Welcome everybody: gender-normative and gender-diverse alike!

Let me be clear: what you like during sexy time is really none of my business. What I’m interested in is the kind of sex ed we receive growing up – directly or indirectly – that does or does not make us comfortable with our own sexuality. And how and what people feel about their most natural urges compares and contrasts across gender, age, ethnicity, cultural background and sexual orientation lines.

In the modern world, all too frequently women with high libidos and men with low libidos are made to feel confused or ashamed about their bodies and desires. As if there were something wrong with them, rather than with cultural and thus medical and scientific biases that offer very narrow definitions of sexual “normalcy,” to the exclusion of LGBTQ+ folks, nonbinary people and many cis-women and men as well.

In an effort to help everyone feel accepted, seen and heard, please consider sharing your story. It can be funny, angry, emotional — there’s no judgment here. And it can be “on the record” - for the podcast - or off (meaning if you want to share for the sake of sharing, but don’t want it broadcast, it will not be broadcast).

Please note, if you do share for the podcast: Likely only excerpts of your story will be used for the podcast, and you will be identified by first-name only and place of residency, or some other geographical location (to minimize confusion over people of the same name!). And before airing any of your content, you will be sent a release form requesting written authorization, to make sure that you really are ok sharing your voice publicly and to confirm that you really exist!

If you prefer to be interviewed, email me at natasha@wls.pod.
If you prefer to send in recorded audio, below are some potential prompts:

• What was your primary source of sexual education? Family? Friends? School?

  • Was it comprehensive or vague?

  • Did it frame sex positively or negatively, as joyous or fearful/shameful? [Please explain.]

• Have you ever felt pressured to repress or ignore your sexuality? If so, by whom: Family? Friends? Society? A religious institution?

  • If you have been or are part of a purity movement, please specify.]

• When you were growing up, did you think women or men were more “naturally” sexual? [Please explain.]

• Who was the first person to tell you that sex is fun, and how old were you?

• Do you feel that you and/or your partner(s) don’t conform to gender stereotypes about sexuality? At what age did you begin feeling this way? Does it affect your life today, and if so, how?

• Have family, friends or your community supported you openly for enjoying sex?

• Have you ever been scared before, during or after sex? Have you ever felt it was easier to go through with it than to say something or stop?

• At what age were you able to express what you wanted sexually from your partner(s)? Do you still struggle with that? Does it depend on the dynamic you have with each partner?

• If you identify as a woman, have you ever been told you want sex too often? If so, by whom? In what circumstances?

• If identify as a man, have you ever been told you don’t want sex enough? If so, by whom? In what circumstances?

• If you’re gender non-binary or trans, how has your lived gender experience and your sexuality been affected by social stereotypes and pressures?

Recording (mp3 or m4a)
There are many ways to record yourself and send in the audio (to natasha@wlspod.com), but one of the easiest is with the Voice Memos or Recorder app on your smartphone or tablet. Directions: