Many of us go through periods in our lives when we’re not happy with the amount of sex we do or don't want. In Ep 190 of American Sex Podcast, Cyndi Darnell gives tips for changing our relationship to pleasure and navigating intimacy when one partner is perpetually ‘not in the mood.’ Some of the things we touch on: Mismatched Libido Responsive vs spontaneous desire Arousal vs libido vs desire vs attraction How gender & orientation factor in Reasons people have desire changes & discrepanc...
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 190
Kink isn’t a replacement for therapy, but it can be therapeutic. On Ep 189 Andrea Glik, LMSW explains the impact of trauma on our nervous system, depression as a survival response, the stress response cycle, the difference between glimmers and triggers, how BDSM can be used to heal trauma for both doms and subs, how she integrates clients BDSM experiences into therapy, plus how healing can manifest through CNC, little space, subspace, aftercare, and more. Even if you're not a kinkster, this epis...
May 23, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 189
Being a part of community isn't required to practice BDSM, although it may seem like it due to visibility. What is important is knowing the positive and negative ways community influences the kink subculture. Yes, mainstream myths and stereotypes contribute to BDSM stigma, however, misleading info from the community causes harm too. On ep 188 of American Sex, Sunny Megatron & Kate Loree discuss this plus give advice on verifying the validity of educational info, sniffing out gatekeeping and ...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 188
All relationships are susceptible to hurdles & conflict--resentment, attachment injuries, navigating mental health, unhealthy coping strategies, overcoming societal conditioning, trauma, and more. It’s hard enough between 2 people; in polyamory, we have multiple partners to factor in plus unique issues like jealousy and couple’s privilege. On episode 187 of American Sex Podcast, Kate Loree draws from her years as a polyamorous relationship therapist to talk about strategies for compassionate...
Apr 25, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 187
The kink community has a reputation for being accepting & inclusive. When it comes to race, however, we have some work to do. Recent research published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found at BDSM events people of color were 16x more likely to feel discriminated against & 17x more likely to feel fetishized than their white counterparts. On ep 186 of American Sex podcast, Luna Matatas discusses insight she's gleaned from the monthly Race & Kink discussion series she co-hosts with ...
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 186
U.S. law interprets consensual kink activities as harmful, criminal acts. This makes prosecuting sexual assault cases within the context of BDSM difficult. How can you prove non-consensual sex occurred if kink isn’t considered sex in the eyes of the law, it’s assault? The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom/NCSF worked along with the American Law Institute to establish a legal definition of consent in kink. They just unveiled the New Model Penal Code on Sexual Assault: Affirmative Defense of E...
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 185
On episode 184 of American Sex Podcast, Sunny Megatron & sex-positive therapist, Kate Loree, look at BDSM through an atypical lens. We chat about the misconceptions we worked through as people who stumbled upon kink later in life and how that perspective is helpful now in our careers. We discuss the headspace & strategy needed to tap into the customizable nature of BDSM, plus dive into the science & psychology behind kinky play--why do masochists like suffering? What happens to the b...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 184
On Ep 183 of American Sex Podcast, we talk with Sinclair Sexsmith about dominance & submission. While most are aware that Dom/sub play is common in kink, we also have a very narrow view of what it entails. D/s isn’t always cruel & authoritarian. We talk about the many ways people engage in D/s & how they find strength by surrendering to powerlessness, including: The different types of D/s & selecting areas of control Building healthy dynamics “Subs hold all the power” Balancing f...
Feb 28, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 183
What does the Joe Rogan/Spotify controversy have to do with the freaky things you do in the bedroom? Surprisingly, A LOT! This situation uncovered bigger issues regarding corporate control of information & influence over censorship. In 2022 posting about sexual health, LGBTQIA+ activism, or thirst traps online is risky due to SESTA FOSTA, bank restrictions, and impending legislation like Earn It. Discussions about structural inequity and/or content made by marginalized creators is suppressed...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 182
On episode 181 American Sex Podcast we have the convo you WISH you could have with your doctor . . . if they were sex & kink-positive, didn’t shame or judge, told jokes that made you snort-laugh, and had all the time in the world to answer every one of your questions about sex & genitals. Urologist Dr. Ashley Winter joins us for a fascinating chat about the medical side of the freaky things we do. Some highlights: Myth-busting & pleasure biology of g-spots, squirting, clit sensation,...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 181
On episode 180 of American Sex Podcast, Host & Kink Educator Sunny Megatron Is back for a second installment of free-style BDSM education. She gives helpful tips and busts myths that are commonly spread within the kink community. Topics discussed: Important similarities & differences between the terms BDSM, kink, D/s, fetish, SM Is kink a sexual orientation? The problem with online BDSM tests Clit myth-busting How age play terminology means very different things in various communities Is...
