The Love Drive with Shaun Galanos

In this episode, Shaun is joined by Bay Area sex therapist Claire Perelman, aka Sex Clarified, for a candid and useful conversation about sex, desire, shame, and the stuff people are usually too awkward to say out loud.

They get into monogamy, sexual compatibility, communication, squirting, pegging, orgasm pressure, porn habits, toys, libido differences, and the shame so many people still carry around pleasure.

This episode is really about permission: to communicate clearly, stop performing, get curious about your body, and stop treating sex like a test you can fail.

Send Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at [email protected]. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too.

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen.

Books and other mentions:

She Comes First by Ian Kerner https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060538260/

Slow Sex: The Path to Fulfilling and Sustainable Sexuality by Diana Richardson https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Sex-Fulfilling-Sustainable-Sexuality/dp/B0853DZL95

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski https://www.amazon.com/Come-You-Are-Surprising-Transform/dp/1476762090

Squirting workshop https://heyplura.com/events/squirting-may

Guest links:

Instagram - www.instagram.com/sexclarified

TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@sexclarified

Website – www.sexclarified.com

Substack - https://substack.com/@claireperelman

All other relevant links - linktr.ee/sexclarified

Connect with Shaun:

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More about Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/
Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

In this solo check-in, Shaun begins with a simple question that lands deeper than expected: how is your heart? From there, Shaun moves through a mix of life update, therapy reflection, sex question detour, and a deeper check-in on what it means to feel like you’re doing enough with your life.

He talks about quitting nicotine, feeling more touched by life again, and replacing one habit with an alarming amount of gummy bears. He reflects on doomscrolling, discipline, and the small daily choices that can either ground you or pull you further away from yourself.

At the center of the episode is a vulnerable therapy reflection on feeling unaccomplished at 43 and realizing that praise, money, and external validation can’t create self-worth for you. There’s also dating advice, some delightfully unhinged sex talk, and a sweet reminder that this podcast is meant to feel like a longer voice memo from a friend.

If your sense of success has been tied to achievement and you’ve been feeling a little unmoored lately, this episode is for you. And if it speaks to you, share it with a male friend too. We’d love to have more men in these conversations.

Timestamps:

(02:54) Nicotine update and feeling more alive

(05:23) Doomscrolling and wanting more discipline

(07:01) These episodes as a voice note from a friend

(07:27) Feeling unaccomplished at 43

(12:27) Can money make you feel successful?

(15:14) Deep throating, sore throats, and bruising

(18:54) Allergic to semen?

(19:41) Reviews, voicemails, and how to send questions

(20:55) Sweet listener message and why more men should listen

(25:44) Dating question: should you ask for another date?

(29:58) Travel update and weekly Thursday releases

(31:29) Next week: Claire Perelman on sex and questions

Send Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at [email protected]. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too.

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen.

Connect with Shaun:

⁠Shaun's love camp⁠

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/
Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

Therapy Jeff joins Shaun for a conversation about men, therapy, emotional depth, and why so many relationships struggle when people cannot say what is actually going on inside them. They talk about the myth that men are “simple,” why emotional shutdown creates distance, and why gym, status, and success are not substitutes for real emotional growth.

They also get into Jeff’s critique of Scott Galloway’s message to men, and the difference between chasing shortcuts and actually doing the work of becoming more emotionally mature.

They talk about modern dating, rejection, approach anxiety, and what respectful flirting can actually look like now.

If you’ve ever wondered why some men struggle to open up, why dating can feel so high-stakes, or what emotional maturity actually looks like in practice, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

(00:20) Meet Therapy Jeff

(02:46) Funeral family tension

(08:30) Managing anxiety in real time

(11:25) Why men struggle emotionally

(20:03) Getting straight men into therapy

(28:43) Therapy apps and stigma

(29:11) Why we need male therapists

(30:20) Small town dating dilemmas

(33:44) Rejection and approaching women

(42:45) First kiss and consent

(46:22) Where to find Therapy Jeff

(47:16) What love means today

Send Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at [email protected]. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too.

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Jeff’s response to Scott Galloway

Shaun’s guest appearance on Jeff’s Problem Solved podcast

Jeff’s podcast, Problem Solved

Follow Jeff on Instagram and TikTok: @therapyjeff

References:

Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway

Feeld app

Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

Shaun’s love camp

Connect with Shaun:

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/
Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

In this solo episode, Shaun shares a personal confession that kicks off a real conversation about coping, cravings, and the oddly human ways we try to take the edge off.

