Ep 19: The Night Janine Was a Streetwalker (part two) | Nutty & Slutty with Isadora O'Boto and Janine Noel | Stories on Sex Work and Mental Illness

Ep 19: The Night Janine Was a Streetwalker (part two) | Nutty & Slutty with Isadora O'Boto and Janine Noel | Stories on Sex Work and Mental Illness

In this episode of Nutty & Slutty, Janine continues her story about a night in San Francisco when psychosis, confusion and sexual violence collided. Paranoid and psychotic, Janine gets locked out of her apartment wearing just a sweatshirt -- half naked.  With her arm out for help, the public pulled back from her.  Alone at a laundromat, she was approached by a man who offered comfort, then decided to leave the city.  She negotiated that he could come back to her apartment so she could get dressed for this out-of-town party.  Knowing she wanted him to leave and feeling unsafe, she believed she was now stuck in a play, saying lines to him as if it were a performance. What followed left her questioning herself for years: Was it rape if she was confused?  Was it her fault for letting him in? Why did no one in her family name what happened? Through conversation with Isadora, this episode explores consent, coercion, dissociation, trauma, self-blame and the devastating confusion that can follow sexual assault during a mental health crisis.  It is also about the power of finally hearing the words: It was not your fault. This episode is for anyone who has struggled to name what happened to them, especially when mental illness, memory, shame or other people’s silence made the truth harder to hold.  Content warning: sexual assault, rape, psychosis, suicidal fear, police/medical response, trauma. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592009/fan_mail/new] Welcome to NUTTY & SLUTTY Where Mental Health, Sexuality and Unfiltered Truth Take Center Stage NUTTY & SLUTTY is a bold, sex-positive podcast exploring the messy, complicated and often hilarious intersections of mental health, sexuality and real life — without shame, filters or pretense. Hosted by Janine Noel (living with bipolar disorder) and Isadora O’Boto (ex-escort), this show brings together two radically honest perspectives for conversations that are as raw as they are insightful.  From navigating mood swings and medication to unpacking the realities of sex work and desire, nothing is off-limits. _________________________________________________ Isadora O’Boto (co-host) is a Juilliard Drama grad.  Under the pen name Sephe Haven, she is the author of two award-winning memoirs: My Whorizontal Life [https://amzn.to/2VP05rU] and A Someday Courtesan [https://amzn.to/3tLW6A4], and playwright/performer of the solo show: “My Whorizontal Life: The Show!”  Isadora co-hosted the podcast My Index to Sex with Lynn Ferguson [http://www.mitspodcast.com/].  Find her at: isadoraoboto.com [http://isadoraoboto.com/] Janine Noel (co-host) is creator and host of Bipolar She [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bipolar-she-with-janine-noel/id1737642325] podcast, where guests sh...

Ep 18: The Night Janine Was a Streetwalker (part one) | Nutty & Slutty with Isadora O'Boto and Janine Noel | Stories on Sex Work and Mental Illness

In this deeply personal episode of the Nutty and Slutty podcast, hosts Janine and Isadora explore the complicated intersection of bipolar disorder, sexuality, shame and identity.  What begins as a candid conversation about sex quickly unfolds into an intimate discussion about hypersexuality as a symptom of mania, the emotional aftermath of psychosis, and the ways cultural and religious conditioning can shape a person’s relationship to their own body. Janine reflects on growing up fearful of sex, feeling disconnected from her body, and carrying internalized beliefs about morality and womanhood into adulthood.  She opens up about how bipolar disorder affected her sense of self — not necessarily through promiscuity, but through delusions, distorted thinking, and dangerous vulnerability during manic and psychotic episodes. Together, the hosts unpack difficult subjects like shame, grooming, gaslighting and the silence many women carry around traumatic experiences. The episode reaches an emotional peak as Janine recounts a psychotic break that blurred acting, identity, sexuality and survival into one terrifying experience on the streets of San Francisco.  With compassion and honesty, the conversation examines how mental illness can distort reality while also challenging the stigma and blame often placed on people living with bipolar disorder.  Raw, unsettling and deeply human, this episode is ultimately about being seen, understood and finding language for experiences that are too often hidden in silence. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592009/fan_mail/new] Welcome to NUTTY & SLUTTY Where Mental Health, Sexuality and Unfiltered Truth Take Center Stage NUTTY & SLUTTY is a bold, sex-positive podcast exploring the messy, complicated and often hilarious intersections of mental health, sexuality and real life — without shame, filters or pretense. Hosted by Janine Noel (living with bipolar disorder) and Isadora O’Boto (ex-escort), this show brings together two radically honest perspectives for conversations that are as raw as they are insightful.  From navigating mood swings and medication to unpacking the realities of sex work and desire, nothing is off-limits. _________________________________________________ Isadora O’Boto (co-host) is a Juilliard Drama grad.  Under the pen name Sephe Haven, she is the author of two award-winning memoirs: My Whorizontal Life [https://amzn.to/2VP05rU] and A Someday Courtesan [https://amzn.to/3tLW6A4], and playwright/performer of the solo show: “My Whorizontal Life: The Show!”  Isadora co-hosted the podcast My Index to Sex with Lynn Ferguson [http://www.mitspodcast.com/].  Find her at: isadoraoboto.com [http://isadoraoboto.com/] Janine Noel (co-host) is creator and host of Bipolar She [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bipolar-she-with-janine-noel/id1737642325] podcast, where guests sh...

Ep 17: When Is It Actually Rape? (And Why We Didn’t Call It That) | Nutty & Slutty with Isadora O'Boto and Janine Noel | Stories on Sex Work and Mental Illness

This episode of the Nutty & Slutty podcast takes a candid and emotionally complex look at non-consensual sex, asking a deceptively simple question: when do we get to call something rape?  Hosts Isadora and Janine unpack their own histories while reflecting on broader cultural narratives, challenging the idea that clarity always exists in moments of violation.  The conversation is grounded in lived experience, where labels like “assault” or “rape” are not always immediately claimed — even when they apply. Throughout the episode, both hosts explore how internalized beliefs and generational context shaped their responses to early sexual experiences.  Isadora reflects on growing up in an era before movements like Me Too, where silence and normalization often replaced accountability.  Janine, in turn, examines how power dynamics, youth, and social expectations complicated her understanding of consent.  Together, they highlight how individuals can downplay or reframe harmful experiences in order to cope or maintain a sense of control. The result is a thoughtful, unflinching conversation that invites listeners to examine their own assumptions about consent, victimhood, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592009/fan_mail/new] Welcome to NUTTY & SLUTTY Where Mental Health, Sexuality and Unfiltered Truth Take Center Stage NUTTY & SLUTTY is a bold, sex-positive podcast exploring the messy, complicated and often hilarious intersections of mental health, sexuality and real life — without shame, filters or pretense. Hosted by Janine Noel (living with bipolar disorder) and Isadora O’Boto (ex-escort), this show brings together two radically honest perspectives for conversations that are as raw as they are insightful.  From navigating mood swings and medication to unpacking the realities of sex work and desire, nothing is off-limits. _________________________________________________ Isadora O’Boto (co-host) is a Juilliard Drama grad.  Under the pen name Sephe Haven, she is the author of two award-winning memoirs: My Whorizontal Life [https://amzn.to/2VP05rU] and A Someday Courtesan [https://amzn.to/3tLW6A4], and playwright/performer of the solo show: “My Whorizontal Life: The Show!”  Isadora co-hosted the podcast My Index to Sex with Lynn Ferguson [http://www.mitspodcast.com/].  Find her at: isadoraoboto.com [http://isadoraoboto.com/] Janine Noel (co-host) is creator and host of Bipolar She [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bipolar-she-with-janine-noel/id1737642325] podcast, where guests sh...

Ep 16: Behind Closed Doors: The Truth About Male Sexual Desire | Nutty & Slutty with Isadora O'Boto and Janine Noel | Stories on Sex Work and Mental Illness

