Sarah speaks to Dr. Kate Stephenson, a historian with a particular set of specialties - school uniforms, sex in Edinburgh, and condoms. Coined as the 'condom historian,' Kate and Sarah speak about sex in Edinburgh throughout time and the history of condoms. Women dominated the industry and people would reuse them again and again. The history is fascinating!

Find Kate's work: http://www.katestephenson.co.uk/p/home.html

or email: epstephenson@gmail.com

Find Sarah:

Instagram: @psychandthecitybk

Bluesky: @psychandthecity.bsky.social

Sarah interviews Stella Harris, certified intimacy educator, sex coach, and author. Stella gives the 4-1-1 on how to ACTUALLY listen, hear, and be a safer person when it comes to communication, especially about some of the scarier stuff - sex, relationships, and kink. Stella's tools will help you put language to what you want and share it.

Stella Harris is the author of two books, Tongue Tied: Untangling Communication in Sex, Kink, and Relationships, and The Ultimate Guide to Threesomes.

You can find Sarah on instagram @psychandthecitybk & @psychandthecity.bsky.social

and Stella at www.stellaharris.net

@stellaharriserotica on Instagram

or @stellaharris.bsky.social

Today is part two of the dive into Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Dissociative Trauma Disorders. Anne and Lexi, co-founders of Beauty After Bruises, are back! This week, we are primarily focusing on dissociative trauma disorders. We debunk myths about DID and dissociation - like, how it's rare (it's not) and discuss the BASK model of dissociation. And finally, Dun dun duuun! the last third of the episode is dedicated to talking coping, grounding, self-care, and management strategies - THEY DO EXIST. This episode is suited for clinicians, survivors, and anyone looking to learn more.  

Some of the topics we discuss may be activating to some folks. 

CW: ritual abuse  

Resources:  

Beauty After Bruises: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/ 

 Dispelling DID Myths and Misconceptions: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/blog/didmyths 

International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation: https://www.isst-d.org/ 

DES II: The Dissociative Experiences Scale measures a wide variety of types of dissociation, including both problematic dissociative experiences, and normal dissociative experiences (e.g., day-dreaming). Try it yourself: http://traumadissociation.com/des 

Find Sarah: @Psychandthecitybk, Twitter: @psychndthecity; www.psychandthecitybk.com

This episode serves as an initial dive into Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Dissociative Disorders. Sarah speaks with Anne and Lexi, co-founders of Beauty After Bruises, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing survivors of childhood trauma with both access and funding to receive therapy and/or inpatient care - while creating professional and public awareness for Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders. In the first episode of a two-part series, we discuss the basics of CPTSD and dissociative disorders - what they are and what they're not - and how survivors are the most steady and creative people we know. Part two (coming next week) will focus on additional psycho education on the 'smaller' symptoms in addition to offering a healthy supply of coping, healing, and relational supports.   Resources: Beauty After Bruises: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/ Dispelling DID Myths and Misconceptions: https://www.beautyafterbruises.org/blog/didmyths International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation: https://www.isst-d.org/

Sarah interviews Jim Duffy, harm reduction advocate and founder of Smoke Works - an organization that provides injection alternatives and safe smoking supplies to syringe service providers and groups nationwide. Harm reduction programs often have difficulty obtaining and distributing pipes due to budgetary and legal hurdles. Smoke Works aims to fix that.

Dedicated to drug user health equity and HIV and overdose prevention, Jim Duffy leads with lived experience and Smoke Works shares profits with underfunded groups performing direct-service work.

In this episode we discuss crack, meth, and stimulant use, damaging paraphernalia laws, and why giving people access to pipes is a public health initiative. Jim and Sarah explicitly discuss drug use, stigma, and tips on what to do if you’ve taken too much or how to support someone who has. 

Resources:

patreon.com/SmokeWorks

Instagram: @Smokeworksboston

Smokeworkspipes.com

Sarah // Instagram: @psychandthecitybk

Psych and the City Podcast: www.psychandthecitybk.com

Harm reduction resources mentioned in the episode: 

Good Works: North Alabama Harm Reduction

Rad! Health Resources

Punks With Lunch

Horny after a partner dies? NORMAL.  Body and emotional numbness? NORMAL.  Completely lost or somewhere in between? NORMAL.  THE advocate for ageless sexuality Joan Price, shares insights from her book, Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your Beloved. After losing her partner of seven years, being the sex educator and senior sexpert she is, Joan went looking for resources and help. She found resources about sex. She found resources about grief. But found none at the intersection of what to do about grief and sex, particularly after losing a partner. There, Joan experienced the culture of silence surrounding sex and grief. With her book and teachings, Joan's trying to shift the myths and shame embedded in the current way we think about sex and grief, specifically after the death of a partner. Joan tells me that whatever you're feeling, or wanting, or not wanting, it's probably normal.  Learn more about Joan: www.joanprice.com Listen to all the episodes at: www.psychandthecitybk.com

