Pomegranate Seeds

Episode 08: On Navigating Shame & Healing Through Story with Cat Hoggard Wagley

Today I am joined by Cat Hoggard Wagley (she/her), a writer and individual and relationship therapist with an emphasis on human sexuality. We Talk About: * How the media that was available during her childhood & adolescence impacted the way she thought about sex * How she was the person to whom other teens came to talk about sex * Being naturally curious about sex from a young age & her experience healing the shame she felt about that curiosity * How a scene from Pen15 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8324422/] helped her heal some of that shame around masturbation * Her therapy practice & what she specializes in * Investigating her own biases & how that has improved her own ability to be a therapist * How sex negativity impacts the therapy field (spoiler: a lot of therapists aren’t trained around sexuality) & why it is important to investigate potential therapists to find one who is comfortable & knowledgeable about sexuality * How sex therapy can help folks investigate the shame and trauma that could be holding them back from being able to fully enjoy & experience pleasure in sex * The impact of shame on people’s lives & how separating our own values from the ones in which we were raised can help * Her experience with writing & how stories can help us heal * Her book that she is co-authoring with another counselor about exploring the right & wrong reasons to have kids * Where to find her social media, info about her therapy services, and links to articles About Cat: Cat Hoggard Wagley (she/her) is an individual and relationship therapist with an emphasis on human sexuality. She believes therapy has a role in reducing shame, and hopes to help her clients' lives of safety and authenticity which affirm their needs and identities. She is currently writing a book with a coauthor and will be on submission to major publishers this spring. The book, THE RIGHT REASON, will help you discover whether or not you want to have children with an emphasis on affirming the child's autonomy as well as identifying your own values and reasons to have children. Find more about her & her work at: https://bio.site/saymoretherapy [https://bio.site/saymoretherapy] Thank you for reading the thecuriousclit, my newsletter + podcast where I hope to spark curiosity and conversations about sex and our bodies! For more of my writing and somatic practices to support you on your journey towards more embodied safety and expansive pleasure, check out https://www.kelseybritt.com.. Get full access to Pomegranate Seeds at embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe [https://embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 07: On Releasing Self Doubt & Expanding Pleasure with Alejandra Viejo Lopez de Roda

On this episode of thecuriousclit, I am joined by Alejandra Viejo Lopez de Roda! Alejandra (she/her) is a creative, enthusiastic and passionate traveller with a background in film, photography and visual effects. She grew up by the ocean in Spain while her parents were searching for dinosaur teeth in the depths of the Sahara Desert. She loves riding motorbikes, scuba diving, BJJ and making meaningful connections with other humans. She is constantly trying to find new ways to help unleash her inner voice with as much authenticity as possible. We talk about: -how religion impacted her ideas around sex -what sex toys have done to her sex life -what type of sex education she received in Spain -how her experience on beaches in Spain has impacted her idea about bodies and physical affection -how feeling good in our bodies can positively impact our sex lives and why this can be difficult for people who have been socialized as women -how her definition of sex has changed over time -how the way she has been treated in her professional life as a woman in a male-dominated industry has impacted her sex life -releasing self doubt and redefining our body and pleasure - including with masturbation -her thoughts on masturbating while having a partner -what she’s done to let go of the shame and guilt she felt as a result of the messages she received from religion You can find more about her and her work here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3235916/ [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3235916/] https://www.instagram.com/alejandravldr/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/alejandravldr/?hl=en] Thank you for reading the thecuriousclit, my newsletter + podcast where I hope to spark curiosity and conversations about sex and our bodies. To check out more of my writing and embodiment classes for women and gender expansive folks, you can head to https://www.kelseybritt.com [https://www.kelseybritt.com]. Get full access to Pomegranate Seeds at embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe [https://embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 06: On Finding Agency and Exploring Desires with Karli Petrovic of Yes, Misstrix

This month I got to talk to Karli Petrovic of the Yes, Misstrix Substack. I loved this conversation with Karli and am so grateful to have had her as a guest on this next episode of thecuriousclit podcast [https://thecuriousclit.substack.com/podcast]! I’ve been reading her Substack for a while now, and I adore the way she mixes humor with reflections on sex, love, and relationships. About Karli (she/her) When the other kids dreamed of becoming teachers and astronauts, Karli wanted to be a witch…and also maybe a writer if that first choice didn’t work out. In adulthood, she opted for the best of both worlds. Today, she is the one-woman team behind Cup of Sugar [http://www.cupofsugaragency.com], an agency working to help clients access their own creative magic through copywriting, intuitive coaching and tarot readings. Storytelling is in her blood, and Karli spends an amazing amount of time writing everything from the Yes, Misstrix Substack [http://yesmisstrix.substack.com], a newsletter about sex, love and relationships, to her very first novel. She’s also fully Aquarian (sun and moon), with a sexy splash of Scorpio (rising). Karli sometimes dreams in premonitions and is always choosing coffee over water. She lives in Austin, TX, with a muggle husband, baby girl and three goofy hounds, one of whom will definitely be a human in his next life. We talk about: * what messages Karli received about sex growing up Catholic in the Midwest * how her father was the one to talk to her about sex & how this impacted the messages she received * the story behind the title of her Substack and how it relates to her own journey with sex * what has helped her be able to embrace her desires * the difficulty around having conversations around sex & her tips to make conversations around sex less stressful * her journey with prioritizing her pleasure * a problematic scene in The Holiday and what it has to say about expectations women face with sex and intimacy * what she has had to leave in the past to have better sex and relationships * how she’s been able to maintain & cultivate her sex life after giving birth * her work as a writer, copywriter, tarot reader, intuitive coach and where you can find out more about her Follow her work at: Substack: yesmisstrix.substack.com [https://yesmisstrix.substack.com/] Writing and tarot services: www.cupofsugaragency.com [https://www.cupofsugaragency.com/] Thank you so much to Karli for sharing her story and Aquarius wisdom with us!! I hope that this episode helps you feel a little bit less alone in your experience with sexuality and gender. Thank you for reading the thecuriousclit, my newsletter + podcast where I hope to spark curiosity and conversations about sex and our bodies. To check out more of my writing and embodiment classes for women and gender expansive folks, you can head to https://www.kelseybritt.com [https://www.kelseybritt.com]. Get full access to Pomegranate Seeds at embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe [https://embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 05: On Welcoming Our Whole Selves with Rosy Boa

On this week’s podcast, I am joined by pole dance instructor Rosy Boa! About Rosy: Rosy Boa (she/her) has been pole dancing and teaching for over a decade. You can find her at her online pole studio, Slink Through Strength [https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/], where she teaches freestyle dance, pole and conditioning classes. I am really excited to have Rosy as a guest, and I hope you enjoy the episode <3 In this episode, we talk about: -       What members of her family told her about sex -       Which books helped her learn positive messages about sex and which did not -       What she picked up from Tumblr -       Purity culture & its harmful impact on our lives (even outside of the sex realm) -       People & experiences that have helped her have a more positive relationship with sexuality -       The impact of having a job where she can express her sexuality and welcome her whole self -       What having a pole dancing practice can bring to people’s sex lives (spoiler: it’s not just about the exhibitionism!) -       Rosy’s pole studio, classes, and memberships Find Out More about Rosy and her classes: -       Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/slink_through_strength/] -       Website [https://www.slinkthroughstrength.com/] -       Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/1QcgAZ9ju6mTgZfPzkO4JX?si=9bebe1660c204783&nd=1] Thank you for reading the thecuriousclit, my newsletter + podcast where I hope to spark curiosity and conversations about sex and our bodies. To check out more of my writing and embodiment classes for women and gender expansive folks, you can head to https://www.kelseybritt.com [https://www.kelseybritt.com]. Get full access to Pomegranate Seeds at embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe [https://embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 04: On Redefining Pleasure with Erin Elo

This episode is with Erin Elo! About Erin (no pronouns, just Erin is preferred, she/her/they/them is ok): Erin is a Youth and Gender Programs Manager for West County Health Centers [https://www.wchealth.org] (a Federally Qualified Health Center in Sonoma County, California). Erin has worked with youth since they were a young person themselves: an early passion bestowed upon them by the youth workers who made a difference in their young life.  Erin is most excited about serving historically underserved and marginalized communities and working within service areas that are seen as taboo or controversial. Though Erin doesn’t specialize specifically in any field, Erin has trained in many fields to address the needs of their community. Erin is a phlebotomist, abortion doula, sex educator and youth worker. Erin’s heart is in the work and they hope all their clients feel seen and are met just where they are.   In Erin’s personal life, plants, family, nature and crafting bring great joy. Erin is a chronic illness warrior and this helps to remind them to slow down sometimes. Core values of Erin’s life are harm reduction and consent. If Erin could leave folks with a message, they would want folks to remember, we are all human, we are all worthy and inherently there is nothing wrong with any of us! In the podcast we talk about: * Introduction to Erin & the work they do * What Erin picked up (and didn’t pick up!) about gender & sexual orientation from seeing relationships around her * Coming out in college & how Erin told people in their life * Erin’s journey to being a sex educator and youth services manager * What motivates Erin to work with youth in this field * How Erin’s work has changed over the past ten years and what they are doing now * Erin’s take on pleasure (spoiler: it’s not just about orgasm!) * What Erin has done to bring more pleasure into their life (including what they’ve done differently in communicating with their partner!) * How polyamory & letting go of cis-het norms has impacted Erin’s sex life * Lessons that young people have taught Erin * Erin’s advice for parents – including how you can incorporate more consent into your parenting * The programs that Erin runs at West County (including a trans accessory program) and how folks can support these programs How to support the work Erin & her team do at WCHC: Erin does not have a platform they would like to share personally. To reach out to Erin professionally, their email is eelo@wchealth.org [eelo@wchealth.org]. If you would like to donate to Erin’s work and the young people they serve, you can make a donation at https://www.wchealth.org/help/donations/ [https://www.wchealth.org/help/donations/]  and then shoot Erin an email so they know to look out for the donation. You can also follow and support the Teen Clinic on Instagram: wcteenclinic Thank you so much to Erin for sharing their story with us!! Thank you for reading the thecuriousclit, my newsletter + podcast where I hope to spark curiosity and conversations about sex and our bodies. To check out more of my writing and embodiment classes for women and gender expansive folks, you can head to https://www.kelseybritt.com [https://www.kelseybritt.com]. Get full access to Pomegranate Seeds at embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe [https://embodiedwithkelsey.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]