This episode has been retired.
For an update on O School from some of the educators who worked for the platform, please read here.
This episode has been retired.
For an update on O School from some of the educators who worked for the platform, please read here.
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We have a new course available! Mindful Sex invites you to harness the power of mindfulness in your sex life. Discover how to minimize distractions, stay present during arousal, expand your capacity for pleasure and go deeper with your partner.
In this podcast, we share three different perspectives on the benefits of mindful sex. The full interviews are part of the Mindful Sex course.
First, Dr. Laurie Mintz shares her thoughts about the practical benefits of mindful sex and the profound results she sees in her sex therapy practice.
Then, sex educator and therapist Cyndi Darnell talks about how she discovered mindful sex through tantra, and how she now thinks about mindful sex as part of social justice work.
Finally, sex educator Kait Scalisi talks about practicing mindful sex in your relationship and life to create a context where great sex can happen more often.
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What is Mindful Sex?
What are the benefits of Mindful Sex?
How do you practice Mindful Sex?
To celebrate the release of our brand new course on (you guessed it!) Mindful Sex, here is a lively conversation all about the pleasures and practices of bringing mindfulness to your sex life.
When you are ready to experience the pleasures of mindful sex for yourself, check out our online course, Mindful Sex, by clicking here.
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Do you deal with chronic pain? Have a chronic illness? Worried about what it means for your sex life and love relationship?
If so, you are not alone.
It is estimated that 1 in 3 Americans live with chronic pain or chronic illness, over 113 million American adults. Despite these numbers, chronic pain and illness can be a source of great shame, loneliness and isolation. Or, it can be a motivator to find pleasure and purpose in each day.
In this exclusive interview, Karen Duffy shares her thoughts about managing life with a chronic illness – and how her chronic pain has changed her relationship to pleasure, sexuality and love. She shares how she navigates life with generosity, humor and authenticity, and what unexpected gifts her illness has revealed in her life.
Karen “Duff” Duffy was at the height of her MTV VJ career when she got diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a chronic and debilitating disease.
Check out Karen Duffy’s books here: Model Patient and Backbone
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If the Aziz Ansari story shook you, you are not alone. So many of us have had sex that leaves us feeling violated, used and abused. It’s more than bad sex – it’s living in a violent sex culture. For so many of us “bad sex” is a major source of pain, shame and distrust. What counts as “bad sex” is actually coercive, forceful and sometimes abusive. When someone you are on a date with overrides your discomfort, lack of enthusiasm and uses you as a sexual object to enact a sexual script, it can feel incredibly painful and violating.
This kind of sex, that is all too common, is the result of rape culture. It is the result of a culture that doesn’t encourage us all to develop the skills of sexual agency, erotic communication, and sexual confidence. It is the culture that ladens so many of us with shame, guilt, fear and trauma – and then sends us into casual hookups to try our best to have consensual sex. It is the culture that cultivates arousal anxiety – as soon as a sexual situation begins, we rush through it as quickly as possible, trying to get as much as possible before the opportunity is lost. It is the culture where so many of us are suffering in silence. I
It is a culture that is ending.
We are in the middle of creating a new sexual culture – of consent, pleasure and agency. A new culture that allows all to experience sexual authenticity, ease and freedom. Where we pay exquisite attention to our partner and communicate easily. Where we can ask for what we want and create clear boundaries that are respected. Where consent is enthusiastic, active and ongoing. It’s not a pipe dream – it’s the new sex culture that is being actively created – and you can be part of it.
In this episode, we examine the Aziz Ansari date (as it was reported) and think about what went wrong, what patterns we see in the story, and how it could have gone differently. What would a “good sex” date night have looked like? What changes would we need to make where good sex is the norm, not the exception?
We would love to hear from you about this episode or anything else you are thinking about – be in touch with us here.
Articles About The Aziz Ansari “Bad Sex” Date:
“Grace’s” account of her date with Aziz Ansari as told to Babe.net
Lindy West on the history of creating consent culture at NYTimes.com