He also gets into self-soothing, emotional patterns, and what it means to actually give yourself what you need instead of just grabbing the nearest distraction. There’s also listener Q&A on sex, flirting, and gym crush energy, plus a few side roads that make this episode feel equal parts advice column, voice note, and comedy detour.

If you like your relationship advice with heart, humor, and a little chaos, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

(00:26) Welcome and teaser

(00:59) What’s giving me chi

(04:24) My dirty little secret

(12:25) Inner child needs

(16:46) Term: hobosexual

(19:44) Sons Versus New Love

(20:40) Engaged update reality check

(22:56) Reviews, voicemails, and break

(24:27) Sex curiosity and gym flirting

(32:04) Taboo hookup and housekeeping

Send Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at [email protected]. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too.

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen.

Links:

He moved in after 8 days reel

The Feels — IRL singles events and mindful dating experiences

Yes/No/Maybe worksheet for talking about sex

Shaun's love camp

Connect with Shaun:

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/
Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

Jennie Young, creator of the Burned Haystack dating method, joins Shaun to talk about how to stop wasting time on the wrong people and date with way more intention. They get into dating app red flags, boundary testing, bad first dates, manosphere code words, and why filtering harder might actually lead you to the right person faster. Jennie also reviews Shaun’s dating profile live and shares what it felt like to finally meet her own needle.

And then, in a bonus post-recording tangent, Jennie has a message for Dan Savage: too many men are misusing “GGG” and “sex positive” to pressure women, and she is absolutely not having it.

Timestamps:

(00:00) The hidden red flags in dating profiles

(00:24) The dating app problem no one admits

(03:50) Why Burned Haystack dating took off

(07:40) Dating in a small town without settling

(17:55) The first boundary test tells you everything

(41:35) The first date money debate

(42:01) Jenny reviews Shaun’s dating profile live

(43:05) The small profile changes that matter

(48:28) Your photos might be hurting you

(54:19) The manosphere language women should notice

(59:32) Charm, banter, or just sexual pressure?

(01:01:03) Jenny’s work and where to follow her

(01:02:29) Why healthy chemistry can feel boring

(01:05:07) Finding love later than you planned

(01:05:49) Jennie has a question for Dan Savage about GGG

(01:10:23) Wrap up, links, and final takeaways

Links:
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9116647515019601/

Substack: https://burnedhaystack.substack.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/word_case_scenario/

Order the book: https://www.jennieyoung.com/burn-the-haystack-book

Referenced: How to Not Die Alone by Logan Ury

Love Camp: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/p/summer-camp-isnt-just-for-kids-love

Connect with Shaun:

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/

Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

In this solo episode, Shaun shares what life has looked like over the last several months and why this season has felt especially hard. He talks about grief, heartbreak, instability, and what it has been like to live without a fixed home while still trying to keep moving forward.

In this episode, Shaun opens up about the death of his father, losing his dog Roger, a romance that stirred up old wounds, and the strange discomfort of living in transition. He reflects on self-doubt, feeling untethered, and the pressure to be doing better when life feels messy and unresolved.

He also answers listener questions about regretting the end of a good relationship, the difference between grief and self-forgiveness, fear, freezing, and how to speak honestly about hard things.

This one is tender, funny, raw, and deeply human.

Timestamps:

(00:24) Welcome Back And Name Story

(01:08) Recording On The Move

(03:21) Episode Roadmap And Pep Talk

(06:11) Heartbreak Grief And Losing Roger

(14:02) Self Doubt And Finding Home

(21:14) Build A Life Proud Of

(23:06) Sweet Voicemail And Self Doubt

(26:20) Stop Negative Self Talk

(28:13) Breakup Regret And Hope

(33:58) Crisis Hotline Lessons And Wrap

Send Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at [email protected]. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too. 

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen.

Links & Resources:

Farewell, Roger Substack post

Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR)

Dan Savage episode

Upcoming Summer Retreat - Love Camp. June 5 -7 at Kripalu Yoga Wellness Center in Western Massachusetts. Learn more and join: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/p/summer-camp-isnt-just-for-kids-love

Connect with Shaun:

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/

Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

Dan Savage is officially the first guest of The Love Drive relaunch and it's the perfect way to kick off the relaunch.