On this fine Monday, Sarah interviews Reb Holmberg, aka Mistress Amanda Wildefyre, about their work and journey as a professional dominatrix for over 30 years. This episode discusses some of the basics of (only!) a few of Mistress Amanda’s specialties and interests: bondage, clinic and medical play, and cross-dressing. Amanda not only shares about their journey from Dominatrix to Educatrix, but speaks fondly of the freedom and healing that comes from permission to break free of the gender binary.

Reb Holmberg, aka Mistress Amanda Wildefyre, is a professional dominatrix, writer, performer and BDSM educator practicing in Minneapolis and worldwide. For over three decades, they have contributed to the BDSM scene by offering workshops on a wide variety of topics, including Predicament Bondage, Suspension, Mummification, Pony Play, Electroplay, Genitorture and Switching for Tops. They are currently studying with the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment (www.InstituteforSexuality.com) towards Sex Educator Certification.

Resources:

www.rebholmberg.com

www.amandawildefyre.com

IG: @realamandawildefyre; @reb.holmberg

IG: @psychandthecitybk

www.sarah-kelleher.com

After a little hiatus, Sarah speaks with Jordan Dann, psychoanalyst and relationship coach specializing in somatic therapy and couples therapy. Jordan and Sarah talk about Gestalt therapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing, the theoretical underpinnings that inform Jordan's work as a couples therapist. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this episode - whether you're a fellow therapist or a person that is in relation with others (hello, all of us!), this episode has some one liners that calmed my nervous system. In addition to talking theory and science, Jordan also shares some exercises and concepts individuals and couples can do to improve communication and become more attuned with themselves.  Additional Topics of Discussion: Codependency, Closure, Mirroring, the nervous system, attachment theory, somatics, trauma Resources:  Jordan Dann: https://jordandann.com/ Instagram: @jordandann Getting the Love You Want By: Harville Hendrix, Ph.D Sarah Kelleher: www.sarah-kelleher.com, @psychandthecitybk

Sarah and her friend, end-of-life doula Lucy, discuss - yep, you guessed it: grief, death, and sex. In this episode, Lucy shares about what exactly an end-of-life doula is and all the (some wrong) ways we think about grief. We discuss the dying process, what a consent-focused approach to end of life care can look like, and how grief can show up in our bodies and sex lives. Lucy says, a lot of being an end-of-life doula is reminding people that they have choice and agency over what happens to their bodies throughout the dying process.

Resources:

Guest Contact: Lucy Moran, lucimo91@gmail.com

Host: Sarah K, sarahkelleher91@gmail.com; psychandthecitybk

Book: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

The Artist’s Grief Deck is a wonderful resource for prompts to move through grief during this pandemic. It has artwork and rituals and can be accessed here: https://griefdeck.com

If someone is interested in finding certified end of life doulas in their area, they can look through the directory in the National End of Life Doula Alliance’s website: https://www.nedalliance.org

This is a great resource to start having conversations around death and dying with your loved ones. They offer free guides and conversation prompts to tackle difficult subjects: https://theconversationproject.org

Sarah speaks to her friend Shaina - one of nine siblings, who was born and raised in the Chabad Chassidic Orthodox Jewish world of Brooklyn, New York. Shaina educates Sarah about what it was like for her growing up Orthodox and shares about some of the history and practices of the Chabad Chassidic community. Shaina shares her experience with sex education (or lack thereof), religion, and ultimately her journey with self and belief. 

Shaina is a licensed social worker in New York State and California. Today, Shaina is a practicing San Francisco and Oakland therapist who works with couples, adults, teenagers, and children. In her work, Shaina is most passionate about educating, and empowering teenagers and children about all things related to body safety and healthy sexuality. In her spare time Shaina can be found singing to Chassidic music, swimming, dreaming of her nieces and nephews, or playing with her puppy, Sivan. Shaina currently resides in San Francisco with her partner. 

