Ep. 30 Destigmatizing STIs with Lena Peak

This week we talk to Caitlyn V., a certified sex and relationship coach and the host of the show Good Sex, now streaming on Discovery+ and Hbo Max.

With a background in sexual health research, Caitlyn has coached thousands, reached millions via YouTube, and even earned internet fame for her groundbreaking approach to performance anxiety.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Caitlyn’s journey as a sex coach 
• Erectile dysfunction
• Premature or delayed ejaculation
• Common misconceptions about performance anxiety
• Couples dealing with performance anxiety
• Caitlyn’s show ‘Good Sex’

You can find Caitlin here: @caitlinvictoriousx | Youtube www.youtube.com/caitlinv |

www.caitlinvneal.com

We have the honor of sitting down with the renowned Dr. Evan Goldstein, the brilliant mind behind Future Method, a sexual wellness brand dedicated to all things anal sex.

Exploring topics surrounding anal play, rectal health, and breaking down the barriers of stigma, today's episode is not only informative but aims to unravel the intricacies of a subject that's often whispered about rather than openly discussed.

Dr. Evan, a trailblazer in the field of sexual health, is here to share his wealth of knowledge, debunk myths, and answer some burning questions, all while encouraging a healthy, shame-free dialogue.

So, whether you're curious, experienced, or just looking to broaden your understanding, this episode promises to be an eye-opener. Dr. Evan even throws in a bold recommendation that might just surprise you!

Get ready to dive deep into the world of anal pleasure and health, as we embark on this enlightening conversation with the incredible Dr. Evan Goldstein.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

✨ Dr Evan Goldstein's company, Future Method
✨ Advice around anal play
✨ Anal Anatomy
✨ Tips for tops
✨ Anal Bleaching
✨ Why Dr. Goldstein is anti wet wipe
✨ Anal Sex and Pregnancy
✨ Rimming tips
✨ The nonprofit organization SIECUS

You can find Dr. Evan here: @drevangoldstein | @bespokesurgical | @thefuturemethod

Please support Dr. Evan’s foundation of choice: SIECUS advances sex education through advocacy, policy and coalition building. SIECUS envisions an equitable nation where all people receive sex education, are affirmed in their identities, and have power to make decisions about their own health, pleasure, and wholeness.

Here is a quickie episode from our host and founder Cat Meyer. 

Let’s connect: Head South @headsouth.world | Cat Meyer @kittycatmeyer 

Head South Partners: 

• Fascia Movement Method The Floss- Use the discount code “HEADSOUTH” at checkout
• The New Way to Wash Hair - Hairstory- 1st-time customers use the link for discount 
• Non-Hormonal Birth Control- Natural Cycles - 1st-time customers use the link for discount 

Today, we have the pleasure of talking with Chelsey Forbes, who has graciously agreed to share her personal journey of decision-making and the unique experience of removing her IUD. 

Deciding whether to use or discontinue any form of contraception is a deeply personal choice, and our goal today is to create a space for open dialogue, understanding, and empowerment. Chelsey's story is one of self-discovery and the strength it takes to make choices that align with one's own well-being. I greatly appreciate Chelsie’s transparency and vulnerability. In sharing her experiences we hope to shed light on the emotional and physical aspects of this decision, aiming to inspire a sense of community and support in navigating these personal choices. 

So, whether you're considering the same path, have already walked a similar one, or are simply curious about the intricacies of this aspect of reproductive health, this episode is bound to provide valuable insights and perhaps even spark a broader conversation around women and individuals who can get pregnant and their health choices.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

✨ What is an IUD?

✨ Chelseys experience with IUDs 

✨ Getting off hormonal birth control

✨ Alternatives to hormonal birth control 

You can find Chelsey here: @goodcheech | www.chelseyforbes.com

Please support Chelsey’s foundation of choice: The Lower Eastside Girls Club connects young women and gender-expansive youth of color throughout New York City to healthy and successful futures through free, innovative year-round programming and mentoring.

Today we are talking about Astrology — more specifically, debunking the idea that someone’s Sun sign indicates compatibility. A focus on astrological compatibility may lead individuals to dismiss potentially fulfilling relationships based on predetermined notions. Closing oneself off to someone who doesn't align with a specific astrological profile can result in missed opportunities for genuine connection, personal enrichment, and shared growth.

We’re talking with Sara Q., who enlightens us on the best ways we can utilize tools like astrology and tarot for guidance, insight, personal growth, and better relational connection and understanding of one’s partner(s). 

