It seemed like Toni had done all the right things. She was the salutatorian of her high school. Graduated from an Ivy League school and two prestigious residency programs. She was working as a doctor and had delivered over 350 babies into the world. So why, at age 30, did she quit her career and begin backpacking the world?

In the second episode of Strange & Marvelous, Ari C.R. chats with Toni—aka Dr. Tooni—about rebirthing your inner child, sparking your creativity, and how to become a digital nomad at any age. You will also hear excerpts from Dr. Tooni’s first time doing standup comedy.

Updated and Corrected, Includes Timestamps

Dr. Tooni is a Chinese-American neurodivergent ex-physician turned cartoonist, author, sex educator, mental health & LGBT+ advocate, and nomad for 7 years. After hitting rock bottom trying to please her immigrant “Tiger Parents,” as an Ivy League gynecologist, she realized conditional love wasn’t true love, and started letting her authentic self show, even if the consequence was becoming cast out.

Now, as a Dreams Doula, helping birth dreams instead of babies, she guides other Achievers, Pleasers, and Divergents to unconditional self love & re-birthing their Authentic Selves through art, writing, and teaching. Her courses include “Strip Off Shame,” “Transcend The Tiger,” and “Nomads’ Nest,” helping cure adult loneliness and build nourishing communities around the world. She also hosts the “Accept THEN Achieve” podcast and has published a memoir & healing guide “WHY YOU NO DOCTOR ANYMORE?! Honoring Your Family AND Yourself Too.” Her most popular comics include “The 5 Asian Love Languages” and “Lessons with Penelope C. Lit.” Find her art and courses at DrTooni.com.

Ari Chase-Ramos is a storyteller, comedian, and the author of over two dozen erotic novellas, including Domination Diaries and The Thai Mistresses. His performances have been featured on stages in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Itaewon, and in dungeons in Tokyo and Seoul. Every Friday, he hosts the Ari C.R. Podcast and Open Mic at Creativitea in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Jump to Topic

07:43 - Quitting Her Career as a Doctor

15:34 - Third-Culture Kid

18:10 - Should Unconditional Love Be the Norm?

19:27 - Who Is Your True Self?

22:29 - Drawing Cartoons, A Creative's Self-Doubt

25:11 - Are A Child's Dream's Valid?

30:17 - Lonelineness, Concerns That Prevent One From Becoming Nomad

34:08 - Timothy Ferriss's Language Learning Hack

35:13 - Nomading Before and After Pandemic

37:05 - Discovering New Versions of Yourself

39:55 - Nomading & Meeting People as an Introvert

42:09 - Dr. Tooni's Upcoming Events

43:49 - Ari Tells a Joke

46:44 - Follow Dr. Tooni Online

The song playing during the introduction of the podcast is “Scars of January” by Alana Jordan.

Strange & Marvelous (the S&M podcast) is published every Saturday and features interviews with artists, travelers, musicians, comedians, lifestylists, kinksters, and more. Subscribe to receive podcast episodes by email.

In the first episode of the Ari C.R. Podcast, Ari Chase-Ramos and guest Amy Leigh Curry discuss intimacy, conscious kink, and how to design the relationships and the life that you really want.

Amy Leigh Curry is an intimacy coach and facilitator who travels the world, spreading her passion for Nurturance Culture wherever she goes. A Certified Facilitator, Educator, and Coach with a Domme Certification in Erotic Mastery, Amy hosts classes in Chiang Mai, including Authentic Relating and Consent and Cuddles.

Ari Chase-Ramos is a storyteller, comedian, and the author of over two dozen erotic novellas, including Domination Diaries and The Thai Mistresses. His performances have been featured on stages in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Itaewon, and in dungeons in Tokyo and Seoul. Every Friday, he hosts the Ari C.R. Podcast and Open Mic at Creativitea.

Follow Amy on Instagram at @AmyLeighCurry. Find out more about what she offers and apply for a one-on-one coaching session with Amy at her website.

Follow Ari on IG at @AriCRComedy, and subscribe to the Ari C.R. Podcast on Spotify and YouTube. Become a paid subscriber to support the production of the Ari C.R. Podcast and to get access to all of Ari’s exclusive content.

Read Ari’s erotica on Amazon Kindle and listen to it on Audible.

Last week, I performed my first comedy and storytelling show, When Ari Met Nana. It was a 46-minute-long show about life, love, kink, and knowing oneself. As I wrote,

In this solo show, When Ari Met Nana, I use humor and storytelling to share what I’ve learned along the way. My hope is that by laughing at my messes and mishaps, you’ll feel more empowered to explore your own desires—whether that’s kink, creativity, or just being brave enough to be yourself.

Sign up as a paid subscriber to watch the full show, including exclusive excerpts from my erotic novellas, which are available for Kindle readers on Amazon.

Free subscribers can enjoy this 27-minute podcast-friendly excerpt from the show.

Ari Chase-Ramos: Diary of an Eroticist is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.