On episode 184 of American Sex Podcast, Sunny Megatron & sex-positive therapist, Kate Loree, look at BDSM through an atypical lens. We chat about the misconceptions we worked through as people who stumbled upon kink later in life and how that perspective is helpful now in our careers. We discuss the headspace & strategy needed to tap into the customizable nature of BDSM, plus dive into the science & psychology behind kinky play--why do masochists like suffering? What happens to the body & mind during the altered states of consciousness subspace & topspace? How do people use kink to be more grounded, regulate the nervous system, explore intense emotional states with minimal risk, and more? There’s a lot more to BDSM than ropes, paddles, and floggers!

Guest Bio – Kate Loree, LMFT

Kate Loree, LMFT, is a sex-positive licensed marriage and family therapist with a specialty in non-monogamous, kink, LGBTQ, and sex worker communities.

In addition to her master’s in marriage and family therapy, she also has an MBA and is a registered art therapist (ATR). She is an EDSE certified sex educator and an EMDR certified therapist with additional training in the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) for the treatment of trauma. She has been practicing psychotherapy since 2003.

Kate is the author of Open Deeply: A Guide to Building Conscious, Compassionate Open Relationships (release date 4/19/22) and cohosts the sex-positive podcast of the same name, Open Deeply, with Sunny Megatron. She’s been featured in Buzzfeed videos, and has guested on Playboy Radio and many podcasts, including American Sex, Sluts and Scholars, and Sex Nerd Sandra. She’s written for Good Vibrations, Hollywood Magazine and is a frequent public speaker.

Guest Bio – Sunny Megatron, CSE

Host of the Showtime Original Series, Sex with Sunny Megatron, began teaching about BDSM in 2010. Her area of expertise is the soft skills--which center around things like ethics, cultivating self-awareness, and strategies for effective communication.

She received a FROST Certificate of Gratitude in 2020 honoring her service to the kink community, was voted XBIZ Sexpert of the Year in 2021, and Kinkly’s Sex Blogging Superhero in 2017. Her alternative sexuality-focused podcast American Sex was awarded the AASECT Podcast Award in 2020. Sunny also creates curriculum about BDSM for sexuality professionals.

Some of her most recent kink-related projects include designing & teaching the BDSM unit for a well-known sex educator certification program plus a lesson for the Sexual Health Alliance’s Kink Informed Certification Program for therapists and other care professionals. Sunny’s first book, Customizable Kink: A Strategic Guide to Erotic Play is scheduled to be released in 2022.

Episode 184 Links

• Kate Loree Website: http://kateloree.com
• Kate Loree Facebook http://facebook.com/kateloreelmft
• Kate Loree Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft
• Kate Loree Instagram http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree
• Kate Loree YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kateloree
• Open Deeply: A Guide to Building Conscious, Compassionate Open Relationships (release date 4/19/22)  https://www.amazon.com/dp/164742335X/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_ZHACQ8RJHMR2R9HGHBMY

• Open Deeply Podcast http://opendeeplypodcast.com

• No Bullsh*t Intro to Kink workshop, Sunny Megatron/Sex Positive World 3/19/22 https://www.sexpositiveworld.org/event-details/a-no-bulls-it-intro-to-kink
• Resistbot: Send an email to your legislators in 2 minutes via text with https://resist.bot/

• @TransTexas/TENT resources for Texas families with transgender kids https://linktr.ee/Transtexas
• Info from @EqualityTexas “What to do if CPS shows up at your door in regards to your trans child?” https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdUchp2B/?k=1
• Equality Texas Twitter https://twitter.com/EqualityTexas
• Info about the passing of Milo Winslow, trans rights advocate in Lincoln, Nebraska https://www.upworthy.com/world-has-lost-hero-lgbtq-activist-milo-winslow?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1
• Video by Jazari Kual with information on how to reach out to the Lincoln City Council requesting they rescind the revisions to title xi--one of Milo's final wishes
• https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=656262748790839
• “Don’t Say Gay” passes in Florida https://www.hrc.org/news/florida-senate-passes-dont-say-gay-or-trans-bill-legislation-heads-to-desantis-desk-for-signature-or-veto
• Texas court blocks investigation of families with transgender youth https://www.aclutx.org/en/press-releases/texas-court-blocks-state-investigating-families-transgender-youth
• Idaho House passes HB675 calling for providing or allowing trans-affirming care for minors punishable by life in prison https://www.newsweek.com/idaho-house-passes-anti-trans-youth-treatment-bill-hb675-1686298

• Sunny Megatron TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron
• Ken’s charity DnD game Mondays 4pm-7pm PT https://www.twitch.tv/thunderpantsacademy
• American Sex Podcast Discord Community http://bit.ly/discordasp
• American Sex Podcast Patreon http://patreon.com/americansex
• Kink Academy Online BDSM Learning Library http://bit.ly/kinkacademy
• Sunny’s Free Kink Negotiation & Scene Planning Mini-Workbook https://sunnymegatron.gumroad.com/l/negotiationwb

Episode 184 Sponsor & Affiliate Discount Codes/Links

*by using our links & codes you can help support our work while saving a few bucks too—win/win!

• 65% off Beducated’s yearly pass (discount locked in for LIFE!) http://beducate.me/sunny and use code SUNNY.
• 15% off AND free shipping when you go to http://LikeAKitten.com/sunny OR enter code SUNNY at checkout

• Get up to 2 free months of podcasting service with Libsyn using this link https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SUNNY or use code SUNNY

• Hot & Healthy Erotic Humiliation recorded class https://gum.co/humiliationclass
• Prostate Play for Beginners (recorded class) from Sugar Baltimore https://www.sugartheshop.com/prostate-milking-for-beginners.html
• Sunny & Ken’s classes on Kink Academy http://bit.ly/kinkacademyelectric & http://bit.ly/kinkacademyhumiliation

• 10% off American Sex Podcast & Sunny Megatron merch with code SUNNY (t-shirts, mugs, phone cases & more) http://bit.ly/sunnyshirts
• 15% off your order at Lovehoney when you use this link http://bit.ly/lovehoney15 This link can be a little wonky and does not keep tracking cookies. If the discount does not show up in your cart (or disappears after you shop around on the site), access the site with that link again. Your items will still be in your cart & the discount will appear)
• 15% off everything at Lelo.com with code SUNNY
• 10% off everything (with minor restrictions) online from woman-owned, feminist, trans & queer-friendly Early To Bed http://bit.ly/sunnyetb with code SUNNY
• 10% off everything from Fun Factory using this link http://bit.ly/sunnyfunfactory and the code SUNNY at checkout
• 15% off most items from Stockroom https://bit.ly/sunnystockroom15 with code SUNNY

_______________________________________________________________

--Submit your BDSM & sex advice questions by email to [email protected]

--To support American Sex podcast, please visit http://patreon.com/americansex (plus you’ll get all episodes early, secret episodes, bonus stories from guests, on-air shout-outs, stuff in the mail & more!)

--Get friendly with us on Twitter at @AmericanSexPod or visit sunnymegatron.com or americansexpodcast.com

--Join our mailing list by visiting http://sunnymegatron.com/newsletter

Sunny & Ken, xo!