Better Sex

Difficult conversations as an opportunity?Challenge as an opportunity? Listen as Lara describes the context of conflict. She discusses how the components of assumption, judgment and expectation lead to a reaction.Tune in to the Body’s SignalWhat is the significance of the physical reaction to an impending conflict? Hear Lara describe the mental and physical connection between emotions and conflict.Two TriggersAn emotional trigger can make people think of a violent event. Rather Lara focuses on triggered reactions in conflict situations. Listen as Lara discusses how triggered reactions that are our habits and patterns, can result in negative outcomes.Desire PathsHear Lara illustrate the importance of Desire paths and the connection to our own emotional patterns. She discusses the connection between reactions and our own emotional connections and past.Raising self-awareness in order to be preparedWhat does self-awareness have to do with assumptions and preparation for a conflict? The seemingly preordained assumption follows with an associated judgment that leads to an expectation. Hear Lara describe how these emotional perspectives are connected and lead us into patterns.After-action reviewHear Lara talk about a realistic methodology in order to assess conflict to improve future situations. After allowing for an emotional cooldown, Lara suggests reflecting on the outcome, what happened before the outcome and what the assumptions were leading up to the situation. And importantly for future improvement, “How would I like to act or react differently next time so that this type of scenario doesn’t happen again?”An Example of Personal ConflictListen as Lara provides an example of a couple having difficulty in their relationship and what she suggests in order to better improve their situation. Communication and reflection provide two of the key ways to improve the situation. Hear Lara describe how the individuals in this situation can improve their relationship. Is curiosity important in this situation? Lara says yes, hear why.After Action ReviewIn conflict, but not having a conflict? What are the signals in your own body that tell you something is wrong? Join in as Lara describes protective emotions that signal the presence of conflict.Conflict Personality TypesHear Lara describe four of the main different conflict personality types and how these personality types can show up actively and passively during a conflict.Listen as Lara gives examples and describes at length these four conflict personality types: the Pleaser-Fixer, the Victim-Blamer, the Perfectionist-Controller, and the Innocent-Avoider. Learn how each of these affects conflict and communication in interpersonal scenarios.Self-Reflection and AwarenessListen to Lara discuss how recognizing your own conflict personality type can help you reflect in order to improve communication in future conflict situations.Deconstruction of Conflict – Communicating in the Emotional LanguageHow do you feel? Lara emphasizes the connection between learning and communicating. She describes the three main ways that people learn as kinesthetically, auditorily and doing. And then she connects these elements to demonstrate how to improve communication and emotional interactions based on these learning preferences.Avoiding EscalationIs it as simple as going outside or taking a walk? Lara offers some simple advice to help couples improve communication.About Lara CurrieLara Currie is an interpersonal conflict resolution specialist with over 25 years of experience in high conflict positions. Author of the book “Difficult Happens”, Lara has a unique perspective assisting business owners and...

Difficult conversations as an opportunity?Challenge as an opportunity? Listen as Lara describes the context of conflict. She discusses how the components of assumption, judgment and expectation lead to a reaction.Tune in to the Body’s SignalWhat is the significance of the physical reaction to an impending conflict? Hear Lara describe the mental and physical connection between emotions and conflict.Two TriggersAn emotional trigger can make people think of a violent event. Rather Lara focuses on triggered reactions in conflict situations. Listen as Lara discusses how triggered reactions that are our habits and patterns, can result in negative outcomes.Desire PathsHear Lara illustrate the importance of Desire paths and the connection to our own emotional patterns. She discusses the connection between reactions and our own emotional connections and past.Raising self-awareness in order to be preparedWhat does self-awareness have to do with assumptions and preparation for a conflict? The seemingly preordained assumption follows with an associated judgment that leads to an expectation. Hear Lara describe how these emotional perspectives are connected and lead us into patterns.After-action reviewHear Lara talk about a realistic methodology in order to assess conflict to improve future situations. After allowing for an emotional cooldown, Lara suggests reflecting on the outcome, what happened before the outcome and what the assumptions were leading up to the situation. And importantly for future improvement, “How would I like to act or react differently next time so that this type of scenario doesn’t happen again?”An Example of Personal ConflictListen as Lara provides an example of a couple having difficulty in their relationship and what she suggests in order to better improve their situation. Communication and reflection provide two of the key ways to improve the situation. Hear Lara describe how the individuals in this situation can improve their relationship. Is curiosity important in this situation? Lara says yes, hear why.After Action ReviewIn conflict, but not having a conflict? What are the signals in your own body that tell you something is wrong? Join in as Lara describes protective emotions that signal the presence of conflict.Conflict Personality TypesHear Lara describe four of the main different conflict personality types and how these personality types can show up actively and passively during a conflict.Listen as Lara gives examples and describes at length these four conflict personality types: the Pleaser-Fixer, the Victim-Blamer, the Perfectionist-Controller, and the Innocent-Avoider. Learn how each of these affects conflict and communication in interpersonal scenarios.Self-Reflection and AwarenessListen to Lara discuss how recognizing your own conflict personality type can help you reflect in order to improve communication in future conflict situations.Deconstruction of Conflict – Communicating in the Emotional LanguageHow do you feel? Lara emphasizes the connection between learning and communicating. She describes the three main ways that people learn as kinesthetically, auditorily and doing. And then she connects these elements to demonstrate how to improve communication and emotional interactions based on these learning preferences.Avoiding EscalationIs it as simple as going outside or taking a walk? Lara offers some simple advice to help couples improve communication.About Lara CurrieLara Currie is an interpersonal conflict resolution specialist with over 25 years of experience in high conflict positions. Author of the book “Difficult Happens”, Lara has a unique perspective assisting business owners and...

