Half Betty

Christina Jazzar: Whole Body Hugs


Listen Later


Some people find that their entire lives are about learning how to read a room. Christina Pitts Jazzar built a career learning how to care for the people inside of it.

Long before she became an intimacy coordinator (IC) at 45 years old, Christina had spent years working as a performer, actor, and choreographer, instinctively attuned to the emotional energy, vulnerability and unspoken dynamics on both the stage and the screen. So when a friend suggested she explore the emerging field of Intimacy Coordination, something in her immediately and wholeheartedly responded. As Christina shares in this conversation, it was a full-body and resounding “yes”.

In this episode of Half Betty, we explore the deeply human work behind Intimacy Coordination and the growing importance of care, communication, consent, and emotional safety within storytelling. From scenes involving romantic intimacy to the tenderness between parents and children, friends, partners, or chosen family, Christina shares what it means to support actors and crews through moments that require trust, boundaries, clarity, and compassion.


Together, we talk about midlife reinvention, advocacy, and what happens when the work you step into feels less like a pivot and more like an alignment with who you have always been. Christina also opens up about her family life, her marriage, motherhood, and growing up with a father who was hard of hearing and later vision impaired -  experiences that profoundly shaped her understanding of communication, emotional awareness, and human connection.


As film and television continue to evolve, Intimacy Coordinators like Christina are helping to redefine what safe, ethical, emotionally intelligent storytelling can look like, not just for actors, but for entire creative communities.


This conversation is thoughtful, deeply grounded and such an important and beautiful reminder that the things we are naturally drawn toward often hold clues to the work we are meant to do.


Bio


With over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Christina Pitts Jazzar (she/her) is a celebrated Performer, choreographer, and Certified Intimacy Coordinator (IC). She has been at the helm of Canada’s IC community with extensive training in Movement, Motion Pictures and Mental Health.


When it comes to being an IC, Christina is a true collaborator. She has a fun, natural ability to put people at ease, focusing on Communication, Consent & Boundaries and Care. She creates inclusive, welcoming work environments for both cast and crew during sensitive and vulnerable content/situations. 


As a mother of two, caregiver, partner, and working creative, Christina stepped into intimacy coordination at the age of 45 - in the middle of a global pandemic - and quickly realized something important: productions need care, but so do the people doing the caring. That understanding led her to become a proud board member of the National Society of Intimacy Professionals (NSIP), as well as co-founder of ICU (Intimacy Coordinators United), a Collective prioritizing intimacy coordination as a holistic, sustainable, and community-centred practice.

You can see Christina’s work on Netflix, Paramount+, Disney FX, Hallmark, CBC and CBS with shows like FUBAR, Adults, Umbrella Academy, Miniature Wife, The WESTIES, Sheriff Country, Boston Blue, Devil In Disguise John Wayne Gacy, and The Way Home to name a few. 


And finally, a special thank you from Christina to Dani, for 25 years of love and support, and to Krista Gruen and Laura Adkin for her first intimacy coordination credit on their beautiful film Re: Uniting
If you haven’t seen it yet, consider this your sign to add it to the list! 


Website

Instagram

IMDB


Christina’s words - Communication, Curious, Creativity, Collaboration, Capable


Sponsor Information

Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry

Use the code HALFBETTY and receive 20% off your first purchase


Connect with us

Website link here

Instagram link here

LinkedIn link here

Facebook link here


Leave a voicemail for us

https://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/


Guest: Christina Jazzar

Founder/Host/Producer: Andrea Rathborne

Producer/Co-Host: Krista Gruen

Editors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista Gruen

Audio Engineer: Alex McCarthy

Episode sponsors:  Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry 


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Half BettyBy Andrea Rathborne & Krista Gruen

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

7 ratings


More shows like Half Betty

View all
Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,687 Listeners

Crime Junkie by Audiochuck

Crime Junkie

369,956 Listeners

SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

SmartLess

58,365 Listeners

All There Is with Anderson Cooper by CNN Podcasts

All There Is with Anderson Cooper

10,660 Listeners

Aspire with Emma Grede by Emma Grede | Audacy

Aspire with Emma Grede

671 Listeners