Permission for Pleasure

Dr. Holly Richmond says, “Your sexual trauma doesn’t inform your sexuality; it misinforms it.” Join us for a compassionate discussion about recovery, healing and pleasure after sexual trauma. Holly and I discuss her research based insights about control, pleasure, and connection for thriving. This conversation centers on practices and hopeful guidance for survivors and those who love them. And bec...

The Mental Load is the running to do list that we carry around in our minds. Although it is often invisible, it has a big impact on our relationship, our sexual desire and our stress level. Dr. Morgan Cutlip joins me for a discussion about what the Mental Load looks like in our everyday lives and how couples can manage it together. You’ll hear lots of communication starters and very practical tips...

This quickie episode answers commonly asked questions about the G-spot. You’ll learn if there really is a spot, how to find yours, and the best ways to stimulate this potential erogenous zone. I also talk about how and why women vary in regards to pleasure experienced with this area, as well as the importance of arousal in the process. www.cindyscharkey.com ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure:...

Wendy Powell, founder of MUTU, joins me for an honest and hopeful conversation about women’s bodies after babies. We talk about sex, exercise, and all the challenges women may face after carrying and birthing a whole human. The truth is that while many physical issues are common , this does not make them normal!   We discuss the difference and how you can move toward a healthier body. Whether your...

If you want to tap into your sensuality, learn how to listen and reconnect to your body, or investigate changing the negative narrative around your body - this nourishing episode is for you.  Aurora Allen introduces us to the concept of “Taking our body out for a date" and learning how to listen to our bodies. She shares profoundly simple practices to help us move toward more grounded, connec...

This is the second episode in our special series where members of our community share their stories and we explore what women have learned about sex, their bodies, and pleasure. Maddie, from London, joins me for a conversation about demisexuality and the importance of not shying away from what makes us different. We also talk about communication, embodiment, and the practice of noticing and valuin...

How do we make good sex … great? Dr. Emily Jamea joins me to talk about specific tools for optimal sexual experiences and what the research shows works! We discuss finding your sexual flow for higher sexual satisfaction, sensuality and eroticism in long term relationships and the importance of curiosity and practice for developing and maintaining a vibrant sex life worth wanting! www.cindyscharkey...

I am celebrating our growing community with this surprise episode! Yay for 5K downloads! This pleasure exercise will guide you through focused and intentional touch. I hope it’s nourishing for you. Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Cheers to giving yourself more permission for pleasure! ORDER my Book: Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden JOIN my Newsletter:...

What is a sexual script? Simply put, they are guidelines and shoulds   that we have taken in, which shape and influence our expectations and behaviors about sex. Aoife Drury, a Dublin psychotherapist, joins me for a conversation about common sexual scripts and how they become woven into our sexuality. We discuss where they come from, what they sound like in our thoughts and how to rewrite the narr...

What have you heard about sex and lube? That lube is just for “old ladies?” That “getting wet” is the indicator of arousal and desire? This quickie episode covers the facts about lubrication, female arousal, types of lube and recommendations to try. Learn why couples say adding lube into their sex life is a “Game Changer!” www.cindyscharkey.com Visit our episode sponsor UBERLUBE and use code CINDY...

Part 1 Dr. Uchenna Ossai joins me for a thoughtful discussion busting some of the common myths people believe about sexual health. In part one we talk about orgasms, pleasure, foundational sexual beliefs, our mind and sex, and orgasming alone vs partnered. After hearing this episode, one listener said, “This was like a free therapy session - anyone could have some really excellent takeaways from t...

Dr. Uchenna Ossai and I continue our conversation about common myths people believe about sexual health. In part two we discuss simultaneous orgasms with a partner, what low libido is and isn’t, female sexual dysfunction, and pornography. This myth-busters episode offers facts and alternatives to reframe and nourish your healthy sexuality. www.cindyscharkey.com Dr. Uchenna “UC” Ossai is a sex-posi...

This is a Special Episode, where members of our community share their stories and we explore what women hear about sex, their bodies, and pleasure. Hailey from Pasadena is my first guest and we talk about curiosity, consent, and both the silence and common narratives that many women take in who grow up in a conservative community. www.cindyscharkey.com Sign up for my newsletter Ask a question ORDE...

Dr. Erica Marchand joins me for a conversation about female orgasms and pleasure. Are orgasms a learnable skill? What are the components necessary for orgasm? Do orgasms really look like we see in the media? Dr. Erica and I answer these questions as well as why women fake them, do we need to rank them, and more about the Big O. Erica Marchand, Ph. D. is a licensed psychologist in Los Angeles and t...

If you experience pain with sex, please listen to this episode! Dr. Heather Jeffcoat joins me for an in depth conversation about all things pelvic health, specifically causes and treatment options for painful sex. You might want to have a pen and paper handy as we cover many topics, including: causes of pain, what pelvic floor physical therapy is and how it can help, dilators, sex & exercise a...

Painful sex is not normal, yet according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 3 out of 4 women do experience pain during intercourse at some point during their lives. This quickie episode covers the 3 key things to consider if you are experiencing painful penetration at any point in your life. Essential education for every woman to know today or for the future. www.cindyscha...

Talking about sex with a partner can feel awkward and scary. Shame, fearing rejection and hurt feelings - these can be huge roadblocks to honest communication in this area of a relationship. Meygan Caston, co-founder of Marriage365, joins me for a discussion packed with practical communication tips, ways to break down barriers and conversation starters galore. Learn more about Marriage365 . Learn...

My discussion with Meygan Caston, co-founder of Marriage365, continues with more tips and prompts for couples learning to talk about sex. In part two we dive into: how to handle when one partner is not in the mood, introducing something new, when one partner is vanilla and the other is 31 flavors, and foreplay with words! Meygan shares her personal vibrator story and offers connecting questions to...

This episode gets personal as my oldest daughter interviews me around healthy conversations about sex. We chat about the ways I talked with my own daughters about sexual health, tips for parents, developing your own sexual relationship, and discussion prompts for partners. This intimate interview will offer you some useful tools to start your own healthy conversations. Find me on IG @cindyscharkey...

If you experience conflict in your relationship over sexual desire, you’re not alone. According to my guest expert, every couple has a difference in sexual desire! Do men and women experience desire differently? Are we really supposed to just feel sexual desire? How can couples work through this issue in a healthy way? This conversation answers these questions and more.   Leslie Gustafson, LMFT, a...

There is more than one way to experience desire. Sexual desire works a lot like curiosity. Think of it like this: What has to happen for you to be motivated to have sex? Learn about the different desire styles, and why it’s normal for you and a partner to experience desire differently.   Learn more on this topic Why don't I want sex as much as my partner The truth about desire Partner desire...

Dr. Laurie Mintz, author of Becoming Cliterate, joins Cindy for a discussion about female pleasure, cliteracy and the orgasm gap. Why are women having fewer orgasms than men? What do women really need to experience more pleasure? This conversation provides the education and tools to get you started on the journey to orgasm equality. Dr. Mintz is a feminist professor, author, speaker and therapist....

Cindy Scharkey RN, BSN walks you through the amazing anatomy of the clitoris. There is so much more than you can see on the surface. Learn about the thousands of nerve endings, all the erectile tissue, and why female arousal takes more than 5 minutes. The truth about the clitoris? It is a whole network... and the key to female pleasure. More on this topic The clitoris - it's a network! Clitor...

A podcast to educate and equip women with the information and confidence they need to express, experience and enjoy their sexuality. Cindy Scharkey RN, BSN, brings her 30+ years of experience as a health-care professional to open the doors to healthy conversations about sex. This is a community where you can listen and learn to give yourself permission for pleasure.   Visit  www.cindyscharkey.com...