What if exposure through a lens wasn’t about performance… but about self-celebration? 

Not about looking perfect… but about remembering who you are?

In this expansive and beautifully honest conversation, I chat with outdoor boudoir photographer, Wren Morrow, about exposure, embodiment, and what happens when women stop performing and start remembering.

We explore:

– The difference between performance and presence

– Why social conditioning keeps women critiquing their bodies

– How nature helps us drop the persona and return to our ancient self

– Photography as a portal — not to perfection, but to remembrance

– Simple ways to reconnect with your body and send light where shame once lived

When we recorded this episode, Wren and I were dreaming out loud.

I was about to turn 50 and host a Women’s Camping Festival - a weekend of wildness, sisterhood and celebration - and I knew I didn’t just want it documented.

I wanted it witnessed.

So I invited her to come to Australia.

To be part of the festival.

To work with women in my network.

And she said yes.

As this episode is released, Wren is here in Australia, collaborating with women who are ready to step beyond social constructs and let nature guide them back to themselves. She’s also able to assist with all kinds of photography

If that’s you - reach out.

Wren will be in Australia until late April, with some time in Bali during March. If you’re curious about working with her while she’s here, send me a message or contact her directly via her website/instagram DMs below.

This episode is where the magic began -before we stepped through the portal.

Connect with Wren

Website: wrenmorrow.com

Instagram: @_wrenmorrow

Step Into Your Own Self-Celebration

My next Pleasure You’ve Been Missing Pilgrimage begins March 9.

It’s an 8-week journey into embodiment, pleasure, confidence and reconnection - without apology and without performing.

If you’d like details, or want to explore whether it’s right for you, email me directly:

📩 [email protected]

And if you miss this intake, reach out and I’ll add you to the waitlist for the next take-off.

What do women really want in midlife?

Not crumbs.
Not confusion.
Not low-effort dating.

In this bold and expansive episode, I'm joined by Anna Grosman, founder of Her Confidant – Australia’s only female-led, women-focused male escort agency designed specifically for women.

Together we explore what women crave in from men and in midlife, how intimacy can be reframed as wellbeing, and why midlife is not a decline – but an awakening.

This conversation moves beyond taboo and into choice, agency, safety, emotional intelligence, and the radical act of choosing yourself.

Whether you’re single, partnered, curious, or simply questioning what’s possible, this episode opens the door to a new way of thinking about desire and connection.

We discuss:

• What women really want in midlife
• The exhaustion of modern dating apps
• Why safety and emotional intelligence matter in intimacy
• Moving from performance to presence
• Reclaiming desire after years of disconnection
• Trauma-aware approaches to intimacy
• Couples exploring safely and consensually
• Why pleasure is a wellness tool, not an indulgence
• The power of choosing yourself

Connect with Anna:

https://herconfidant.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/herconfidant.au/
linkedin.com/in/annagrosman-herconfidant
https://www.tiktok.com/@her.confidant.companions
https://www.facebook.com/p/Her-Confidant-61555999673521/

If this episode sparked something in you, join me for an 8-week immersive journey, The Pleasure You’ve Been Missing Pilgrimage, starting soon, from 9th March 2026.

Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @pennyvandersluys
Website: www.pennyvandersluys.com

HRT is having a moment - and for many women, it’s been supportive and even life-changing. But the conversation has also become polarised, confusing, and at times overwhelming.

In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Joanna McMeekin, a women’s hormone health coach, for a grounded, nuanced conversation about HRT. There is a lot of hype about it at the moment, so this is a discussion about what’s actually happening hormonally through perimenopause and menopause, why HRT doesn’t work for everyone, and what else matters when it comes to supporting your body, brain, bones and wellbeing through midlife.

This episode is for women who are already taking HRT, considering it, trying it, or questioning whether they need it - and who want to make informed, embodied choices rather than reacting from fear or pressure.

