Ple^sure Principles

In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Cam Jennings, Director of Business Development at ToyChats.com, a user generated sex toy review platform built for safety, transparency and real talk about adult pleasure products. They unpack why most people still buy toys based on packaging and guesswork, how censorship on platforms like Meta, TikTok and Tumblr silences...

In this powerful episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik sits down with Jeremy Nelson, founder of MarryingAmerica.com — a revolutionary dating platform designed for people who are serious about marriage and long-term partnership. Jeremy exposes why modern dating apps are failing us, how abundance of choice has killed intention, and why the rise of AI companions may make genuine human relationshi...

Sex is one of the most natural things on the planet. Yet most of us were taught to fear it, hide it, or feel guilty for wanting it. In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with dark romance author Bria Rose to unpack purity culture, shame, and the double standards that shape our desire. Bria shares how writing dark romance and a kinky Beauty and the Beast retelling,...

On Pleasure Principles (a Healthy Mind By Avik™ show), Avik gets tactical about the loneliness epidemic with Gabor Kadas, CEO of Friending, Inc. We unpack why “always online” still feels empty, the health toll of isolation, and what it takes to engineer an app that pushes people off their phones and into real life—10-message caps, 30-day “meet IRL” windows, ID verification (Persona), proximity che...

On Pleasure Principles , host Avik gets tactical about intimacy beyond sex when chronic illness enters the chat. Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Lisa Gray, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, lays out an actionable playbook: separate sex from intimacy, center attunement over performance, and rebuild connection through presence, curiosity, and clear communication. We unpack grief on bot...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Certified Financial Planner Jennifer Edwards to cut through myths about “money fights.” Jennifer explains why arguments are rarely about dollars and almost always about childhood narratives, nervous system activation, and mismatched values. You’ll learn a step-by-step way to start money conversations, recognize stress responses (fight/fl...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty speaks with Dr. Amy and Roy Clark about building durable relationships through the Four Intimacies—verbal, emotional, physical, and spiritual. We unpack what authentic verbal intimacy sounds like beyond logistics, how to read and match emotions without oversharing, and why security fuels pleasure in long-term partnerships. The Clarks sh...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik explores why ease is not the opposite of achievement with intuitive movement and mindful awareness guide Veronique Ory. We unpack how slowing down becomes a portal to deeper sensation, kinder intimacy, and clearer leadership. Veronique shares tiny, tactical practices for busy lives, the difference between sensual aliveness and sexuality, how to set gentle boundari...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, we cut through the confusion around intimate content in modern relationships: When you send nudes or explicit material, what happens to consent when the relationship ends? Certified sexologist Mandy Hart lays out a clear, non-judgmental framework for digital consent—how to set terms before sharing, what “for your eyes only” actually means, and why consent ca...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik and guest Christian W Schnepf unpack a deceptively simple idea: pleasure is a good time —and it can be intentionally designed, measured, and sustained. Christian introduces the Good Time Ratio (GTR) and a five-area framework (self, actions, outcomes, environment, social) to help you move from fleeting highs to long-term, life-affirming satisfaction...

Toxic relationships chip away at safety, power, and self-trust. In this direct conversation, licensed therapist and author Kate Mageau breaks down early red flags (mocking framed as “teasing,” coercive control, financial dependence), the role of power dynamics, and practical first steps to leave and rebuild. We cover emotional abuse, the cycle of violence, boundaries, and what thriving actually lo...

In this episode of Pleasure Principles with host Avik Chakraborty, psychotherapist and addiction recovery expert Sherry Gaba unpacks the difficult but essential conversation around love addiction, toxic relationships, and codependency. Sherry explains the psychology and neurobiology of love addiction, how trauma shapes our relationship choices, and why so many people repeat cycles of unhealthy lov...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with boundaries coach Barb Nangle (Higher Power Coaching & Consulting; host of Fragmented to Whole: Life Lessons from 12-Step Recovery) to unpack why saying “no” feels threatening—and how to rebuild integrity, energy, and time with values-anchored limits. We talk acculturation (especially for eldest daughters), shifting from approval-seek...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Dr. Eleanor Haspel-Portner to unpack the Four Worlds framework—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—and how these layers interact to shape pleasure, purpose, and everyday choices. Drawing from clinical work, systems like Human Design and the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, and her Noble Energy Maps, Dr. Eleanor explains practical ways to...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles with host Avik Chakraborty, licensed marriage & family therapist and certified sex therapist Keri Green unpacks dating in your 40s, the paradox of hookup apps, and how presence—not perfection—drives connection. We dig into consent-first communication, de-shaming desire, creating safety in the body, and why long-term relationships thrive when partners evol...

On Pleasure Principles (Healthy Mind By Avik™), Avik and therapist–author Eric FitzMedrud unpack men’s sexuality through a practical lens: how consent becomes a skill, why shame blocks clarity, and how to move from performance to presence. Expect direct, science-based language suitable for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You’ll hear concrete ways to ask, attune, and co-create intimacy—...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles (hosted by Avik), certified sexuality educator and menopause coach Karen Bigman breaks down what really happens to libido, desire, and intimacy after 50—and how to keep sex joyful at any age. We cover menopause, hormone shifts, erectile dysfunction, responsive vs. spontaneous desire, communication, and practical tools (from HRT to mindset and skill-building)...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty speaks with Angel Howard—founder of Wild Heart Expressive, host of Upshift, and author of Issues in Your Tissues. We unpack a direct, practical approach to embodiment: why the body “stores the story,” how breath, sound, and movement unblock stuck emotions, and what this means for real-world leadership, communication, and retention. Ange...

In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty and conscious relationship coach LaShawn McCrary explore why emotional alignment, deep conversations, and self-love should come before the proposal and the ring. They discuss the difference between chemistry and compatibility, how self-love lays the foundation for lasting intimacy, and the fears couples often avoid addressing before eng...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Sam Itshaki (Mr. Get Bigger Now) to confront one of the last taboos in men’s health—male enhancement. Sam, CEO of the Dr. Joel Kaplan Company, has helped over 100,000 men improve their confidence and performance by breaking through silence and misinformation in the sexual wellness industry. Together, they unpack why men r...

In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Dan Salas, CEO of Surgery Life Enhancement, to uncover a subject often whispered about but rarely spoken with honesty—male enhancement and its impact on confidence, self-worth, and masculinity. Dan shares his deeply personal journey from being a patient to leading one of the pioneering clinics in the field. With over 30 y...

In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with internationally acclaimed performing artist and relationship expert Linda Sutton to explore how the sacred language of tango can revolutionize relationships. Drawing from her work as the creator of the 22 Tango Transformation Framework, Linda shares how the art of tango teaches trust, balance, nonverbal communication, and...

In this powerful episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with clinical sexologist and intimacy coach Dr. Stephanie Hunter Jones to unpack the transformative potential of role play, cosplay, and power dynamics in sexual and emotional healing. From taboo-breaking insights to trauma-informed storytelling, Dr. Stephanie shares how stepping into fantasy can be a radical act of s...

In this insightful episode of Pleasure Principles, we welcome Dr. Brian Steixner, board-certified urologist and co-founder of Popstar Labs. We explore the often-avoided subject of men’s sexual health—unpacking myths, hormonal shifts, mental barriers, and the rising concern of male infertility. Dr. Steixner breaks down the silent shame around issues like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation,...

In this thought-provoking episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik is joined by storyteller, strategist, and spiritual explorer Padmini Pandya to unpack one of modern dating’s most debated questions: When is the right time to have sex with someone you’ve just started dating? Together, they explore the interplay of emotional readiness, spiritual alignment, societal norms, and energetic exchange. P...