Wild & Sublime

Our live June stage show features an impact demo - whips, canes, paddles, oh my! - a panel convo on getting more pleasure in sexy encounters, interview with a sex shop owner, and an erotic story. Recorded at Hungry Brain Chicago.  In this episode: Early to Bed - Sex toy shop in Chicago and online FtM Essentials - Online gender expression gear Best Therapies - June live show sponsor Tazima Parris -...

Can you get beyond religious guilt in your sex life? Can you be a religious person and also kinky, queer, polyamorous? This deep conversation explores themes of faith, the damage restrictive religions can do to our erotic spirit, and how to work toward getting free. In this episode: Jera Brown - Sex and relationship columnist & fetish provider. Their podcast Left-handed Journeys explores role...

Karen interviews sexologist Cyndi Darnell about her new book that helps you connect to your authentic desires and work with mismatched libidos within partnership. In this episode: Cyndi Darnell - Sex & relationship therapist, clinical & somatic sexologist Buy Sex When You Don't Feel Like It: The Truth about Mismatched Libido and Rediscovering Desire on Bookshop – support independent b...

Do you talk to your therapist about your sex life? How can you find a sex-positive provider who works for you? Three professionals discuss what to look for and how to start the conversation. In this episode: Blake Mackie, Hannah Schwartz & Tom Doctor of Best Therapies Kink and Polyamory-Aware Professionals Directory Additional resource for therapists:  Kink Clinical Practice Guidelines Project...

Karen can’t come to the phone now… She’s all tied up. A raucous live recording of Wild & Sublime’s Chicago stage show, featuring a rope tutorial, music, storytelling, tantra interview, and more. Recorded April 16, 2022, at the Hungry Brain. In this episode: Clara and the Great Goddamn - Singer/songwriter Tony Holmes/The Love Warrior - Kintsugi Coach & Tantric Bodywork Practitioner Goddess...

When is the right time to start a polyamory convo with a long-term partner? Panelists respond to a listener who’s on the fence about opening up a monogamous relationship. In this episode: Tazima Parris - Sex Coach Matthew Amador - Psychotherapist for love, sex & gender rebels Brandon Hunter-Haydon - Surrogate Partner and Intimacy Coach Further Listening: S2E43: Polyamory Q&A S2E6: What Ope...

Filmmakers Alex Liu and Leo Neri speak with Karen about “A Sexplanation,” their lively and smart new documentary on sex education in the US, told through the lens of Liu’s own upbringing. In this episode: A Sexplanation - Available on iTunes! Nan Wise ’s work on sexuality and the brain Planned Parenthood - What’s the State of Sex Education In the U.S.? Further Listening: S2E7: The Sex-Positive Par...

What happens in the world if we accept that all of us are a little bit different? Karen interviews Shauna Farabaugh, a somatic sex educator working with people who have temporary and permanent disabilities, and with organizations that serve people with disabilities. In this episode: Shauna Farabaugh - Sexuality in Transition Karen’s interview with Caffyn Jesse Find Pelvic Pain Clinic , Supporting...

What do male-identified people hold in their bodies that keeps them from greater pleasure? Karen interviews JoJo Bear, a somatic sex and intimacy guide, about what he’s learned from years of working with men. In this episode: JoJo Bear - Somatic sex & intimacy guide Betty Martin - Wheel of Consent Karen’s interview with Betty Martin Need a good read on sexuality or relationships? Check out our...

Do you want to know more about playing in groups and the nitty-gritty details? Organizers from several play parties, a dungeon and a bathhouse talk about their respective scenes. Recorded live at Constellation Chicago in October 2019. In this episode: LRA Chicago Galleria Domain 2 Steamworks Midwest FemDomme Group (find them on FetLife too) Find Girl Bang Chicago (and Girl Bang Madison) on FetLife...

Do you laugh during sex? Or are you very serious when things get steamy? Panelists respond to a listener question about different attitudes toward humor in the bedroom. In this episode: Cassie Porter - Somatic sex educator, sexological bodyworker and body-centered counselor Clark Hazel - Individual and Couples therapist at Best Therapies  Heather Shannon - Certified Sex Therapist April 16 live sho...

What’s your go-to for getting into a sexy or kinky mood? The audience tells us! Act 2 of our first live show since 2020 brings an interview on orgasmic birth, music, Q&A, and Karen’s Sermon on the Pubic Mound. Recorded live in Feb. 2022 at the Hungry Brain in Chicago. In this episode: Goddess Erica - Orgasmic birth doula Tazima Parris - Sex Coach & Pleasure Mentor for Women Mksthingshappin...