In this episode, we explore

• Why HRT has shifted from hesitation to a groundswell of encouragement
• When it’s too late to take HRT
• Why the HRT conversation has become so polarised - and how to step out of “either/or” thinking
• When HRT can be helpful, and why it doesn’t work for everyone
• How we know Perimenopause and menopause are transitions and not disease or deficiency 
• What’s often missing from the HRT conversation
• Why bloodwork, baseline health and individual patterns matter
• Supporting brain, bone and heart health with or without HRT
• Trusting your body, your lived experience, and your capacity to choose what’s right for you

Books mentioned

• The Menopause Brain
• This Is Your Brain on Birth Control – Sarah E. Hill

Connect with Joanna

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanna.macmeikan
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna_macmeikan/
• Website: www.joannamac.com
• Free guide: https://www.joannamac.com/free-downloads

Connect with Penny

• Website: https://pennyvandersluys.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penelope.sluys

• If you’re a woman who does a lot, holds a lot, and is brilliant at being busy… this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

  
  

  In this conversation, I chat with Certified Curiosity Coach, Amanda Ewin. We explore how curiosity - simple, gentle, body-led curiosity - can become a powerful tool for creating space, truth, and turn-on in the middle of a full life.

  This isn’t about adding more to your to-do list.

  
  

  It’s about softening busy, interrupting old patterns, and discovering small moments that reconnect you to yourself.

  Listen to hear us talk about:

  
  

  • Why busy becomes such a familiar pattern for women in midlife
  • How micro-moments (even 30 seconds in the car!) can shift everything
  • Curiosity as a gentle doorway back to spaciousness, presence, and self-connection
  • How to recognise when you’re making choices from old patterns instead of current desires
  • Using the body to guide decisions, clarity, and truth
  • Curiosity as a playful way to interrupt people-pleasing and perfectionism
  • How curiosity can softly support more turn-on, aliveness, and alignment - without forcing anything

  
  

  You can connect with Amanda:

  Instagram @amandaewin.

  website: Amandaewin.com

  Instagram: @pennyvandersluys
  Facebook: Penny van der Sluys
  Website + pleasure-focused emails: pennyvandersluys.com

  If this episode resonated, please share it with a friend - or leave a comment, review or rating. It all helps this podcast reach more women who deserve to feel wild, free, sexy, and deeply connected to themselves.

  
  

  
  

What if the thing that could change everything - your stress, your energy, your relationship with your body - was something as simple and as profound as your breath?

So many women spend years pushing through discomfort, silencing symptoms, or being told their pain is “normal,” “in their head,” or caused by something unrelated.

Endometriosis, in particular, is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed conditions affecting women - and the impact can be devastating.

In this episode, we open a conversation that has been silenced for far too long.

I’m joined by Rachael McLean, a master breathwork facilitator who endured years of chronic pelvic pain, medical dismissal, and multiple surgeries before discovering a practice that helped her reconnect with her body, regulate her nervous system, and reclaim her quality of life.

Her story is powerful, validating, and deeply hopeful - not just for women with endo, but for anyone who has ever been told to “just put up with” their pain.

A gentle note before you listen

This episode is based on Rachael’s lived experience with endometriosis and breathwork, and our shared reflections. It’s offered for information and inspiration, not as medical advice.
Always trust your body, and work with your own practitioners and health support team when exploring treatments, changing medications, or trying new approaches.

In this episode, we explore:

• What endometriosis actually is - and why so many women go undiagnosed for years

• How pain is often dismissed or mislabelled (IBS, anxiety, food intolerance, “normal period pain”)

• Why so many women learn to push through agony instead of receiving proper support

• How breathwork helped Rachael reduce pain, calm inflammation, and reconnect with her body

• The link between stress, cortisol, inflammation, and chronic pelvic conditions

• How breath regulates the nervous system and influences pain perception

• The emotional cost of not being believed - shame, confusion, isolation, and self-doubt

• The importance of advocating for your body when professionals don’t listen

• Rebuilding trust in your body after years of being dismissed

• Practical ways breathwork can support your cycle, pain, and emotional wellbeing

  
  

  Connect with Rachael:

  Website: https://therefinedbreath.com
  Instagram: @the_redefined_breath

  
  

  Connect with me:

  Instagram: @pennyvandersluys
  Explore my work at pennyvandersluys.com

What if the way you move your body could transform how you experience pleasure, confidence, and desire?

In this episode, my guest is the gorgeous sexologist, educator, and triathlete Jordina Quain who is passionate about sport personally and professionally! Her PhD is exploring the effect of endurance sport on female athlete sexuality and sense of self so she is very familiar with what it really means to be fit for pleasure - body, mind, and soul.

Tune in to hear us talk about:

• How sport can both ignite and inhibit desire

• The hidden link between pelvic floor health and orgasmic pleasure

• Why leisure is political (and reclaiming it is an act of rebellion)

• How movement and community help us rewrite old stories of shame and belonging

• The unexpected ways exercise impacts confidence, relationships, and sensuality

• And Jordi’s powerful message to women in midlife

Whether you’re an ocean swimmer, weekend walker, or just curious about reconnecting to your body in new ways, this conversation will inspire you to move your way to joy, sensuality, and self-acceptance.

🖤 Acknowledgement of Country
We both wish to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land where I record TURNED ON, and the Whadjuk Noongar people where Jordina Quain joined from.

We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and honour the wisdom, culture, and stories that continue to flow through these lands and waters.

You can connect with Jordi on Instagram @the_sporty_sexologist

I'd love to connect with you too:

pennyvandersluys.com
On Instagram @pennyvandersluys

Are you ever stuck for present ideas?

Have you ever been gifted a vibrator - or thought about gifting one to yourself or a friend - but weren’t quite sure how to go about it?

Today’s episode is for you.

In this joyful, stigma-busting conversation, I chat with Justine Vallata, founder and owner of That’s The Spot - a small Australian business on a mission to make pleasure gifting fun, affordable, and shame-free.

We talk about what makes a pleasure gift feel personal and empowering, and how affordability, sustainability, and creativity are helping more women feel confident exploring pleasure - for themselves and for others.

Join us as we explore:

+ How self-gifting can become an act of self-respect and a way to reclaim your right to feel good.
+ How to choose personalised pleasure hampers that feel elegant, inclusive, and empowering.
+ Why affordability and sustainability matter in the world of pleasure products - and how small changes in packaging and pricing can make pleasure more accessible for everyone.
+ How to start the conversation about sex toys with your partner - without ego, shame, or awkwardness.
+ And how this small Australian business is helping change the narrative around pleasure and self-care.

This episode is for every woman who’s ever wanted to give - or receive - a gift that keeps on giving and makes you feel amazing.

You can connect with Justine:
Website: thatsthespot.com.au
Instagram: @thatsthespotau
✨ Use code TURNEDON20 for 20% off all gift packs, Pleasure Power Vibes, and subscriptions.

Connect with Penny:
Instagram: @pennyvandersluys
Website: pennyvandersluys.com

Do you feel like your vaginal health and what's best for it is a mystery? In this episode, I chat with Joanna Macmeikan about practical vaginal care that actually helps. She demystifies what’s normal, what needs attention, and how to support a thriving, pleasure-friendly environment - without the shame and confusion.

Tune in to hear us discuss:

• Vulva vs vagina - the self-cleaning truth and what to stop using today

• The “nightclub” microbiome - how pH, periods and semen crash the party

• The midlife pre-teen echo - why some patterns return…and how to respond

• GSM decoded - the quiet symptoms too many tolerate, plus simple first steps

• Moisturiser vs lube - the 3×-weekly habit most women wish they started earlier

• Pelvic floor myths - when “tight” is the problem and how to retrain with ease

• Pleasure as medicine - blood flow, nerves and building a “use it or lose it” practice

• Smart recovery after antibiotics - rebuild balance, don’t just bomb it

• Hormone tools - local oestrogen or testosterone as options

• Trauma-aware support - finding practitioners who can truly hold you

Joanna blends clear science, TCM wisdom and lived empathy so you leave with language for your body, practical options to try, and the confidence to choose what feels right in your season of midlife. If you’ve ever wondered what’s “normal,” how to reduce discomfort, or how to make this part of your health more pleasure-friendly, this conversation is your gentle, grounded starting point.

100th-Episode Celebration – 7–17 October 2025
Join the party on my socials. Find the celebration post, share what you loved about this episode or the show, and go in the running for gorgeous prizes — including goodies from That’s The Spot and Bed Intentions.

Connect with Joanna
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanna.macmeikan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna_macmeikan/
Website: www.joannamac.com
Receive her Free Perimenopause Essentials Checklist: https://www.joannamac.com/free-downloads

How would you feel if loneliness wasn’t a dead end, but a doorway into the most honest, turned-on chapter of your life?

In this episode, I chat with Roanna White (Ro) about moving from Saturday-night-on-the-couch loneliness to a liberated, off-the-script sexual life. We unpack what radical relating actually means in practice - relationships designed through truth, consent and courage - and what it looks like to live outside the script of “how good women should love and desire,” including candid conversations about swingers’ socials, play parties and kink curiosity. Ro is a passionate advocate for women 40+ embracing sensuality without shame, and she shares how divorce, mental health spirals and longing for connection became a catalyst for somatic healing, sex-positive exploration and reclaiming pleasure in midlife.