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Exploring the significance of astrological charts in self-discovery

• Learning about astrology for personal development and introspection

• Unveiling the intricacies of our astrological charts to enhance our understanding of romantic partners

• Encouraging people to avoid using astrology or sun signs as a sole compatibility assessment
  

You can find Sara here: @supernaturalsara

Part two of our Best Of episode, where we revisit some of our favorite moments from our previous interviews. In this compilation, we've curated highlights from our engaging conversations with three incredible individuals:

Valentin Somma, Danielle Bezalel, Mint El-Mokadm, and Mariah Caudillo

• Ep. 17 Masculinity, Vulnerability, and Intimacy with Valentin Somma
• Ep. 28 Porn and Pleasure with Danielle Bezalel
• Ep. 20 The State of Sex Education with Mariah Caudillo
• Ep. 33 Prioritizing Female Pleasure in the Middle East with Mint El-Mokadm

Please support our foundation of choice:  

The Youth Sexpert Program is a semester-long, virtual training program for high school-enrolled youth ages 14-18. Weekly Zoom sessions range in topics from anatomy to consent to self-pleasure to STI destigmatization to porn literacy. The program is fundamentally pleasure-centered and radically honest, as opposed to fear-driven.

We're thrilled to have you listen to our very first "Best of" episode, where we revisit some of our favorite moments from our previous interviews. In this compilation, we've curated highlights from our engaging conversations with three incredible individuals: Gay Hendricks, Crystal Sneden, and Kyle Freeman. 

• Ep. 21: Unpacking Codependency with Gay Hendricks

• Ep. 19: Cohabitation & Unraveling a Home After a Breakup with Kyle Freeman

• Ep. 6: Lingerie, it’s perception, and what it evokes in us with Crystal Sneden

'Tis the season for joy, festivities, and perhaps a touch of chaos! Join us in this special episode as our host Cat Meyer teams up with her partner John Freeman to answer your burning questions on surviving the holiday season.

Tune in, grab a cup of cocoa, and get ready for a conversation that will leave you feeling more prepared and connected than ever before. Cheers to a stress-free holiday season!

In this episode, we discuss the following:

🕯 Decision-Making for Holiday Celebrations

💝 Defining "Romantic" Gifts

💋 Navigating the Unofficial Rekindling of a Past Relationship

💳 Gift Cards: Utility vs. Lack of Personality

⛸ Creative Winter Date Ideas

🎄 Creating Personal Holiday Traditions as a Couple

You can find Cat here: @kittycatmeyer

Please support Cat’s foundation of choice: The Youth Sexpert Program is a semester-long, virtual training program for high school-enrolled youth ages 14-18. Weekly Zoom sessions range in topics from anatomy to consent to self-pleasure to STI destigmatization to porn literacy. The program is fundamentally pleasure-centered and radically honest, as opposed to fear-driven.

In today's episode, we have the pleasure of interviewing Mint Elmokadm, a trailblazing Somatic Sexologist with a focus on empowering Middle Eastern women and couples worldwide. Known for her daring initiatives and international presence, Mint has been transforming lives through her unique approach to movement, teaching, and sexual education.

In this episode, Mint takes us on a journey of sexual empowerment, breaking down barriers, and redefining norms. Her work not only transforms the lives of Middle Eastern women and couples but serves as an inspiration for a more open and accepting approach to sexuality worldwide.

Join us in this enlightening conversation with Mint as we explore the depths of sexual liberation and empowerment.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• What is a somatic sexologist?
• What does a somatic sexology session look like?
• Common intimacy challenges for Middle Eastern women
• Couples and the dynamics and challenges they face
• Dismantling Cultural restrictions on sexuality
• Balancing culture/religion and pleasure

You can find Mint here: Instagram: @mintelmokadm | Info: msha.ke/mintelmokadm

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Lena, a passionate queer social worker and sexuality educator, who is on a mission to create transformative spaces that empower and inspire. Lena brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experiences to the table, having dedicated her career to designing inclusive sexuality education that addresses pleasure, power, protection, and intimacy, with a focus on the queer and disabled communities.

Our conversation delves into the complex and often misunderstood realm of navigating emotions and fears after receiving a positive diagnosis. Lena shares common misconceptions, myths, and stigmas associated with STIs, shedding light on the importance of dispelling these barriers to foster understanding and empathy.

We explore practical ways to reduce the stigma surrounding positive diagnoses and discuss the critical role of education in breaking down societal taboos. Lena offers advice on building and maintaining healthy relationships post-diagnosis, emphasizing the need for open communication, trust, and mutual support.

Lena also discusses legality and infidelity, unpacking the complexities and challenges faced by individuals navigating relationships in the wake of an STI diagnosis.

Join us as Lena takes us on a journey through her work as a sexuality professional in this thought-provoking episode that challenges preconceptions, encourages compassion, and empowers individuals to navigate intimacy and relationships with grace, even in the face of a positive diagnosis.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Common misconceptions, myths, and stigmas associated with STIs

• Navigating emotions/fears after receiving a positive diagnosis

• How we can reduce stigma

• How to build and maintain healthy relationships after receiving a positive diagnosis

• Legal considerations/obligations 

• Infidelity

You can find Lena here: @lenapeak | lenapeak.com

Please support Lena’s foundation of choice:  St. Louis Queer Support Helpline is an organization that works towards a world in which queer people (and all people) are powerful, have autonomy over the narrative of our lives, and are free to form liberated, non-hierarchical relationships with others in community. They aim to combat interlocking systems of oppression to radically reimagine an anti-carceral, community-based, queer-centered mental health system, using a trauma-informed, margins-to-center approach.