What happens when sexual shame hijacks our internal compass—and what becomes possible when we reclaim it?

In this powerful and playful episode of Open Deeply, Kate Loree and Sunny Megatron are joined by the brilliant and beloved Dirty Lola—award-winning sexpert, edutainer, and longtime voice in the sex-positive community—for a deep dive into shame, pleasure, creativity, and liberation.

We begin with joy: how pleasure becomes more accessible when shame loosens its grip. From there, the conversation moves into the roots of sexual shame—especially religious and cultural conditioning—and how that shame doesn’t just distort our relationship to sex, but to ourselves, our intuition, and our capacity for free thought. Lola shares her own journey of growing up in a religious household, breaking free from rigid belief systems, and cultivating a life grounded in curiosity, humor, and embodied truth.

Together, we explore:

• How shame disables the internal compass and hands power back to controlling institutions

• The surprising relationship between shame, rigidity, and creativity—and why creativity may be a powerful antidote

• Kink as both a site of shame and a pathway to healing

• Laughing at what once felt unbearable

• Fourteen different forms of shame—from sexual and relational shame to creativity, illness, and survivor shame—and which ones still tug at us

• The difference between being ashamed and refusing to tolerate shaming environments

• What a truly shame-free space feels like in the body

• Why “being ashamed of being ashamed” can trap people in a hall of mirrors—and how to take the first brave step out

• How to balance safety, risk tolerance, and liberation amid the many sources of shame in the United States today

Come for the sex-positive wisdom. Stay for the liberation.

Dirty Lola's Bio:

Dirty Lola is an award-winning sexpert, edutainer, and longtime voice in the sex-positive community. With over 11 years of experience working in sex shops, she’s helped thousands navigate toys, turn-ons, and the beautifully messy world of pleasure. Known for blending humor, honesty, and empathy into her work, she has hosted live Q&A shows, appeared on your favorite podcasts and streaming services, spoken on national stages, and guided folks through love, sex, and everything in between. Whether it’s kink, communication, or keeping the spark alive, she’s got the answers — and the lube.

How to find Dirty Lola:

IG - @DirtyLola

Threads - DirtyLola

FB - Dirty Lola

How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk

How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ

Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.