Let’s bring sexy back in 2022. But how? Host Karen Yates and panelists discuss changes in sex and dating during the pandemic, plus music, and a storyteller shares a tale of an afternoon hookup gone wrong in our first stage show since 2020, recorded live at Hungry Brain in Chicago. In this episode: Tazima Parris - Sex Coach & Pleasure Mentor for Women Matthew Amador - Sex-positive psychotherapi...

Panelists respond to a listener who feels shame after gaining weight and doesn’t want to be touched by a long-term partner. In this episode: Cassie Porter - Somatic sex educator & sexological bodyworker Jason Best - Kink-aware therapist & founder of Best Therapies Peter Navarro - Sex-positive and somatic-oriented therapist Need a good read? Check our our recs on Bookshop ! Want to rev up y...

Asexuality - it's not what you think. Storyteller Lily Be shares how pegging, a bunch of unfulfilling relationships, and a late-night Reddit deep-dive helped her realize she’s asexual — which also brought her closer to her mother. In this episode: S2E55: Best Erotic Story S2E4: Your True Sexual Self (Sarah Sloane discusses asexuality) Stoop Style Stories Need a good read? Check our our recs o...

Karen interviews Erica Scott and Marcia Baczynski, authors of “Creating Consent Culture: A Handbook for Educators” about the expansive possibilities of collaborative consent. In this episode: Creating Consent Culture   Marcia Baczynski: Asking for What You Want Get their book on Bookshop ! Cuddle Party Want to rev up your relationship and bust out of limiting patterns? Host Karen Yates is a somati...

In this sneak peek from the Patreon member feed, panelists answer a listener question about communicating and having better sex in a hookup setting. In this episode: Clark Hazel - Individual & couples therapist at Best Therapies  Cassie Porter - Somatic sex educator & sexological bodyworker Heather Shannon - Certified sex therapist S2E25 - Betty Martin interview Want to rev up your relatio...

In a new Eavesdropping conversation, sex coach Tazima Parris asks Karen about misconceptions of beginning kinksters, and the ways kink can be used to reframe and heal from negative life experiences. In this episode: Tazima Parris - Sex coach S1E10 - Carrie Jameson on developing kink-positive guidelines for therapists Find more about kink and relationships on our Bookshop reading list ! Want to rev...

We’re back with a new season! Karen talks with somatic sex educator and prolific author Caffyn Jesse about somatic sex therapy as a way to heal from trauma and expand your pleasure capacity in all parts of life. In this episode: Caffyn Jesse - Somatic Sex Educator Ethics for Outlaws Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education Somatic Sex Educators Association Association for Sexological Bodyw...

We’re kicking off the new year with a sampler of segments you may have missed from past episodes. Guests discuss common medications with sexual side effects; nonbinary identities; and techniques for climbing out of a sex rut – plus, Karen’s Sermon on reminders to self for moving through relationship anxiety. We’re taking two weeks off and coming back with a whole new season! In this episode: Ren G...

  "Kink helped me find who I am." Storyteller Lily Be shares how becoming a Domme helped her get over a bad breakup and discover her own sexual identity in a powerful story from one of our live shows. In this episode: Lily Be - Storyteller S2E4 - Your True Sexual Self Are you a sex-positive patron? The Afterglow brings you regular bonus content and goodies! Our newest $10/mo member benef...

What kind of relationships do you want to make? Our most downloaded episode of 2021 is a real conversation for ALL relational styles. Ethical nonmonogamists discuss relationship structures, communication skills, trust, jealousy, and the work of getting to know ourselves. Plus Karen’s Sermon on the Pubic Mound on sexual abundance. In this episode: Gabrielle Smith Cooper Beckett Maile of #open The E...

Do you feel stuck in the same pattern whenever you masturbate? How can you reset and start to form a healthy masturbation practice? In this latest Eavesdropping ep, Sex writer Jera Brown sparks an impromptu convo with Karen on understanding and getting unstuck from masturbation habits that aren’t bringing us joy. In this episode: Jera Brown - Sex and relationship writer, fetish provider S2E3: Mast...

How can you tell when you’ve got enough partners? (But what if the new person you’ve just met is *really* cute?) Panelists respond to a listener question on avoiding overcommitment and burnout while living a nonmonogamous life. In this episode: Matthew Amador - Sex-positive psychotherapist Heather Shannon - Sex therapist Mksthingshappin - Kink & relationship coach  Get more wild, more sublime....

A listener asks what to do about feeling anxious before sex with a new partner. Panelists offer techniques to get present, reframe spinning thoughts, and set the scene for pleasure. In this episode: Erica Washington - Sex-positive holistic mental health therapist Elmo Painter-Edington - Queer somatic psychotherapist Tazima Parris - Sex coach & pleasure mentor Need more Wild & Sublime? The...