Evolutionary Psychology and SexIn this episode, Rebecca tells us about Evolutionary Psychology, examining our roles and interactions through a biological and historical lens. Listen in as she compares our human proclivities to our great ape relatives.Animal Roles – Not an ExcuseOur rules and culture help us to maintain our civility, but males and females still have biological roles. Hear Rebecca talk about the basic ideas of a male’s desire to spread his seed and a female’s inclination to be choosy and selective.Evolution of Lust and RomanceWhile nature and nurture are the major contributing factors to our biology and we share some main characteristics with great apes, there are still major differences between humans and other great apes. Enjoy the show as Rebecca presents a unique series of examples comparing and contrasting sexual differences between great apes and humans.What happened to Estrus?Listen to Rebecca talk about ideas relating to Desmond Morris, famed author of The Naked Ape. Hear some of the modern and historical adaptations that humans have developed as open signs of Estrus are not as readily visible as they are in our great ape relatives.Great Apes and HumansRebecca presents a viewpoint on Modern Civilization and the inclination towards war and aggressive tendencies. We enjoy some interesting commentary discussing the variations of sexual proclivities in the great ape world and the fascinating habits of one particular species, the Bonobo.How do these perspectives help humans?Tune in to hear Rebecca offer a personal anecdote. We learn the importance of the nose in choosing a mate and how this can help us better understand our similarities to the great apes, and more importantly develop a better understanding between partners.“Understanding our evolutionary past helps us seem, yes, more animalistic, but more human.”Conflict in PowerListen as Rebecca helps to develop further, the understanding of the inequality of power between men and women and the unfortunate consequences.On the Romantic SideWhat is the importance of a kiss? How does a kiss play a part in romantic behaviors? Join in to hear about the importance of kissing and other romantic behaviors. Is there romance in suicide or jumping out of trees? Find out as Rebecca presents this issue and others within historical and cultural contexts.Listen as Rebecca clarifies the purpose of the texts of the Atharvaveda, the Knowledge Storehouse of Procedures for Everyday Life, and the Kamasutra. We enjoy some lighthearted banter as the discussion continues, comparing these ancient texts with a modern take on kissing tips from Bustle.com.The Importance of SizeIt’s not what you think, as Rebecca clarifies some of her own perspectives along with research that demonstrates women’s preferences for something bigger, but it’s not about the genitals. Tune in and find out.About Rebecca CoffeyRebecca Coffey is an award-winning science journalist and television documentarian. Over the course of her long career, she has contributed regularly to Scientific American and Discover magazines and to major market newspapers. She is a commentator for Vermont Public Radio and a columnist for PsychologyToday.com. Coffey is also a novelist and a humorist.Links and How to contact Rebecca CoffeyOther Books by the Author:Anna Freud’s Story (She Writes Press, 2014). A novel.Nietzsche’s Angel Food Cake: And Other Recipes for the Intellectually Famished (Beck and Branch, 2013). Humor.Unspeakable Truths and Happy Endings: Human Cruelty and the New Trauma Therapy (Sidran Press, 1998). Nonfiction.More information:https://RebeccaCoffey.com and

Evolutionary Psychology and SexIn this episode, Rebecca tells us about Evolutionary Psychology, examining our roles and interactions through a biological and historical lens. Listen in as she compares our human proclivities to our great ape relatives.Animal Roles – Not an ExcuseOur rules and culture help us to maintain our civility, but males and females still have biological roles. Hear Rebecca talk about the basic ideas of a male’s desire to spread his seed and a female’s inclination to be choosy and selective.Evolution of Lust and RomanceWhile nature and nurture are the major contributing factors to our biology and we share some main characteristics with great apes, there are still major differences between humans and other great apes. Enjoy the show as Rebecca presents a unique series of examples comparing and contrasting sexual differences between great apes and humans.What happened to Estrus?Listen to Rebecca talk about ideas relating to Desmond Morris, famed author of The Naked Ape. Hear some of the modern and historical adaptations that humans have developed as open signs of Estrus are not as readily visible as they are in our great ape relatives.Great Apes and HumansRebecca presents a viewpoint on Modern Civilization and the inclination towards war and aggressive tendencies. We enjoy some interesting commentary discussing the variations of sexual proclivities in the great ape world and the fascinating habits of one particular species, the Bonobo.How do these perspectives help humans?Tune in to hear Rebecca offer a personal anecdote. We learn the importance of the nose in choosing a mate and how this can help us better understand our similarities to the great apes, and more importantly develop a better understanding between partners.“Understanding our evolutionary past helps us seem, yes, more animalistic, but more human.”Conflict in PowerListen as Rebecca helps to develop further, the understanding of the inequality of power between men and women and the unfortunate consequences.On the Romantic SideWhat is the importance of a kiss? How does a kiss play a part in romantic behaviors? Join in to hear about the importance of kissing and other romantic behaviors. Is there romance in suicide or jumping out of trees? Find out as Rebecca presents this issue and others within historical and cultural contexts.Listen as Rebecca clarifies the purpose of the texts of the Atharvaveda, the Knowledge Storehouse of Procedures for Everyday Life, and the Kamasutra. We enjoy some lighthearted banter as the discussion continues, comparing these ancient texts with a modern take on kissing tips from Bustle.com.The Importance of SizeIt’s not what you think, as Rebecca clarifies some of her own perspectives along with research that demonstrates women’s preferences for something bigger, but it’s not about the genitals. Tune in and find out.About Rebecca CoffeyRebecca Coffey is an award-winning science journalist and television documentarian. Over the course of her long career, she has contributed regularly to Scientific American and Discover magazines and to major market newspapers. She is a commentator for Vermont Public Radio and a columnist for PsychologyToday.com. Coffey is also a novelist and a humorist.Links and How to contact Rebecca CoffeyOther Books by the Author:Anna Freud’s Story (She Writes Press, 2014). A novel.Nietzsche’s Angel Food Cake: And Other Recipes for the Intellectually Famished (Beck and Branch, 2013). Humor.Unspeakable Truths and Happy Endings: Human Cruelty and the New Trauma Therapy (Sidran Press, 1998). Nonfiction.More information:https://RebeccaCoffey.com and