Resources: Footsteps, https://footstepsorg.org/

Footsteps is the only organization in the United States providing comprehensive services to people who have chosen to leave their ultra-Orthodox communities and begin new lives. Based in New York, Footsteps provides a range of services, including social and emotional support, educational and career guidance, workshops and social activities, and access to resources. Thanks to Footsteps, former ultra-Orthodox Jews have a safe, supportive, and flourishing community to turn to as they work to define their own identities, build new connections, and lead productive lives on their own terms.

Find me at @psychandthecitybk on instagram; Twitter: @psychndthecity

Sarah speaks with Saniyyah fellow sex educator, harm reductionist, abortion doula, and so much more on today's episode. Niyyah works as an abortion doula and shares some of what their experience has been like as someone who helps support folks dealing with the loss of planned and spontaneous abortions. The second part of the episode, Niyyah and Sarah discuss polyamory, and Niyyah's practice as a solo polyamorist. Niyyah shares some of the most important lessons they've learned through their life and work.  Resources and Where to Learn More:  Where to Find Niyyah:  Instagram: @ heauxonthegeaux Twitter: @ heauxgeaux Website: heauxonthegeaux.net https://www.plancpills.org/ @nycforabortionrights @plancpills ABORTION IN THE US: REALITIES, LAWS & HEALING is a course created by Dr. Bianca Laureano and is the most comprehensive course I've seen and taken on abortion. I highly recommend all of Dr. Bianca Laureano's courses: https://www.anteuppd.com/abortion/ Post Abortion Syndrome: A Kero, U Hogberg, A Lalos (2004). Wellbeing and Mental Growth Long-term Effects of Legal Abortion, Social Science & Medicine, volume 58, issue 12, pages 2559-2569. https://prochoice.org/patients/abortion-what-to-expect/

Sarah speaks with Jessica Fern, psychotherapist and author of Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma, and Consenual Nonmonogamy, about...yup, you guessed it - attachment, trauma, and nonmonogamy. Jessica shares about the different dimensions of attachment and how our styles can show up in all areas of life - not just romantic relationships. Sarah and Jessica also talk trauma - particularly the nested model of trauma that Jessica developed. Finally, Jessica shares specifics about what we can do to cultivate secure attachment in our relationships. It has to be said, Polysecure was one of my favorite reads of the year. I refer to it often. 

Resources: 

www.JessicaFern.com

Polysecure

Sarah speaks to Nicole Prause, PhD, an expert sexuality scientist and researcher. The two discuss the TRUTH aka the studies and science surrounding manosphere communities and no fap and no nut forums. We also address the the myth of sex and porn addiction and treatment planning for those who struggle.

Sarah speaks with Dr. Tila Pronk, an assistant professor in social psychology at Tilburg University, who specializes in love and relationships. Dr. Pronk guides us through her research on executive functioning (a set of processes that have to do with managing oneself and one's resources in order to achieve a goal), forgiveness, and how to minimize online dating burnout. This episode  discusses questions like - Why some people are better able to protect and maintain a relationship than others. What does it take to forgive? And what are some of the potential psychological drawbacks of uninhibited online dating? Resources: The Stroop Test: https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/java/ready.html Dr. Tila Pronk's Research: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/staff/t-pronk Instagram: @tila.pronk; Twitter: @tilapronk The articles discussed in this episode are below:  A rejection mind-set: Choice overload in online dating  Pronk, T. & Denissen, J., 2020, In: Social Psychological and Personality Science. 11, 3, p. 388-396 Marriage as a training ground: Examining change in self-control and forgiveness over the first 4 years of marriage  Pronk, T. M., Buyukcan-Tetik, A., Iliás, M. & Finkenauer, C., 2019, In: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 36, 1, p. 109-130 What it takes to forgive: When and why executive functioning facilitates forgiveness. Pronk, T. M., Karremans, J. C., Overbeek, G., Vermulst, A. A. & Wigboldus, D. H. J., 2010, In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 98, 1, p. 119-131 How can you resist? Executive control helps romantically involved individuals to stay faithful. Pronk, T. M., Karremans, J. C. & Wigboldus, D. H. J., 2011, In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 100, 5, p. 827-837 Sarah Kelleher Instagram: @psychandthecitybk Twitter: @psychndthecity Website: sarah-kelleher.com