Dan is a legend in the world of sex, love, and relationships. He is the host of the Savage Lovecast, the writer of the long-running Savage Love advice column, and someone whose work has shaped how many of us think and talk about sex.

In this episode, Shaun shares the story of double texting Dan to beg him to be on the show, how he used to refer to himself as the ‘younger and straighter Dan Savage,” and gets into why he downloaded Grindr. 

They get into herpes stigma, Shaun’s personal experience, Dan’s GGG philosophy, polyamory, age-gap relationships, and the politics shaping modern dating. They also talk about why straight men are often judged more harshly for sexual curiosity, why erections do not always equal arousal, and Dan’s pushback on the Burned Haystack Dating Method.

There is also a candid conversation about Shaun’s past work as an erotic masseur in San Francisco, along with detours into Heated Rivalry, sexual openness, and the campsite rule.

This one is sexually explicit, very funny, and full of honesty.

Timestamps:

(00:42) Shaun introduces Dan Savage

(04:12) Dan Savage joins The Love Drive

(09:36) Herpes stigma and the truth about disclosure

(15:54) Heated Rivalry and what straight people can learn

(21:33) Why straight sex needs more honesty

(25:05) Shaun’s erotic massage story

(28:26) Sex work, loneliness, and human connection

(33:38) Politics, masculinity, and modern dating

(40:46) Burn the haystack or stay open to love

(52:39) Why straight men are judged for curiosity

(01:09:20) Age gaps, the campsite rule, and leaving people better

Send Shaun your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email him at [email protected]. Voicemails and voicememos are preferred, but texts/emails are OK too. 

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. Shaun loves hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen.

Links:

https://savage.love

https://www.instagram.com/dansavage/

Love Camp: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/p/summer-camp-isnt-just-for-kids-love

Connect with Shaun:

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/

Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

I’m both very excited and a tad nervous about relaunching my old podcast, The Love Drive.

Excited because I love having conversations about sex, love, and relationships with other experts, thought leaders, and everyday people. Hosting a podcast is great fun, by the way. And I still have so much to learn about the subject.

And, nervous because a lot has happened over the past few years, and my confidence in many areas isn’t where it used to be. I’ve also felt a lot of grief since my father passed a few years ago, and I’m feeling more tender and vulnerable ever since. 

And yet, here we go.

Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect this month.

New episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the month of March.

Thanks for being here, and enjoy!

The Love Drive podcast is back: a funny, no-nonsense podcast about sex, love, dating, and modern relationships - for hopeful romantics, love cynics, and everyone in between. Hosted by love coach Shaun Galanos.

In this episode:

• How this all started: A San Francisco taxi and real conversations about love. Check those out here.

• What to expect: Raw, radically honest talks with guest experts, everyday names, and regular people, and solo Q&A episodes.

• The vibe: Vulnerability, humor, curiosity, and healthy conversations about love, sex, and dating. 

Timestamps:

(00:00) We're back, baby

(02:27) What this show is really about

(04:56) Raw truth, healthy masculinity, zero bro-nonsense

(05:58) What you can expect

(07:18) Call me: your voicemails fuel this show

(08:50) Scared + stoked (both can be true)

(11:42) Thank you

And I’m over the moon to have author and sex advice columnist Dan Savage as our first guest. Join us this Thursday. 

Send me your questions at +1 (415) 494-9559 or email me at  [email protected]. I prefer voicemails and voicememos, but texts/emails are OK too. 

To submit a guest, please do so here: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

If you’re listening on Spotify or watching on YouTube, please leave a comment. I love hearing from you. And leave a review wherever you listen. 

Relevant Links

Retreats and latest offerings: https://bit.ly/m/thelovedrive

Read my blog: https://shaungalanos.substack.com

The Love Drive Podcast: https://shaungalanos.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovedrive/

More About Shaun: https://shaungalanos.com/about/

Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/thelovedrive

This is a final apology episode for ghosting you all, where you can find me, and a sneak peek of the first episode of my new project, Voicemails to Dad, where, you guessed it, I leave voicemails to my recently deceased father. 

You can find my writing on substack here: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/

You can find the Voicemail to Dad podcast here: https://shaungalanos.substack.com/podcast

Again, thank you all for being here. 

Love, Shaun