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 180
This week we talk with Andrew Gurza & Heather Morrison, the brother-sister team behind the first line of sex toys for people with disabilities, Bump’n. The idea started a few years ago with a chance conversation about Andrew’s increasing difficulty with self-pleasure due to Cerebral Palsy. Last week, the company they founded launched their first product. Some of what we talk about: Ways the sexual health & wellness industry ignores the needs of people with physical limitations The challe...
Dec 06, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 179
It’s sex toy season! Between all the holiday discounts hitting our inbox and impending supply shortages, many of us are making snap decisions to buy new gear. With more sex toys available than ever before and new technology available, wading through this sea of options can be overwhelming. This week Sunny spills all her tips for selecting toys suited to your body and specific needs so you can get the most bang (pun intended) for your buck. Some of what’s covered: Tips for sex toy gift-giving eti...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 178
Why are so many people into deep anal insertion? One theory is because it can stimulate the vagus nerve. Not only can this feel amazing, but it may also trigger a cascade of health benefits! Ruby Ryder of Pegging Paradise fame joins us to talk about advanced butt stuff & pegging on ep 177 of American Sex Podcast. Some of that we cover: How vagus nerve stimulation via the back door could lead to reduced inflammation, anxiety, and egocentric behavior The somatic similarities between anal play ...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 177
Veronika Kestrel joins us for ep 176 of American Sex Podcast to talk about one of her favorite kinks, Dollification. Dollification is doll roleplay--sounds basic on the surface but dollification is one of the most versatile and customizable kinks adaptable to both sensual and extreme play. Some of what we touch on in this conversation: Viewing kink as a collaborative art Dollification as a vehicle for other kinks/playstyles like: bondage, gender exploration, CNC, humiliation, emotional empowerme...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 24 min
On episode 175 of American Sex Podcast, we talk with Codi Vore and Queen Ava about sex worker mutual aid and the organization they helped co-found, SWAID Las Vegas. Some of what we cover: How mutual aid differs from traditional non-profits & how this strategy eliminates exploitation and inequity common in mainstream charity Why mutual aid is especially beneficial to sex workers and circumvents barriers that are specific to this industry How the pandemic has affected the sex work community an...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 175
On episode 174 of American Sex Podcast Sunny has a conversation with Amp Somers from the Watts Your Safeword Podcast about erotic humiliation and psychological edge play. Some of what we cover: Neurodivergence & psychological kink The trauma love languages can be used for aftercare & trigger plans Negotiation considerations for humiliation play Using kink therapeutically-- what’s helpful & what’s dangerous Shame & BDSM Balancing real-world power dynamics with kink D/s Cultivating...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 174
Jamila M. Dawson, LMFT & August McLaughlin join us for episode 173 of American Sex Podcast to talk about sex, kink and trauma. The pair recently wrote a book on the subject called, With Pleasure: Managing Trauma Triggers for More Vibrant Sex and Relationships. If you’re a human you likely have trauma and whether you realize it or not, it can affect your connection to pleasure. Some of what we cover in this conversation: What trauma is/isn’t If “fuck” is a trauma response like fight/flight/fr...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 173
On episode 172 of American Sex Podcast, Host & Kink Educator Sunny Megatron free-styles BDSM education, gives helpful tips, and busts myths that are commonly spread within the kink community. Topics discussed: Benign masochism & the neuroscience of BDSM Myths about sadomasochism and the notion that pain = pleasure Examining the WHY behind our attraction to certain kinks The surprising relationship between BDSM & sex Kinksters on the neurodivergent and asexual spectrums The difference...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 172
Want to be a sex or kink educator? Or become a better one? Maybe you’re a student wondering how to better vet the instructors you learn from? Stefanos and Shay join us for ep 171 of American Sex Podcast to talk about pleasure education. During the pandemic, the mainstreaming of virtual classes caused demand for kink and sex ed to skyrocket. The number of brand new “educators” teaching ethically questionable and dangerous techniques has exploded too. We discuss what you can do as a student or ins...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 171
