Faking It with Ariel and Morgan
Faking It with Ariel and Morgan is the podcast that strips down the mystery of Hollywood’s most private moments, and makes you laugh while doing it. Hosted by Intimacy Coordinators Ariel Leigh Cohen and Morgan Smith, each episode dives into the world of film sets, sex scenes, and all the awkward, hilarious, and surprisingly tender stories that come with them.
From behind-the-scenes Hollywood secrets to spicy movie moments, we’re here to answer the questions you didn’t even know you had: How do actors fake it? What really happens under the covers on set? And what the actors are really wearing?
Expect a mix of comedy, storytelling, and real talk about intimacy, relationships, filmmaking, and the art of pretending. If you’re into funny film podcasts, behind-the-scenes stories, acting tips, NSFW comedy, and Hollywood chaos, you’ve just found your new obsession.
Subscribe now and stay real, Fakers.
Faking It with Ariel and Morgan
A Christmas Orgy | Voyeurism in “Eyes Wide Shut”
It’s our second holiday episode, which means it’s time for a true Christmas classic: Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (1999), a film that somehow contains one of the most infamous orgy scenes in cinema history.
In this episode, Ariel and Morgan unpack the cultural mythology surrounding the masked ritual scene and explain what the film is really doing beneath the cloaks, candles, and choreography. Spoiler: it’s not about pleasure, it’s about power, performance, and male insecurity.
They break down:
- Why the orgy may function more as theater than eroticism
- How masking, choreography, and voyeurism guide the audience’s gaze
- The role of ritual, anonymity, and class in the scene’s design
- Stanley Kubrick’s discomfort with sex and how that shapes the final result
- Ariel's hottest take ever (possibly in the history of cinema? You decide.)
This episode reframes the orgy not as transgression, but as a deeply controlled performance: one that exposes how sex, status, and masculinity are staged, surveilled, and policed.
Equal parts film history, intimacy analysis, and holiday chaos, this one pairs best with a glass of wine, a Venetian mask, and a healthy distrust of men in cloaks.
Give a Little Queer Holiday Love
If you’re feeling the spirit, consider supporting organizations that protect and uplift trans and LGBTQ youth. A few of our favorites:
Even a small donation helps keep queer kids safe, supported, and celebrated, and that’s the kind of holiday magic we believe in.
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Credits — Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writers: Stanley Kubrick; Frederic Raphael
Based on the novella: Traumnovelle (Dream Story) by Arthur Schnitzler
Producers: Stanley Kubrick
Choreography (uncredited influence): Yolande Snaith
Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Tom Cruise; Julian Davis; Abigail Good; Cate Blanchett (voice, uncredited)
© 1999 Warner Bros. / Pole Star / Hobby Films. All rights reserved.
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Stay real, Fakers 🫡
Legal Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.
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