Welcome back to the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! I am so excited to have Dr. Aly Ash back on the show today! Aly is a Stanford lecturer, an author, and the founder of TurnON Love, and she has such a natural way of bringing clarity and compassion to topics that people often feel confused or ashamed about. In this episode we are talking about anorgasmia. What it actually is, why it shows up, and how much more is possible when we shift the focus toward pleasure and safety instead of pressure. 

In this episode:

• What anorgasmia is and why it is more common than people think
• How orgasm works in the body and why it is a full body experience
• Some factors that can affect orgasm
• The nervous system’s role in pleasure and why safety matters
• Ways to build more pleasure, comfort, and sensitivity in the body
• When it might be time to seek professional support
• A fun lightning round answering common orgasm questions

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Connect with Dr. Aly
Instagram, Tiktok, & Facebook: @TurnOn.Love
Website: www.turnon.love

S3xual and Emotional Intimacy Skills online course on Tues, Jan 27th-Mar 17th

We all receive messages about who we are supposed to be, how we ought to feel, and how we should express ourselves, often enforced through shame and disconnection. Featuring 8 classes with a woven balance of science-based data, embodied exploration, and skills development designed to support you in creating, deepening, and sustaining s3xual and emotional intim@cy in your relationship(s). Recordings available for those who can't attend live or want extra review. Super early bird tickets available now for $200-$400 off!

Last but not least, reach out to Dr. Aly for individual, couples, and ENM coaching support! 

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hello! Welcome back to the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast!  This week I am joined by the amazing Tugce Balik! Tugce is an ABS certified sexologist Authentic Tantra® practitioner, and advisor to the AI empowered intimacy concierge Arya.  Tugce bridges eastern wisdom with western science in a way that makes pleasure feel accessible, exciting, and deeply human. Her belief that pleasure is medicine is contagious in the best way, and this conversation is full of those moments that remind you what becomes possible when you reconnect with your body and your desire. 

In this episode:

• How disconnection from ourselves impacts our relationships
• The difference between authentic tantra and mainstream tantra 
• Pleasure as a vehicle for nervous system healing
• Simple ways to begin reconnecting with pleasure in every day life
• How Arya supports couples in exploring intimacy and novelty together
• Reframing sex as play, curiosity, and shared experience rather than pressure or performance
• Why prioritizing pleasure is a radical act of self and relationship care 

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Resources
Arya

Connect with Tugce
Instagram: @IAmTugceBalik

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hey, hey! Welcome back to the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! I am so thrilled to welcome back Dr Aly Ash! She’s a Stanford lecturer, author, and the founder of TurnON Love, and she has such a gift for turning life’s hardest moments into opportunities for growth. In this episode we’re talking about breakups; how to handle them with grace, how to process the grief without getting stuck in it, and how to reconnect to yourself and your pleasure after a relationship ends.

In this episode:

• Why breakups can feel so intense on both a physiological and emotional level
• How to know when a relationship is no longer serving you
• Why clarity about your needs and values matters before and during relationships
• What to focus on in the early stages of healing instead of rushing the process
• Ways to reconnect to pleasure and your body after a breakup
• What healthy no contact can look like and when staying friends is realistic
• Why ending a relationship can sometimes be the most loving thing you do for yourself and your partner

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Connect with Dr. Aly
Instagram, Tiktok, & Facebook: @TurnOn.Love
Website: www.turnon.love

S3xual and Emotional Intimacy Skills online course on Tues, Jan 27th-Mar 17th

We all receive messages about who we are supposed to be, how we ought to feel, and how we should express ourselves, often enforced through shame and disconnection. Featuring 8 classes with a woven balance of science-based data, embodied exploration, and skills development designed to support you in creating, deepening, and sustaining s3xual and emotional intim@cy in your relationship(s). Recordings available for those who can't attend live or want extra review. Super early bird tickets available now for $200-$400 off!

Last but not least, reach out to Dr. Aly for individual, couples, and ENM coaching support! 

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hello party people! We're back with another episode of the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! What is it about vacation sex that feels so good? Maybe it’s the sunshine, maybe it’s the lack of stress, or maybe it’s just that “no responsibilities, no problem” energy. In this episode, I’m talking about why intimacy hits different when you’re away and how to bring that same spark home with you.

In this episode:

• Why sex feels different when you’re on vacation
• The freedom that comes from leaving responsibilities behind
• Being fully present instead of rushing through connection
• Simple ways to bring that carefree energy home
• Creating your own version of a “vacation vibe” day-to-day
• Adding more play and flirtation into your relationship
• How to keep that sense of adventure alive long after the trip

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Resources
My Merch - wellnesssexpertise.com/shop
121. Sex, Love & Travel with Jazmin Cornejo
20. How to Plan a Sexy Staycation  

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hello everyone! This week I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Diane, a clinical psychologist and relationship expert who helps couples keep long-term love and libido thriving. Her work focuses on keeping connection and libido alive through honest communication, curiosity, and care. Dr. Diane has a gift for making complex topics feel approachable and real, and her insights on desire, intimacy, and partnership are ones every couple can learn from.