Welcome to season 2 of Psych and the City!  Sarah speaks with coworker Dr. Jeffrey Birnbaum, a pediatric HIV specialist who has been working in HIV care since 1992. For the first part of the episode, Sarah and Jeff discuss perinatal HIV, injectable HIV treatment, and why transgender people are at an increased risk for HIV. Jeff and Sarah discuss a somewhat controversy in HIV medicine - if positive parents should breastfeed infants. Jeff is a bit of a pioneer in the field for supporting parents. Next, Sarah and Jeff discuss symptoms and treatment of the STD syphilis so you can know what to expect. While this episode leans a little medical, Jeff helps us understand syphilis and HIV better way better. Plus, we made a jingle. Even nuanced conversations about sex education can be super fun and interesting.  Dr. Jeffrey Birnbaum is the Executive Director of HEAT, where he has provided medical care to hundreds of HIV+ and high risk youth ages 13-24 since 1992.  Dr. Birnbaum is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. In addition to his clinical work at HEAT, he devotes much of his time in community mobilization efforts to identify and engage HIV+ youth in care.  He has pioneered efforts in Brooklyn to engage young gay and bisexual male youth and transgender youth from communities of color in medical care, prevention activities and HIV counseling and testing efforts.  Breakdown of Episode: Introduction to Episode Breastfeeding and Perinatal HIV  HIV and Transgender Communities Syphilis What is Syphilis? Treatment of Syphilis Testing and Additional Information about Syphilis Resources:  https://heatprogram.org/about-us/ cdc.gov/std/syphilis/Syphilis-pocket-guide-final-508.pdf cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/syphilis.htm cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis.htm cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/policies/cdc-hiv-transgender-brief.pdf

Sarah speaks with Tracey Helton, author of The Big Fix, Hope After Heroin and known to many as the Narcan Lady. After getting sober 23 years ago, Tracey has spent her life as a harm reductionist working in overdose prevention and advocating for people who use drugs. Tracey and Sarah discuss shifts in the drug trade, the barriers to recovery and harm reduction services (P.S. it's not the individual), and the policy failures that are deaths from overdoses.  August 21 is International Overdose Awareness Day. Today we honor those we have lost and their families. International Overdose Awareness Day is recognized in more than 40 countries. We pause on August 31 to honor those lost as well as raise awareness and instigate action and discussion about evidence-based prevention and drug policy. You are not alone.  https://www.overdoseday.com/about-the-campaign/ Below are organizations and people doing incredible work in supporting people who use drugs.  Resources:  Tracey Helton - Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @traceyh415 @harm.reduction.saves.lives www.harmreductionsaveslives.org Harm Reduction Coalition: @harmreductioncoalition, https://harmreduction.org/ Understanding Naloxone: https://harmreduction.org/issues/overdose-prevention/overview/overdose-basics/understanding-naloxone/

Sarah speaks with Mariah Grant, a human rights and migration specialist with a focus on migrant and sex workers’ rights, freedom of movement, and labor exploitation. As the Research and Advocacy Director at the The Sex Workers Project of the Urban Justice Center she oversees Sex Workers Project advocacy efforts and development of original research. Mariah and Sarah discuss the initiatives of SWP, labor exploitation, and society's need for real and honest conversations about the realities of sex and work in general. The way SWP likes to look at human trafficking is that for human trafficking to be properly addressed it’s really about protecting and defending the rights of workers - a conversation that regardless of the kind of work we do applies to us all.  Resources: The Sex Workers Project is a national organization that defends the human rights of sex workers by destigmatizing and decriminalizing people in the sex trades through free legal services, education, research, and policy advocacy. https://swp.urbanjustice.org/ START ACT: https://startactny.org/ Instagram: @sexworkersproject DONATE: https://swp.urbanjustice.org/donate/ SEX[UAL] HEALING - https://swp.urbanjustice.org/sexual-healing/#about-debut

Sarah sits virtually down with Mari Wrobi to talk about being intersex. Mari is a nonbinary, intersex, queer, and Latinx interACT youth advocate and educator whose work fights for the human rights of intersex people and educates the public on what being intersex actually means. Turns out - not shockingly at all - there are a lot of misconceptions floating around and harm being caused through forced intersex surgeries. Most of us know little to nothing about being intersex. Here's where to start. 

Resources and Additional Learning:

Mari Wrobi, Instagram: @genderfenderbender; Tiktok: @genderfenderbender, Etsy shop: @genderfenderbender 

Intersex justice project: https://www.intersexjusticeproject.org/; Instagram: @intersexjusticeproject

InterConnect, Instagram @interconnectsupportgroup

InterACT, Instagram: @interact_adv

Hans Lindahl - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJLp0Da6r88E8soAja29zA

Pidgeon Pagonis, Instagram @pidgeon

Emily Quinn - https://www.youtube.com/user/Emilord; TedTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stUl_OapUso

