Episodes

  • Episode 294: The Science of Self-Pleasure (Essential Listen)

    Episode 294: The Science of Self-Pleasure (Essential Listen)
    May 21 2024
    It’s Masturbation Month, so today’s episode is going to be all about self-pleasure! The origins of Masturbation Month date back to 1995, when US Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders stated that masturbation is a natural part of human sexuality and something that should perhaps be taught in sex ed. Elders’ comments set off a political firestorm that ultimately led to her being fired. To mark her unjust dismissal, May 14 was declared National Masturbation Day, which was later expanded to include the entire month of May. For this show, we’re revisiting some of my favorite clips on the history and science of self-pleasure. My guests include Dr. Eric Sprankle, Marie Aoyama from TENGA, professor Carole Hooven, urologist Joshua Gonzalez, sleep researcher Michele Lastella, and sex therapist Emily Jamea. Some of the questions this fascinating group of folks addresses for us include: How have views on masturbation changed over time? What do people fantasize about when they masturbate? Doe
    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • Episode 293: Listener Sex and Relationship Questions, Answered

    Episode 293: Listener Sex and Relationship Questions, Answered
    May 17 2024
    For today’s show, we’re diving into listener questions! I’m going to answer two questions that popped up in my podcast voicemail that I thought were really interesting. The first deals with sensory changes that happen upon reaching orgasm. It seems that some people experience temporary sensory disruptions following climax, including changes in hearing and vision. What’s that all about? The second question involves what to do if you really want to have casual sex, but you seem to struggle with it because you always end up getting too attached. Is there anything you can do about that? Let’s talk about it! Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors! Passionate about building a career in sexuality? Check out the Sexual Health Alliance. With SHA, you’ll connect with world-class experts and join an engaged community of sexuality professionals from arou
    Show more Show less
    18 mins
  • Episode 292: Psychology Doesn’t Know What To Do With Men Anymore

    Episode 292: Psychology Doesn’t Know What To Do With Men Anymore
    May 14 2024
    Modern psychology has a very complicated relationship with gender. Gender differences have become one of the most contentious areas in the field, and it seems like psychology isn’t entirely sure what to do with men anymore. This is especially true for heterosexual men, who are often viewed through a pathological lens. So in today’s show, we’re going to dive into some controversy. Some of the topics we’ll discuss include why men are often blamed for their own sexual problems, why it’s important to acknowledge gender differences in communication styles, and more. I am joined once again by Dr. Stephen Snyder, an AASECT certified sex therapist, relationship therapist, and sexual medicine specialist. Dr. Snyder is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and author of the book LOVE WORTH MAKING: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship. Some of the questions we address include: How ha
    Show more Show less
    30 mins
  • Episode 291: A New Way Of Thinking About Sex

    Episode 291: A New Way Of Thinking About Sex
    May 10 2024
    A lot of sex advice boils down to one popular idea: that good sex is simply a matter of combining the right physical sensations with the right kind of mental activity. In other words, great sex is just friction plus fantasy. However, it’s more complicated than that. To have really great sex, we need to start by understanding the true nature of the sexual self. In today’s show, we’re going to explore a new way of thinking about sex, as well as discuss what you really need to know when it comes to having sex that’s truly worth having. My guest is Dr. Stephen Snyder, an AASECT certified sex therapist, relationship therapist, and sexual medicine specialist. Dr. Snyder is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and author of the book LOVE WORTH MAKING: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship. Some of the questions we address in this episode include: What’s the problem with the R
    Show more Show less
    29 mins
  • Episode 290: How To Have Hot And Healthy Sex For Your Entire Life

    Episode 290: How To Have Hot And Healthy Sex For Your Entire Life
    May 7 2024
    Sex is something that evolves with us over the course of our lives. Your level of desire, the connection you have with your partner(s), and what feels good during sex can all shift quite a lot. However, despite all of these ways that sex tends to change, most of us are expecting that it will stay the same, and that’s where problems arise. In today’s show, we’re going to talk about how to adapt to and embrace sexual change so that you can have hot and healthy sex for your entire life. I am joined once again by Kate Moyle, a psychosexual and relationship therapist based in the United Kingdom. She runs the Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast, and is author of the new book The Science of Sex: Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered. Some of the topics we cover in this episode include: How can we maintain a sense of sexual curiosity over time? What is sexual currency? Why is this concept important for understanding how to maintain a lasting sexual connection? How can taking a pause from
    Show more Show less
    35 mins
  • Episode 289: Popular Sex Questions, Answered By A Sex Therapist

    Episode 289: Popular Sex Questions, Answered By A Sex Therapist
    May 3 2024
    Most sexual problems don’t require intensive therapy to solve because, more often than not, the root cause is a lack of sex education. Most of us never really learned what we need to know about sex or about our own bodies, which makes it all to easy for us to think that there might be something wrong with us when there really isn’t. So in today’s episode, we’re going to be answering some of the most common questions people have about sex. My guest is Kate Moyle, a psychosexual and relationship therapist based in the United Kingdom. She runs the Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast, and is author of the new book The Science of Sex: Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered. Some of the specific questions we dive into include: What are the most common questions that come up in sex therapy? How do I know if I’m having “enough” sex? What’s the best time of the day to have sex? Do aphrodisiacs really work? You can learn more about Kate’s work by visiting her w
    Show more Show less
    35 mins
  • Episode 288: What You Don’t Know About STIs (Essential Listen)

    Episode 288: What You Don’t Know About STIs (Essential Listen)
    Apr 30 2024
    It’s STI Awareness Month, so let’s take some time to brush up on our knowledge of sexually transmitted infections. You may think you already know everything there is to know, but trust me, you don’t! In today’s show, we’re going to discuss some surprising and lesser-known facts about STIs that challenge the conventional wisdom. For example, is someone who has a larger number of sexual partners necessarily more likely to have an STI than someone with fewer partners? Likewise, are things like pubic hair grooming and the rise of online dating apps affecting STI rates? For this show, we’re revisiting my conversation with Dr. Ina Park from all the way back in episode 39. She is an associate professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and author of the book Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. Why is it the case that having more sexual partners doesn’t necessarily translate to having more STIs? Br
    Show more Show less
    44 mins
  • Episode 287: Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychedelic Therapy

    Episode 287: Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychedelic Therapy
    Apr 26 2024
    In the previous episode, we talked all about how psychedelics can help in treating sexual problems. In this episode, we’re going to dive into the ethical and legal considerations of psychedelic-assisted sex therapy. For example, how does consent work when patients are under the influence of a psychedelic drug? Likewise, how do therapists maintain appropriate ethical boundaries when working with clients who are in an altered and potentially vulnerable state? I am joined once again by is Jeff Lundgren, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, AASECT-certified sex therapist, and a psychedelic-assisted therapy provider. He runs a private practice based in Salt Lake City, Utah and is author of the new book “Unfolding Eros: A Journey into Psychedelic-Assisted Sex Therapy.” Some of the specific questions we address this episode include: What kinds of safeguards do practitioners need to be thinking about in order to minimize the risk of harm when someone is undergoing psychedelic-a
    Show more Show less
    31 mins