Warning: This show contains explicit language and subject matter.  

Business of HYPE is a weekly series brought to you by HYPEBEAST Radio and hosted by jeffstaple. It’s a show about creatives, brand-builders and entrepreneurs and the realities behind the dreams they’ve built. For today’s episode, the one and only Asa Akira opens up about the entrepreneurial side of the porn industry.

At first glance, this may seem like an odd pairing to some: “business,” “hype,” “Asa Akira.” No matter your stance on porn, it has long been a profitable industry, becoming less taboo year after year, so much so that fashion brands are collaborating with porn sites, cable tv is dramatizing its modern-day origins, and pop culture icons are creative directing their award shows. And for Asa and her relevance, there may not be a more prolific and successful adult-film actress ever. At 32, there aren’t many within the industry that have accomplished so much over a relatively long period of time, leading Jeff to relate her career to that that of a sports legend who retires at the top of their game. But, as you’ll hear, Asa isn’t retiring just yet.

On this jam-packed episode, Asa talks about her start in the industry, how porn has drastically altered her life, finding integrity in whatever it is you do and pivoting within your career. She also tell us what it was like to have Kanye involved with the last PornHub awards show, in addition to opening up about her pregnancy.

As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. You can subscribe to our channel on Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Overcast, Anchor or wherever else you get your podcasts. Please don’t forget to leave a comment or review.

Additionally, feel free to hit Jeff on Twitter, @jeffstaple, or via email at questions@businessofhype.com, and he may answer your question on a future episode.