Sean Saifa Wall, Instagram: @saifaemereges 

River Gallo, Instagram: @rivergallo

Books about being intersex by intersex people

Born Both, By: Hida Viloria 

Intersex (For Lack of a Better Word), By: Thea Hillman

Contesting Intersex, By: Georgiann Davis

XOXY, By: Kimberly Zieselman

Sarah speaks with Zach, a self-proclaimed nerd, sex geek, and consent educator. In this extra long episode, Zach and Sarah discuss A LOT -Zach's 10+ years experience with polyamory, his five pillars of consent, intersectionality and kink, and Zach's life as a Dominant - how it's helped his mental health, his missteps, and what he's learned.  Zach became interested in consent as a topic over 5 years ago as a personal research project. He is currently completing his Masters of Social Work degree at University of Houston to be of even more benefit to his community. Zach also serves as the Gulf Coast Advocate for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF), attending professional social work conventions, providing info on kink & polyamory to social work and mental health professionals. He is currently serving as an intern of social work at Houston’s local LGBTQ Center, where he serves as a group facilitator and clinical student intern. Zach is a member of the Board of Loving More (www.lovemore.com), the nation’s oldest Polyamory Advocacy organization.  Zach puts his Consent Educator muscles to work on www.consentwarrior.com, where he consults and schedules presentations on the topics of ‘The Five Pillars of Consent’©, ‘Radical Self-ish Care’, ‘BDSM & the Law’ and does consultation sessions for self care. Find Zach at:  Consentwarrior.com @zinvictuz @black_sexgeek

Sarah interviews Anya Aggarwal @addictionwithanya, an honorary research assistant at Drug Science in the UK about theories of addiction and drug policy. After growing up in Singapore, a country with some of the strictest drug laws in the world, Anya became a proponent of harm reduction tactics and works to demystify drug use and humanize people who use drugs. Later, Sarah brings back her boyfriend Mark to discuss his experience with using Suboxone, a medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for his opiate addiction.

Anya Aggarwal has a psychology degree from the university of Bristol and is doing a master’s in addiction at Kings College London. Currently, she is involved in a research project in conjunction with Columbia University (New York) and this has a particular focus on naloxone carriage. After this, she has a PhD offer in public health which will look at ‘understanding and fostering public support for policies designed to improve the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs’

More learning:

@addictionwithanya

@harm.reduction.saves.lives

@harmreductioncoalition

Rose Parker, @psychosispsositivity, lives with Schizophrenia, Psychosis, and is recovered from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Rose is a Psychosis Advocate and is about to enter graduate school with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist exclusively for Psychotic people. On this episode, Rose shares her story and experience related to living with Psychosis, Schizophrenia, and Dissociative Identity Disorder and navigating her life in academia and beyond.  Additional Resources: The Center Cannot Hold by Ellen Saks The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays By Esme Weijun Wang I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help By Xavier Amador American Psychosis By E. Fuller Torrey Surviving Schizophrenia By E. Fuller Torrey

Cosplay, short for 'costume-play', is the practice of wearing costumes, props, and accessories to represent and embody a character. Typically, cosplay is the extension of a person’s love for a character or genre, such as science fiction and fantasy, anime and manga, comic books, and other creative media.  For cosplayers and fans, cosplay culture is mostly a space of freedom and expression. For people that don't feel the same connection, cosplay is often misunderstood and seen as just plain weird.  

So, why do people enjoy cosplay? Why do cosplayers choose to embody certain characters? How do they feel while in costume? Does wearing a mask make them feel different?  Sarah asks these questions and more to professional cosplayer and online content creator, Jess @feministchronicles, whose craft focuses on the integration of cosplay, women’s empowerment, and body positivity. Jess is a South Florida native, has a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Women's Studies, and has been cosplaying since the summer of 2017.  

Jess's Social Media: IG: @feministchronicles 

Twitter: @femchronicles_ 

Further Reading: Robin S. Rosenberg: Expressions of Fandom: Findings from a Psychological Survey of Cosplay and Costume Wear

Sarah speaks to consent educator and founder of Comprehensive Consent, Sarah Casper @comprehensiveconsent, about the missing pieces from today's conversations regarding consent. Sarah tells us about how she developed her framework, her workshops, and why it matters. She also explains why blocking sites from your children is the wrong approach, ways to handle rejection, and that consent is a practice not a one-time thing. 

