Sex Ed with DB: smart, science-backed sex education

In this bonus episode of Sex Ed with DB (Vote For Pleasure: Part 2), Season 3, I get shwasty with my bestie Safeena Mecklai, NYU second year Law Student and all around genius/role model/real model. We talk politics, why voting matters, and who out of the dem candidates actually cares about sex ed. —— Sex Ed with DB, Season 3 Team: Creator, Producer, and Host: Danielle Bezalel (DB) Assistant Produc...

In this third episode of Sex Ed with DB (Part 1), Season 3, we discuss the intersection of sex ed and politics with Senti Sojwal, Julie Ae Kim, and Zoe Ridolfi-Starr. Senti and Julie are two of the co-founders of the Asian American Feminist Collective. The AAFC engages in intersectional feminist politics grounded within their communities. Through public events and resources, they seek to provide s...

In this second episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 3, we talk about abortion laws, abortion access, and how people can self-manage their own abortions in the US. First up we have Robin Marty. Robin is a freelance reporter and the author of the new book "Handbook for a Post-Roe America," a guide for what to do if and when Roe is overturned and states make abortion illegal. We also have on Yveka Pierr...

In this first episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 3, we discuss the importance of being pro-birth control while still highlighting the side effects we don't really talk about. Returning for the third time on the podcast, we have DB's mom, Dr. Rebecca Levy-Gantt (the ultimate badass). Dr. Levy-Gantt is an OBGYN and a certified menopause practitioner who has been practicing for the last 10 years in Na...

In this tenth episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we discuss porn as well as its impact on young people with Era Steinfeld and legend Cindy Gallop. Era Steinfeld is a queer and trans facilitator and student, passionately studying and practicing ways of talking to young people about healthy sexuality. Cindy Gallop is the founder of Make Love Not Porn, launched at TED 2009 – 'Pro-sex. Pro-porn. Pro...

In this ninth episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we talk all about sex and disability with Dr. Rafe Biggs and Ligia Zuniga, leaders at Sexability. Dr. Rafe Biggs is the founder of Sexability, an organization committed to transforming sexuality and disability. He is a sexual health educator working with people with disabilities and healthcare professionals who support them. Ligia Andrade Zuniga i...

In this eighth episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we discuss pain and dysfunction during sex with Dr. Rachel Gelman and Dr. Rebecca Levy-Gantt. Dr. Gelman is a pelvic floor physical therapist and practices as a clinical specialist at Pelvic Wellness & Physical Therapy. She specializes in the physical therapy management of numerous pelvic pain disorders, including sexual dysfunction. DB's amazing...

In this seventh episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we talk about body image with our guests Connie Sobczak, Q Wilson, and Caleb Luna. Connie Sobczak is the co-founder of the Body Positive and the author of "Embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and quiet that critical voice!)." Q Wilson is a self-identified queer, gender independent, polyamorous leather boi, and social justice activist. Cal...

In this sixth episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we talk about abortion with our guests Toni Guy and Dr. Karen Scott. Toni Guy has spoken on issues of sexuality and reproductive health for over 30 years. During her years with Planned Parenthood she rose from Community Educator to Vice President of Education. Dr. Karen Scott is a clinician scientist and feminist intersectional scholar and activis...

In this fifth episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we talk about periods and menstruation with our guests Nadya Okamoto, Luna Matatas, and Sarah D'Andrea. Nadya is the Founder and Executive Director of PERIOD (period.org). Luna Matatas is a sex and pleasure educator based in Toronto Canada; she teaches online workshops with O.school. Sarah is a sex educator with The Flex Company.  —— Sex Ed with D...

In this fourth episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we chat about sex workers' experiences with our guests Mia Little and Andre Shakti. Mia Little is an adult film performer and sex worker leading sex education workshops at universities and online. Andre Shakti is a journalist, educator, performer, activist, and professional slut living in the San Francisco Bay Area. —— Sex Ed with DB, Season 2 Te...

In this third episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we discuss culturally responsive sex education with Menny Bezalel and Haylin Belay. Menny was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in the late 1950's and is one of eight siblings. At age 12 Menny and his family immigrated to Israel to escape religious persecution. Haylin Belay is a sex educator, holistic health professional, and witch living and working in...

In this second episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we discuss not assuming motherhood with Kristen Mancinelli and Ivy Chen. Kristen Mancinelli, MPH is director of education and partnerships at Extend Fertility. She educates women about fertility and egg freezing, partners with organizations supporting women's reproductive health, and advocates for putting an end to the taboo surrounding the subje...

In this first episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 2, we discuss sex toys and masturbation with Polly Rodriguez and Andy Duran. Polly Rodriguez is the CEO and Founder of Unbound, a sexual wellness company that sells sex toys and accessories. Andy Duran is the Education Outreach Manager at Good Vibrations, the Bay Area's sex toy oasis. --- Sex Ed with DB, Season 2 Team: Creator, Producer, and Host: Da...

In this second bonus episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 1, we hear the launch party that got it going. We hear from voices: Ivy, Pristine, Aaron, Ella, and later, Ingrid, and listen to all the behind the scenes action of the podcast. We understand what they think was challenging about the production of it, what needs to be reformed in sex ed in schools, and some dirty details of embarrassing (and f...

In this first bonus episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 1, we feature brilliant, articulate, and brave Oakland School of the Arts graduates, Ella and Imani. We ask them about every single one of the topics we covered in Season 1 of Sex Ed with DB and learn what sex ed looks like in high schools these days. —— Featured Voices:  Ella Zalon: An OSU graduate who identifies as a queer, Jewish woman and R...

In this sixth and FINAL episode of Sex Ed with DB, Season 1, we explore the two very different concepts of kink/BDSM as well as flirting in every day life. When is flirting consensual? What is the difference between a kink and a fetish? What is a BDSM community in the San Francisco Bay Area like? We answer all of these questions and more in this fun and racy final episode of the season! —— Feature...

In this fifth episode of Sex Ed with DB, we explore the idea of the spectrum: of gender, sexuality, sexual orientation, expression, and identity. The binary says that we're either male or female, boy or girl. But what about everyone in between? What about trans folks, intersex people, genderqueer people, asexual folks, etc? There are so many ways to live and breathe on the spectrum and all of Sex...

In this fourth episode of Sex Ed with DB, we hear about consent and rape culture. We learn that 1 in 4 women will be impacted by domestic violence in her lifetime and about the 4 Cs of "consent": clear, continuous, conscious, and free from coercion. How do you shut down rape culture in your daily life? --- Featured Voices: Ivy Chen: A Sexuality Professor at SF State who has been teaching sex ed in...

In this third episode of Sex Ed with DB, we listen to the nuances of polyamory, monogamy, nonmonogamy, open relationships, and everything in between. We hear how our society thinks of love as a cup of sugar in a scarce economy but the reality is, you can have many loves! Relationships look different for everyone -- what kind of relationship works best for you? --- Featured Voices: Ivy Chen: A Sexu...

In this second episode of Sex Ed with DB, the 5 voices discuss the topic of: STIs, safe sex, and feeling good. They talk about how the clitoris has over 8,000 nerve endings and how there is a pill called PrEP one can take every day at the same time to prevent HIV. They discuss the difference between a bacterial STI and a viral STI and the fact that having STIs is SUPES common. Listen to hear all 5...

In this VERY first episode of Sex Ed with DB, we find out who DB is, why she wanted to create this sex ed podcast, and who our five featured voices are (who will be featured in some capacity in every episode this season). In this episode, the voices discuss the topic of: sex education and how we talk about sex. --- Featured Voices: Ivy Chen: A Sexuality Professor at SF State who has been teaching...