Personal Life Media

Every guest teaches me something. After more than 70 shows, some of those lessons have become deeply lodged in my psyche. In this episode I talk about 10 of my favorite guests from the past year or so, reviewing the lessons these guests taught me, and reminding you, listeners of some terrific interviews. Listen in as I talk about great moments from interviews with Alison Armstrong, Susan Campbell, Brian Swimme, Mary Roach, Esther Perel, Gay Hedricks, Celeste Hirschman & Danielle Harel, Byron Katie, Toni Bentley, and Daphne Rose Kingma. And don't miss the exercise for you and your New Years resolutions.

more.

Why do men go to Men's Workshops? Meet Peter Sandhill: personal development workshop leader, coach, counselor and educator; workshop leader of the ‘Love, Intimacy & Sexuality’ workshops for the Human Awareness Institute (HAI) in USA, Europe, UK, Canada and Australia; and, creator of the Joy of Being a Man workshop. Listen in as Peter and I talk about male "emotional literacy" and why it is often so challenging for men to understand, embrace and communicate about our feelings. We'll talk about what it means to "be a man" and the damage done by the cultural "be a man training" that teaches men to be John Wayne or James Bond but not how to be a friend, be a Dad, be a sensitive and caring partner, be the man we want to be. And don't miss Peter's terrific exercise for you to try at home.

more.

In 1986, at the bottom of a ten-year fall into depression, anger, and addiction, Byron Katie woke up one morning and realized that all suffering comes from believing our thoughts. She saw that no one is separate from anyone or anything. Questioning every painful thought she had, she developed an amazing method of inquiry she called “The Work”. The Work asks four simple questions that turn stressful thoughts around. Working with a thought (asking these four questions in a disciplined, methodical way), you come to see thoughts aren’t personal. You discover that our own mind is causing our suffering, and you see around our thoughts to the choices beyond suffering. Join Katie and me as we talk about these four questions and the path away from suffering and towards love. And don’t miss Katie’s exercises for you to use to transform the suffering in your life.

more.

My marriage was over and I wanted a divorce. I’d had a “starter marriage” in my mid-twenties and when that ended we went to the lawyers and the lawyers won. Now my second marriage was done and I knew I didn’t want to do that again. Enter Eileen Barker, a family law attorney with a more loving approach to divorce. Eileen offered to mediate our divorce and I am forever grateful. In an environment of respect, where compassion and kindness could find their way into the proceedings, we actually managed to avoid the ugliness and cruelty of a typical divorce. Drawing on her background in law and psychology, Eileen is highly skilled in ensuring that each person in a dispute is fully heard, helping couples and families find workable solutions that respect each person's needs and sense of fairness. Join Eileen and me as we talk about the role of forgiveness in helping couples let go and move on. Eileen describes her philosophy and practice of dispute resolution and talks about the need for heart, especially when our hearts are hurting. And don’t miss Eileen’s gentle forgiveness exercise that you can try at home.

more.

Dr. Danielle Harel is a clinical sexologist, a pleasure activist and a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Celeste Hirschman is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality where she teaches the Sexological Bodywork Certificate Training. Together, Celeste and Danielle use a combination of talk and body-based coaching methods to support people in overcoming sexual concerns, expanding comfort and joy in their bodies, and achieving their pleasure potential. In this second of two interviews Celeste and Danielle talk about the relationship. Listen in as we talk about dating, looking for love in all the wrong places, and becoming the lover you hope to find. Join us as we talk about how to keep “the fire burning” in long–term relationships, how to deal with the changes brought on by time, and how to fully embody our innate erotic potential. And don’t miss Celeste’s and Danielle’s sweet exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Dr. Danielle Harel is a clinical sexologist, a pleasure activist and a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Celeste Hirschman is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality where she teaches the Sexological Bodywork Certificate Training. Together, Celeste and Danielle use a combination of talk and body-based coaching methods to support people in overcoming sexual concerns, expanding comfort and joy in their bodies, and achieving their pleasure potential. In this first of two interviews Celeste and Danielle talk about the transformative power of pleasure and sexuality. Listen in as we talk about erotic embodiment, full body orgasm, harnessing our true sexual energy to unleash the ‘great lover” that resides in everyone. And don’t miss Celeste’s and Danielle’s beautiful exercise for you to try at home.

more.

