Our Better Half

In this second part of our special 2-part series, our co-hosts, Jayleen, Sabitha, Rosara, and Jane are again sitting around a virtual kitchen table with mugs of tea, great baked goods, and lots of honest reflections. We talk with each other about the impact this podcast has had on our work and how it has impacted the field of human sexuality. We start with giving permission, intergenerational conversations, our work with students and clients, our mentors, how we live at the intersections, how oxytocin may increase your lifespan, and so much more.

If you like our show or have any questions, contact us here at our website. You can subscribe to our podcast any way you'd like. We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. Please like us and rate us on Facebook and Instagram. And please write to us at this address.

Thanks for listening!

Our guest this time is Dr. Mark Levand, a sexuality educator and researcher who has spent many deep and reflective years in the church. He's passionate about training future sexuality educators through his deep interests in sexuality, religion, and diversity. Take a listen. It's a terrific episode and we had a great time talking all things religion and sex with him. Dr. Levand has a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality Studies from Widener University and a Master's in theology and religious studies from John Carroll University. Among other publications, he has recently published on matters of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in the National Catholic Reporter and about Catholic Theology and Sexuality Education in the Journal of Theology & Sexuality. Mark has received awards for his collaborative work in sexual diversity, cross-cultural sexuality studies, and organizational change around human sexuality in Catholic higher education. He is the author of the forthcoming book Inclusion and Sexuality in Catholic Higher Education: Possibilities for Institutional Change to be released by Routledge in mid-2023. Mark was the editor for a special issue of the Journal of Sexuality and Relationship Therapy on sexuality, religion, and spirituality and serves as a reviewer for several journals in the fields of sexuality and health. He has held leadership roles to address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at large institutions. Mark holds memberships in sexuality organizations, as well as the Catholic Theological Society of America, and the Society of Christian Ethics. If you'd like to learn more about Mark, go to his website where you can find a link to his forthcoming book, Inclusion and Sexuality in Catholic Higher Education: Possibilities for Institutional Change, and links to his articles and book chapters. ​If you like our show or if you have questions, contact us here at our website. You can subscribe to our podcast by sending us your email or whatever way you subscribe to podcasts. We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. Please like us and rate us on our social media platforms. And please write to us at this address. Thanks for listening!

In this first part of a 2-part series, our co-hosts, Jayleen, Sabitha, Rosara, and Jane are sitting around a virtual kitchen table with mugs of tea, great baked goods, and lots of honest reflections. We talk honestly to each other about our own journeys with aging as sexual beings. How we feel about growing older, our gender identities, going through cancer treatment and reconstruction, our images of aging, invisibility, liberation, and more.

One book we mentioned was Peggy Kleinplatz and Dana Menard's book, Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers which we all agreed would be a terrific antidote to all of the negative scripts about aging sexually.

​If you like our show or if you have questions, contact us here at our website. You can subscribe to our podcast by sending us your email or whatever way you subscribe to podcasts. We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. Please like us and rate us on our social media platforms. And please write to us at this address.

Thanks for listening!

Dr. Bill Stayton is a psychologist, sexologist, and theologian. After serving as a pastor, hospital chaplain, and seminary faculty member, he was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Widener University, and Morehouse School of Medicine. He received a Gold Medal Award from the World Association for Sexual Health for promoting dialogue with religion and medicine about sexuality. Go check out Bill's new book, Sinless Sex: A Challenge to Religions, on his website! ​If you like our show or if you have questions, contact us here at our website. You can subscribe to our podcast by sending us your email or whatever way you subscribe to podcasts. We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. Please like us and rate us on our social media platforms. And please write to us at this address. Thanks for listening!

Our guest this time, Support Pup Cooper (aka Dr. Justin Sitron), is a professor, sexologist, sexuality educator, and advocate for diversity and inclusion. He's also a coach who helps his clients get the most joy out of their sex lives and relationships.

As a culturally responsive and kink-affirming sexuality educator, his social media and educational programming aim to make the LGBTQ+ BDSM, pup play, and pet play communities inclusive and affirming so players of all backgrounds can find safety and belonging among other pups, pets, and kinksters.

He can be found wagging, howling, barking, and living his best dog life on Instagram @supportpupcooper, Twitter @support_cooper, and on the web at supportpupcooper.com. ​If you like our show or if you have questions, contact us here at our website. You can subscribe to our podcast by sending us your email or whatever way you subscribe to podcasts. We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. Please like us and rate us on our social media platforms. And please write to us at this address. Thanks for listening!