A personal story of sexual liberationIn this episode, I talk to Marina, who shares her personal journey from struggles with her self-image and a painful first sexual experience, to finally feeling liberated with a happier sex life.The first time: a painful experienceAs a teenager, Marina tells us that she struggled with self-image and was therefore excited when, at age sixteen, a “cool kid” from another school showed interest in her.Listen in as Marina shares her first sexual experience with him and the devastating consequences that affected her for years afterward. She shares her conflicting feelings at the time of the encounter, being unsure but caught in an uncomfortable situation.Drunk sex and the noise in my headMarina tells us she didn’t realize how devastated she had been and how painful that first sexual experience had been for her, for years to come. In these years, Marina tells us that all of her sexual encounters were under the influence of alcohol or something else because it was too painful for her to experience them sober.We hear how she describes the noise in her head and how it would perpetuate her feeling disgusted in her body. She couldn’t understand why any man would want her. Listen in to hear in her own words how this affected her.RelationshipsMarina would come to realize in a counseling session, how impactful her first sexual experience was for her, but in the meantime tells us that even with her first husband she would need to be drunk to have sex.She shares her second marriage is when she started having sober sex, but was still uncomfortable and not ready to experiment. Tune in to learn how this affected her second marriage.Your feelings come from your thinkingPrior to splitting up with her second husband, Marina had a breakthrough moment where she realized how much she was overthinking during sex. She tells us how going to seminars, reading and working on herself, calmed all the noise in her head.She came to realize that, “Your feelings come from your thinking, not from your circumstances or other people”. Gradually, this led to her becoming more comfortable being sober in bed.Tinder RomanceWe hear how Marina started to realize that her body was beginning to crave sex. She turned to Tinder and was matched with a man she felt comfortable experimenting with...and enjoyed it!Join us as she shares how she feels more in tune with her own body and explains how much of a liberation this journey to self-awareness has been.Words of advice and encouragementThere are two books, in particular, Marina mentions that have revolutionized the way she thinks about sex. “The New Rules of Sex” by Lauren Brim and “Pussy: A Reclamation” by Regena Thomashauer.She also suggests starting the conversation about sex with friends, which was what first got Marina thinking about masturbating and exploring her body without feeling shameful. Sex can be a taboo topic but Marina tells listeners to get curious about your own beliefs and consider how much you may be overthinking sex.The Joy of BeingMarina suggests we tune in to her podcast: The Joy of Being, where she discusses how we can lead a more joyful and pleasure-led life. Her final thoughts: “Be open to change. You never know how you may feel until you try it”.Links and How to Reach MarinaWebsite - http://marinapearson.com/Podcast - http://marinapearson.com/podcast/Books“The New Rules of Sex” by Lauren Brim - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MIBTMDK/“Pussy: A Reclamation” by Regena...

