Sex in Space

In this episode, Toshi spoke with Mistress Sofia, the UK’s oldest dominatrix. Together they had a conversation about what it means to be a dominatrix, how Mistress Sofia got into this work, common misconceptions and what she’s learned in her time being a dominatrix. Check out more of Mistress Sofia here: https://www.mistress-sofia.co.uk/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 00:47 – Who is Mistress Sofia? 01:20 – What does it mean to be a dominatrix? 02:12 – How did Mistress Sofia get started in this work? 04:05 – Why does Mistress Sofia not use the world ‘client’? 05:03 – How do people serve Mistress Sofia? 06:58 – Is Mistress Sofia a sex worker? 08:48 – “I always ask what their kinks are” 10:06 – Caning is not as simple as it looks 12:16 – For new dominatrixes: learn from Mistress Sofia 13:20 – What does it mean to be dominant? 14:58 – Mistress Sofia on confidence 16:24 – “You cannot do this for the money” 17:23 – What does Mistress Sofia love about her job? 19:13 – What is a lifestyle slave? 20:19 – When did Mistress Sofia realise she was dominant? 21:59 – Mistress Sofia’s message to women 23:14 – How does being 75 impact her work? 24:54 – Is seeing a dominatrix while you’re in a relationship considered cheating? 27:00 – Why seeing a dominatrix can be a kind of therapy 29:30 – Navigating shame 33:07 – Final thoughts 34:58 – Mistress Sofia’s thoughts on findoms 36:16 – Why Mistress Sofia doesn’t work with women 36:44 – Goals for the future 37:59 – Where to find more of Mistress Sofia ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, Toshi had the opportunity to have a conversation with Will Adolphy, a former manosphere insider turned therapist. Will is a psychotherapist, educator, and speaker specialising in men’s mental health, masculinity, and emotional wellbeing. He leads M-Path, delivering talks and workshops to schools across the UK on masculinity, empathy, and the online world influencing boys. Will also hosts regular online parent + staff sessions for anyone interested in understanding the manosphere and how to approach conversations with boys more deeply. Find him on Instagram @psychwill. Check out Will’s website here: https://www.willadolphy.com/. Trigger warning: mention of rape, suicide. In this episode, we discuss: Will’s story: The scale of the issue: Inside the manosphere: Engaging young men: A deeper problem: Recovery steps: Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 01:02 – Who is Will Adolphy? 03:06 – What drew Will to online masculinity influencers and why are they so appealing to young men and boys? 10:07 – How big is this issue? 12:05 – Will's experience of the manosphere 14:51 – How can we engage young men in this conversation? 17:31 – The manosphere isn’t the problem: it’s a symptom of the problem 19:00 – The difficulty of opening up as a man 21:22 – How was Will impacted by this masculinity content? 26:29 – The importance of having empathy for yourself 28:27 – What created the big shift for Will 33:53 – Will's step by step process for recovery 38:08 – How to find an accountability partner 39:45 – The importance of having open conversations 48:44 – What Will would want his younger self to know 53:34 – How do we become men? 58:36 – Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Daniel Guinness, co-founder and managing director of Beyond Equality, discusses the importance of engaging young boys and men in conversations about gender equality and mental health. He talks about his personal journey into this work, the organisation’s initiatives, and the impact of their programs on the boys and men who participate. Daniel emphasises the need for safe spaces for discussion, the importance of reframing how we see rejection, and advice for men who are trying to make new friends after a move. TW: mention of self-harm. Check out Beyond Equality here: https://www.beyondequality.org/ Find them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_equality Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 – Who is Dan Guinness and how did he get started in this space? 08:28 – What does Beyond Equality do and who do they work with? 12:56 – How do boys and men of different ages respond to these conversations? 15:22 – Working with a men's pie-making group 16:47 – Why you can’t do Beyond Equality’s work via powerpoint or podcast 19:06 – How do boys and men feel about Beyond Equality’s workshops? 24:33 – How societal structures prevent us from connecting with others 25:41 – Talking with boys and men who are resistant to these topics 31:26 – Why it’s a good thing to change your mind 32:37 – What has Dan learned from this work? 39:17 – Advice for young men trying to create friends after a move 46:38 – Reframing rejection for men 50:57 – Dan's message to young men – you're not the only one 52:55 – How you can support Beyond Equality ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, we were lucky enough to talk with Christopher Stephens and Louise Radnofsky, authors of ‘The Light of Day: The first man to come out at the dawn of gay liberation.’ This book is the story of the first man to come out voluntarily, using his own name, to the entire British public. Toshi had a conversation with Christopher and Louise about Roger’s story and why he decided to come out publicly to all of Britain, as well as Christopher’s relationship to Roger. They also discussed why so many stories from gay men during this period have been lost, the similarities between the way that society treated gay and blind people at this time, the importance of intergenerational friendships amongst queer people, and Christopher and Louise’s take on what makes a life important. Find a copy of the book here: geni.us/TheLightOfDay Follow Christopher here: https://www.instagram.com/cwbstephens/ Check out Louise here: https://www.instagram.com/louiseradnofsky/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:45 – Intro to Christopher and Louise 02:36 – What is the book ‘The Light of Day’ about? 05:35 – Deciding on how these stories would be woven together 08:16 – How have people responded to the book so far? 10:40 – Do you know Raymond Gregson or Robert G. Moorcroft? 12:58 – Why have so many stories from gay men during this time been lost? 15:25 – What was it like for Christopher to read letters from Roger after his death? 18:44 – The similarities between society’s treatment of gay and blind people 21:51 – Intergenerational friendships amongst queer people 27:29 – The special nature of this audiobook 30:52 – Why did Roger Butler decide to come out publicly to all of Britain? 36:13 – Why you should read ‘The Light of Day’ 39:49 – Reflecting on changes in law and society when it comes to homosexuality 43:17 – Where can you find a copy of ‘The Light of Day’? 45:26 – What makes a life important? 48:54 – Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re really excited to bring you a conversation with Marco Berger, an Argentinian film-maker, for a conversation about one of his latest works, which is the queer romcom ‘The Astronaut Lovers’. Together, Tim and Marco discuss why Marco never reads reviews, what it means to follow your dreams, and why he believes cinema is an illusion. They also talk about his next project, his creative process and advice for upcoming filmmakers. Whether you’re a filmmaker yourself, a dreamer, or just curious about queer cinema that challenges norms, this episode is for you. Find more of Marco Berger here: https://www.instagram.com/marcobergercine/?hl=en Explore his films on Mubi: https://mubi.com/en/cast/marco-berger Read about Marco and ‘The Astronaut Lovers’ in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/26/director-marco-berger-interview-queer-romcom-the-astronaut-lovers Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer and intro 01:41 – What inspired ‘The Astronaut Lovers’? 07:44 – Why Marco doesn't read reviews about his films 14:02 – Why you should always follow your dreams 16:52 – Why the cinema is a lie 21:56 – Can you separate the artist from the art? 23:37 – Marco's next project 27:07 – All about Marco’s creative process 32:24 – Where can you watch ‘The Astronaut Lovers’? 39:51 – Advice for upcoming filmmakers 45:26 – Final thoughts and where you can find Marco ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jane and Dr Bonnie Comfort explore what makes love last - from managing desire, resentment, and mismatched expectations to unpacking how porn, childhood, and power dynamics shape our relationships. They discuss why falling in love is easy but staying in love takes daily effort, how to navigate conflict with humor, and what a real apology looks like. Plus, we look at the surprising lessons from ‘Babygirl,’ why people watch porn for more than just pleasure, and whether marriages are truly meant to last. Dr. Bonnie Comfort has been a practicing psychologist for 30 years. She has an MSW from the University of Manitoba and a PhD in psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Los Angeles. Her novel, “Denial,” a psychological thriller from Simon & Schuster, was published in eight countries and translated into five languages. As an expert on marital therapy, she has been a guest multiple times on podcasts about marriage and has taken extensive workshops with marital and sex experts like Terrence Real, David Schnarch, John Gottman, and Marty Klein. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with her long-time partner, Douglas Covey, MD. Find out more about Dr. Bonnie at http://bonniecomfort.com. Check out her book, ‘Staying Married is the Hardest Part’: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/staying-married-is-the-hardest-part-bonnie-comfort/1146385315 Timestamps 00:00 – Trailer 00:38 – Why falling in love is easy, but staying in love is a daily practice 05:41 – Can you change your partner? 