Sarah speaks with Tabitha, a South Dakota-based illustrator whose work focuses on menstruation. Through her work, she hopes to promote period positivity and awareness in a fun, unique way. Sarah and Tabitha discuss the bleeding basics as well as different types of period products, the history of taxes on those products, period poverty, what actually happens during menstruation and much, much more. This episode aims to scratch the surface on menstruation and provide the education surrounding bodies we all need but didn't get in health class. Learn much more through the resource list below! Resources: Tabitha: @period_prophetess https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty/ https://period-action.org/advocacy https://www.wearehervillage.org https://www.expectingrelief.org https://www.momsformomsnyc.org https://www.aclu.org/report/menstrual-equity @psychandthecitybk

CW: Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Spirituality, Religion, Spiritual and Religious Abuse and Trauma, Adverse Religious Experiences Sarah speaks with Kayla Felten, LICSW and Kendra Snyder, LMFT, NCC about their experiences growing up in fundamentalist evangelical communities. Now, their work as therapists includes holding space for folks navigating Religious Trauma, Spiritual Abuse, and Adverse Religious Experiences. In this episode, (it's one of my favorites), Kendra and Kayla share how they're reclaiming their bodies, intuitions, and whole selves through deconstruction and reclamation.  Resources: Spiritual Power Inventory  What is Purity Culture? https://lindakayklein.com/what-is-purity-culture/ Website: Reclamation Collective Instagram: @reclamationcollective  Kendra Snyder www.kendrasnydertherapy.com To find out more about Kayla's psychedelic assisted psychotherapy work, please visit iit-mn.com

Sarah speaks with Adrie Rose, @adrierising, about the legal approaches currently applied to sex work. Adrie is a sociology graduate student, freelance writer, photographer, and former sex worker, sidelined by the pandemic whose research focuses on the ways that financial institutions, online communities, and social media platforms respond to the criminalization of sex work. Adrie and Sarah discuss criminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and finally, decriminalization - the approach that sex workers are fighting for. If you care about human rights, labor rights, feminism, stopping gendered violence, transphobia, misogyny, and racism - listening to sex workers is a great place to start.  Correction** I stated that France operates under partial criminalization. However, France adopted the Nordic Model in 2016. More learning and resources: @adrierising (Twitter and Instagram) adrierose.link Revolting Prostitutes The Fight for Sex Workers' Rights By: Molly Smith and Juno Mac TedTalk: The laws that sex workers really want by Juno Mac Hackinghustling.org Support: Whose Corner is it Anyway?

CW: This episode speaks about drug use, mentions of self-harm, and eating disorder behaviors. Sarah speaks to Jessica Lamb, 1/2 of the team behind the incredibly informative Instagram @harm.reduction.saves.lives and the East Kootenay Network of People Who Use Drugs (EKNPUD). Jessica and Patrick spend their time advocating and creating peer supports to help dismantle the stigma and the drug war. Jessica is a harm reduction advocate who believes that a harm reduction approach is not only the solution to the war on drugs but saves countless lives, hers included. Resources and more learning: @harm.reduction.saves.lives National Harm Reduction Coalition: harmreduction.org

What exactly is sexual attraction and what is it like to go through life not experiencing it? Sarah and Angela Chen, author of one of the first books about asexuality - ACE What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex - discuss the ace worlds.  Resources: http://www.angelachen.org/ www.asexuality.org/ https://asexualagenda.wordpress.com/ www.soundsfakepod.com www.aokpod.com

Sarah and Lea Salonganisa breakdown Section 230, FOSTA-SESTA, The EARN-IT Act, and the newer proposed bill SISEA. Lea teaches us that bills never really die, how these bills infringe on the rights and safety of all, and are detrimental to the lives and safety of sex workers. If you care about human rights and cyber safety, you care about this. 

The Petition:

https://www.change.org/p/jeff-merkley-stop-sisea-stop-internet-exploitation-act-from-passing

READING AND RESOURCES

@lea_salonganisa

https://hackinghustling.org/ (FOSTA/SESTA AND EARN-IT, plus a ton of information in general)

https://twitter.com/acvalens/status/1340338322326106112

Section 230: https://www.theverge.com/21273768/section-230-explained-internet-speech-law-definition-guide-free-moderation

ORGANIZATIONS:

https://swopusa.org/

https://www.stjamesinfirmary.org/

Sarah speaks with Chara, @theblackbisexual, who centers the Black, Bisexual, and Disabled narrative on intersectionality. Chara shares her journey with bisexuality, language, sex education, and sitting with self. Chara discusses common bisexual myths and examines how our identities impact the way we move through the world and discover our sexual selves. Find Chara @theblackbisexual

Fellow podcast host and comedian, Honey Leavitt, shares their journey with clinical depression and what comes up navigating an open marriage. She shares about rejection, recovery, and what she’s learned.

Sarah and Jozey Moon - performer and Soldiers of Pole board member - discuss labor movements, unions, the impact of COVID-19 on clubs, and Instagram's updated terms of service. How is this related to sex and psychology? Workplace civility impacts our mental and physical health and everybody deserves a safe and sane work environment. 

Resources:

@soldiers_of_pole

@juicy.jozey

Twitter: juicyjozeyy

Instagram, Stop Unfairly Censoring Nudity and Sexuality Petition - Sign! 

This link is the petition mentioned in the episode regarding Instagram's updated Terms of Service. Please sign and share. 

Michelle Hammer, @schizophrenic.nyc, is a Schizophrenia activist and the creator and founder of the company Schizophrenic.NYC. Michelle was diagnosed with Schizophrenia at 22, after a misdiagnosis of Bipolar Disorder at age 18. Michelle's company mission is to reduce stigma by starting conversations about mental health.

Michelle and Sarah discuss common symptoms, misconceptions surrounding a schizophrenia diagnosis, sex and medications, and Michelle shares her thoughts on schizophrenia-related semantics and language choices. 

More information about Michelle and her work can be found at: https://www.schizophrenic.nyc/ 

BONUS EPISODE! 

 Sarah speaks with Christina Tesoro, LMSW, a writer, sex educator, and therapist, who specializes in sex worker affirming care. Christina's new book, Death to Whorephobia: A Guide to Sex Worker Affirming Care comes out tomorrow, December 17th, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.  

Christina and Sarah discuss the shortcomings of social work curricula, what whorephobia is, and how it functions in society.  Christina speaks to some harmful myths surrounding sex work and the stigma that impacts the lives and care of sex workers again and again. 

They discuss the ingrained whorephobia in all of us.  Information for Christina's e-book + more can be found here: 

 https://janistherapy.com 

 @janis_therapy

Sarah speaks with co-founder of the Equitable Care Certification, Soleil Merroir and poet-activist, Jenna Torres about the first ever curriculum for therapists created by sex workers. The Equitable Care Certification (ECC) is created by sex workers, sex working therapists, and allies; to help do just that - build a more equitable care model for sex workers seeking mental health care. In this episode, we discuss the barriers and experiences sex workers often have when pursuing mental health care and what is being done to address the major gaps. Therapists, anyone looking to learn more about sex work, and anyone breathing - this episode is for you. To support, donate, learn more or to become the best therapist ever: visit https://www.equitablecarecert.com/https://www.zeppwellness.com/. Instagram: @equitablecarecertification To find our amazing guests: Jenna, on instagram @monathairgoals; Soleil, on instagram @cyborgdreamz You can find me: @psychandthecitybk on instagram; TikTok: @psychandthecitybk The Equitable Care Certification (ECC) is created by sex workers, sex work-affirming therapists and sex working therapists; it is composed of the Equitable Care Coalition & the Curriculum Committee. The Equitable Care Coalition broadly supports the creation of the certification through outreach, marketing & consulting. The Curriculum Committee —led entirely by QTPOC, sex working therapists— creates all course content. ECC is overseen by two sex working therapists, Raquel Savage & Angie Gunn LCSW, CST, CSTS.

TW: This episode discusses partner violence and abuse.  

Sarah and Angelynn - a therapist and activist with a decade of organizing experience in anti-violence movements, harm reduction advocacy, and economic and racial justice - discuss the ways in which abuse is embedded in culture and the ways it can manifest. This episode covers the type of abuses that can happen on micro- and macro- levels, and everywhere in between. Angelynn and Sarah also discuss the history of the anti-violence movement and the significance of December 17th, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. 

Resources: 

Educational Resources on the Anti-Violence Movement

The Color of Violence, by Angela Davis

The Revolution Starts at Home

Sex Worker's Rights and December 17th Resources

December 17th SWOP

www.swopbehindbars.org/

Organization's Addressing the Intersection of State and Interpersonal Violence

Survived and Punished

Just Detention International

Organizations Addressing the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, USA

It Starts With Us

Native Youth Sexual Health Network

Organization Address Boys and Men impacted by Sexual Violence

1 in 6

Organizations Addressing LGBTQ Partner Abuse

Network La Red

Northwest Network

Sarah and 24/7 collared submissive Lina Dune (@askasub) discuss BDSM as if Sarah was an alien whose first day on earth was this interview. By sharing her personal experience as a submissive, Lina talks the basics of sane and healing BDSM and answers some of the most asked questions surrounding kink. Sarah and Lina discuss psychology, shame, and how we tend to eroticize the forbidden. This episode is for people looking to learn more about kink and anyone who has ever had a feeling about their sexuality. Yes, I mean any feeling at all.

