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Unpacking The Legacy Of Dr. Ruth : 1A Dr. Ruth Westheimer was unassuming – a small woman with a friendly smile and an ever-present German accent. As she would say, she could be someone's mother or grandmother. But a grandmother who told you what you needed to know about sex.

She died in July at the age of 96. She spent more than 50 of those years teaching America how to talk about sex, using straightforward medical terms and rejecting a sense of shame around the subject.

We look at her legacy, and how she impacted the way Americans talk about sex and relationship issues.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

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Unpacking The Legacy Of Dr. Ruth

Unpacking The Legacy Of Dr. Ruth

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Dr. Ruth Westheimer of 'Ask Dr. Ruth' speaks onstage during the Hulu Panel during the Winter TCA in Pasadena, California. Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Hulu hide caption

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Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Hulu

Dr. Ruth Westheimer of 'Ask Dr. Ruth' speaks onstage during the Hulu Panel during the Winter TCA in Pasadena, California.

Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Hulu

Dr. Ruth Westheimer was unassuming – a small woman with a friendly smile and an ever-present German accent. As she would say, she could be someone's mother or grandmother. But a grandmother who told you what you needed to know about sex.

She died in July at the age of 96. She spent more than 50 of those years teaching America how to talk about sex, using straightforward medical terms and rejecting a sense of shame around the subject.

We look at her legacy. How well do Americans talk about sex and relationship issues now? What issues are they still grappling with in therapy offices today?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.