🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

This is the moment our industry has been building toward.

Intimacy Coordinators are now officially unionized with SAG-AFTRA and this changes EVERYTHING.

In this episode, we break down what this milestone really means, beyond the headlines you've been seeing in the media. From the early days of explaining the role on every set to securing protections, pay standards, and long-term sustainability for intimacy professionals.

If you’ve ever wondered where this work is headed or what it actually takes to build a lasting career in this field, this is essential listening.

👂 What to Listen For

• How intimacy coordination went from unknown role to union-recognized profession
• The behind-the-scenes story of how SAG-AFTRA became a key partner in this work 
• Why early advocacy required constant education, negotiation, and persistence
• Avoiding burnout: how unionization provides professional legitimacy and industry standards, and sustainable careers.
• What this milestone means for the next generation of intimacy professionals

🔗 Important Links

• SAG-AFTRA IC Agreement Page
• SAG-AFTRA Intimacy Coordinator Resources
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

What does it actually feel like to be an intimacy professional right now?

Not the polished version.
The real version.

In this inaugural episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to do this work in an industry that’s still catching up. From being a “department of one” on set to realizing you’re part of something much bigger.

Because here’s the truth:

You can’t build this career alone.
Not well.
Not sustainably.

If you’ve ever felt isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure where you fit in this field, this conversation is going to hit home.

👂 What to Listen For

• What it really means to be a “department of one” on set and why that’s harder than it sounds 
• How intimacy work has evolved from unknown to industry-standard in under a decade 
• Why feeling isolated in this role is common and how community directly impacts your confidence and effectiveness on the job 
• The difference between freelance competition and community-driven growth 
• A common mistake people make when trying to connect and a better way to build relationships 

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit
• Email mentioned in episode: info@idcprofessionals.com 

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Thinking about becoming a certified intimacy professional, but stuck in the questions?

You’re not alone.

This field has grown fast. Really fast. And with that growth comes confusion. What training actually matters? Do you need certification? Is there even enough work to build a real career?

In this episode, we break it all down with real, grounded insight from inside the industry.

We’re diving into what certification actually does, how careers in intimacy work really get built, and what separates people who struggle from those who build something sustainable.

Because this isn’t just about getting trained.

It’s about building a career that lasts.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why the “rush to get hired” mindset is quietly sabotaging new intimacy professionals 
• The truth about whether intimacy work is a sustainable long-term career
• What most people don’t see when they watch experienced ICs and IDs work 
• How credibility and trust actually get built in this industry 
• How certification helps you get your foot in the door (even without connections)
• A behind-the-scenes breakdown of IDC’s 5-phase certification pathway

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit
   

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

You got the call. They need you tomorrow. Just come in, make sure everyone feels comfortable, and then we shoot. Simple, right? Not even close. In this episode, Alicia Rodis and Amanda Pulcini break down one of the most common myths in intimacy coordination: that this work can happen overnight. They pull back the curtain on what actually makes a set run smoothly, why prep days are not optional, and how skipping them doesn’t just create chaos, it compromises trust, consent, and the quality of the work. If you have ever felt pressure to say yes without the time you need, this conversation will give you language, clarity, and a stronger foundation to stand on. 

👂 What to Listen For

•  Why being hired the day before a shoot sets everyone up for stress, not success 
•  What actually happens during prep days and why they are essential to your role as a department head 
•  How strong prep builds trust with actors and prevents consent from being rushed or compromised 
•  The real reason you should never negotiate your work as hourly instead of full prep days 
•  How to hold the line on industry standards without burning bridges or undercutting your peers 

🔗 Important Links

• Intimacy in Production Toolkit 
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Something has shifted in this industry and if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve felt it.

The resistance that once defined intimacy work? It’s fading.

In its place, something far more exciting is emerging: better storytelling.

In this episode, we unpack what happens when intimacy professionals are no longer fighting to justify their role and they can finally focus on what they’re truly there to do: tell nuanced, authentic, deeply human stories.

From high-profile productions to personal experiences on set, this conversation explores why intimacy storytelling is entering a new era and what that means for both professionals and audiences alike.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why so many intimacy professionals are no longer facing resistance on set and what changed in the industry to create that shift
• The hidden skill of navigating bias, discomfort, and personal assumptions
• Why less resistance means more time for actual storytelling and how intimacy work is expanding into more nuanced and diverse narratives
• The role of intimacy professionals in shaping authentic representation  and how intimacy work is expanding into more nuanced and diverse narratives
• The responsibility of ICs to honor complexity—not simplify it

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

If I just get better… I’ll get more work.

That belief is everywhere in this industry.
 And it’s quietly exhausting a lot of really talented people.

In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most persistent myths in intimacy work, and honestly, across the arts as a whole.

Because yes… your craft matters.
 But it’s not the whole picture.

We talk about what actually creates a sustainable career in a gig-based industry. The part no one teaches. The part that determines whether you keep getting hired or quietly get passed over.

From perfectionism and self-doubt…
To networking, finances, and follow-through…
To redefining what it means to be a “successful” artist…

This conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s really going on behind the scenes.

If you’ve ever questioned your talent because the gigs aren’t consistent…
This episode will give you a different lens to look through.

👂 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

•  Why being a highly skilled artist doesn’t automatically lead to more gigs 
•  The overlooked business and relationship skills that actually drive repeat work 
•  How perfectionism and “not good enough” thinking can stall your career 
•  What’s really happening during slow seasons—and how to respond without panic 
•  A practical strategy for turning your intimacy skillset into multiple income streams 

🔗 Resources & Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

What if the biggest thing standing between you and becoming a more effective intimacy professional is not another certification, protocol, or tool, but your own personal growth? In this episode, Marie Percy and Claire Warden tackle one of the most important and least discussed aspects of intimacy work: the internal work required to do this role ethically and effectively. From managing your own reactions and assumptions to understanding your relationship with power, validation, and control, this conversation explores why self awareness is not a bonus skill for intimacy professionals. It is a professional responsibility. Whether you are brand new to the field or years into your career, this episode offers a powerful invitation to examine how your inner world impacts every room you enter.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why personal growth and self awareness are essential professional skills for intimacy coordinators and directors 
• How your emotional state, body language, and energy influence the people around you, even when you say nothing 
• The difference between sharing power and trying to control a room through fear, judgment, or assumptions 
• Claire and Marie’s unforgettable cookie oven metaphor for identifying what belongs to you and what belongs to others 
• How ego, validation seeking, and the desire to be the hero can quietly interfere with your ability to serve collaborators 

🔗 Important Links

• Instagram: @idcprofessionals 
• Email: info@idcprofessionals.com
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit