The caller ID on Saturday morning said “Restricted,” a little too appropriate I couldn’t help but think, given the porn star I was about to interview. It’s easy, almost natural to make jokes like that, which is nearly exactly why Jessica Drake has transcended the industry that’s made her millions and become a valued voice in sex education.

College is supposed to be a time of open discussion, among other things, but even it is susceptible to suppression, which is where drake comes in. More than her extensive sexual credentials, it is a message of openness that is her main selling point when it comes to sex-ed. She believes everyone should have at least one trusted source for their sexual health questions. But not many people do, she has found. Thus, the jokes (and not the facts). Who better than an adult film actress to make talking about sex not just easier, but more fun and ultimately more informative?

There is a fascination with people like jessica drake, who have sex onscreen (and direct it, as she now does). That’s what separates her presentation from that of a doctor’s or a health teacher’s or even someone innovative who promises to tackle the subject in fun and exciting ways, but doesn’t have drake’s intrigue or industry recognition. She gives students an excuse to attend, in the process dispelling the taboo that surrounds sex education. No matter their initial motivations, getting them there is the larger goal.

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