The Peak

In our debut episode of Season 2, Robyn is joined by Damien, a multimedia freelancer and creative based in San Antonio. In this episode, Damien discusses why for him, love is a necessary ingredient for a positive sexual encounter, how he taught himself the art of cunnilingus, and why he believes straight men often struggle to be open about their sexuality.

Damien is also a host of the podcast I Love You, Bro, a show about how men can work through emotions, pain, and expectations of masculinity.

Our theme music was produced by Johnny Manchild of Johnny Manchild & The Poor Bastards

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Social Media Links:

Follow The Peak on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and, if you want, donate to our Ko-Fi account!

Follow Damien at @themacadamien, and @iloveyoubropodcast

Nava Mau is a filmmaker, actress, and cultural worker from Mexico City and San Antonio, Texas. Most recently, Nava wrote, produced, directed, and stars in “Waking Hour,” a short film about a young trans woman balancing her safety with her desire for intimacy. She is now serving as a producer on a short film titled “Lovebites,” currently in post-production, and she appears next in the short film “Femenina.” Over the past 8 years, Nava has engaged in culture change work with community-based service providers, student organizations, and survivors of violence. Her long-term vision is to illuminate the stories of marginalized people in order to expand their access to resources.

In this episode, Nava discusses how she navigates safety and intimacy dating as a trans woman (a topic she explores in her film "Waking Hour,) her work serving LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence for Community United Against Violence, her creative aspirations, and her intimate experiences at different stages of her life.

Social Media Links:

Follow The Peak on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and, if you want, donate to our Ko-Fi account!

Follow Nava Mau on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

You can watch Waking Hour on Vimeo and follow on Facebook for updates as it makes the festival circuit!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault throughout and a vivid description of rape from 26:35-29:30 and from 35:35-36:24. Listener discretion is advised.

This episode features special guest Bella Rea and a sweet soundtrack provided by the birds outside the recording studio (Robyn's apartment). Bella discusses her experiences with bravado and vivacity, from fearlessly describing being raped at 17, to her passion for vibrators. Listen now to hear our conversation about Bella's love for "boys who listen and boys with cars," her first time kissing another girl, and her appreciation for porn outtakes.

If you or a loved one have experienced rape or sexual violence, The Peak stands with you. The following links lead to The RAINN list of National Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors and the national rape crisis center locator and may be of service to you.

Katherine Wela Bogen is a Clinical Research Coordinator at Rhode Island Hospital. In this episode, we discuss her work in sexual violence prevention, how to respond supportively to disclosures of sexual victimization, and what sexual healing looks like for trauma survivors. We also discuss her experience working toward a fully-embodied and pleasurable sex life as a survivor of sexual violence, from seeking Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (she recommends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well) to mailing a vibrator to her boyfriend.

Links discussed in this episode!

Last fall, Katherine entered the public spotlight when she wrote a Facebook post about false reporting rates of sexual violence. The post went viral and can be read here!

Activists:

Angela Davis, Malcolm X, Gloria Anzaldua, Bell Hooks, Jackson Katz, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison

Hunter Lamar

Dejahna James

Katherine Wela Bogen's research on positive and negative responses to disclosures of sexual assault.

Books:

Becoming Cliterate

Come as You Are

Healing Sex

Jorge is a teacher, an activist, and a gay man. Three years ago, he discovered that he is HIV positive. Today he is undetectable, meaning that he cannot sexually transmit HIV to another person. In this episode, Jorge discusses how he became involved in activism for the LGBTQ community, how trauma and shame he acquired from the Pentecostal church lead him toward risky behavior, and why he believes mental health care is essential to (and missing from) HIV prevention.

A note from Jorge:

Not all HIV experiences are equal. My story is just one experience, and my path to HIV, though common in stigmatized and persecuted communities, is not the only one. There are victims of sexual violence who have been exposed to HIV. Also, transmission has many paths outside of sexual activity, such as negligence by health professionals or drug use. Some people simply have been victims of chance. However, HIV as a result of trauma and mental health concerns can play a big role in how the virus is spread.

In this episode, Mckenzie discusses her work as an STI/HIV Test Counselor and Risk Reduction Specialist, including what she wishes people knew about getting tested, the 90-90-90 plan, and undetectability. She also tells a personal parable about leaving a sexually disrespectful ex-boyfriend, how masturbation helped her learn to ask for what she wants in bed, and the most iconic sex advice she ever received.

Find a clinic near you and get tested for HIV and STIs today!

Arianna thinks that sex is exciting, healing, and (most of all) funny! Robyn and Arianna open today's episode with a discussion of theatre as an inclusive space for people to explore their sexuality and their gender presentation. Then Arianna discusses how she confronted her own anxiety before having sex for the first time, that time a couple in Kansas City flew her out for a threesome, and the process of leaving an unhealthy relationship for a good one. Through it all, Arianna finds the joy, the humor, and sometimes the gross-factor, in relationships, bodies, and sex.

In this bonus-length episode, our guest, Sarin recounts their experiences with sex in their personal and professional life. As a SHAC (School Health Advisory Council) Certified sex educator and political activist, Sarin works to teach people of all ages about sexual liberation, female masturbation, and sexual health, and as a former sex worker, they describe their experience with sex work as a means of sustenance, a source of confidence, and an important step on their path to personal self-discovery. They recall their relationship with their own sexuality, and how they have transformed since being emancipated as a teenager, to leaving their partner of 5 years and discovering their queer identity.

Segment from Maya Angelou's live reading of "Still I Rise" sourced from Literature Today UK's video on Youtube.

This will be the last full-length episode of 2018. Thank you for listening to The Peak, and have a very happy New Year!

EDIT: This episode and post were updated and edited on 4/30/19.

Growing up in the Mormon Church of the Latter-Day Saints, Lainey was raised to believe that pre-marital sex was a sin second only to murder, that same-sex attraction was not to be considered, and that her sexual partners were to be limited to her one-day husband. Lainey got married immediately after graduating High School, but has since left her marriage as well as the Mormon church. In today's episode, Lainey describes the joy and intimacy that she finds in sex, an experience which may sometimes include discussing Ayn Rand during a one-night-stand.

As a musician, Adam Tutor strives to be open, creative, and loving in all aspects of his life. In this episode, Adam recounts his intimate experiences and the joys and trials (and music) that have accompanied them, and discusses his exploration of polyamory and monogamy, his spirituality, and his journey to express love while respecting his partner's boundaries as well as his own.

Adam Tutor's music is available on Bandcamp.