How We Talk About Sex Hosted By Eric Leviton

Dr. Kristen Mark and I talk about her three-week sexuality course that she teaches in Amsterdam; her couples study at the University of Kentucky that collects data from over 200 long-term heterosexual couples measuring desire and compatibility; how to improve sexual education here in the states by making it a health issue rather than a moral issue; better condoms coming our way; and what she thinks of the new "desire" drug for women, Addyi.

          Mark Michaels and Patricia Johnson return to the podcast after a year and talk about their new book, Designer Relationships. This time we discuss the myths and misconceptions of consensual nonmonogamy and how to create your own "designer relationship."   Designer relationships may encompass: people who bond emotionally but not sexually; people who agree to be non-exclusive; single people who have occasional lovers or friends with benefits; multiple partner configurations where long-term bonds exist among all or some; partnerships in which people are kinky and that make room to explore kink. Best-selling authors and nationally known relationship experts Patricia Johnson and Mark A. Michaels are exemplars of this life choice, and have studied polyamory for over 20 years. This book explains exactly how you and your loved ones can design your own life and love.   http://www.tantrapm.com/index.html

Kids in high school and college are confused by all the sexual information they find on the internet. Since 2004, Cindy Pierce has been talking to them and helping them navigate through it all. Most of them wish she had come and talked to them earlier in their lives. Cindy and I talk about the hook-up culture; what young people find to be awkward to talk about; and about how there is a lot of misinformation going around. Cindy Pierce is a leading social sexuality educator - combining humor and research, she enlightens people about the choices and obstacles confronted in today’s media-driven world. Cindy is the author of SEXPLOITATION: Helping Kids Develop Healthy Sexuality in a Porn Driven World and is co-author of Finding the Doorbell.

Thom and I talk about chivalry. Is it dead? It just might be. In this conversation we move from chivalry to gender equality to racial equality and then back to chivalry. I play a lot of devil’s advocate and we never really come up with an answer as to why chivalry is not practiced very much anymore, but we have a very good conversation as to why it should be…with everyone.

Kim and I talk about a LOT of different lines of sexual toys and the differences of dildos; comparing glass to steel to silicone. I think you'll really enjoy this conversation. Founded in 1974 by women's rights activist Dell Williams, Eve's Garden is the world's first mail-order catalog and sexuality boutique designed for the unique needs of women. Located on the upper levels of an office building on New York's Westside, Eve's Garden offers a discreet, comfortable and shame-free atmosphere where women can purchase erotic and sensual toys.

Happy 3-year anniversary to us! Just a short talk about how we need to keep up the conversation of sex with each other. I quote articles that are up on the Facebook page. Thanks for listening and for sharing these conversations with the ones you love.   Eric Leviton     @etleviton   howwetalktoeric@gmail.com   https://www.facebook.com/pages/How-We-Talk-About-Sex/382431735154635?ref=hl   http://qz.com/439211/this-season-of-the-bachelorette-reveals-americas-hypocrisy-about-sex/   http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/science/colorados-push-against-teenage-pregnancies-is-a-startling-success.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1  

Jenelle Marie Davis is the Founder & Executive Director of The STD Project, the STD Expert for Answers.com, a Hepatitis C Expert for HepatitisC.net, and an adjunct professor. She is also proof an STI is not a deal-breaker or the end of your world; rather, it is merely an unexpected curve-ball in this interesting game we call life.

It’s just me this week as I talk about my fading memory of my first time having sex. I heard Marc Maron on his WTF podcast talking about his first time and it occurred to me that I don't remember as much about that time as I used to, which saddens me. What do you remember?

Taylor Sparks, founder of Organic Loven, is my guest on the podcast this week. Taylor is a passionate erotic educator, certified in both holistic aromatherapy and human behavior. With over a decade of experience in the natural skin care/cosmetics industry, Ms. Sparks launched OrganicLoven.com, a site that offers organic, natural and eco-friendly sensual body pleasures. Her workshop series entitled,” How To Make Good Pussy, Better”, is extremely popular and focuses on the benefits of organic lubricants, vegan condoms, and Liberator sex pillows.   http://www.luxury-lifestyle-vacations.com/ http://www.organicloven.com/ http://www.organicloven.com/brands/NobEssence.html  

My guest this week is Cooper S. Beckett, the author of "My Life On The Swingset - Adventures in Swinging & Polyamory." Although we've dipped our collective tow into the discussion of swinging, this episode we dive off from the high board and plunge deep down into it and everything that goes with it - from hosting parties to realizing that jealousy serves a purpose to finally experiencing a prostate orgasm and everything in between. You're going to love this conversation. Lifseontheswingset.com Swingset.fm Coopersbeckett.com Cooper's Twitter is @swingsetlife

