Permission for Pleasure

Most people have a hard time talking about both sex and grief, but Joan Price isn’t one of them. As an author, speaker and advocate for ageless sexuality, Joan brings her wisdom and experience to this conversation about her book: Sex After Grief. 

We talk about the reality of grief making pleasure feel inaccessible, the health benefits of masturbation and navigating intimacy with someone new. You’ll also hear about Joan’s sex baskets, and her communication tips for sex at every age and stage of life.

Find Joan Price

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Mentioned in this episode:
Permission to grieve
Naked at Our Age: My book review
Cyndi Darnell on Want Better Sex Questions
Health benefits of orgasm
Guide to Lube
Why vibrators work for women and how to choose one
Self-Pleasure and Women’s Wellness

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Vaginismus isn’t often talked about in mainstream conversation, and it certainly doesn’t show up in romance novels. Drawing from her own health journey, Hayley Fleming dives in head first with her debut novel Thighs Wide Shut. In this episode, you’ll learn more about vaginismus through the author's story, her advice to other women, and how to advocate for yourself. 

Find Hayley on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode
Pain and Sex
Painful sex and pelvic health
Stretched out vaginas and other myths
Tips from my pelvic floor physical therapist

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
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Do you have a hidden desire killer happening within your relationship? Researcher Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons is back to discuss one of her latest studies about the consequences of replacing partnering with supervising in a relationship. Hear how caretaking and correcting each other can be the enemies of eroticism, and how to fix it.

Find Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons

Mentioned in this episode
Arya use code CS15
How much does frequency matter with Dr. Candice
Self-pleasure and women’s wellness with Dr. Candice
Talking with a partner about sex
5 questions every couple should answer
Sexual communication
Communication, Couples and Sex

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
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Do you experience a dynamic of push-and-pull in your relationship? Or a cycle of one partner pursuing sex and one partner withdrawing? These common scenarios are explained by my guest Laurie Watson, PhD, a leading expert in sexual attachment. She shares how your attachment style affects your sexual relationship, including how to work toward a secure attachment for great sex. As Laurie says, “Great sex isn’t about technique, but about attunement.” 

Laurie’s Love and Sex Quiz
Brave Love Great Sex

More on these topics:
Keeping it hot in long term relationships
Practices for positive relationships
Sexual communication
Want better sex? Ask yourself these questions
Five questions for couples
Why don't I want sex as much as my partner

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
VISIT my website and blog

Many people don’t take ownership of their own pleasure. Whether you don’t feel deserving, feel like it’s a partner’s responsibility, were taught it’s selfish, or just never thought about it in this way - my guest Brooke Bralove wants you to know you deserve pleasure. Join us as we delve into taking ownership of your own pleasure and the steps to get you there.

Visit our episode sponsor Uberlube and use discount code CINDY

Find Brooke Bralove

Mentioned in this episode:
Mindfulness with Dr. Lori Brotto
What are you saying with your touch with Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh
Embracing your desire and sexual agency
The pleasure crisis and why good sex matters

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
VISIT my website and blog

In long term relationships it’s easy to fall into a sexual routine. When sex becomes boring, it’s hard to stay interested! Listen in to hear how to create minor risks, introduce an element of unpredictability and generate sexual excitement for an enduring sex life.

Mentioned in this episode:
Affection and Touch
How Curiosity Fuels Desire
Positions with Props
Kink Curious
Coital Alignment Technique
Vanilla with a Cherry on Top
Embracing Your Desire
Keeping it Hot in Long Term Relationships

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
VISIT my website and blog

Women’s pain is often dismissed, especially pelvic pain and painful periods. Mallory Stuparich MD joins me to talk about endometriosis and how to advocate for yourself. We discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for women suffering from what’s often referred to as the “invisible disease.” 

Find @MalloryStuparichMD on socials

Mentioned in this episode:
Tips from my pelvic floor therapist
Stretched out vaginas and other myths
Pelvic health and pelvic pain

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
VISIT my website and blog

Pairing clitoral stimulation with penetrative sex is often the route for more pleasure and orgasms for women. In this episode, learn about a technique called Coital Alignment. This is a variation on the missionary position that incorporates pairing and rocking techniques. 

Mentioned in this episode:
Pleasure techniques on the blog
Pleasure techniques episode
What you need to know about the clitoris
Cliteracy
Becoming Cliterate book review

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
VISIT my website and blog

Pleasure is good for you! Researcher Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons joins me to discuss the data on the wellness benefits of masturbation. Learn some suprising upsides for your sleep, confidence and stress level with the results of this study on self-pleasure and vibrator use.

Learn more about Dr. Candice

Mentioned in this episode:
Dr. Candice in Season Five
Masturbation with August McLaughlin
Researcher Debby Herbenick on the podcast: Rise in rough sex
Why vibrators work for women and how to choose one
Community questions: Vibrators, Edging and Anal Sex
Natural health benefits of orgasms
The pleasure crisis and why good sex matters

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
VISIT my website and blog

It’s time to unlock your erotic potential with somatic psychotherapist and sex therapist Carly Mountain. She joins me to talk about her newest book, Untamed Pleasure: Unleash Your True Erotic Nature. Learn about embodied pleasure, why women need relaxed arousal, and how the cervix can be a powerful portal of orgasmic potential. 

Learn more about Carly Mountain

In this episode:
Embodiment and pleasure
Just how much does frequency matter
Keeping it hot in long term relationship
Untangling sexual shame
Women’s Anatomy of Arousal  book review
Tips for multiple orgasms

ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
VISIT my website and blog