For over 16 years, Ken Solin, author of “The Key To The Men’s Room,” has worked with men to help them process their issues. In a conversation by and about men, Ken and I talk about men’s pride and pain, hopes and fears, failures and triumphs, in the service of learning how to be better men. Listen in as we talk about men’s anger, both misplaced and justified. We discuss the “be-a-man training” that leaves men feeling separate from each other, isolated and alone, with emotions we can not easily articulate. Ken is a passionate advocate for men and the power of supporting each other to heal our “father wounds”, to discover and speak our deepest truths, to become better partners, better parents, better men. And don’t miss Ken’s exercise for men to try at home.

more.

Meet Deborah Sundahl, international sex educator who specializes in teaching women and couples about the G-spot and female ejaculation.  Join us as Deborah clearly and candidly teaches what the G-spot is, what area it covers, and how to explore this area (as a woman) manually and with a sex toy. Find out the differences between clitoral orgasms and G-spot orgasms.  Learn why relaxation is such an important key to G-spot orgasms and ejaculations.  What happens if a woman feels the need to urinate? Do “gushers” feel as good as small quantities? Learn about the deeper emotional aspects of G-spot orgasms as well, and even the sacred links to higher consciousness of these orgasms.  And don’t miss Deborah’s exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Meet the remarkable Sarah Sandhill – Facilitator of HAI’s Sex, Love & Intimacy workshops, entrepreneur, mother, grandmother and creator of the “All About Sex for Women” workshop. Join us as talk about Sarah’s remarkable life experiences and her unique and empowering work with women. In a lively and candid conversation we talk about sexuality and aging, orgasm, healing the shame that is endemic in our culture, and opening to the power and beauty of women’s sexuality. And don’t miss Sarah’s self-loving exercise for you to try at home.

more.

In my work as a sex educator I meet hundreds of adults every year who experienced their introduction into adult sexuality as traumatic, abusive, violent, hurtful, shameful or just plain awful. We cry together and work on overcoming our rocky start. So how are we, as parents, going to help our own kids get a better start? Meet Debra Haffner, a parenting educator for more than twenty-five years, a practicing sexologist, and an ordained minister helping clerical organizations incorporate healthy sexual teachings and behaviors. With great clarity and candor Debra and I talk about the seeming epidemic of celebrity teen pregnancies, the opportunities all around us, everyday, for “teachable moments” with our kids, how to instill our values in teens, and how to be the kind of parent our children will talk with, instead of hide from. It’s a full, informative show with lots of great ideas. And don’t miss Rev. Haffner’s exercise for you to try with your teens.

more.

Nicholas Aretakis lived the life of the successful high-tech executive and single man-of-means until he was 42 when he met and married his Ms. Right. After he settled down one question about the dating scene he’d left behind nagged at him: Why do so many great women wind up in relationships with men who aren’t right for them? After talking to women, the guys in his social circle, business contacts, and doing lots of research he’s come up with a great book: “Ditching Mr. Wrong: How to End a Bad Relationship and Find Mr. Right.” Nicholas is a self-made millionaire with a direct, no-nonsense speaking style, and a simple, analytic approach to finding your perfect partner. Join Nicholas and me as we talk about how to screen out all those Mr. Wrongs. Our conversation includes developing a “dating litmus test”, recognizing some of the profiles of various Mr. Wrongs, the pitfalls of big differences in age, attitude and habits, and what to do if you find yourself “stuck” with Mr. Wrong. And, don’t miss Nicholas’ great advice for you use with your current dating partner.

more.

