The SmartSex Podcast

From addiction and trauma to healing, self-mastery and freedom. In this deeply vulnerable episode, I sit down with my dear friend, Cindy Van Arnam, to talk about a part of her story that is rarely told without shame or judgment. Cindy takes us through her journey from trauma, grief and self-destruction into healing, self-awareness and a life she never could have imagined for herself. After losing...

Moving from survival into pleasure, sensuality and self-connection. Movement and Raw Emotion! These three words resound loudly in this episode with my dear friend, Cindy Scharkey, RN, BSN. Cindy lost the love of her life, her husband, suddenly. She shares how she moved from survival to connecting with herself through rage, movement and the permission to grieve. You will be moved as you listen to u...

You can change your story and become uniquely You! In this episode, I am joined by Kathleen Pitt, The Quantum Psychic, who is a Quantum Success Coach and Energetic Advisor. Join me as we talk through Kathleen's story of breaking free from being suppressed and developing her truth and soul.  We dive into:  -    What it means to live in alignment and the frequency of who you are -    How this transi...

Are you on your to-do list? This interview with Amberly Lago was truly inspiring. I'm eager for you to hear Amberly's solid advice for actually putting ourSELVES on our "to-do" list. She talks about how to impact the world around us, how to give ourselves grace through struggle, how to attract good things, and the daily practice of living in gratitude. Amberly is an internationally renowned speake...

The Scrumptious Woman… a woman who lives with gratitude, generosity of spirit, pleasure, and deep connection. In this episode, I had the absolute delight of sitting down with Juliette Karaman, intimacy and embodiment expert, to explore what it means to deepen intimacy in our relationships. We talk about how to relax into each other, dance with your partner, and create the kind of connection that a...

"Why do I have a sex drive difference from my partner and what can I do about it? " "Why does my wife never seem to initiate sex?" "What can I do about my anger and frustration around being sexually rejected?" "How come I can't always tell if my wife has had an orgasm, and what can I do?" If you've asked one of these questions, you're not alone! Men are curious and want to have deep, intimate rela...

It's Doug's turn to put Leslie in the hot seat and interviews Leslie.  Doug asks the daring questions that YOU want to know the answers to: Does size really matter? Do clients take their clothes off in sex therapy? What exactly is a sex therapist and what do you do? Who comes to sex therapy and why? What is great sex anyway? How are men and women different when it comes to sex? Or are they? How do...

Leslie has the joy of interviewing Doug in the second episode of Men and Sex. The conversation is deep and rich. We uncover what healthy sexuality is for men and what is underneath men's desires. "Most men want to be better men" but don't necessarily know the path in the intimate, sexual, interpersonal and relational arenas. Men are lovers and leaders but need to unearth and explore identity, emot...

Leslie and Doug discuss male sexuality in a date-like set-up over a nice glass of red wine. They have a very real and at times raw conversation about men, sex, and what it's all about and cover topics including:               male sexual development,               the importance of sex,               what is addiction,               out-of-control sexual behavior,               men's feelings and...

In this playful episode, I'm excited to have a special guest, who is also my partner, my lover, and my best friend in life, Doug Gustafson. We talk about a timely topic - "Play" in and out of the bedroom.    Play is critical to our well-being, relationships, and our marriages. Doug and I discuss play in general, play individually, and as a couple. We want to inspire you to create a playful lifesty...

My husband, Doug Gustafson, interviews me as we dip into the fascinating world of fantasy and imagination in the bedroom.   There are many nuances and layers to this topic, but I want you to know that you are a creative and imaginative person in and out of the bedroom! Let yourself ponder that.   Considering yourself and what you want to do with your inner life enhances you personally and could po...

What does it take to have a successful dating life?  Do you need confidence? Do you need game? How has dating changed since the pandemic? Where is dating headed - online, in real life, both?  I was delighted to have three incredible, knowledgeable dating coaches to talk about what single people are up against, how to navigate dating, and what the sexual culture is like today in this first part of...

Sexuality, Sensuality, Erotic… all words that women tend to shy away from. BUT… Cindy Scharkey and I are here to empower women to put aside their fear and embrace cultivating sensuality and erotic energy in one's life and relationships.   This episode hits on what's blocking women's expression of sensuality and ways to overcome it. To have the freedom to voice what they need and to seek pleasure....

In this episode, Leslie is joined by guest, Cassie Howard. In a rich, fun conversation, they discuss the connection between sex, money, and personal growth.  Cassie is an online business mentor for women that is known for her savvy sexy sales skills and her ability to make business simple, fun, AND sustainable. Cassie shares that succeeding in her business has given her an inner confidence and a f...

In this episode, Leslie continues the orgasm talk with her girlfriends Lori, Laurel, Jamie and Kristen about how women work sexually amongst laughter and even singing. How we as women and men have been oversold a masculine model of sexuality with it's performance orientation and outcome focus, and the impact that has had on everyone's understanding of sexuality. The negative effects of this on bot...

In this episode, Leslie is joined by real women Jamie Miller, Laurel Avrin, Kristen Wheeler, and Lori Makkai as they all discuss the HOT topic of Orgasm for women… What orgasm is, how it happens mand what gets in the way is explored. Through moments of much laughter, this episode digs deep on the intricacies of orgasm and the personal and relational issues that surround them. The role of pressure...

In this first episode of The Smart Sex Podcast 2.0 that explores the benefits of sex at both the beginning and end of the conversation,   Leslie and her former producer Kristen Wheeler talk real about women, sex and their experience in partnerships and marriage.   Old myths about male and female sexual and emotional connection dynamics and how they develop are explored. In addition, what are the c...