Slow Love

To kick off Samantha X's saucy new monthly podcast for Slow Love, In bed with Samantha, the best-selling author and journalist interviews Mitch Larsson, a male escort who has recently joined her brand, 'Private Men.' In this tell all, Mitch reveals how he got into the business, what his first escorting experience was like, and what women want. This is the not to be missed launch of In bed with Samantha - and let's be real, who doesn't want to be in bed with Ms X?

Do you believe in ghosts? And what about intimate ghosts who act as guides? Therese was a free-spirited, traveller and actor. She's done everything from being on Neighbours, to running her own business in Spain, but when her closest confidante and friend, her mother, become seriously ill, she returned to Australia to be by her side in her final months. Her mum confided in her, that the one thing she would be sad about was never meeting the man that Therese would marry. Over a year after her mum's passing, Therese started to receive messages from her mum, and one message came when she was scrolling on a dating app. "Stop here!" Her mum said. Now, Therese considers this man her life partner. Listen to Therese in this special episode of "messages from the other side". Did Therese's mum send Therese her life partner from the other side? 

This moving story is featured in this month's That's Life magazine.

Lisa and Ruth talk dating and intimacy trends in 2020, dating app Super Sunday, and forecast the dating year ahead. Dating app Super Sunday is the first Sunday of January each year - traditionally, the highest day of traffic for dating apps. This follows Lisa's article in The New Daily about Super Sunday, and appearance on Studio 10. We talk why, and if punters should join dating apps now. We also talk to podcast regular and traditionalist Bianca, about how her relationship ideology has changed, and if she has any irons in the fire for 2021. Let's kick off the love year that is 2021!

In this final podcast for Slow Love in 2020, co-creators, Lisa Portolan and Ruth Borgobello chat about the intimacy trends documented, their favourite episodes and stand-out podcast moments. It's been a complicated intimacy, relationship, sex and dating year - Covid-19 and physical distancing might of kept us apart but how did we otherwise find intimacy? In this episode Ruth and Lisa talk about phenomenons like: the return of the exes, embracing friendships, iso-partners, the sex industry, and other key topics, and reflect on the intimacy year to come - 2021. Get a sneak peak of what's to come on Slow Love in 2021 - from dating app Super Sunday (the busiest day for dating apps: the first Sunday of the new year); Samantha X's sealed section and much, much more.

Has sex and intimacy changed irrevocably as a result of Covid-19? More than half (52%) of single Aussies think our approach and attitudes to sexual intimacy will change as a result of Covid-19 according to recent research conducted by Bumble. We talk to Bumble PR APAC Associate Director Lucille McCart about how intimacy, sex and relationships have changed in 2020. Did you know more than 20 percent of people on Bumble are 'New dawn daters'? That's people who are newly single after going through a break-up during the pandemic. So, it might be time to update your Bumble profile for 2021 because things are looking a bit fresh! Take a listen to this insightful interview with Lucille and get the scoop on all the love, sex and relationship trends for 2020, and what's to come in 2021.

Did people have less sex in 2020? And do sex toys make for good Christmas stocking fillers? We talk to dynamic duo, Jacqueline Hellyer (popular sexologist) and the infamous Samantha X about the changing world of sex. In 2020 research from the Kinsey Institute indicated that Covid-stress and anxiety was taking a toll on peoples' sex lives. This isn't a new trend. Sex is changing, and our understanding of sex. We talk to Jacqueline about this taboo topic, and what her top three tips are on having great sex in 2020. We also talk to Samantha X about her recently launched and booming sex toy line. What are her best-sellers? And why is a sex toy the latest Christmas gift? Don't miss out - this is a cheeky, provocative and important conversation about all things sex in 2020.

They met on Grindr in Melbourne five years ago. Rob was on a holiday in Melbourne, and Marek had three weeks left on his student visa and was due to return to Slovakia in three weeks time - but they knew almost instantly that they were in love. A couple of weeks ago they got married. We talk to Rob and Marek about falling for each other fast, the ups and downs of their five-year relationship, planning (and cancelling!) their dream wedding in the UK, and then, their actual marriage here in Sydney. A feel good story, that will warm the soul, and convince even the greatest dating app sceptic, that it is possible to meet “the one” online.

Martin Heppell is a former AFL player, and teacher and now facilitator and partner of the Resilience Project. We chat to Martin about what being a good man looks like in 2020, and talk vulnerability, authenticity, shame and mental health. It's been a tough year for many and Martin's episode provides much needed understanding and advice.

Thomas Mayor is a Torres Strait Islander man born on Larrakia country in Darwin. He was first a wharf labourer, then union official for the Maritime Union of Australia, and most recently, an author and tireless campaigner for the Uluru Statement of the Heart. We talk to Thomas about how his concept of masculinity has changed over the years, and what it's like to be a Torres Strait Islander man in Australia in 2020. This is a powerful episode which traverses topics such as racism, intimacy, mental health and empathy.

We talk to acclaimed Australian actor Damian Walshe-Howling about topics around masculinity, intimacy, mental health - and much more in this unmissable episode. He has often played hyper-masc characters, but Damian discusses a deeper and more nuanced side to him. From his mentors, through to his struggles with anxiety and depression, we take a deep dive into the intimate world of Damian Walshe-Howling.