Porn and full-service sex work are often described as demeaning professions, something a person would do only out of financial desperation, trauma, addiction or coercion. Pixie Mae presents a more nuanced perspective.

Many sex workers have spoken out against policies meant to “rescue” them from their chosen profession. Indeed, “the right to not be rescued” is one of the 6 rights identified by Sangram, a global sex worker organization.

Through her years as a sex worker, Pixie has found personal power in the work, using her body and sexual creativity as a source of financial independence, Like 1 in 3 women, Pixie has survived sexual trauma; her sex work has helped her heal and reclaim her sexual agency. She also sees her clients experience healing and emotional growth through her work.

In a society that tells us that our work is reproachable, Pixie offers affirmation and recommendations for sex workers looking to reclaim their personal power.

@Vanessacliff2

In mainstream media, autism is often depicted as a deterrent to successful romantic or sexual relationships. Steph presents an alternate perspective: autism is a different way of thinking and being that can be harnessed as interpersonal superpowers. For example, autistic people are often highly empathetic, have a strong moral compass and are more comfortable with direct communication. Autism can also be associated with different sensory and sexual desires. Embracing, rather than trying to “fix” these differences allows for a world of exciting freedom and possibility.

Both academic research and Steph’s personal and community experience suggest that forms of non-traditional sexuality, including kink, polyamory and queerness, are more prevalent among autistic people than the general public. Steph describes how BDSM kink allowed them to reconnect with their sexuality as they discovered the importance of novelty and sensation for the way they think and experience the world.

Comfort with thinking outside social norms and communicating their feelings directly with others now helps Steph sustain successful polyamorous relationships. Their partner joins us off-camera to discuss ways they interact with Steph’s neurodivergent thinking and communication styles.

This episode offers autistic people and their loved ones support and ideas in their journey of self-exploration and authentic sexual and romantic connections.

@Vanessacliff2

STI testing is the bedrock of a sustainable sex life, for everyone and especially for happily slutty adults. Most STIs today are easily identified and cured or treated. However, without easy access to testing and early detection, STIs can have devastating life consequences. Stigma, discrimination, fear, and lack of financial investment in preventive sexual healthcare all contribute to more difficulty accessing testing.

Madame X, a career-long nurse, joins us to discuss her experiences and perspectives on STIs. In her teens, Madame X contracted chlamydia. Without access to testing, she ended up finding out about the disease only after it had progressed to the point of needing hospitalization and causing irreparable damage to her reproductive organs.

Although information about and access to testing has improved over the years, today Madame X continues to see barriers to STI testing both in her personal and professional experience. She identifies some of the structural problems that limit access to preventive sexual healthcare and also describes ways that patients can advocate for themselves and help each other to access care.

@Vanessacliff2