In honor of World AIDS Day, Sarah and PrEP specialist Natalia discuss where the United States has been to where we are now in the fight to end the HIV epidemic. The two discuss the basics of HIV, an abbreviated version of the history, and how to prevent infection. HIV is 100% preventable and manageable, if you have access to information and care. This episode discusses HIV and AIDS from a risk reduction framework. Resources: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.html https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/history-of-aids

For titillating Tuesday, Sarah discusses a psychological theory about....love. This short but sweet episode is the perfect mix of of history and mystery. Most definitely titillating.

Porn performer, director, and trans activist, Chelsea Poe, talks psychological BDSM, ethical porn, and her hopes for the future of the industry. Sarah and Chelsea discuss the progress and aftermath of Chelsea's championing for transwomen and what she's learned after 9+ years as a performer. Find Chelsea on twitter at @chelseapoe666 and on instagram: @fakechelseapoe

Caz and Amber, from the Disability and Sexuality Access Network, and Sarah discuss all the things society assumes (incorrectly) about sex and disability. They talk fetishization, internalized ableism, "helper people,"  and prove there's always more than meets the eye when it comes to navigating sex, society, and our own assumptions. 

Sarah meets her first Craigslist guest, Mike. They discuss the reasons behind Mike’s repeated infidelities, what it’s like walking in on a parent having an affair, and how Mike’s perspective and treatment of women has changed.

Simone is a dancer, a soon-to-be lawyer, and the owner of the page @womenswhork who not only studied law but is living through the very real implications of two newish laws intended to curb trafficking: SESTA/FOSTA. The effects are pretty disastrous.

Sarah's solo snippet for the week. She talks about the new abortion law in Poland that resulted in protests around the country (duh), and the scary stats about abortions in America. 

As a trauma survivor herself, therapist Jessi, speaks to her work with survivors of trauma, treatment techniques, and the potential healing powers of BDSM and kink. In this episode, we’ll talk the basics of trauma, neuroplasticity, and how trauma can affect our sexual lives. AND how to work through it.

Sarah speaks with Marysa Carter, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, DPT, PT who specializes in pelvic health and sex education. Let me answer your question before you finish. Yes, if you have a pelvis, YOU have a pelvic floor. Absolutely flooding with knowledge, Arkansas-based Marysa gives me the basics - like, what even is a pelvic floor? - in addition to covering deeper topics - such as myofascial pain, vaginismus, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, and endometriosis. If you struggle with pain, incontinence, or simply just want to learn to more: give this gorgeous area of your body the attention it craves! Start here. No prior knowledge needed! 

Resources:

Marysa Carter on Instagram: @pelvichealthwithmarysa

@jillkrapfmd; @vaginarehabdoctor; @dr.susieg; and @thevaginawhisperer on Instagram.

⁠Dr. Bri’s vibrant pelvic health⁠ page on YouTube. 

Nancy’s Nook for Endometriosis Education and the Pelvic Pain Support Network are support groups on Facebook. 

Intimate Rose is a company created by a pelvic floor PT that has a lot of video resources. Marysa have a discount code for them!:  ⁠intimaterose.com/MARYSA1⁠

There’s also a short film called Tightly Wound about vaginismus that Marysa recommends often. 

@psychandthecitybk

Podcast website: www.psychandthecitybk.com

Sarah’s first solo show! Titillating Tuesday happens every, you guessed it, Tuesday! This week, Sarah is reviewing Zoe Ligon and Elizabeth Renstrom’s book Carnal Knowledge: Sex Education You Didn’t Get in School. A quick episode about what Sarah learned.

Sex educator Ellen speaks to problems with current sex ed and debunks common sex myths we’ve all been taught. Also, a not-so-friendly reminder that DJing on clitorises is not advised.

Dildologist and sex toy blogger, Cy, talks to me about cervical orgasms, vaginal weightlifting, and what it’s like to be a professional sex toy critic. We also discuss attachment theory and terrible dating advice. Resources: Attached. The New Science Behind Adult Attachment and How it Can Help You Find ans Keep Love by Amir Levine, MD and Rachel S.F Heller, MA Www.supersmashcache.com attachmentproject.com

An intro to your host Sarah and her relationship. Her and her man discuss sex, faking orgasms, erectile dysfunction, and what happens when you combine mangos and macadamias.