Tune in to hear us discuss:

• Why loneliness can hit hard in midlife - even when you’re busy and surrounded by people

• What honest self-inquiry can look like

• Why she chose Somatic therapy - how it has helped her to complete stress and trauma responses and listen to body-truths

• Radical relating - consent as a living practice, relationships by design, agreements that fit you

• What life can look like outside the script - 'Red Hot Pie', ENM, party spaces and kink curiosity when it aligns with your values

• Safety in real life - pre-talks, boundaries, newbie signalling, no-pressure culture, watchers vs players

• Reframing safety vs mainstream dating - why explicit consent can feel safer than the apps

• Receiving pleasure - letting desire back in, multiple orgasms and lingerie as a daily pleasure practice

• Power and self-permission for women 40+ - pleasure in peri/menopause and beyond

• Building non-sexual companionship and community as an antidote to loneliness

Ro and I explore how telling the truth, centring consent and giving yourself permission can shift everything in midlife - from how you connect with friends and lovers to how you meet yourself on a Saturday night. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at spaces people rarely talk about, translated into practical, values-led steps you can bring home to your body today.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens at sex-positive socials, and how to explore safely at your own pace, this episode is for you.

Connect with Roanna via her:

• Instagram: @one.ro.many.roads – https://www.instagram.com/one.ro.many.roads?igsh=MXd1azltejlicHdveg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roannawhite45?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

• YNKYER – Ro’s non-sexual, non-romantic companionship concept: http://www.ynkyer.com

Connect with me via:

Instagram: @pennyvandersluys

Website:

Meet a new community of incredible women through my Wonder Women Club: https://pennyvandersluys.com/

https://pennyvandersluys.com/wonder

Please Note:
This episode mentions sexual assault. If listening brings anything up for you reach out for support. If you’re in Australia, support is available 24/7 at 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732.

How would you feel if a global sexual health congress wasn’t just for academics, but a window into what really matters for your midlife body, pleasure and power?

In this episode, I caught up with sexologist and pleasure coach Emma Pleasure (Emma McCann), whom I met at the World Sexual Health Congress in Brisbane, to unpack our biggest takeaways. We compare notes from different streams, share what surprised us and moved us, and spotlight what women in midlife deserve to know so we can advocate for ourselves, support the young people and men in our lives, and expand our own pleasure with less shame and more choice.

Content note: we touch on anatomy, gender identity, porn literacy and genital cutting/circumcision. Choose a time you can care for yourself as you listen – or pop in earphones if you’re in a shared space.

We discuss:

• Why a rights-based lens matters – pleasure is not a luxury, it’s part of health

• How to talk to practitioners and advocate for inclusive, pleasure-aware care

• Sex education that actually works – consent, critical thinking and practical skills

• Supporting men and boys without shaming – healthier role models and real conversations about the manosphere

• Illness, surgery and ageing – finding your way back to pleasure after body changes

• Gender identity compassion – helping loved ones feel at home in their bodies while building our own capacity

• The Golden Trio (plus the underrated fourth) – conditions that make orgasm more likely for many women

• De-stigmatising toys – treating them as tools that support pleasure, connection and healing

• Spotting the scripts we inherited from media and culture, and rewriting them in midlife

Emma and I explore how centring rights, consent and pleasure can shift everything in midlife, from how we speak to our GP, to how we connect with partners, to how we raise more confident, informed young people. It’s a behind-the-scenes download from a very academic space, translated into real-life takeaways you can bring home to your body today.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens at a World Sexual Health Congress, and what it means for your daily life, relationships and turn-on, this episode is for you.

You can connect with Emma:

• Instagram: @emmapleasure

  Website: emma-mccann.com

• World Association for Sexual Health – World Sexual Health Congress https://www.worldsexualhealth.net/

• Katrina Marson – legal and ethical perspectives on sex education https://katrinamarson.com/

• Cam Fraser – supporting young men and healthy masculinity https://cam-fraser.com/

• Talk Soon Talk Often – WA parent guide to relationships and sexuality education https://tsto.gdhr.wa.gov.au/

• Planet Puberty – resources for young people with disability and their carers https://www.planetpuberty.org.au/

• Welcome to Consent (book)

• The Body Keeps the Score (book)

Connect with me:

Instagram: @pennyvandersluys

Facebook: facebook.com/penelope.sluys