Why are dark, disgusting fantasies that are in direct opposition to our moral beliefs some of our biggest turn-ons? How can what’s ‘so wrong’ be ‘so RIGHT’? Mollena Lee Williams-Haas tells us what’s behind this on episode 170 of American Sex Podcast. If your porn search history is twisted, you’re not alone. Taboo kinks are quite normal. We touch on: why the BDSM community can surprisingly be the most judgmental, how to handle it when people yuck your yum, the right and wrong reasons to explore t...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 170
Jaki Griot gives us the real talk on femme dominants on ep 169 of American Sex Podcast. In the kink world, they’re often disrespected, devalued, and held to higher standards than their masculine counterparts. Femme doms of color, even more so. This undercurrent is present in lifestyle play, sex work, and community leadership. Jaki talks about their experiences both in the lifestyle and in sex work, how default world misogyny skews these D/s dynamics, and the benefits and drawbacks of entitlement...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 169
Polly Superstar is a sex culture revolutionary and she’s also our guest on episode 168 of American Sex Podcast. Over the last 14 years her legendary event, Kinky Salon, has spread to 16 cities around the world. Some describe it as a sex party but it’s actually so much more—theatrics, erotic exploration, an opportunity to embrace ridiculousness in the safe container of creativity and community, to name a few. Each event is thoughtfully crafted with intention, accountability, inclusivity at the ce...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 168
Daddy play is hitting the mainstream and Luna Matatas joins us on episode 167 of American Sex Podcast to talk about the many flavors of this role-play. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to engage in age play to enjoy the daddy archetype. It’s not always a DDLG dynamic, although it can be. Luna explains why we find this kink so hot, the different types of daddy archetypes we can portray, why daddy play isn’t gender-dependent, the surging popularity of FemDaddies & gender non-conformi...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 167
Last month, news of OnlyFans explicit content ban rocked the world. What was behind it? Were they sanitizing the platform to court new investors? Was their grand plan to exploit adult creators to grow the site only kick them to the curb once it gained mainstream appeal? Were payment processors pressuring them? And how were they able to reverse their decision so quickly? In episode 166 of American Sex Podcast, Kitty Stryker explains the complex and deep-rooted reasons for this unexpected series o...
Sep 06, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 166
Kink trailblazer Midori joins us for episode 165. Now at the helm of the first Kink Informed Professionals Certification of its kind, Midori recently partnered with the Sexual Health Alliance to bridge the gap between BDSM and mental health/care professions. Once pathologized, kink has recently become a serious area of professional interest and study. In this conversation, Midori tells us how myths from popular culture and those perpetrated by the BDSM community itself have contributed to bias i...
Aug 30, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 165
Ep 164 of American Sex Podcast is SHOCKING! Sunny talks electric play with Emma & Cass from the Honeydew Me Podcast. If you think e-stim is all about pain, think again! Electrosex devices are incredibly versatile. With just a simple setting adjustment you can go from a hardcore BDSM scene to gentle, sensual, hands-free orgasms! In this conversation, we start with the basics of TENS units and violet wands and pace up the action step-by-step so you can zero in on what suits you. You’ll learn s...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 164
Ep 163 of American Sex podcast is jampacked with so many practical tips and insights for new & experienced kinksters alike! When Erik got into kink less than a year ago, he didn’t realize how profoundly it would change his life both inside and outside the bedroom. Joined by his partner & mentor Catie, Erik walks us through his transformative journey of self-discovery. We discuss strategies for negotiating your first scene when you don’t know how kink tools feel or what experiencing a sce...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 163
Kinky religious play is the ultimate taboo. But why is it so popular? Go on to any porn site and you’ll find countless sexy latex-wearing nuns or roleplays that start with “forgive me, father, for I have sinned” and feature the naughty penance that follows. On ep 162 of American Sex Podcast Danarama and Arielle Aquinas explore why this kind of play is so popular, how you can engage in it without sacrilege, and why the trauma it brings up for some can be healing. Dan & Arielle give us scene i...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 162
On Ep 161 of American Sex Podcast, Justine Cross helps us navigate our emotions around getting back to dating, traveling, and attending sex parties in a post(ish)-COVID world. Although many of us are vaccinated and the CDC has relaxed social distancing guidelines, we’re having unexpected mixed feelings about integrating back into our real-life sex-positive communities. Introverts that thrived online are anxious about their newfound virtual communities disappearing. Visually stunning live online ...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 161