It’s almost a cliché, it’s so common – a couple starts out having lots of sex, most of it good, and lots of connection, most of it good. Then, over time, something changes. The sex isn’t as frequent. And when it happens it isn’t as good. Instead of feeling intimacy deepen and grow, intimacy seems to wither and die. Meet Dr. Oona Mourier: sexologist, counselor, shaman, wise woman, visionary, and co-author of "9 Secrets to Bedroom Bliss." Oona has a different paradigm for our most intimate relationships. Oona sees us embodying “sexual archetypes” and sees these archetypes as a kind of medicine wheel or Mandela, interconnected. Join us for a fascinating look into the sources of bedroom ecstasy. And don’t miss Oona’s exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Carla Tara is a powerful, internationally acclaimed Tantra teacher, relationship counselor, Love Coach and Intimacy Guide. Born in a small Italian village high in the Alps, Carla has turned her remarkable life journey into a collection of lessons and wisdom and, now, a book: “Lessons From A Tantric Tango Dancer.” Join us as we talk about relationship communication, the power of breath, healing sexual dysfunction, the illusion of security and so much more. Carla is a passionate and animated advocate of love, with a profound insight into transformation. And don’t miss Carla’s communication exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Every year, millions of American women experience Vulvodynia - chronic vulvar discomfort or pain, characterized by burning, stinging, irritation or rawness of the genitals. Vulvodynia can have a profound impact on a woman’s quality of life. It typically affects her ability to engage in sexual activity and may interfere with daily functioning, e.g., sitting at a desk, engaging in physical exercise, and participating in social activities. My guest, Dr. Laura Brodzinsky, is an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics/gynecology at Stanford Med School and has been running the Vulvodynia clinic at Stanford since 2002. Join Laura and I as we talk about the cause of vulvar pain, the different forms that Vulvodynia takes, the treatments available and places sufferers can find support.

more.

Everybody fantasizes. Some fantasize a lot, some hardly at all. M. Christian (Chris) makes his living setting his fantasies down in stories and teaching others to do it, too. Chris is an acknowledged master of erotica with more than 300 stories in such anthologies as Best American Erotica, Best Gay Erotica, Best Lesbian Erotica, Best Fetish Erotica, and many, many other anthologies, magazines, and Web sites. He is the editor of 20 anthologies including the Best S/M Erotica series, The Burning Pen, Guilty Pleasures, and many others. He is the author of the collections Dirty Words, Speaking Parts, The Bachelor Machine, and Filthy; and the novels Running Dry, The Very Bloody Marys, Me2, Brushes, and Painted Doll. Join Chip and Chris as we talk about erotic fiction: where it comes from, what makes it good, and how you can learn to write it. And don’t miss Chris’ exercise for you to try at home.

more.

What is sex, and who said so? Is sex procreation? Recreation? Chip August, pod-caster, interviews Chip August, workshop leader, personal growth coach, founder of the Relationship Effectiveness Institute, and world renowned sex educator. Listen in as Chip talks about what sex is and what it could be and what he's learned in the 20 years he's been working in the "relationship" world and in his own life. Then moving to the subject of relationship, Chip articulately lays out a model for relating that is filled with joy, loving-kindness and respect. Finally Chip shares his insights into jealousy and possessiveness. And don’t miss Chip’s transformative exercise for you to try yourself.

more.

What is “spirituality?”  What does sex have to do with spirituality?  What role does “ritual” play in our spirituality?   It’s a pleasure to welcome Francesca Gentille back to Sex, Love & Intimacy.  Francesca is a Sexual Shaman, teacher, coach, and host of Sex: Tantra & Kama Sutra, here on the Personal Life Media network.  Francesca has a way of talking about matters of the spirit and matters of sexuality that is real, down-to-earth and accessible.  With insights drawn from Assanas, Breathing Techniques, Chakras, Kama Sutra, Mudras, Pujas, Quodoshka, and Tantra, Francesca's honest and candid conversation will touch your soul.  Listen in as we compare sexuality with cooking, and talk about finding our deepest connection to the divine while snuggled in a sleeping bag.  And don’t miss Francesca’s sweet exercise for you to try for yourself. 

more.

Charla Muller is a business exec and a mom and a wife and a 40-something women just like many of you and your friends. For her husband’s 40th birthday she wanted to give him something memorable – something that only she could give. She offered him sex every day for a year. Her book, “365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy” documents that year. Join Charla and Chip for a sweet conversation about one woman’s honest attempt to improve her marriage. Listen in as Charla talks about how the “stuff” everyone brings to a marriage can bear down on the relationship, intimacy and the desire to connect. This interview isn’t about the behind-the-scene details of their sex life, but rather a story about how a year of daily intimacy transformed a marriage. And don’t miss Charla’s exercise for you to try at home.

more.