Dr. John Taylor

is an Assistant Professor, Author, Christian Therapist, Media Personality, and Sexuality Educator in Philadelphia. His book: Pocket Guide For Young Men Without Fathers; Important Life Lessons was published January 2018. Dr. Taylor is also the host of the Spotify Podcast: My Mortality Matters: The Voices and Lives of Black Men. Dr. Taylor is an Assistant Professor at LaSalle University- Department of Urban Public Health and Nutrition. He teaches courses that focus on public health issues, race, violence, sexual health, sexual identity, gender identity, and health disparities. Dr. Taylor counsels individuals, couples, and families that are dealing with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideations, relationship issues, domestic violence, sexual violence, and sexual identity. Dr. Taylor is passionate about educational and public health initiatives that address issues involving Black men and their families. He works as a liaison for organizations, churches, parents, adults, and adolescents so that constructive conversations about sex and sexuality can occur. Dr. Taylor's research focuses on the impact of structural violence on the mental health and sexual behavior of Black men. You can learn more about Dr. John Taylor and his work at https://johngtaylor.com/about-john. And if you'd like to hear more of our episodes, visit our website and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can write to us at this address. ​We can't wait to hear your thoughts. As always, thanks for listening!

Erica Fletcher is a certified manual physical therapist in private practice outside Philadelphia at Fletcher Physical Therapy in Narberth, Pennsylvania. Erica specializes in the treatment of pelvic, spinal and cranial dysfunction. She is a pelvic floor therapist and treats people of all genders with sexual pain syndromes. She receives referrals from various specialists including gynecologists, urologists, orthopedists and osteopaths. She also serves the dance community and is the treating physical therapist for Ballet X. Her credentials include a Certificate in Manual Physical Therapy from the Institute of Physical Therapy in St. Augustine Florida in 1993; Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin in 1984. She has been in practice since 1984. She has authored several peer-viewed publications and has presented nationally. Most importantly, Erica has been my healer and physical therapist and has kept me healthy after surgery and illnesses. if you'd like to get in touch with Erica, you can reach her at http://www.ericafletcher.com/about.shtml.

And if you'd like to hear more of our episodes, visit our website and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can write to us at this address.

​We can't wait to hear your thoughts. As always, thanks for listening!

Our guest this time is Joanne Cropper. Joanne has worked in the field of intellectual disabilities for the last 30+ years. Originally from England, she came to NYC 29 years ago. After working at a summer camp, she was offered a job in NYC and decided to stay. She is the Director of Staff Development at a non-profit organization that provides support to people with disabilities. Going through peri-menopause herself, she realized the lack of knowledge about menopause in general but significantly in the field of disabilities. She has recently started to conduct research in this area and hopes to provide education to both staff and people who are supported at the organizations she is involved with. ​ ​ And if you'd like to hear more of our episodes, visit our website and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can write to us at this address. ​We can't wait to hear your thoughts. As always, thanks for listening!

Our guest this time is Dr. Brian DeVries, a passionate researcher who truly enjoys putting his research into practice. For instance, here's the website he and his colleagues created to help promote thinking and talking about Advance Care Planning (ACP) among LGBTQ older adults. On the home page of this site is a link to their large Canadian study: "COVID-19 Experiences and Advance Care Planning Among Older Canadians: Influence of Age Group, Gender and Sexual Orientation."

He is also involved in research comparing caregiving experiences of lesbian, gay, and heterosexual spouses/partners caring for partners with dementia. Out of that experience, he helped start a group, Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors. He and a colleague also published a study linking the experiences of older LGBTQ persons with HIV and their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic with funding from the National Institutes of Health. If you'd like to learn more about his exciting research, you can reach him at [email protected].

And if you'd like to hear more of our episodes, visit our website and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can write to us at this address. ​We can't wait to hear your thoughts. As always, thanks for listening!

Our guest this week is Nathalie Huitema who just received her Ph.D. this year in human sexuality from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She has a master's degree in psychogerontology from Radboud University in the Netherlands and postgraduate degrees in sexology and psychology. Nathalie worked as a government-licensed psychologist in nursing homes for 15 years and was the first sexologist working in a nursing home in the Netherlands. During that time, she also worked for the Center of Consultation and Expertise to support other nursing homes with their extremely complex client cases, and as a moderator in a monthly informational meeting for caregivers and clients with Alzheimer's disease. Nathalie's passion is enhancing the quality of life of nursing home clients through improved sexual health. She has developed training courses for aides, and medical professionals, and has done sexuality counseling for clients. Just this past year, she became a registered sexologist with the American College of Sexology. And if you'd like to hear more of our episodes, visit our website and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can write to us at this address. ​We can't wait to hear your thoughts. As always, thanks for listening!