08:07 - Managing different desires 11:51 - How our expectations of sex and bodies are shaped by porn 16:35 - Why do people watch porn? 18:53 - What ‘Babygirl’ can teach us about sex and relationships 21:24 - How to work through resentment in a relationship 24:15 - How do childhood experiences impact our relationships? 28:46 – Understanding power imbalances in a relationship 32:25 - How do you know if a relationship needs work, or is fundamentally broken? 35:14 - This is the formula for a great apology 37:19 - Recovering from affairs in a relationship 39:46 - Are marriages meant to last? 43:18 – Here's something a therapist wants you to know 44:25 - What Dr Bonnie wishes was included in sex ed 46:42 – Dr Bonnie’s sexiest song 47:20 – Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we had a conversation with Professor Clare McGlynn, a law professor and expert on violence against women and girls, about image-based sexual abuse. In this episode, we discuss: Clare McGlynn is a Professor of Law at Durham University in the UK, with expertise in the legal regulation of sexual violence, pornography and online abuse, particularly cyberflashing and image-based sexual abuse (taking, creating and sharing intimate images without consent). She works closely with policy-makers, victim-survivors and the voluntary sector to shape law and policy reforms, as well as with social media and other companies to improve their policies. In 2020, Clare was appointed an Honorary KC (King’s Counsel) in recognition of her work championing women’s equality in the legal profession and shaping new criminal laws on extreme pornography and image-based sexual abuse. Find more of Professor Clare McGlynn here: https://www.claremcglynn.com/ Find her on social: https://bsky.app/profile/claremcglynn.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/claremcglynn_/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-mcglynn-32b898238/ Check out the ‘Stop Image Based Abuse’ campaign here: https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/new-campaign-experts-call-for-image-based-abuse-law/ Sign the petition to stop image-based abuse: https://chng.it/dgY7sbkqTP Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:27 – How Clare McGlynn got into this work 01:50 – Revenge porn vs image-based sexual abuse 03:10 – Who is most at risk? 04:11 – The invisible threat of image-based sexual abuse 06:01 – What laws are in place to protect against this? 08:33 – How tech platforms have contributed to the rise of deepfake sexual abuse 12:10 – The conversations we need to be having with young people 13:55 – About the ‘Stop Image Based Abuse’ campaign 16:33 – What to do if you’re a victim of image-based sexual abuse 18:40 – Why have we been so slow to address this issue? 21:12 – What Clare wants you to understand about image-based sexual abuse 23:27 – Why we should stop calling it ‘deepfake porn’ - and what to say instead 27:00 – Why deepfake detection tech works better on images of men 30:18 – What you can do as a listener to help support this work 31:31 – Positive accomplishments in this work 33:09 – Do this if you’re worried someone might share your nudes 34:59 – Conclusion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Muir is a women’s health expert and campaigner, documentary maker, and author of ‘How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis’, as well as groundbreaking books on the menopause and the pill. We had a conversation about: The smart guide that every midlife woman needs to read … ‘A midlife crisis is a magnificent moment, and nobody should miss out on it. We need to reframe this time of questioning for a new generation of women who want to revive and thrive for longer. We must reclaim the midlife crisis from madmen with red sports cars - and make the space our own.’ Kate’s investigations into women’s health ‘Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause’ and ‘Everything You Need to Know About the Pill’ are out in paperback. She pitched and produced two award-winning menopause documentaries, ‘Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause’ and ‘Sex, Mind and the Menopause’ for Channel 4 current affairs, which ignited a massive menopause conversation in the UK. Her most recent documentary was ‘Pill Revolution’ investigating contraceptive chaos. Kate was chief film critic of The Times for seven years, and is the author of three novels. She is an expert public speaker on women’s health, the menopause and contraception, and an activist for The Menopause Charity. Find more of Kate here: https://katemuir.co.uk/ Grab a copy of ‘How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis’ which is out TODAY: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/How-to-Have-a-Magnificent-Midlife-Crisis/Kate-Muir/9781398525504 Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:43 – Who is Kate Muir? 01:32 – Kate’s latest book: ‘How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis’ 05:27 – Why does HRT have such a bad reputation? 