My guest, Beth Crittenden, describes herself as a formerly well-behaved girl from a Southern town, who moved to San Francisco and found her orgasm.  Beth has a background in psychology and biology, as well as a license in massage therapy.  Beth is also an “urban monk”, living and teaching in community as part of “One Taste”, an experiential living environment committed to developing awareness that invites deep intimacy, sensuality and full connection with ourselves, our relationships, our spirit and our world.  In a warm and sweet interview Beth and I talk openly about the nature of orgasm and the possibility of living, 24/7, in an orgasmic state.  Listen in as we talk about quieting the mind, learning to “listen” to the body, and letting go of shame.  And don’t miss Beth’s exercise in pleasuring your own hands.

more.

Meet Peter Rengel:  Workshop Leader for the Human Awareness Institute, Author of “Seeds of Light, Inspirations form my Higher Self” and “Living Life in Love, Integrating Western Psychology and Eastern Spirituality”, creator of the “Spiritual Awakening Workshop” and the “Art of Being” classes, and co-creator (with his wife Donna) of “Becoming Better Friends and Lovers.”  Join Peter and I for a conversation about sexuality and spirituality.  Listen in as we explore the notion of living one’s life in love, 24/7.  Peter has an extraordinary ability to translate ancient Eastern mysticism into guidelines for everyday living here and now.  And don’t miss Peter’s exercises for you to try at home.

more.

Thirty years ago if a woman wanted to buy a vibrator to use to enhance her sex life, her choices were limited.  Some men went to porn and peep-show shops and picked something out for their partner.  Many women went to the local drug store and bought devices intended to massage muscle cramps (these devices were often surprisingly effective for clitoral massage, regardless of the photos on the box showing the device applied to a shoulder).  For most women, it was all way too embarrassing.  My guest, Joani Blank, decided to do something about this sorry state of affairs and, in 1977, founded “Good Vibrations”, the first woman-oriented, sex-positive, sex toy store (still in business today).  Listen in as Joani and I talk about women and sex toys, men and toys, as well as men and their relationships with their partner’s toys.  In an entertaining and informative half-hour chat you’ll learn a bit about how to find toys, how to use toys and how to make sure toys enhance your relationship.  And, as always, don’t miss the exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Satyen Raja believes that relationship, your relationship, is a path to a divine state of bliss, power, self-actualization and, perhaps, enlightenment.  Satyen is a living synthesis of Eastern wisdom and of Western practicality. Satyen is the Founder/President of WarriorSage Incorporated, He is a Shaolin Kung-Fu Master, an NLP practitioner, a holistic health practitioner – including Shiatsu and Chinese medicine, and the creator of and a trainer for the Zen-based Illumination Intensive and the Sex, Passion & Enlightenment workshops.  Our interview looks into the reasons so many relationships fail – the trap of infatuation, the seductiveness of sexual polarity - and teaches some paths out of those traps.  We talk about the yin and yang, masculine and feminine, and how they can enhance or deaden a long-term relationship.  Listen in as Satyen describes the 3 stages of love and how to create a love-based relationship that calls forth and supports your highest self.  And don’t miss Satyen’s exercises for you try at home.

more.

Doctors Barry and Janae Weinhold are mental health professionals who focus on identifying barriers to unconditional love and providing people with effective tools for removing them.  Authors of “Breaking Free of the Co-Dependency Trap” the Weinholds offer a radically different approach for understanding and healing the problems associated with co-dependency.  In our conversation you’ll learn of the Weinholds personal struggle with co-dependency as well as the wealth of experience they have amassed in their more than 60 combined years of experience teaching, training and counseling.  Listen in as they describe their twelve step systematic approach to understanding and breaking free of co-dependency that begins with trauma in our youth, is nurtured by cultural norms and stereotypes and often misdiagnosed as “illness”. And don’t miss the exercise at the end of our program for you to try at home.

more.

