Is orgasm a learnable skill? My guest Dr. Erica Marchand outlines the necessary components women need to orgasm in this top 10 episode from Season One. We discuss faking O’s, ranking O’s, and the mind-body shift of allowing rather than making orgasm happen.

Erica Marchand, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist offering individual, couples and sex therapy in Los Angeles.

Learn more about these topics
Answering your questions about orgasm
Faking orgasm
The clitoris - it's a network
Stimulation of the clitoral hood
Pleasure techniques with penetration

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One of the most shared episodes on the podcast, this conversation about pleasure and embodiment offers a framework for understanding a healthier way to be in your body. Hillary McBride, PhD provides tools to help us untangle the cultural scripts we have taken in, along with gentle guidance for how we can reframe sensuality and learn to listen to our bodies. 

Hillary McBride, PhD., is a therapist, researcher, speaker and author

More on these topics:
Mother's, Daughter's and Body Image, read my book review
Dating your body with Aurora
Reconnecting to yourself and to your body
Slow Pleasure with Euphemia Russell
Connecting with our bodies and nervous systems
Healing journey with Ruthie Lindsay
Coming home to yourself with Arielle Estoria

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From logistics on positioning, to setting the stage before you step in - in this episode I talk you through the basics on how to add shower sex to your intimacy repertoire. Showering together has never been more fun, safe and intimate.

Mentioned in this episode:
Pleasure Practice
Uberlube use code CINDY
Shower sex for beginners on the blog

ORDER my Book Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
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Catriona Boffard, a Clinical Sexologist, Psychotherapist, Sexuality Researcher, Podcaster and Author joins me to share her personal experience, and clinical expertise in a discussion about women and ADHD - how it can affect your brain, sex, and life. You’ll hear all about orgasms, medications, sexual cues and solutions to common communication challenges.

Catriona Boffard is an expert in the field of sexual behavior, well-being, and mental health, and is particularly passionate about working with people who face difficulties in their sexual experience. She hosts the podcast Asking for a Friend and is an internationally recognized authority in the field of sexuality and relationships.

Mentioned in this episode
Anxiety, Perfectionism and Sex
Mindfulness with Dr. Lori Brotto on the podcast
Better Sex Through Mindfulness book review
ADHD and Tips for Sex 

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Continuing our conversation for the over 50 crowd with helpful tips including transition time, positions, pillows, vibrators and more. Listen in as we get creative with shifts in desire, and tools to accommodate our changing bodies. Learn ways to make sex more interesting. 

More on these topics
Desire styles
Embracing your desire
How curiosity fuels desire
Vaginal estrogen, vaginal moisturizers, and lube for sex
Erectile dissatisfaction vs. Erectile dysfunction
Sexual adaptations and aids for all bodies
Pain and Sex
Arya intimacy concierge and scene guidance use code CS15
When a partner wants to try something new
Positions with props
Tabu Prim Pillow
Why vibrators work for women and how to choose one
Intimate Wellbeing use code CINDY15
Bedroom Games
Coconu card game use code 30PLEASURE
Naked At Our Age book review

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Menopause doesn’t mean your sex life is over. In fact, you may find yourself having the best sex of your life! Join me for a chat specifically for the over 50 crowd. Let’s talk about desire, arousal, and changing things up as we change. Your pleasure matters!

Visit our episode sponsor Uberlube, use CINDY for 15% off

Mentioned in this episode:
Guide to lube
Perimenopause: Hormones and Symptoms
Perimenopause: Treatment Options
Everything we get wrong about initiation
Two ways affection can deepen your connection
Midlife and Menopause with Heather
Sexual reset for midlife women

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Community guest Kaleigh Osadick joins me to share ideas to remove shame around self-expression. We chat about challenging the norms, and reframing what defines sexy. Learn to role play with her scene creation tips, and gain the confidence to be the main character in your sex life! 

Kaleigh Osadick is an educator, coach and producer with over a decade of experience teaching acting, voice, and embodiment. With a background in theatre, and psychology-through play and voice, she's helped many clients-from students, adults with special needs, and aspiring performers find their voice and power both on camera and in life. 

Mentioned in this episode:
Turn up the volume on your sex life
Arousal and Role Play
Confidence is sexy with Dana
Bedroom games
Toys, fantasy and play in the bedroom 

ORDER my Book Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
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Self-touching or masturbation is one healthy way to be sexual, but certainly not the only way. From investigating your sexual ethics to creating your own sensual playlist, movement, and more - these ideas will help you explore being a sexual person outside of masturbation.

Mentioned in this episode:
10 Ideas - no masturbation required
My letter to young women
Questions to ask yourself with Cyndi Darnell
Sensuality on the blog
Using your senses for pleasure
Sexy playlist
Reconnecting to yourself and to your body
Mindfulness with Dr. Lori Brotto
Your body, mind and nervous system with Aurora

ORDER my Book Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
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Throughout life, we all face changes in our body that impact how we experience pleasure with sex. Laura Glazebrook PT, DPT, specializes in neurological injuries and all manner of pelvic health concerns. She joins me to talk about adaptations, tools, toys, and positional aids - for all bodies. Whether you’re post surgery, post injury, or navigating change, this conversation is full of practical tips, products, and resources for all of life’s seasons.

Visit our episode sponsor Uberlube and use code CINDY for 15% off

Laura Glazebrook, PT, DPT spent ten years specializing in neurological injuries at world-renowned Shepherd Center in Atlanta, and has specialized training to evaluate and treat a variety of pelvic health concerns for all genders and ages.

More on this topic:
Pelvic health and painful sex with Heather Jeffcoat
Stretched out vaginas and other myths with PT Heather Jeffcoat
Tips from my physical therapist
Anna from Mad Hatter Wellness: Sex Ed for all abilities
Tips for talking to a provider about sexual health
Guide to lube
Erectile dissatisfaction vs Erectile dysfunction
Medications and sexual health
SSRi’s and your sex life
The Handy
Intimate Rider
Bumpin Joystick
Sexuality after SCI
Sexuality and Disability
New Mobility: Quest for accessible sex toys
Ohnut rings

ORDER my Book Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden
JOIN my Newsletter: Good Education for Good Sex
FOLLOW on Instagram @cindyscharkey
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Oral sex is a highly reliable path to pleasure and orgasm for women. This episode is the second most downloaded of all episodes on the show. So, I am bringing it back for new listener's and their partner's. I talk about creating anticipation, building arousal toward crescendo and specific tongue techniques to stimulate the clitoris and vulva. Also hear tips on positioning, when to add variety, and when to stick with consistency. Learn the signs of approaching orgasm, to help your partner go over the edge with pleasure.

Mentioned in this episode:
The Kivin Method -Oral Sideways
Make Some Noise
Temperature Play
The Key to Women’s Pleasure
The Clitoris - it’s a network!
The Clitoris has a hood
Female Anatomy 101
She Comes First Book Review
Using Your Senses for Pleasure
Why Arousal Takes More Than 5 Minutes
Men and Sex
Talking about sex with a partner
Communication, Couples and Sex

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