08:35 – What you really need to know about HRT and its long-term health impacts 13:30 – Tips for advocating for your needs with a doctor 16:34 – Vaginal estrogen: Chanel for your vulva 21:33 – How to regain sexual confidence 23:04 – Why testosterone is so important for women 26:30 – Digital detox 29:50 – Women and wine 34:47 – How is divorce connected to perimenopause and menopause? 38:09 – How age bias impacts women 43:07 – Kate’s psychedelic adventure 49:56 – Final message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Toshi had the opportunity to talk with some of the team behind the TikTok account, Sex Ed for Guys. Sex Ed for Guys is a sex ed project by Colby College students researching privilege at elite all-boys schools. Toshi spoke with two Colby students – Christopher and Conor – and Professor Adam Howard, who are all involved in the project. Together, they had a conversation about: Adam Howard, Ed.D, is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Education and Chair of the Education Department at Colby College. For over two decades, Howard has researched elite schools around the world, peeling back the layers of how privilege works through their daily practices, relations, structures, and policies. Employing a collaborative approach in most of his major studies, he teams up with privileged young people to make insider’s knowledge of how privilege works within elite schools more evident. Find Sex Ed for Guys on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sexedforguys Check out more about the research here: https://privilegedbrotherhoods.org/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:59 – Introducing the team behind Sex Ed for Guys 02:41 – What is Sex Ed for Guys? 05:45 – Who is watching Sex Ed for Guys? 07:50 – What kind of response is the team getting to this work? 09:40 – What is the process to creating these videos? 13:13 – The video about female pleasure that got the channel shadowbanned 17:13 – Some favourite videos from the channel 21:52 – How these videos create real life conversations 26:20 – How Sex Ed for Guys is offering an alternative to the manosphere 29:22 – Why Sex Ed for Guys is so accessible for young people 34:06 – Biggest learnings from this project ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remy Tucker is the founder of On the House, an organisation that is working to ensure that every woman has access to period products. They achieve this by providing free, sustainable sanitary pads, funded through their unique advertising model. Remy leads On the House with a deep commitment to women's health and marketing innovation. As a former midwife, she has firsthand experience with the challenges women face in accessing essential menstrual products. This understanding sparked her desire to find a sustainable solution that would make these products available at no cost. On the House combines Remy's healthcare background with her marketing expertise to create a unique business model. By integrating advertising directly onto the product packaging, On the House provides free menstrual products while generating revenue. This innovative approach does more than solve a problem—it transforms the way solutions are delivered. Driven by a genuine passion to make a difference, Remy is dedicated to empowering women through accessible healthcare solutions. On the House is not just a business; it’s a reflection of her commitment to positive change, providing essential products one box at a time. Check out On the House here: https://onthehousegroup.com/ Together, we spoke about: Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:25 – What is On the House? 01:08 – What motivated Remy to create On the House? 05:29 – Remy’s advice for anyone wanting to start a business 07:17 – How On the House donates to charity – while giving away free period products 09:29 – What kind of products are On the House offering? 10:45 – How does the system actually work? 12:51 – Why you should take free period products, even if you can afford them 14:15 – What kinds of brands are supporting On the House? 16:58 – Remy’s biggest challenges so far 19:52 – When and where is On the House launching? 21:24 – What are some of Remy’s biggest wins so far? 23:27 – What you can do to support On the House 25:06 – Who does period poverty impact? 28:28 – Remy’s final message to listeners 29:23 – What other businesses have used this model before? 