A personal story of sexual liberationIn this episode, I talk to Marina, who shares her personal journey from struggles with her self-image and a painful first sexual experience, to finally feeling liberated with a happier sex life.The first time: a painful experienceAs a teenager, Marina tells us that she struggled with self-image and was therefore excited when, at age sixteen, a “cool kid” from another school showed interest in her.Listen in as Marina shares her first sexual experience with him and the devastating consequences that affected her for years afterward. She shares her conflicting feelings at the time of the encounter, being unsure but caught in an uncomfortable situation.Drunk sex and the noise in my headMarina tells us she didn’t realize how devastated she had been and how painful that first sexual experience had been for her, for years to come. In these years, Marina tells us that all of her sexual encounters were under the influence of alcohol or something else because it was too painful for her to experience them sober.We hear how she describes the noise in her head and how it would perpetuate her feeling disgusted in her body. She couldn’t understand why any man would want her. Listen in to hear in her own words how this affected her.RelationshipsMarina would come to realize in a counseling session, how impactful her first sexual experience was for her, but in the meantime tells us that even with her first husband she would need to be drunk to have sex.She shares her second marriage is when she started having sober sex, but was still uncomfortable and not ready to experiment. Tune in to learn how this affected her second marriage.Your feelings come from your thinkingPrior to splitting up with her second husband, Marina had a breakthrough moment where she realized how much she was overthinking during sex. She tells us how going to seminars, reading and working on herself, calmed all the noise in her head.She came to realize that, “Your feelings come from your thinking, not from your circumstances or other people”. Gradually, this led to her becoming more comfortable being sober in bed.Tinder RomanceWe hear how Marina started to realize that her body was beginning to crave sex. She turned to Tinder and was matched with a man she felt comfortable experimenting with...and enjoyed it!Join us as she shares how she feels more in tune with her own body and explains how much of a liberation this journey to self-awareness has been.Words of advice and encouragementThere are two books, in particular, Marina mentions that have revolutionized the way she thinks about sex. “The New Rules of Sex” by Lauren Brim and “Pussy: A Reclamation” by Regena Thomashauer.She also suggests starting the conversation about sex with friends, which was what first got Marina thinking about masturbating and exploring her body without feeling shameful. Sex can be a taboo topic but Marina tells listeners to get curious about your own beliefs and consider how much you may be overthinking sex.The Joy of BeingMarina suggests we tune in to her podcast: The Joy of Being, where she discusses how we can lead a more joyful and pleasure-led life. Her final thoughts: “Be open to change. You never know how you may feel until you try it”.Links and How to Reach MarinaWebsite - http://marinapearson.com/Podcast - http://marinapearson.com/podcast/Books“The New Rules of Sex” by Lauren Brim - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MIBTMDK/“Pussy: A Reclamation” by Regena...

History of Adam & Eve, A Sex Toy RetailerListen in as Katy discusses how Adam & Eve started out. She mentions it was just a thesis requirement to complete the founder Phil Harvey’s Master’s Degree.Being part of the hippie generation, he believed in sexual liberation. She tells us about how Phil challenged the government by publishing ads in newspapers offering condoms - intentionally contravening the law. This catalyst created financial momentum for the business.Aside from contraceptives, Adam & Eve started adding sexually-oriented items like DVDs, sex toys, and lingerie.Sex Education for Yourself and OthersWhen Katy started working for Adam & Eve, it was a liberating experience for her. Coming from a little town in Tennessee, where talking about anything sex-related is taboo. At her work, she learned that women also enjoy sex and sex it isn’t just for men.Sex toys have a significant purpose not just for fun and titillation, it should be very therapeutic for everyone.As a personal accomplishment, Katy is currently working on her Sex Education Certificate from AASECT to educate herself and others about sex, pleasure, and everything in between.Having two teenage daughters, Katy ensures that she cultivates a healthy understanding of sex in their home. Tune in to learn how she manages this.Not as Easy as You Think!Katy shares her experience as a copywriter for a retailer of sex toys, erotica, etc. After writing for a catalog and the web, Katy looks back as the experience as challenging in terms of balancing the content along with an edgy and light-hearted vein.Katy shares her unique take on sex toys, highlighting what made every item different.Join in to hear Katy recollect how her mornings started in the office. While most of us indulge in a good coffee, she used to indulge in an erotica DVD, then start writing! Not the usual life of a copywriter, indeed.StatisticsAdam & Eve does their research to make sure their customers are satisfied. Join in as Katy shares the changing statistics over the years, with the number of women and couples shopping at Adam & Eve up by 30% from 10%.We hear that g-spot toys are still best sellers ( no surprises there!!) but a keen interest is growing around the new generation toys available around the act of cunnilingus today.What Makes Adam & Eve Different From Their Competitors?Katy emphasizes that Adam & Eve is the most reputable adult retailer in America since 1971. You will be pleased to know that they offer a 100% money back guarantee on their sex toys- all of which undergo a rigorous review process.Listen in to take advantage of Katy’s special offer to Better Sex Podcast listeners! Head on to Adam & Eve site and enter the code Katy shares to get a 50% discount on almost any item!About Katy ZvolerinKaty Zvolerin is currently the Director of Public Relations at Adam & Eve, America’s largest and most known distributor of adult toys and other sex needs.Katy’s a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a B.S. in Journalism and Public Relations. After working for Maytag and in publishing in New York, she started working at Adam & Eve in November of 1993 as a catalog copywriter. She, then, got promoted to Adam & Eve Director of Public Relations in 1997.She has received certification in Clinical Sexology and holds an Associate in Sex Education from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. She is also currently working towards her Sex Education Certification from AASECT (the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists).Links and How to Contact Katy ZvolerinFollow Katy on LinkedIn:

History of Adam & Eve, A Sex Toy RetailerListen in as Katy discusses how Adam & Eve started out. She mentions it was just a thesis requirement to complete the founder Phil Harvey’s Master’s Degree.Being part of the hippie generation, he believed in sexual liberation. She tells us about how Phil challenged the government by publishing ads in newspapers offering condoms - intentionally contravening the law. This catalyst created financial momentum for the business.Aside from contraceptives, Adam & Eve started adding sexually-oriented items like DVDs, sex toys, and lingerie.Sex Education for Yourself and OthersWhen Katy started working for Adam & Eve, it was a liberating experience for her. Coming from a little town in Tennessee, where talking about anything sex-related is taboo. At her work, she learned that women also enjoy sex and sex it isn’t just for men.Sex toys have a significant purpose not just for fun and titillation, it should be very therapeutic for everyone.As a personal accomplishment, Katy is currently working on her Sex Education Certificate from AASECT to educate herself and others about sex, pleasure, and everything in between.Having two teenage daughters, Katy ensures that she cultivates a healthy understanding of sex in their home. Tune in to learn how she manages this.Not as Easy as You Think!Katy shares her experience as a copywriter for a retailer of sex toys, erotica, etc. After writing for a catalog and the web, Katy looks back as the experience as challenging in terms of balancing the content along with an edgy and light-hearted vein.Katy shares her unique take on sex toys, highlighting what made every item different.Join in to hear Katy recollect how her mornings started in the office. While most of us indulge in a good coffee, she used to indulge in an erotica DVD, then start writing! Not the usual life of a copywriter, indeed.StatisticsAdam & Eve does their research to make sure their customers are satisfied. Join in as Katy shares the changing statistics over the years, with the number of women and couples shopping at Adam & Eve up by 30% from 10%.We hear that g-spot toys are still best sellers ( no surprises there!!) but a keen interest is growing around the new generation toys available around the act of cunnilingus today.What Makes Adam & Eve Different From Their Competitors?Katy emphasizes that Adam & Eve is the most reputable adult retailer in America since 1971. You will be pleased to know that they offer a 100% money back guarantee on their sex toys- all of which undergo a rigorous review process.Listen in to take advantage of Katy’s special offer to Better Sex Podcast listeners! Head on to Adam & Eve site and enter the code Katy shares to get a 50% discount on almost any item!About Katy ZvolerinKaty Zvolerin is currently the Director of Public Relations at Adam & Eve, America’s largest and most known distributor of adult toys and other sex needs.Katy’s a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a B.S. in Journalism and Public Relations. After working for Maytag and in publishing in New York, she started working at Adam & Eve in November of 1993 as a catalog copywriter. She, then, got promoted to Adam & Eve Director of Public Relations in 1997.She has received certification in Clinical Sexology and holds an Associate in Sex Education from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. She is also currently working towards her Sex Education Certification from AASECT (the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists).Links and How to Contact Katy ZvolerinFollow Katy on LinkedIn:

Becoming CliterateDr. Laurie shares the reason behind why she wrote her book, Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It. As a professor to over 150 students a year, she shares the influence her undergrad students had on this book.Two factors that ultimately influenced her was the massive orgasm gap in men and women, and the loss of clitoral knowledge. Listen as she tackles the miseducation that society is subjected to and uncovers some shocking orgasm statistics you don’t want to miss.Becoming Cliterate seeks to eradicate the notion that intercourse is the ultimate pleasure for women and the way they should orgasm.Dr. Laurie mentions the book as a combination of cultural analysis and self-help as it brings gender equality into relationships.Reasons for the Pleasure GapIt’s not easy to admit that there is a huge gap between men and women’s take on pleasure. Dr. Laurie explains why penetration does not give the same level of satisfaction for both genders. Join in as she discusses the other possible reasons for this gap, including body image issues, cognitive issues and lack of training in sexual communication.We hear how the lack of clitoral knowledge plays a key role in the pleasure gap and how this stems from pornography and misinformation.Closing the GapDr. Laurie believes that there is a need for a sexual revolution in pleasure equality. Tune in to hear where this revolution starts. She emphasizes that just talking can close the gap.Tips for Women Who Have Never Had an OrgasmDr. Laurie's advice if you are one of these women: Masturbate!! Join in to hear her 4 steps for your first orgasm. Get ready to know your body better after this! She reminds us that it is important to get the same kind of stimulation when with your partner too. While this may take some creativity, it is achievable for everyone.Apart from this, Dr. Laurie educates us in having good communication with our partners. How to use “I” statements in communicating your needs and/or wants, and how you can be at ease when talking to your partner about this. She highlights that this is your equal right to pleasure.Tips for Men and the Biggest TakeawayClitoral education is not just for women to understand, it’s definitely one of the things men should also learn about. In this episode, Dr. Laurie also shares a variety of ways on how men can open the topic to their partners and help their partners talk about what they want in sex.Remember, sex is intended to be equally pleasurable.BackgroundLaurie Mintz, PH.D. is an award-winning college professor. She currently teaches the Psychology of Human Sexuality to hundreds of students a year at the University of Florida and has had over 20 years of experience working with private clients on sexual issues.Dr. Mintz has received numerous professional awards and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. She has published over 50 research studies, writes the Psychology Today blog and has been quoted in many outlets, including Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, CNN.com, Oprah.com and The Huffington Post.She authored the book, Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It, with the goal to close the massive orgasm gap between men and women and debunk the misinformation today’s generation gets from media and pornography.Links and How to contact Dr. LaurieWebsite: http://www.drlauriemintz.comGet the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Cliterate-Orgasm-Equality-Matters/dp/0062484389Instagram:

Becoming CliterateDr. Laurie shares the reason behind why she wrote her book, Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It. As a professor to over 150 students a year, she shares the influence her undergrad students had on this book.Two factors that ultimately influenced her was the massive orgasm gap in men and women, and the loss of clitoral knowledge. Listen as she tackles the miseducation that society is subjected to and uncovers some shocking orgasm statistics you don’t want to miss.Becoming Cliterate seeks to eradicate the notion that intercourse is the ultimate pleasure for women and the way they should orgasm.Dr. Laurie mentions the book as a combination of cultural analysis and self-help as it brings gender equality into relationships.Reasons for the Pleasure GapIt’s not easy to admit that there is a huge gap between men and women’s take on pleasure. Dr. Laurie explains why penetration does not give the same level of satisfaction for both genders. Join in as she discusses the other possible reasons for this gap, including body image issues, cognitive issues and lack of training in sexual communication.We hear how the lack of clitoral knowledge plays a key role in the pleasure gap and how this stems from pornography and misinformation.Closing the GapDr. Laurie believes that there is a need for a sexual revolution in pleasure equality. Tune in to hear where this revolution starts. She emphasizes that just talking can close the gap.Tips for Women Who Have Never Had an OrgasmDr. Laurie's advice if you are one of these women: Masturbate!! Join in to hear her 4 steps for your first orgasm. Get ready to know your body better after this! She reminds us that it is important to get the same kind of stimulation when with your partner too. While this may take some creativity, it is achievable for everyone.Apart from this, Dr. Laurie educates us in having good communication with our partners. How to use “I” statements in communicating your needs and/or wants, and how you can be at ease when talking to your partner about this. She highlights that this is your equal right to pleasure.Tips for Men and the Biggest TakeawayClitoral education is not just for women to understand, it’s definitely one of the things men should also learn about. In this episode, Dr. Laurie also shares a variety of ways on how men can open the topic to their partners and help their partners talk about what they want in sex.Remember, sex is intended to be equally pleasurable.BackgroundLaurie Mintz, PH.D. is an award-winning college professor. She currently teaches the Psychology of Human Sexuality to hundreds of students a year at the University of Florida and has had over 20 years of experience working with private clients on sexual issues.Dr. Mintz has received numerous professional awards and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. She has published over 50 research studies, writes the Psychology Today blog and has been quoted in many outlets, including Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, CNN.com, Oprah.com and The Huffington Post.She authored the book, Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It, with the goal to close the massive orgasm gap between men and women and debunk the misinformation today’s generation gets from media and pornography.Links and How to contact Dr. LaurieWebsite: http://www.drlauriemintz.comGet the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Cliterate-Orgasm-Equality-Matters/dp/0062484389Instagram:

The Store: Darling WayIn this episode, Beth talks about how she started and founded the Darling Way after her 22-year marriage ended with a divorce. She shares how her shop started after an awful experience buying a lingerie for herself. Her store’s concept is about embracing the fact that it’s okay to be silly, fun, and excited or just a light-hearted approach to the serious topic of sexy fun.What’s in the Shop?The Darling Way, as Beth describes it, carries everything fun, flirty, frisky, and fetish. From high-end lingeries, to more affordable lingerie, lotions, potions, lubricants, massage oils, candles, scents, pheromone sprays, stimulating creams, gels, vibrations, whips, chains, anything that people can use to have sexy fun. They also offer different kinds of workshops like Flogging Fun for Nice People, and another about oral sex. Tune in to find out more!The Shop ExperienceThis part is all about what customers can expect from going to their store. Beth and her staff — her son and daughter-in-law, go all out to help clients get comfortable in their body by finding something they like. The emphasis is really in creating a fun and memorable experience for each person that comes in. Their promise? If you feel unloved, they will love you until you learn to love yourself!Making the Customers Comfortable Talking About Sex“We are just open.” — Beth’s remark when asked how they make customers feel comfortable talking about sex. Listen as Beth walks us through the importance of allowing people time to adjust and become comfortable talking about things that are uncomfortable. She also tells us a story about a just-married couple who visited their shop on their wedding day.Beth’s MessageThere are a lot of people hesitant to talk about sexy fun — that’s for sure! But for Beth, it is paramount that they take care of their clients no matter how far. She always makes sure that she’s available to attend to her customers’ needs and even offers personal shopping on the phone. One thing she encourages everyone to do is to feel free to laugh, because “it’s okay!” They’re available to help you embrace pleasure without the guilt!Beth’s BookBeth’s new book, Love and Laughter: Sexy (Meaningful) Fun for Everyone is written for women — to help them learn to get comfortable and pay attention to their bodies, show them how they can become good lovers- not for anyone’s sake, but for their own, and the different opportunities to have pure sexy fun.About Beth LieblingBeth Liebling is many things—a former board-certified family lawyer, host of the radio show/podcast Love and Laughter with Beth (ESPN Houston 97.5Fm and Itunes), author of the new book Love and Laughter: Sexy (Meaningful) Fun for Everyone.A mother of five, and a grandmother of one, Beth is the family-forward founder of Darling Way, a sexy luxury boutique in the historic Houston Heights.She has extensive experience speaking publicly, most obviously on her own radio show and on her additional weekly appearance on "The Blitz," both on ESPN Houston Radio 97.5fm. She also leads workshops and discussions regularly in Houston at Darling Way and other venues, has been a speaker at B2B conferences.She broke down unspoken barriers in Dallas when she was invited by BC/BS to speak at their Active Living Expo for Senior Citizens about Passion at any Age.Links and How to contact BethBeth’s shop, Darling Way - https://darlingway.com/Twitter - https://twitter.com/darling_wayInstagram - http://instagram.com/darlingwayboutiqueFacebook -