What is “Tantra”?  We see the word used to describe a wide variety of classes, trainings and practices.  But what is it, really?  Meet Dr. Johanina Wikoff, a lifelong student and teacher of traditional Tantra and the transformative power of love.  Johanina is a master at interpreting, for the western mind, the esoteric Eastern texts and teachings known as Tantra.  Her Tantra is about revealing essence, peeling away conditioning and revealing the jewel of our essential nature, sharing the exquisiteness of being, the play of pure energy.  As Johanina explains it, Tantra is the subtle understanding, the consciousness of this.  Tantra gives this a particular language and form. The various teachings of the different schools of spirituality give different flavors of this experience.  Tantra is the yummy path in the school of consciousness.  And don’t miss Johanina’s two tantric exercises for you to try at home.

more.

This is part 2 of a two part interview.  Welcome back Alison Armstrong, author of “Making Sense of Men: A Woman’s Guide to a Lifetime of Love, Care and Attention from All Men” and "Keys to the Kingdom", and creator of the "Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women" workshops describes her insights into men - what men want, need and desire. Listen in as Chip and Alison talk about how women can be strong without scaring away men, how to move past blaming each other and towards seeing each other as “wonderful”, how women can get men’s attention, affection, and love. And keep listening for a terrific exercise that might transform your love life.

more.

This is part 1 of a two part interview.  Ever wonder why relationships between men and women so often start out like a fairy tale and end up like a horror story? Chip and his guest Alison Armstrong and learn more about what gets in the way of having the relationships we so deeply desire. Here is an opportunity for women to rediscover men, while also increasing your self-esteem and potency. In part 1 of a two part interview, Alison Armstrong, author of “Making Sense of Men: A Woman’s Guide to a Lifetime of Love, Care and Attention from All Men” and "Keys to the Kingdom", and creator of the "Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women" workshops describes her insights into men - what men want, need and desire. Listen in as Chip and Alison talk about a fundamental misunderstanding of how men communicate has created conflict and confusion in relationships. And keep listening for a terrific exercise that might transform your love life.

more.

Have you ever had a really great sexual climax, then spent days, weeks, or even years trying to figure out exactly what you did, so you could repeat it?  That’s exactly what happened to my guest, Dr. Patricia Taylor, author of Expanded Orgasm, (now in its seventh printing).  Dr. Patti is the host of the Expanded Lovemaking Show, here on the Personal Life Media Network, as well as the creator of the bestselling sex education DVD, Expand Her Orgasm Tonight, an explicit, how-to guide for bringing a woman into a state of full-body, full being over-the-edge orgasm.  Join Dr. Patti and I as we talk about her life work discovering and refining sexual practices that expand orgasm, and her own ongoing intensive practice -  having had 3-5 extended, ecstatic Expanded Orgasms per week for over 15 years.  In our interview we talk about how couples’ sexual experiences can get hotter and juicier over time.  Dr. Patti talks about how often sex "ossifies" or dries up, but it needn't be that way.  As we look at the reasons sexuality often slows down, we talk about what people can do to prevent that, and how to make it get ever better.  And, as always, there’s an exercise for you to try at home that will add spice to your sex life.

more.

Interviewing Dr. Aron was like having a conversation with your favorite college professor about the psychological research being conducted around the subjects of love and intimacy.  Art Aron is an internationally acclaimed research psychologist.  He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and serves on the editorial boards of Personal Relationships and the Journal of Personal and Social Relationships. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Society and Principal Investigator on a major National Science Foundation research grant. As we talked, Dr. Aron offered insights and answers that help in the understanding of attraction, relationship satisfaction, the psychological benefits of being in relationship, understanding altruism, defining the nature of self, looking at the concepts of merging selves and losing self.  We talked about the psychology of unreciprocated love and the motivations for intense romantic love.  And Dr. Aron gave me, and you, a great exercise we can do at home to help avoid the danger of relationship boredom and improve relationship quality.

more.

Meet Michele Newmark, Reichian Therapist and teacher for more than thirty years. According to Michele (and Reich), we humans spend an enormous part of our energy holding back basic needs and feelings which we've learned were not OK. Unreleased rage and/or psychosexual energy produce physical blocks within muscles and organs that act as a “body armor”, preventing the release of that energy. Reichian Therapy is a non-verbal "breathing" therapy. Whereas "talk" is a great way to avoid what you're feeling, there is no way to avoid your feelings while breathing during a Reichian Therapy session. Over time, chronically stiff and hard muscles that are blocking sensation and energy flow will soften. Eventually, the rage we hold in our muscles will surface, giving way to more feelings of pleasure, freeing blocked energy and sexual dysfunction. Join Michele and I as we delve into this fascinating therapy, and don’t miss Michele’s exercise for you to try at home.

more.

The study of sexual physiology—what happens, and why, and how to make it happen better—has been going on for centuries, behind the closed doors of laboratories, brothels, Alfred Kinsey's attic, and, more recently, MRI centers, pig farms, and sex-toy R&D labs.  My guest, Mary Roach, author of Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex (2008), spent two years wheedling and conniving her way behind those doors to bring you the answers to the questions Dr. Ruth never asked.   Can a dead man get an erection?  Testicles: if two are good, would three be better?  Does orgasm boost fertility?  Is vaginal orgasm a myth?  Is the clitoris a tiny penis?  Why doesn't Viagra help women—or, for that matter, pandas?  Join us for a fun and informative interview, and don’t miss Mary’s exercise for you to try at home.

more.

How’s your “erotic intelligence”?  How can you increase your capacity for pleasure?   My guest Kat Calderon is an extraordinary trainer and workshop leader, teaching ordinary people to have extraordinary sex.  In an open and candid style Kat talks about her own journey and sexual awakening.  Listen as Kat describes how she breaks through her sexual blocks, how she incorporates Tantra, communication, a sense of adventure into her sexuality, how she makes sex into the peak experience it was meant to be.  And make sure you try Kat’s exercise in openness for your own relationship.

more.

About 20 years ago, I was looking around a bookstore that specialized in “spirituality/new age” fare and a little book titled “The Key and the Name of the Key is Willingness” by Cheri Huber, jumped into my hands. I opened to a page at random and discovered it was not set in type, rather it looked hand-written. The words were direct, simple and clear, with no jargon and nothing “woo-woo” or “airy-fairy”. The writing immediately gave me insight into some of the sources of my suffering and showed me a path out. My guest, Cheri Huber, has been a student and teacher of Zen for over 30 years. She is the author of 19 books including There Is Nothing Wrong With You; Be The Person You Want To Find; Sex and Money…are Dirty, Aren’t They?; The Depression Book (she has been acknowledged as the country’s foremost expert on depression and spirituality); When You’re Falling, Dive; and her most recent, Transform Your Life: A Year of Awareness Practice. Join Cheri and I as we talk about the processes of learning to love yourself, developing unconditional self-love, living in compassionate awareness, and transforming our sense of separate-ness into connection. Listen in as Cheri talks about relationship as a path of spiritual growth and awareness. And don’t miss Cheri’s lovely exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Too often, when we talk about “couples therapy” we mean “talking about our problems, pain, anger in the hope that talking will make it go away”.  Meet Karen Finch, a marriage and family therapist specializing in Somatic Psychotherapy - an interdisciplinary field involving the study of therapeutic and holistic approaches to the body, the practice of mindfulness, body-oriented experiences, and the embodied self.  Listen in as Karen explains how individuals and couples work through childhood traumas and relationship obstacles in order to embody full adult sexuality, negotiate sexual boundaries in their relationships, communicate about sexual longings, and access their “Sensual Self.”  And remember to listen for Karen’s relaxing and restoring somatic exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Most of us have some basic knowledge of the “big bang” theory – that billions of years ago there was a singular event, the big bang, that created all the matter and energy in the Universe.  My guest, Brian Swimme has a doctorate in gravitational dynamics and is an expert on the mathematics of gravity.  But unlike most scientists, Dr. Swimme sees and articulates the relationship between these scientific events and the role of humanity in the unfolding story of Earth and Cosmos.  Currently a professor of Cosmology at the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS) Brian is a passionate and fascinating speaker who believes that the fundamental force in the Universe is “love” and we humans are here to make the Universe aware of love, to bring consciousness to love.  Please join us for a completely unique and hopeful view of the power and glory of love.  And don’t miss Dr. Swimme’s awe inspiring exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Are you a man?  Are you a woman?  How do you know, what makes you so certain?  Meet Jamison Green.  For as long as he can remember, Jamison has “known” he was a boy.  But Jamison was born possessing a female body.  ”The technical term is “transgendered” and Jamison is a fascinating and articulate advocate, author and activist in the field of transgender policy, theory and education.  Join us as we talk about his journey and his book “Becoming a Visible Man”.  And, we end with an intriguing exercise to help you discover your gender assumptions.

more.