In "My Life on the Swingset," Cooper Beckett throws off the lid and lets you look inside his exploration of not only the world of swinging but also his own personal growth as a lover, a husband and as an individual. He's here to pass on as much information as he can to potential "newbies" and yet he's not afraid to show you the mistakes he made along the way and that's what I enjoyed so much. I knew next to nothing about The Lifestyle before I read this book. I always thought it was an interesting topic, but in my mind it was something that USED to happen back in the 60s, 70s and maybe the 80s. Reading about Cooper's life over a 5-6 year period through the essays in this book is eye-opening and I feel like I finally understand how it all works and why this Lifestyle can be so attractive to a great many people. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It's a very easy and quick read and you'll learn new things and laugh along the way. I highly recommend it to everyone. Who knows? You may find something new that

Cathy and I discuss unwanted sex; whether or not she wants to know about her young teenagers and their sexual experiences; and how she didn't really enjoy sex until about 11 years ago when she first started seeing the man she is with now.

This is truly a conversation with two guys drinking beer and shooting the shit about sex except that the only one drinking is Peter…I just sound like I'm a drunken school kid laughing at all of his jokes. Peter and I discuss drunken sex. “Drunk sex ends up, for me, being fooling around naked, messing around with each others bodies until we both pass out and then we wake up in the morning and have morning sex.” We also ask how many people it takes to make up an orgy. "Is five considered an orgy?" Then Peter tells me he always believes in pillow talk…except when he doesn't.

My guest this week is Brenda Knight - publisher for Cleis Press and Viva Editions. She is also an author. Her latest book is called, "Be A Good In The World". She was also part of the team who made the world a better place with Random Acts of Kindness. Brenda went from almost being a buyer for a merchant marine to talking her way into a job at Harper-Collins (working for Rupert Murdoch, which is a story for a different podcast) and about eight years later moved into indie publishing and eventually over to Cleis Press – which is about to celebrate 35 years of being in business this summer.  

It's episode #100!! It's also Part 2 of my conversation with Kristen, Pearl, and Gina. If the government would legalize prostitution (and marijuana for that matter) these women could invest, be legitimate, and improve the economy. These women are just looking for equality. You can find the documentary on Netflix, On Demand, Hulu, Google Play, Amazon, Red Box Instant, and many other places. Gina’s websites are 40ddd.com and ginadepalmaxxx.com Kristen's personal website is mykristen.com She is also the executive director of SWOP Sacramento which is a sex workers outreach project. www.swopsacramento.org

On this episode of HWTAS, I talk to 3 of the 11 women in the documentary, American Courtesans. Kristen DiAngelo is the writer and producer of the film. She is also the one who brought all of these women together to talk about their lives and how they came to be in this business. She was kind enough to also invite Pearl Callahan and Gina Depalma to sit down with me and share their experiences of being a part of this unique look at underground world of the American sex worker. http://americancourtesans.com/  

"Sex changes as we age, but for every problem, there is a solution!" says Joan Price, advocate for ageless sexuality, media-dubbed “senior sexpert,” and author of three books about senior sex: The Ultimate Guide to Sex After 50: How to Maintain – or Regain! – a Spicy, Satisfying Sex Life Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex After Sixty   joanprice.com nakedatourage.com

Susan was home schooled and received very little information about sex from her parents. She thought that sex seemed "gross" and couldn't understand why anybody would do that willingly. She was brought up in what she calls a "purity culture" - not only is there no sex, but the first kiss is to be at the altar on your wedding day. Susan talks about how she eventually moved away from that and yet still deals with the aftereffects from it. "I wish I could look back on my first kiss without that baggage."  For more information on the fertility awareness method http://www.fertaware.com/   To read Susan's posts about her story growing up... https://homeschoolersanonymous.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/reprogramming-susan-youngs-story/  

No guest this week. Just a short conversation about an article in The Atlantic called "What Schools Should Teach Kids About Sex." I will post it on the Facebook page for How We Talk About Sex. https://www.facebook.com/pages/How-We-Talk-About-Sex/382431735154635?ref=hl

Jeff is married to last week's guest, Monika. He and I discuss his search for a connection when it came to love and relationships. He refers to himself as "bi-sexual but I lean toward hetero". We also talk about how he struggled with sabotaging relationships and how his therapist walked him through the beginning stages of his relationship with Monika.