Strippers and Sages

THIS IS AN INTERVIEW I RECORDED IN THE WINTER OF 2020 WITH THE INIMITABLE TIGRE BAILANDO [https://www.tigrebailando.com/], A DEAR FRIEND AND COLLABORATOR WHO PASSED AWAY ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2022 OF THEIR OWN VOLITION. TIGRE DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO THE JOYFUL PURSUIT OF DANCE, ARTISTIC CREATION, UNABASHED SELF EXPRESSION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. IN THIS PROFOUND AND REVELATORY CONVERSATION, WE TALK ABOUT ARCHETYPES, MYTHOLOGY, MACARONI ART, FAIRIES, THE ARTIST AS SHAMAN, AND BATTLING OUR INNER DEMONS. PLEASE HONOR TIGRE BY DONATING TO THEIR LEGACY AT MAKE LOVE VISIBLE [https://www.littleglobe.org/portfolio/facing-the-fearbeast/] AND EARTHSEED BLACK ARTS ALLIANCE [https://secure.givelively.org/donate/vital-spaces-inc/earthseed-black-arts-alliance?fbclid=IwAR1NkabKJBcqKzTXGt63QC2TGoENUVRaUeTFNfcMZ0WKstUDQiajiktgkGo].

In this dynamic interview, the multifaceted Jet Setting Jasmine and I talk about liberation through erotica, dismantling white supremacy in the porn industry, and radical sex education. A psychotherapist with an emphasis on intimacy post injury and illness, Jet Setting Jasmine is the owner of and lead therapist at Blue Pearl Therapy and the co-owner, with her partner King Noir, of the award winning Royal Fetish Films. Together they have over 20 years of experience as adult entertainers, directors, and producers. The duo combines their love of art, film and sex education to produce erotica that stimulates and engages audiences to explore their sexual fantasies. Their work on the decolonization of sex porn and politics has been featured in Huffington Post, Rolling Stones, Paper Magazine, Vice, Playboy, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, BBC, and Psychology Today.

Since 2019, Christine Soyong Harley has led SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States), a national non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for comprehensive sexuality education in the United States. Founded in 1964, SIECUS promotes sex education that is comprehensive, evidence-based, and inclusive, aiming to help people of all ages make informed decisions about their sexual health and well-being. Chris brings extensive executive leadership experience to SIECUS as the former Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders under the Obama Administration. Chris is mixed-race Korean American and Piscataway Indian–the indigenous people of Maryland, a single-mom by choice of twin boys, and the first generation of her family to attend college and graduate school. Chris received her B.A. in Politics from Oberlin College and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. SIECUS works on various fronts to achieve its goals, including policy advocacy, resource development, and public education. It provides educators, policymakers, and health professionals with information and resources to support sexuality education. The organization also engages in advocacy efforts to influence public policy and funding related to sex education, working towards a society where everyone has access to the information and education they need to lead sexually healthy lives.

Jimanekia Eborn is a Queer, Sexual Assault & Trauma Expert, Trauma Media Consultant, and Comprehensive Sex Educator. She is the host of Trauma Queen - a podcast for survivors of assault and our allies. The podcast focuses on uplifting voices in all communities and exploring our collective journey to healing. Jimanekia is the Founder of Tending The Garden- a nonprofit in service of sexual assault survivors who have been marginalized, offering retreats, online summits, community and education. She is also the co-founder of Cintima, bringing increased representation to the field of Intimacy Coordination in the film industry. In 2021, Jimanekia joined Lenora Claire Consulting as a SA & trauma expert for film & television productions. Jimanekia has been working in mental health for over a decade with youth, adolescents, and adults. She has led trauma-informed comprehensive sex and sex toy workshops at multiple universities including Columbia University, Georgetown University, Colorado College and Rhodes College. She has been the keynote speaker at Princeton Women's History Month 2021, UCSB Women of Color Conference 2019, UNCC & UC Merced's Take Back the Night Events 2022. Jimanekia has been a featured panelist at the MAC Belfast, Soho House, San Diego University, Converge Con and GirlSchool LA. Her work as a sex educator has been featured in Marie Claire, Playboy, Cosmo, Mind Body Green, Well + Good, Nylon, and many more.

We go behind the scenes at NYC's hottest sex club, the New Society for Wellness (NSFW...wink, wink). Daniel Saynt is the founder and Chief Conspirator of NSFW, a private club for the adventurous in NYC. Designed to be a safe, judgement-free, cannabis friendly space for sexual exploration, the community has grown to over 6000 members, who connect virtually and at sensual get togethers at the NSFW Clubhouse. Daniel is an activist and a community organizer, and this conversation sheds light on both the magic and the challenges of orchestrating sex-positive gatherings.  If you're interested in a more intimate sensual gathering, join us for our upcoming in-person immersion, SACRAL SOUND AND SENSUALITY, a weekend retreat combining ceremony, music, expansive wilderness, alchemical plants, and erotic activation.  * Recalibrate, heal, and deepen your relationship to the erotic in a ceremonial container * Unlearn your conditioning to cultivate a truly personal and authentic erotic ontology * Tap into the deep, replenishing well of the erotic to unleash your power and creativity * Explore how erotic agency is tantamount to self-actualization * Experience new frontiers of pleasure and self-touch with the support of vibrational sound and sacred plants Combining INTROSPECTION (the psyche) and INTEROCEPTION (the soma), the immersion will include consciousness raising and embodiment workshops, 1:1 consultations with Strippers & Sages host Lianne Sonia, and a sacred medicinal SENSUAL SOUND JOURNEY featuring live music by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Petite Celine.