As a child, my guest Toni Bentley, developed a passion for dance, ultimately landing a place in George Balanchine's New York City Ballet. In 1982, when she was just 21, her book ''Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal'' was published to wide acclaim. When a hip injury forced her off the stage, she found a new career as a writer. After 4 successful books, Toni had a life-changing sexual experience, which became the source for her memoir “The Surrender: An Erotic Memoir.” In a direct and forthright manner Chip and Toni talk about anal pleasuring and sex. Toni offers insights into her experience, which she describes as “transcendental.” Join us as we talk about the forbidden, the taboo, the dance between surrender and control. And stay with us for Chip’s exercise for you to try in the privacy of your own home.

more.

Sometimes it feels like the world is spinning madly out of control, one generation to the next. What was “naughty” in the nineties is “normal” in the aught-ies. Questions that never got asked in the sexy sixties are the ho-hum topics in today’s “blogosphere”. Meet Heather Corinna, freelance photographer, self-portrait artist, author, sexuality educator and activist, and author of “S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College.” Heather and I spend a lively half hour or so discussing sex education, the young feminist community, gender identity and politics for teens, “queer-ness”, and a host of ideas that your average teenager thinks about everyday. And don’t miss Chip’s provocative exercise about gender identity and roles, for you to try at home.

more.

According to my guest, Dr. Deborah Anapol, a new paradigm for LOVE is emerging at the dawn of this New Millennium. As we search for love in our lives, we often feel as though we’re on a journey without a compass—or even worse, with a faulty map. We are programmed from our earliest childhood experiences with scores of assumptions about love. We’re taught male and female roles, and ways of seeing ourselves, that may lead to separation, fear and mistrust. These many fallacies and misconceptions lead us to associate love with disappointment and pain. Join Chip and Dr. Anapol as she provides a warm, simple and universal guide to the principles that are common to all loving relationships. Dr. Anapol distills love down to its basic essentials and reminds us that love is not just a good idea, it’s the law. And be sure to keep listening for Dr. Anapol’s exercise that will reawaken the love and passion in you.

more.

Smell. Why do some people like a certain smell and others hate it? Is smell personal or cultural? How does smell affect our choices and our daily lives? Of the five senses, smell is the one we have the fewest words for. And yet, our sense of smell, and our reactions to and interpretations of smell, is essential to our physical and emotional well-being. Meet Dr. Rachel Herz, psychologist, researcher, faculty at Brown University, author of “The Scent of Desire: Discovering our Enigmatic Sense of Smell”, and one of the foremost experts on the sense of smell. Join us for a lively and interesting conversation about this little talked about area of human experience. Dr. Herz has great insights into how our sense of smell functions, what purpose it serves, and shows how inextricably it is linked to our survival. And don’t miss the great exercise Dr. Herz has for us to try at home!

more.

Why do more than half of US marriages end in divorce? Why are there now more single heads of households than married heads of households? What is “The Future of Love”? Meet “the Einstein of Emotions.” My guest, Daphne Rose Kingma is an expert on transformation and matters of the heart. In her book, “The Future of Love” she writes “…our greatest desire is to have our relationships return us…to the transforming and beautiful experience of love that first inspired them…” Join Daphne and Chip as we explore love and the power of bringing soul into our relationships. Listen in as we talk about the 10 qualities of a soulful relationship: self-awareness, aliveness, realism, honesty, generosity, empathy, forgiveness, thanksgiving, consecration and joy. And don’t miss Daphne’s deep, soulful exercise that you can do at home.

more.

There was a time, not so very long ago, when it seemed like no self-respecting woman would admit to knowing what a pole-dance or lap-dance is. But these days we see exotic dancing on TV, in the movies, at dance competitions, as well as at “Gentlemen’s Clubs”. Meet Catherine Rose: Teacher, performer, expert in the art and magic of exotic and erotic movement, pole dancing, and lap dancing. Join Chip and Catherine as we talk about this fun and exciting way to spice up a relationship. Catherine is an interesting and articulate advocate for every woman’s right to be sexy, to be juicy, to be – dare I say it?- slutty. And, of course, don’t miss Catherine’s simple, easy-to-understand exercise you can do at home to bring out your inner sex goddess.

more.

Meet Pala Copeland and Al Link. Sacred Loving is what they do, full time, both in their living together and in their working together. Al and Pala are relationship experts who teach committed couples how to create a lifetime of love through workshops, books, personal coaching, public appearances and their blog.

In our interview we find out what Al and Pala mean by “Tantra”, “Taoist Sex Practices”, “Kama Sutra”. We talk about the difference between “falling” in love and “creating” love to last for a lifetime or more. After more than 20 years of Tantric practice and more than 10 years as teachers, Al and Pala have great things to say about keeping the flames of passion burning indefinitely in your relationship. And don’t miss their sweet, simple exercise for you to try at home.

more.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to creating meaningful long-term relationships between Men and Women is the cultural conditioning that seems to wound us and has us feel guarded and untrusting of each other. Meet Linda Marks, psychotherapist, life work counselor, social architect and author. Listen in as Linda and Chip talk about the emotional burdens associated with being male or being female in our culture. Based on extensive research, Linda has formed powerful theories and insights into the possibility of of what she calls "soul centered relationships." And, as always, stay tuned for Linda's sweet exercise at the end of the interview.

more.

Here's at little true/false test, written by this episode's guest Dr. Barry McCarthy, for and about men:

Penis size is the most important factor in sexually pleasing your partner.______
Men are supposed to lead, to run the sex show. _____
The best sex happens when you're single. ________
Women control men with sex, that's just the way it is.______
"Real" men are always interested in sex.______

Barry W. McCarthy, PhD, is a certified marital and sex therapist. With his wife Emily McCarthy, he has coauthored 8 books on relationships and sexuality, including /Sexual Awareness/ (2002), /Rekindling Desire/ (2003), and /Getting It Right the First Time/ (2004). Michael Metz and Barry McCarthy have authored /Coping With Premature Ejaculation/ (2003) and /Coping With Erectile Dysfunction/ (2004). How many "true"? How many "false"? Dr. McCarthy says...all false. Join Chip and Barry as we blow away a lot of the myths and misconceptions our culture promotes about men. Listen in as we learn "the truth" about viagra, etc. And don't miss Barry's great exercise to boost your sex life.
more.

Ever wanted a half-hour or so to talk to your doctor about sex, health and aging? Meet Dr. Irwin Goldstein, a staight talking, informative expert in the field of Sexual Medicine. Dr. Goldstein has been involved with sexual dysfunction research since the late 1970's. Author of more than 350 publications inthe field of sexual dysfunction, Dr. Goldstein has been a pioneer in the nascent medical discipline of Sexual Medicine, creating the first Department of Sexual Medicine in a major US hospital (AlvaradoHospital in San Diego). Chip and Irwin fill an interview with hundreds of fascinating medical facts about sexual desire, performance, and health. And keep listening for Chip's sexual health exercise formen and women.

more.

Why does great sex so often fade for couples who claim to love each other as much as ever? Can we want what we already have? Why does the transition to parenthood so often spell erotic disaster? Does good intimacy always make for good sex? Esther Perel, psychotherapist and author of _Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence,_ takes on these tough questions, grappling with the obstacles and anxieties that arise when our quest for secure love conflicts with our pursuit of passion. She invites us to explore the paradoxical union of domesticity and sexual desire, and explains what it takes to bring lust home. And don't miss Esther's deeply insightful exercise during the interview. more.

What is "healthy" sex? Chip interviews Wendy Maltz, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified sex therapist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Wendy is the author of The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, coauthor of Private Thoughts: Exploring the Power of Women's Sexual