31:56 - Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode is about child sexual abuse and covers subjects which might be seriously distressing for some listeners. Please use your discretion. In this episode, Tim spoke with Jayneen Sanders about body safety education. Jayneen Sanders (aka Jay Dale) is an experienced author, publisher, elementary school teacher, mother of three and an active advocate for Body Safety, Gender Equality and Respectful Relationship Education being taught both in homes and in schools. She is also lead author of Engage Literacy published by Capstone Classroom, and has had published over 130 stories for children. Jayneen feels passionately that we can do so much more to keep our children safe by teaching them age-appropriate and empowering prevention education. Jayneen is a strong public advocate for children’s safety, education and empowerment. You can follow her on social media channels to access important news, development and resources. In this episode, we cover: Check out Jayneen’s books here: https://e2epublishing.info/en-uk Download her free body safety posters here: https://e2epublishing.info/en-uk/collections/posters/Body-Safety+Consent Find Jayneen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayneensandersauthor?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Timestamps: 00:00 – Trigger warning 00:19 – Trailer 00:47 – Who is Jayneen Sanders and how did she get involved in this work? 08:08 – The role of parents in teaching kids body safety education 10:29 – How have attitudes towards this topic changed over time? 14:27 – What is a groomer, and how can you spot one? 19:30 – How body safety education prevents abuse 24:22 – Why parents need to stop using the word “secret” - and what to use instead 27:38 – How does pornography and tech impact children? 30:15 – Which children are most at risk of sexual abuse? 34:21 – How conversations can help prevent abuse 36:43 – Top tips for having the body safety talks with kids 40:39 – What kind of topics do Jayneen’s other books cover? 45:25 – Where can you find Jayneen’s books and free resources? 46:54 – Jayneen’s final message to parents 48:15 – Outro ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode is about child sexual abuse and covers subjects which might be seriously distressing for some listeners, including mention of suicide, sexual assault, child sexual abuse material and torture. Please use your discretion. If you are in any need of help or support, please contact one of your country’s sexual abuse support organisations – they are there for you. We are dedicating our 100th episode to the work of the phenomenal Michael Sheath. We had a really important conversation with Michael that – amongst other things – covered the need to call out the relationship of online pornography with sexual offending. Since 1987, Michael has been dedicated to working with child sexual abuse offenders, beginning his journey as a probation officer and later becoming the Principal Practitioner at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation – a charity devoted to preventing child sexual abuse. His critically acclaimed work with male survivors of sexual abuse at HMP Blakenhurst earned him the prestigious Butler Trust Award in 1997. Michael’s passion for understanding people's stories has resulted in a powerful and significant book, a collection of five theatrical monologues that delves into the human impacts of child sexual abuse, trauma, and the often-overlooked effects on secondary victims like the families of offenders. All these narratives are told from the perspective of those directly affected. Michael's own story is pretty compelling. In this episode, you'll hear from him about his very impactful work in a profound conversation that shines a light on this ever-critical issue. In this episode, we cover: Buy Michael's book from Amazon UK, or get it direct from the publisher here. All proceeds will go towards Children Heard and Seen, a charity which supports children with a parent in prison. Timestamps: 00:00 – Trigger warning and intro 01:37 – How Michael Sheath got involved in this work 07:55 – What's the difference between a ‘contact offender’ and a ‘downloader/online offender’? 16:54 – The influence of pornography on young people’s sexual behaviours 20:01 – How legal porn sites suggest problematic content, and why that’s an issue 25:39 – The role of porn in child sexual abuse 31:16 – Why people use porn and how these sites keep you hooked 34:12 – How do some sex offenders feel about their behaviour? 37:32 – Navigating the consequences of being a child sexual offender 39:17 – How do sex offenders feel towards the victims? 45:24 – How Michael manages his mental health working in this industry 50:00 – About Michael’s book, ‘Crossing the Line’ 54:20 – We need sex education that’s not pornography 55:20 – What’s next for Michael Sheath? 57:07 – Conclusion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, Toshi spoke with sociologist Dr. Amy Blackstone about the childfree choice. Amy is a childfree woman who wrote the book, ‘Childfree by Choice: The Movement Redefining Family & Creating a New Age of Independence,’ which explores the history and growing movement of adults choosing to forgo parenthood. Amy has shared her research on the childfree choice in The Atlantic, Washington Post, Huffington Post, on the Katie show, and other venues. Amy’s teaching and research interests include the sociology of gender, work, food, families, and healthcare. She has served as a consultant on workplace sexual harassment cases, and her research on this topic has been cited in the New York Times, USA Today, BuzzFeed, TIME, NBC News, and other outlets. She is passionate about food and has taught the Sociology of Food at UMaine and in Italy. In this episode, we cover: Find Dr. Amy Blackstone at her website: https://www.amyblackstonephd.com/ Grab a copy of ‘Childfree by Choice’: https://www.amyblackstonephd.com/childfreebychoice Listen to her podcast, ‘Nevertheless, Persisting’: https://www.amyblackstonephd.com/neverthelesspersisting Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:34 – Intro 00:58 – Did Dr Blackstone always know she wanted to be childfree? 06:28 – Does science support the idea of ‘maternal instinct’? 08:54 – What's the difference between being ‘childfree’ and ‘childless’? 13:44 – How do men and women experience being childfree differently? 17:13 – Why do people decide to be childfree? 20:01 – How childfree people shape future generations 26:28 – How have people’s attitudes towards being childfree changed over time? 29:05 – Pros and cons of being childfree 34:55 – Do childfree people regret their choices? 40:35 – What should young people know about being childfree? 44:33 – Dr Blackstone’s final message for listeners 45:42 – Where to find Dr Blackstone and her work ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TW: mention of suicide in this episode. This week, Tim had a conversation with social scientist Dr Julie Carpenter, where they explored emotional attachments to AI and the future of human-AI relationships. Dr. Julie Carpenter is an award-winning researcher in the field of human-technology interaction whose work investigates the dynamic interplay between technology and human identity, social relationships, and connection. Her recent book, The Naked Android: Synthetic Socialness and the Human Gaze, explores the narratives people construct about AI and robots, their expectations of robotic behaviour, and how these cultural beliefs influence the design and use of real-world robots. She is a Research Fellow in the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group, a non-partisan organization dedicated to examining the ethical, social, and risk implications of emerging technologies. In this episode, we cover: Find Dr Julie Carpenter here: Website: jgcarpenter.com Bluesky: @jgcarpenter Mastodon: https://fediscience.org/@jgcarpenter Timestamps: 00:00 – Trailer 00:55 – Who is Dr Julie Carpenter? 08:13 – How we form emotional attachments with pets, and how this relates to AI 11:36 – What is the difference between AI and robotics? 15:58 – Stories of emotional attachment to military robots 25:14 – A short message from Sex in Space 25:27 – Dr Carpenter’s thoughts on human-AI relationships 29:49 – How brand association changes the way we use AI 31:39 – What are the risks when it comes to using AI? 35:21 – Ethical considerations of AI relationships 45:41 – What are people looking for with intimate AI relationships? 49:27 – Exploring consent when it comes to AI 55:01 – Is Dr Carpenter optimistic about the future of AI? ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of the podcast, Dr. Jane Cherrington spoke with Cindy Gallop about MakeLoveNotPorn Academy. Cindy has 35 years of experience in brand building, marketing and advertising, and in 2009 at TED, launched MakeLoveNotPorn.tv – ‘Pro-sex. Pro-porn. Pro-knowing the difference.’ Since then, she’s turned MLNP into the world’s first human-curated, user-generated social sex video sharing platform, socialising sex to promote consent, good sexual values and behaviour. MakeLoveNotPorn Academy, the subject of today's episode, is an aggregator hub for the best of the world's sex education content all in one place, searchable by age appropriateness, cultural sensibility, and personal comfort level. The Academy's goal is to be a platform and directory for all the brilliant sex educators currently blocked, censored and de-platformed everywhere, to make their work more accessible to parents, teachers, children, young people, everyone. The Academy will be 100% human-curated: human eyes will vet every piece of content pre-publishing to ensure it's safe, educational, non-judgemental and fact-based. In this episode, we cover: Find Cindy Gallop here: https://cindygallop.com/ Check out MLNP Academy: https://www.mlnp.academy/ Find the email template for Masterclass here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hSJQb8LXtZvKYQ29kk-Jv5IrHt5merfqn6RQvCNbTsE/edit?usp=sharing Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:43 – What is MakeLoveNotPorn Academy? 09:22 – What are the criteria for educators on MLNP Academy? 12:44 – How sex educators will be able to use the platform 16:30 – Who is sponsoring this project? 19:38 – Why MakeLoveNotPorn is such a great name 23:59 – It’s about the people who get it 26:36 – How much money does MLNP Academy need to raise? 29:51 – How will MLNP Academy make money? 32:58 – Cocomelon for sex ed 34:05 – Agents of Ishq 35:20 – What can you do to help? 36:49 – Help us get Cindy Gallop on Masterclass 38:18 – MLNP operates in the market of human happiness 40:33 – An quick note from Sex in Space 40:49 – Outro ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, Tim had the opportunity to talk with Dr Brian Willoughby, a Professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and a research fellow at The Wheatley Institute. Dr. Willoughby is considered an international expert in the field of couple and marital relationships, sexuality, and emerging adult development. Together, Tim and Dr. Willoughby discussed the facts around porn exposure in kids and teens, and shared practical tips for parents to help them navigate having these conversations with young people. Find out more about Dr Willoughby here: https://fhssfaculty.byu.edu/directory/brian-willoughby Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:09 – How Dr Willoughby got started studying pornography 05:32 – What are some of the reasons young people are being exposed to pornography? 10:35 – Porn chats with kids should be about ‘when,’ not ‘if’ 13:36 – Two key pieces of advice for parents 17:44 – What are the messages young people are getting from watching porn? 22:32 – The difference between porn consumption for young people today compared to older generations 24:03 – The importance of monitoring and open communication 25:47 – When to have these conversations, and what to say 27:51 – Using teachable moments 29:19 – What resources we’re still missing 33:25 – Is there a place for pornography use in a relationship? 35:56 – Viewing pornography use as a risk in the same way we view alcohol consumption 40:33 – The benefits of talking with kids about pornography 43:44 – Dr Willoughby’s #1 piece of advice for parents 44:56 – Recommended resources + filling the education gap 48:08 – Where to find more of Dr Willoughby 49:03 – Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Toshi had a conversation with Victoria, a former escort who is the president of UTSOPI in Belgium, which is the Belgian Union of Sex Workers. Together, they had a conversation about the way that Victoria views sex work as a social service, something that’s not just about physical intimacy but is very connected to human emotions and is effective at combating loneliness. Toshi and Victoria also discussed the stigma that is still associated with sex work, why you should be hugging the people in your life, and the difference between loneliness and being alone. Related links: https://www.utsopi.be/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 02:35 – Only 10% of sex work is about sex 07:27 – How clients responded when Victoria quit sex work 09:08 – The difference between loneliness and being alone 10:09 - The benefits of sex work on emotional health 12:26 – How Victoria came to see sex work as a social service 17:25 – Human connection is important in every job 18:33 – What Victoria learned from sex work 20:26 – The stigma still associated with sex work 22:23 – How sex helps Victoria stay young 24:10 – Why you should be hugging the people in your life 25:17 – Victoria's own experience as a client of sex work 30:09 – Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Toshi had a conversation with David Jay, who is the founder of the Asexual Visibility and Education network, which is the world’s largest online asexual community. Together, they had a conversation about the experience of being asexual and the expectations that society has around sexuality, as well as how David has redefined relationships and intimacy as an asexual person. They also discussed three-parent families and the importance of building a community of care, and finished the conversation talking about why conflict is actually a really good thing. Find AVEN (Asexuality Visibility and Education Network) here: https://www.asexuality.org/en/ Find David's book, Relationality: How Moving from Transactional to Transformational Relationships Can Reshape Our Lonely World, here: https://amzn.asia/d/f7Z2uVq Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:26 – What does it mean to be asexual, or ‘ace’? 03:26 – What is compulsory sexuality? 