In this episode:

• How desire naturally shifts in long-term relationships
• Why communication is key to keeping intimacy alive
• How curiosity can reignite attraction and connection
• How to approach low libido without blame or shame
• Practical ways to bring novelty back into a long-term relationship
• How to talk about sex when it feels awkward or vulnerable
• Dr. Diane’s advice for couples who feel disconnected but want to rebuild intimacy

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Resources
Libido Quiz:  libidoquiz.com
Novelty Checklist: mysexdoc.com
For more freebies and discounts on paid products: havehotsex.com
Her Book: Want to Want It: How to Want Sex, Be Better At It and Get More Of It: WantToWantIt.com

Connect with Dr. Diane
Instagram & YouTube: @mylibidodoc

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hey hey! Welcome back to the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! This week I am so thrilled to welcome back the incredible Darshana Avila. You might recognize her from Netflix’s Sex, Love & Goop, where she helped bring real conversations about pleasure and embodiment into the mainstream. Darshana is a renowned somatic sex and intimacy coach and the creator of Erotic Wholeness, a body of work that helps people reconnect to their pleasure, power, and purpose. Every time she speaks, she drops wisdom that makes you see sexuality in a whole new way, and I cannot wait for you to hear this conversation!

In this episode:

•  How somatic practices create deeper healing and connection
•  The body’s protective patterns and how to shift them
•  What happens when relaxation and arousal meet
•  How eroticism connects to creativity and life force
•  What wholeness really means and how to access it
•  Clearing blocks to reconnect with authentic power and purpose
•  The link between personal and collective liberation
•  Pleasure as a radical act of resistance and truth
•  Simple ways to explore erotic wholeness through the senses

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Connect with Darshana
Website: DarshanaAvila.com
Instagram: @Darshana_Avila
YouTube: @Darshana-Avila

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hello! We're back with another episode of the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! I am so excited to welcome Cory Ruth to the podcast this week! Cory is a registered dietitian and women’s health expert who has helped countless women better understand PCOS, fertility, and hormone balance. She is the creator of the PCOS Boss Academy, the Get Pregnant with PCOS program, and the Vita PCOS supplement line. Cory’s mix of knowledge, passion, and straight talk makes her such an empowering voice for women navigating PCOS.

In this episode:

• What PCOS is and how it is diagnosed
• Why PCOS can look very different from one person to another
• The link between PCOS, blood sugar, and insulin resistance
• How nutrition plays a key role in managing symptoms and feeling better
• How to approach supplements and what to look out for when choosing them
• A message of empowerment and hope for anyone navigating a PCOS diagnosis

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Connect with Cory
Instagram - @TheWomensDietitian
Website - TheWomensDietitian.com

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hey, hey! We're back with another episode of the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! This week I'm joined by Tash Doherty! Tash is a writer, creator, and voice for shameless sexuality. She has a gift for turning personal experiences into stories that inspire others to embrace their desires without apology. From her bold perspective on pleasure to her passion for helping people release shame, Tash brings energy, honesty, and creativity to every project she takes on. In this episode she shares her journey and the exciting new journal she is bringing into the world.

In this episode:

• Tash shares her background and what inspired her work
• The role of shame in early sexual experiences and how she learned to release it
• The power of asking for what you need in intimacy
• Writing as a tool for reflection and self discovery
• The journey of creating the world’s first sex journal for women
• What makes the journal unique and how it blends poetry with prompts
• How sexuality impacts every area of life
• A really fun Q&A to close out the episode

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Resources
Substack - MissEducated.Substack.com
Website - TashDoherty.com

Connect with Tash
Instagram - @tashdoherty_
Instagram - @misseducated_

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hello! Welcome back to another episode of the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! This week I am beyond excited to welcome back one of my absolute favorite guests, Susan Bratton. Susan is a powerhouse in the world of intimacy and pleasure, known for making sex feel approachable, fun, and endlessly expansive. She has spent decades teaching people how to release shame, understand their bodies, and unlock new levels of connection and orgasmic joy. Every time Susan joins me, the conversation is equal parts eye opening and energizing, and this episode is no exception!

In this episode:

• The heavy weight of sexual shame and where it comes from
• Why many women feel broken when it comes to libido and orgasm
• The wide variety of orgasms available to every body
• Why orgasms are vital for health, longevity, and happiness
• Susan’s personal story of reclaiming control and pleasure after trauma
• The power of asking for what you want and embracing your brat side
• How sexual communication sets the foundation for everything else

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Resources
SexualSoulmatePact.com

Connect with Susan:
Website: BetterLover.com
Social Media: @SusanBratton

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]

Hello everyone! I’m so excited for this week’s episode with the amazing Gabriela Rosa! Gabriela is a fertility specialist, naturopath, Harvard University award scholar, and founder of the Rosa Institute! She’s worked with over 200,000 couples across 110 countries, helping them navigate infertility, miscarriage, and failed treatments. Her expertise in both science and integrative medicine makes her such a powerful voice in the fertility space, and I can’t wait for you to hear from her!

In this episode:

• Why infertility is not just a women’s issue and how male factors contribute equally
• How lifestyle choices and environmental toxins can impact fertility
• The importance of comprehensive testing before starting the journey to conceive
• The high financial and emotional costs of repeated IVF cycles
• The role of epigenetics in explaining why exposures affect people differently
• Why strategy, not luck, is the key to taking home a healthy baby
• A reminder that comparison is not helpful and every fertility journey is unique

Thank you so much for listening!  Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! 

Resources
FertilityBreakthrough.com
Fertility Breakthrough Book
The Fertility Challenge
TalkSex with Gabriela Rosa

Connect with Gabriela
Instagram: @dr.gabrielarosa

Support the show

Connect with Rachel!
Instagram: @The_Rachel_Maine
Website: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertise
YouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelf
Facebook: Rachel Maine
Email: [email protected]