The Store: Darling WayIn this episode, Beth talks about how she started and founded the Darling Way after her 22-year marriage ended with a divorce. She shares how her shop started after an awful experience buying a lingerie for herself. Her store’s concept is about embracing the fact that it’s okay to be silly, fun, and excited or just a light-hearted approach to the serious topic of sexy fun.What’s in the Shop?The Darling Way, as Beth describes it, carries everything fun, flirty, frisky, and fetish. From high-end lingeries, to more affordable lingerie, lotions, potions, lubricants, massage oils, candles, scents, pheromone sprays, stimulating creams, gels, vibrations, whips, chains, anything that people can use to have sexy fun. They also offer different kinds of workshops like Flogging Fun for Nice People, and another about oral sex. Tune in to find out more!The Shop ExperienceThis part is all about what customers can expect from going to their store. Beth and her staff — her son and daughter-in-law, go all out to help clients get comfortable in their body by finding something they like. The emphasis is really in creating a fun and memorable experience for each person that comes in. Their promise? If you feel unloved, they will love you until you learn to love yourself!Making the Customers Comfortable Talking About Sex“We are just open.” — Beth’s remark when asked how they make customers feel comfortable talking about sex. Listen as Beth walks us through the importance of allowing people time to adjust and become comfortable talking about things that are uncomfortable. She also tells us a story about a just-married couple who visited their shop on their wedding day.Beth’s MessageThere are a lot of people hesitant to talk about sexy fun — that’s for sure! But for Beth, it is paramount that they take care of their clients no matter how far. She always makes sure that she’s available to attend to her customers’ needs and even offers personal shopping on the phone. One thing she encourages everyone to do is to feel free to laugh, because “it’s okay!” They’re available to help you embrace pleasure without the guilt!Beth’s BookBeth’s new book, Love and Laughter: Sexy (Meaningful) Fun for Everyone is written for women — to help them learn to get comfortable and pay attention to their bodies, show them how they can become good lovers- not for anyone’s sake, but for their own, and the different opportunities to have pure sexy fun.About Beth LieblingBeth Liebling is many things—a former board-certified family lawyer, host of the radio show/podcast Love and Laughter with Beth (ESPN Houston 97.5Fm and Itunes), author of the new book Love and Laughter: Sexy (Meaningful) Fun for Everyone.A mother of five, and a grandmother of one, Beth is the family-forward founder of Darling Way, a sexy luxury boutique in the historic Houston Heights.She has extensive experience speaking publicly, most obviously on her own radio show and on her additional weekly appearance on "The Blitz," both on ESPN Houston Radio 97.5fm. She also leads workshops and discussions regularly in Houston at Darling Way and other venues, has been a speaker at B2B conferences.She broke down unspoken barriers in Dallas when she was invited by BC/BS to speak at their Active Living Expo for Senior Citizens about Passion at any Age.Links and How to contact BethBeth’s shop, Darling Way - https://darlingway.com/Twitter - https://twitter.com/darling_wayInstagram - http://instagram.com/darlingwayboutiqueFacebook -

Recovering from people pleasingToday's guest is sharing her story of claiming her story, rewriting her story, figuring out which parts she wants in, and which parts no longer serve her.She says it has been a struggle to understand where her sexual power comes from and to be comfortable standing within that power.She tells the story about her conception and her parents, you know getting pregnant with her and how it was an accident.Basically, they weren't married in a time and place where that wasn't okay, and she ended up sort of internalizing a lot of their bad feelings and she didn't really understand until she was 12. At that time they shared the story with her where some of those feelings were coming from.And she had to rise above the conservative religious background that she was raised in, one that made her feel sex was "taboo" and something to be ashamed of, and really take ownership of her sexuality. And to start to question and evaluate everything about who she is, how she shows up as a woman, what she wants in sex, what she wants in a relationship and really sort through to figure out what she wants to keep.To understand what is authentically her and what is not.She also feels she grew up with the belief that once you have sex with someone, they will lose interest in you. She also tells us about several other interesting "a-ha" moments and revelations along her journey.Anca also tells us about the important work she is doing, helping others to re-write their story into something that is completely authentic.I hope you're going to enjoy the story and get something meaningful from it for yourself and here is my conversation with Anca.p.s. Today's episode is another in my series of personal stories. I am really enjoying these. In fact, I want to invite you if you're listening and you would be open to appearing on the show to share your story. Please get in touch.We can make it Anonymous. Although your voice is heard, or not, depending on your preferences and I am willing to talk to you as an individual or as a couple.But if you've got a transformation in your story, if you've got something that people could learn from that could inspire them, or just give some hope that things can change, I would love to talk to you. So send me an email, change@jessazimmerman.com, get in touch through the podcast, anyway, you can and let's set up a time to talk.Links:Anca - http://ancastefaniaiorgulescu.com/More info:Web - https://www.bettersexpodcast.com/Sex Health Quiz - http://sexhealthquiz.com/If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to be a part of making sure it continues in the future, consider being a patron. With a small monthly pledge, you can support the costs of putting this show together. For as little as $2 per month, you can get advance access to each episode. For just a bit more, you will receive an advance copy of a chapter of my new book. And for $10 per month, you get all that plus an invitation to an online Q&A chat with me once a quarter. Learn more at https://www.patreon.com/bettersexpodcastBetter Sex with Jessa Zimmermanhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/better-sex/

