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

Let me start by saying that what you like during sexy time is none of my business. What I’m interested in is how often you like it, and the kind of sex ed you received growing up – directly or indirectly – that did or did not make you comfortable with your own sexuality. 

Because all too frequently women with high libidos and men with low libidos have been made to feel confused or ashamed about their bodies and desires. As if there were something wrong with them, rather than with cultural and medical biases that for so long have offered a narrow definition of sexual “normalcy,” especially for cis-women, LGBTQ+ folks and nonbinary people.

To help us all feel accepted, seen and heard, please consider sharing your story for the podcast, on or off the record. It can be funny, angry, emotional — there’s no judgment here.

I’m interested in whether, how and why people feel unnaturally about their most natural urges. And how those experiences compare and contrast across gender, age, ethnicity, cultural background and sexual orientation.

Please note: Likely only excerpts of your story will be used in 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!).

Before airing any of your excerpts, we will email you requesting written authorization, in order to double check that you really are ok sharing information publicly and to confirm that you really exist!

Some questions to consider for your recording:

• 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?

• Has your sexuality been a cause of embarrassment and shame or joy and adventure?

• Do you feel that you 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 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 the purity movement, please specify which denomination.]

• Has anyone ever shamed you for enjoying sex? If so, who?

• 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: