moments. We're Ariel and Morgan, two professional intimacy coordinators who choreograph sex scenes for film and TV. We pull back the curtain on how intimacy is really made—from the awkward logistics to the craft that makes it look effortless. On Faking It, we break down: Heated Rivalry: the back arch, the bed share, and why good gay sex wins over hockeyThe hottest no-contact scene in cinema history (Secretary)Why Brokeback Mountain's tent scene needed more lubeThe invisible Buffy sex scene that required flawless pantomimeBarbarella's orgasm machinePEN15's honest depiction of teenage arousal Get behind-the-scenes secrets, absurd Hollywood stories, real talk about love and sex, and a front-row seat to the art of pretending. New episodes every week. Subscribe now so you don't miss the next breakdown. Catch us on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and all podcast platforms. Follow usInstagram & TikTok: @FakingItThePodPatreon: bonus episodes and scene requestsWebsite: FakingItThePod.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ariel Leigh Cohen & Morgan Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Faking It with Ariel and Morgan
  • Show Website
    Faking It with Ariel and Morgan