On the latest episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna invites former Data Scientist & current photographer and Sex and Relationship Coach, Raj Bandyopadhy onto the podcast. Raj defines himself as a straight man in a queer poly marriage with his partner Andy. Together, Charna and Raj discuss a variety of topics related to this experience including: identity, authentic creative expression, the rigidity of marriage in a heteronormative culture, poly relationships vs ethical nonmonogamy & creati...
Feb 01, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 15
This is part 2 of Amy and Charna’s conversation from last week. They left off discussing the value of compassion to transform abuses of power and navigate parental relationships. While exploring how essential denial and dissociation can be, Charna shares how her mom’s addiction, birth trauma, and mentally revisiting abuse impacts the physical body long-term. She also answers the question “What does expansive sex as well as empath sex feel like?” Charna guides a meditation on how to be with your ...
Jan 25, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Amy and Charna talk about #Metoo, gender equity, and power dynamics in the workplace. Charna explains the window of capacity to be with, the difference between self and coregulation in relationships, and how learning to track yourself and others benefits your relationships. They dig into what resilience is and how it might be hard to understand, feel or identify with as a trauma survivor. There is also an exercise to help bring the unconscious material behind triggers into consciousness....
Jan 18, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In today’s episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna welcomes a powerhouse guest, Tara Nicholle-Kirke, a globally recognized unrepression expert and former CMO of MyFitnessPal. Together they explore mindful parenting, befriending criticism, and spiritual dating. Plus, they tackle some very big topics including defining trauma, how productivity is rooted in slavery, as well as, Marie Kondoing your whole life. Charna explains her concept “Asshole Angels” and Tara prescribes an exercise for dating with f...
Jan 11, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Happy New Year! This week Charna reunites with Amy MacClain to talk about dating during covid and how it’s left so many of us starved for physical contact. This includes the fleeting nature of intimacy when you haven’t been touched in a really long time, empty nest syndrome, moving through transitions, and ambivalent attachment. Also included is an exercise on attuning to self, the challenge of receiving and learning to cope with the changes around connection while in isolation.
Jan 05, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Andrea Scher and Charna swam in the same circles for years but never met, and LaidOPEN podcast finally brought them together. The two connect on a variety of topics including, Andrea’s new book, “Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways To Wake Up Your Creativity And Find Your Joy.” They discuss the use of creativity to manage anxiety and access more of what you want. Andrea also shares about her process of embracing being a woman, getting in touch with her sexuality, and embodied ways to pick dates on tinder.
Dec 28, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This week’s episode starts with a listener question that leads Amy & Charna to dive into the somatic shape of shame and how to unwind it. They explore the impact of family conditioning, trauma, and religion. The discussion guides them to sexual abuse, the function of shame, being with shame versus turning away from it, and how remaining curious plays an essential role in overcoming fear-based modes. Plus, Charna assigns a simple practice for shame you can do daily, within minutes.
Dec 21, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Farid Yusof is a student of the world. They speak with Charna about the way culture impacts our freedom of self-expression and how they use their art as a resource to find healing. Farid’s travels were a mechanism for finding themselves and they use social media as a tool for coming out as gender nonbinary while quarantining with their conservative family. This conversation highlights how developing rituals around self-care can help anyone thrive, even in isolation, during the pandemic.
Dec 15, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This episode was recorded before the pandemic. Charna opens this episode talking about grief on the somatic level--regardless if it’s the loss of a relationship, a death, a friendship or a pet--the physical sensations of grieving are the same. Charna offers some practices that can be useful in being with loss.
Dec 08, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 7
On today’s episode, we welcome Laura Davis bestselling author of “The Courage To Heal,” her seminal book about healing from sexual trauma. She waxes philosophical on a variety of topics, including her new memoir, “The Burning Light Of Two Stars,” (which I cannot recommend enough). We talk about the relationship between reader and author, how life experience changes our perception of the past, and what it's like when you have a parent who refuses your reality. We end with an exercise on forgivene...
Nov 30, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This week on LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna speaks with Olivia Bryant, the founder of Self:Cervix. Self:Cervix is a movement dedicated to educating and experiencing the orgasmic cervix. Olivia’s mission is to share this information with cervix owners, their partners and people worldwide to aid in shifting and expanding the conversation around female sexuality. They discuss the value of practice, the connection between spirituality and sexuality, how to heal, surrender and have more connected sex with ...
Nov 23, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Amy directs conversation to the topic of Charna’s private life. They visit a variety of stories from Charna’s past including how much she hates swiping right, kissing tips, hairy chests and finding your Cinderella aka the perfect fit. There’s also mention of the elusive Sex Ninja, voicing your desires, and learning to ask for what we want. There’s also an exercise for managing dysregulation and how to come back to the present moment. Amy MacClain is a social storyteller and healer, committed to ...
Nov 16, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Amy is back for this episode and she has questions for Charna about dating and sex. Together the two of them discuss defining sex in broader terms than Penis In Vagina (PIV), the importance of mindful self-touch within self-care, and why Charna’s writing her book. Charna also leads a guided embodiment meditation in length, width, and depth.
Nov 09, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this week’s episode Charna talks with Nathan Novero, ex-youth pastor, and the genius behind the seminal work, “Holy Erotica.” Together they touch on a variety of topics that intersect between religion, sex and shame. Nate speaks candidly on the topic of expectation versus reality in a relationship that’s influenced and guided by the church. Additionally, he interviews Charna about her drastically different upbringing, growing up in hippy, addict culture.
Nov 02, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Charna Cassell, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Master Somatic Coach talks with her friend Amy McClain, a master facilitator, executive coach, and curriculum developer, about the ways in which her life story has informed her belief that all different kinds of trauma shapes sexuality. Charna also explains how she uses her somatic work to help people discover what sexual freedom means to them. Plus, she guides a pelvic floor practice for grounding and managing anxiety. Amy MacClain ...
Oct 16, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 1