Recovering from people pleasingToday's guest is sharing her story of claiming her story, rewriting her story, figuring out which parts she wants in, and which parts no longer serve her.She says it has been a struggle to understand where her sexual power comes from and to be comfortable standing within that power.She tells the story about her conception and her parents, you know getting pregnant with her and how it was an accident.Basically, they weren't married in a time and place where that wasn't okay, and she ended up sort of internalizing a lot of their bad feelings and she didn't really understand until she was 12. At that time they shared the story with her where some of those feelings were coming from.And she had to rise above the conservative religious background that she was raised in, one that made her feel sex was "taboo" and something to be ashamed of, and really take ownership of her sexuality. And to start to question and evaluate everything about who she is, how she shows up as a woman, what she wants in sex, what she wants in a relationship and really sort through to figure out what she wants to keep.To understand what is authentically her and what is not.She also feels she grew up with the belief that once you have sex with someone, they will lose interest in you. She also tells us about several other interesting "a-ha" moments and revelations along her journey.Anca also tells us about the important work she is doing, helping others to re-write their story into something that is completely authentic.I hope you're going to enjoy the story and get something meaningful from it for yourself and here is my conversation with Anca.p.s. Today's episode is another in my series of personal stories. I am really enjoying these. In fact, I want to invite you if you're listening and you would be open to appearing on the show to share your story. Please get in touch.We can make it Anonymous. Although your voice is heard, or not, depending on your preferences and I am willing to talk to you as an individual or as a couple.But if you've got a transformation in your story, if you've got something that people could learn from that could inspire them, or just give some hope that things can change, I would love to talk to you. So send me an email, change@jessazimmerman.com, get in touch through the podcast, anyway, you can and let's set up a time to talk.Links:Anca - http://ancastefaniaiorgulescu.com/More info:Web - https://www.bettersexpodcast.com/Sex Health Quiz - http://sexhealthquiz.com/If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to be a part of making sure it continues in the future, consider being a patron. With a small monthly pledge, you can support the costs of putting this show together. For as little as $2 per month, you can get advance access to each episode. For just a bit more, you will receive an advance copy of a chapter of my new book. And for $10 per month, you get all that plus an invitation to an online Q&A chat with me once a quarter. Learn more at https://www.patreon.com/bettersexpodcastBetter Sex with Jessa Zimmermanhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/better-sex/

Polyamory - one version of consensual non-monogamy.There are certainly plenty of people that choose an open relationship of one sort or another. Even though they're committed to each other, but by agreement, they are non-monogamous.Often what we're referring to is people that have been committed and decide to change the arrangement and include other people in one way or another.What is polyamory?So today's topic is specifically polyamory, which is one way of consensual non-monogamy and in general, it's it's sort of considered having more than one committed relationship.It implies sexual involvement, but also emotional involvement with more than one partner. There are a lot of ways to do this, but what we're talking about today as opposed to something like swinging which is more about sexual experiences.And sometimes those are shared with your partner or just an open relationship where everybody does what they want. There aren't really many rules.My guest today, Tamara Powell, is really a specialist in this. She runs the Arya Therapy Services and she provides holistic health and healing to what she says is a global market of nonconformists.Upsides and downsides to polyamory?We discuss the details on what it takes to make this a win-win situation for relationships along with covering some of the common problems it may generate.Who is it for or not for? What kind of agreements and conversations do you need to have what set you up for success? What should you be thinking about if this is an idea that you're considering for your relationship? Kids, jealousy, and more.This can be a complex situation and Tamara and I try to cover all the bases during this wonderful conversation. Hope you enjoy.About Tamara PowellTamara Powell, LMHC is a licensed therapist, university psychology instructor, and spiritual empowerment coach who believes life should be lived as a journey that is “anything but ordinary.”She opened Arya Therapy Services as a way to provide holistic health and healing to a global market of non-conformists. With specialties in gender, sexual, erotic, and relational diversity, Tamara is passionate about holding sacred space for the self-identified misfits and mystics of the world – the healers, the visionaries, and the creatives.More recently, she began Tales from a Trapezoid with a goal of pushing the envelope around the more raw and edgier side of life, dedicated to those who may often feel like a “trapezoid in a world full of circles.”Links:Tamara and Arya Therapy - https://aryatherapy.com/Gina Senarighi - http://www.uncommonlovepdx.com/“Love in Abundance: a Counselor’s Advice on Open Relationships” by Kathy Labriola - http://amzn.to/29TuhwH“The Jealousy Workbook: Exercises and Insights for Managing Open Relationships” by Kathy Labriola - http://amzn.to/2a8Ypqs“Rewriting the Rules: an Integrative Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships” by Meg Barker - http://amzn.to/29SIaIjMore info:Web - https://www.bettersexpodcast.com/Sex Health Quiz - http://sexhealthquiz.com/If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to be a part of making sure it continues in the future, consider being a patron. With a small monthly pledge, you can support the costs of putting this show together. For as little as $2 per month, you can get advance access to each episode. For just a bit more, you will...