04:39 – David’s experience as a young ace person 06:32 – How society has different sexual expectations for different bodies 08:15 – The impact of asexuality on how David sees relationships and intimacy 11:12 – The benefits of having intentional friendships 13:33 – Why you should be thinking about creating a community of care 16:35 – What it’s like to be in a three-parent family 19:44 – Two things you can learn from this podcast 23:01 – Advice if you want to be more intentional in your friendships 24:24 – Why being asexual is so liberating 26:39 – What David would have wanted his younger self to know 28:20 – How the ace community has changed over time 33:04 – Why relationships with others are so important 37:19 – Why conflict is a really good thing 39:34 – David’s message to ace listeners 40:43 – Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re re-releasing one of our most popular podcast episodes – a conversation with 72-year-old OnlyFans sex worker, Michelle Hardenbrook. Jane chatted with Michelle about how she got started in the industry at the age of 55, how she educated herself about sex and intimacy, as well as Michelle’s thoughts on penis size, shape, and confidence, how to experience orgasm after prostate cancer, and advice for any listeners who are wanting to understand sex work better. Find Michelle here: https://www.instagram.com/terrytowngal1951/?hl=en Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:39 – How Michelle got started in sex work at the age of 55 04:43 – Practical tips for managing finances as a sex worker 07:31 – Michelle’s transition to working online and building an audience 13:02 – Michelle’s role as a mentor and the value she brings to other sex workers 14:23 – Michelle’s thoughts on pimps in the industry 16:35 – Michelle’s life lesson: don’t panic 18:15 – How Michelle educated herself about sex and intimacy 20:31 – Michelle’s experience with vibrators 23:30 – Michelle’s response to unsolicited images 25:29 – Michelle’s thoughts on pen*s size, shape and confidence 28:20 – The impact of aging on libido and sexual experiences 30:42 – How Michelle helps clients who have had prostate cancer 34:18 – Advice to listeners who don’t understand sex work 35:52 – Michelle's advice for new sex workers 38:31 – Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.tiktok.com/@sexinspacedotcom https://www.facebook.com/sexinspacedotcom https://www.youtube.com/@sexinspace For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re re-releasing another of our podcast episodes. This time, we’re revisiting a conversation that Jane had with Vanessa Hamilton, a sexuality educator and founder of the education business ‘Talking The Talk Healthy Sexuality Education’. Vanessa has over 25 years of experience as a registered sexual health nurse, she is a parent of 3 teens and is an award-winning author, highly respected speaker, podcaster, blog writer and educator on the topics of human sexuality, consent and respectful relationships. Vanessa has immersed herself in helping parents, teachers and health professionals understand human sexuality and, specifically, how it relates to children. Together, she and Jane spoke about the key topics parents should address with their kids about sexuality education, including consent, pleasure, and pornography. Vanessa provides strategies for tackling uncomfortable situations and gives examples of how to use teachable moments with young people, as well as providing a script for responding when a child asks how babies are made. You can find more of Vanessa here: https://www.talkingthetalksexed.com.au/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 00:49 – How Vanessa ended up in the sexuality education space 03:26 – The scale of the sex ed gap within adults 04:48 – The impact of confidence on having sex ed chats 05:47 – How to talk with young people about sending nudes 07:18 – Vanessa’s take-home message to parents 08:50 – When should you start thinking about having conversations with your kids about sexuality? 09:42 – Why your tone is more important than what you say to a child 10:13 – What topics you should be covering with your kids (and why saying something is better than saying nothing) 12:47 – The majority of parents support this education 13:38 – Why Vanessa doesn’t like the term ‘sex ed’ (and what she uses instead) 15:20 – Reframing how we think about pleasure 17:01 – How consent is part of our everyday experiences 19:59 – How to explain how babies are made 23:35 – What are the contributing factors towards teen pregnancies? 24:46 – What kids are learning about sex from pornography 26:36 – Why Vanessa wrote her book ‘Talking Sex’ 29:11 – How to respond when you encounter an uncomfortable situation with your child 31:10 – How to practice having conversations about sexuality 32:22 – The barriers for male parents having these kinds of conversations 34:14 – Examples of how to use teachable moments with your kids 38:15 – Make yourself the adult that your kids can come to 39:56 – Why it’s important to give young people a framework to think about pornography 42:10 – How to respond if you think your child has seen inappropriate content online 43:21 – How to get a copy of Vanessa’s book ‘Talking Sex’ 44:23 – Vanessa’s book on consent for parents and teachers 45:05 – Just get started: it’s easier than you think 45:39 - Conclusion ----------------- Check out our books, 'How to talk with your kids about porn' and 'The Organ Education Forgot', available at https://www.sexinspace.com/books to download or buy. For more info, check out our website at: https://www.sexinspace.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.