In this candid and thought-provoking episode of Nutty & Slutty, Janine and Isadora reconnect and dive straight into a conversation that challenges assumptions about sex, identity and relationships.  Picking up from a previous discussion, Janine shares how her perspective was shaken by the idea that clients may seek experiences beyond conventional definitions of sex.  What follows is an honest exploration of confusion, curiosity and the tension between wanting clear boundaries and recognizing the complexity of human desire. The conversation deepens as they unpack a provocative question: what defines sexual identity?  As the dialogue unfolds, the focus shifts to marriage and the surprising motivations behind why some men seek out escorts.  Isadora suggests that, contrary to common assumptions, many clients viewed these encounters as a way to preserve their relationships rather than sabotage them.  Whether it’s fulfilling unmet needs, avoiding judgment or simply breaking routine, the episode explores how secrecy, vulnerability and desire intersect in long-term partnerships. The episode closes on a reflective and slightly humorous note, as Janine grapples with the emotional implications of what she’s learned.  From imagined scenarios of “good men” walking away at the last minute to the sobering realization that human behavior is rarely black-and-white, both hosts acknowledge the discomfort — and growth — that come with confronting these realities.   It’s a nuanced conversation that invites listeners to question their own beliefs about fidelity, identity and what it really means to understand another person. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592009/fan_mail/new] Welcome to NUTTY & SLUTTY Where Mental Health, Sexuality and Unfiltered Truth Take Center Stage NUTTY & SLUTTY is a bold, sex-positive podcast exploring the messy, complicated and often hilarious intersections of mental health, sexuality and real life — without shame, filters or pretense. Hosted by Janine Noel (living with bipolar disorder) and Isadora O’Boto (ex-escort), this show brings together two radically honest perspectives for conversations that are as raw as they are insightful.  From navigating mood swings and medication to unpacking the realities of sex work and desire, nothing is off-limits. _________________________________________________ Isadora O’Boto (co-host) is a Juilliard Drama grad.  Under the pen name Sephe Haven, she is the author of two award-winning memoirs: My Whorizontal Life [https://amzn.to/2VP05rU] and A Someday Courtesan [https://amzn.to/3tLW6A4], and playwright/performer of the solo show: “My Whorizontal Life: The Show!”  Isadora co-hosted the podcast My Index to Sex with Lynn Ferguson [http://www.mitspodcast.com/].  Find her at: isadoraoboto.com [http://isadoraoboto.com/] Janine Noel (co-host) is creator and host of Bipolar She [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bipolar-she-with-janine-noel/id1737642325] podcast, where guests sh...

Ep 15: Odd Jobs Gone Wrong | Nutty & Slutty with Isadora O'Boto and Janine Noel | Stories on Sex Work and Mental Illness

In this episode of Nutty & Slutty, Isadora and Janine are in the world of odd jobs — those chaotic, often humiliating gigs that rarely make it onto résumés but never quite leave the memory.  What begins as a conversation about non–nine-to-five work quickly turns into a series of sharply observed, darkly funny anecdotes about survival, embarrassment and the strange turns that shape a life. Isadora tells us that what should have been a lucrative event spirals into physical discomfort (safety pins, ill-fitting clothes, and a resurrected odor from a secondhand shirt) and mounting anxiety.  Still, she pushes through — until the final course. If you’ve ever had a job that went sideways — or spectacularly wrong — you’re in good company.  Share this episode with someone who might appreciate a reminder that even the worst shifts can make for the best stories. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592009/fan_mail/new] Welcome to NUTTY & SLUTTY Where Mental Health, Sexuality and Unfiltered Truth Take Center Stage NUTTY & SLUTTY is a bold, sex-positive podcast exploring the messy, complicated and often hilarious intersections of mental health, sexuality and real life — without shame, filters or pretense. Hosted by Janine Noel (living with bipolar disorder) and Isadora O’Boto (ex-escort), this show brings together two radically honest perspectives for conversations that are as raw as they are insightful.  From navigating mood swings and medication to unpacking the realities of sex work and desire, nothing is off-limits. _________________________________________________ Isadora O’Boto (co-host) is a Juilliard Drama grad.  Under the pen name Sephe Haven, she is the author of two award-winning memoirs: My Whorizontal Life [https://amzn.to/2VP05rU] and A Someday Courtesan [https://amzn.to/3tLW6A4], and playwright/performer of the solo show: “My Whorizontal Life: The Show!”  Isadora co-hosted the podcast My Index to Sex with Lynn Ferguson [http://www.mitspodcast.com/].  Find her at: isadoraoboto.com [http://isadoraoboto.com/] Janine Noel (co-host) is creator and host of Bipolar She [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bipolar-she-with-janine-noel/id1737642325] podcast, where guests sh...