Masculinity, Mental Health, and Body Image for Black Men Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. Today we’re talking all things men and mental health. In this episode, I am joined by investor, community builder, and mental health advocate, Rollins Stallworth III, and Broadway actor, sexuality educator, and phenomenal dancer slash chef, Tyrone Davis Jr. And you know I’ve got a lot of questions. Such as? How does sexual liberation have an impact on mental health? What is the connection between our sexuality and mental health? What aspects of the “male experience” prevent men from receiving help when they need it? Is “toxic masculinity” a constructive or inclusive term to invite men into the conversation? Is there space to hold compassion for incels while holding them accountable? How can we approach male aggression and violence with an empathetic lens? How has the myth of “doing it alone” played a role in your life and your relationship with masculinity? How do we create vulnerable spaces and community for men to talk to each other? How do we build relationships between straight men and queer men? What barriers exist to cultivating these relationships? What body image insecurities have you had to overcome or work through? How has this been impacted by your identity and experience as an athlete/actor? What stereotypes exist for Black men are harmful (or perhaps, advantageous)? How do you prevent burnout while advocating for against oppressive systems that personally harm you (protesting as a Black man)? Rollins’ action plan Today’s episode is brought to you by Uberlube, the ultimate luxurious lubricant. Grab yours today at uberlube.com and get 10% off with code TALKTABU. Calling all therapist and coaches! Build your digital storefront with Niche, the marketplace for mental health. ····· Suicide resources: Text ‘HELLO’ to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the National Suicide Lifeline. For LGBTQIA+ youth under 25, get 24/7 crisis intervention & suicide prevention lifeline support with The Trevor Project. Text ‘START’ to 678678 or dial (866) 488-7386. Self-care & mental health resources:  CBT Thought Diary youfeellikeshit.com getmoodfit.com wysa.io --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Herpes, Mental Health, Suicide, Stigma Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. Today we’re talking all things herpes and mental health. In this episode, I am joined by Courtney Brame, the the Founder and Podcast Host of Something Positive for Positive People. This conversation is as much about herpes as it is about mental health and compassion. That being said, we do discuss suicide. If that is something you are sensitive to our triggered by, please proceed with caution. Why does your work focus so much on mental health? How have you navigated advocacy alongside self-compassion and care? How do you talk about suicide while balancing your own mental health? Why does the herpes stigma exist? Why is it considered so much “worse” than other STIs? Why do doctors not always recommend testing for herpes? What is the protocol and expectation for sharing a positive status? What is the responsibility on each of us to get tested? What could a more empowering experience look like for receiving a positive herpes diagnosis? Is it healthy or worth it to find “closure” on who you contracted herpes from? How can we support someone who has received a positive herpes diagnosis? How has COVID impacted STI testing, if at all? Suicide resources: Text ‘HELLO’ to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the National Suicide Lifeline. For LGBTQIA+ youth under 25, get 24/7 crisis intervention & suicide prevention lifeline support with The Trevor Project. Text ‘START’ to 678678 or dial (866) 488-7386. Self-care & mental health resources: youfeellikeshit.com getmoodfit.com wysa.io Herpes-specific resources: Something Positive for Positive People Laureen HD YouTube Channel SexELducation Instagram --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Sexual Communication, Fantasies, and Cultivating Desire Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. Today we’re talking all things sexual desire and communication. In this episode, I am joined by world-renowned sexologist Dr. Jessica O’Reilly. And you know I’ve got a lot of questions. Including? What is consent beyond yes/no and how does consent lead us to more pleasure? How do you keep desire alive in a long-distance relationship? Can you bring back that initial spark? How do passion and risk play a role in our relationships? Is passion necessary for a relationship to thrive? How can you explore a fantasy when your partner isn’t interested? (e.g. threesomes) How do you open up your relationship when one partner isn’t interested? What is the line with power dynamic fantasies and fetishes that cross a certain line (e.g. race play)? Can a vibrator de-sensitize your clitoris? Is the G-Spot real? Is everyone capable of squirting? This conversation is sooooo good. Talking about sex can be …awkward. So, on theme with this episode, huge shout out to our sponsor Awkward Essentials, the brand behind dripstick, the original after-sex cleanup sponge. Awkward Essentials makes personal solutions to hella personal problems. And of course. We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Today's magical find? Honey Play Box's clitoral orgasm-inducing 😏 Rupee 😏 Get your hands on this toy immediately! Use code TABU for 25% off. Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! —— Dr. Jess’s episode on G Zones and Squirting --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Vulva Insecurities, Oral Sex, and Orgasm Land Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. Today we’re talking all things oral sex. In this episode, I am joined by sex therapist Casey Tanner and sexologist and educator Goody Howard. And I’ve got a lot of questions. Including? How can people overcome their vulva insecurities? Are vulva insecurities heightened when both partners share the same parts? What’s up with the oral sex gap? Why are blowjobs more normalized than going down on someone/cunnilingus or whatever you want to call oral sex on a vulva? Can we have a healthy sex life if we aren’t comfortable in our own bodies? What the heck is compersion and why is it important for sexual pleasure? How do givers get more comfortable receiving? Is it okay if your partner doesn’t want to go down on you? What can you do in this scenario if it’s an issue? Why is there an oral sex taboo in the Black community? Why isn’t oral sex seen as “real sex”? Trust me, you’re gonna want to tune into this juicy conversation. 💦 This episode is brought to you in part by Lorals, the world's first oral sex panties. Lorals gives you the power to LoveOralAlways. Use code TABU for 15% off your first purchase! And of course. We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Get 25% off your purchase with code TABU. Today's magical find? Honey Play Box's award-winning 👅 Seduction 👅 Get your pleasure on! Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Penis Pleasure, Size, and Dysfunction Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. In this episode, I am joined by urologist Dr. Justin Houman and sex writer Bobby Box to discuss all things penises. 🍆 I don’t have one, but I do have questions. Such as? Can you masturbate too much? Can you make your penis bigger? Should you? Can you get pregnant from pre-cum? How can you last longer in bed? What is premature ejaculation vs. erectile dysfunction? What emotional, mental, or physical health conditions could be contributing to erectile dysfunction? Are there any risks to easy online access to ED medication? How can men and people with penises feel more comfortable opening up to their doctors? What is whisky dick and why does it occur? What can you do for pleasure beyond penetration? What is Viagra and how does it actually work? How can SSRIs impact sexual desire and erection strength or ability? How can you increase your sexual desire? How can you address mismatched libido in a relationship? How should you prepare for anal sex? What STIs should you get tested for and how often? How reversible are vasectomies and are they a viable form of birth control? What can cause male fertility? What does it mean to be vers/versatile? What is Peyronie’s disease? How can people with penises feel more confident and overcome their insecurities? And of course, does size really matter? Yes, this conversation is meaty. 😏 This episode is brought to you in part by ONE® Condoms. ONE products are uniquely designed for safe, healthy, enjoyable sex. With myONE® Perfect Fit, you have more than 60 sizes to choose from. Find your perfect fit and get 15% off using code TalkTabu. The other part? We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Get 25% off your purchase with code TABU. Today's magical find? Honey Play Box's 💥 Vibrating Dual Ring 💥  Get your pleasure on! Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Vaginas, Periods, Birth Control, Culturally Competent Care, and Racism in Healthcare Is my vagina normal? Is birth control bad? How do I find an affirming gynecologist? Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to (well, hopefully not for long!). Today’s episode is about all things vaginal & vulvar care. If you have a uterus, chances are, you haven’t always had the most affirming care. Whether it’s problems with your period, hormonal imbalance, or unaddressed pain, there are any number of questions you may have for your gynecologist. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Heather Irobunda, MD FACOG (@drheatherirobundamd) and Dr. Staci Tanouye, MD FACOG (@dr.staci.t). So, what do I ask in this episode? What is a gynecologist vs. OBGYN? What is it like to be a doctor on TikTok/Instagram? What are the benefits of social media education and what are the limitations? Are there alternatives to birth control? How do we get to the “root cause” of a medical issue? Is there such a thing? What does consent look like in a medical setting? How can we access sex-positive, trauma-informed care and advocate for ourselves in the exam room? How can we trust our gut but also our doctor when we don't feel affirmed as a patient of color or other marginalized identity? When is it time to find a new doctor and how can you find the right one for you, especially when most of us are reliant on insurance? What if I don’t have insurance? Is my vagina normal (and what do I do if it’s not)? Yes, we cover a lot of ground. You’re gonna want to take notes. 📝 This episode is brought to you by our friends at Coconu—100% safe, cruelty free, non-toxic, organic personal care. Embrace smooth sailing with Coconu’s all-natural lubes (both water-based and oil-based). Lube it up at coconu.com and use code TABU for 15% off! 💦 There's more? But, of course. We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Get 25% off your purchase with code TABU. Today's magical find? Honey Play Box's 😏 Irresistible 😏 Get your pleasure on! Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Sexual Shame, Abortion, Religion, and Pleasure Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. If you’re anything like me, you grew up with religious influences — namely, shame. In this episode, I am joined by Irma, CSE from Dirty South Sex Ed (@sexedwithirma) and creator of the Purity Culture Dropout™️ Program, Erica Smith, M.Ed. (@ericasmith.sex.ed) to discuss purity culture, religion, and sexuality. So, what do I ask in this episode? What is the impact of growing up in the church and receiving abstinence-based education or any shame-based messaging? How can people, particularly people with vulvas or conditioned as women, become more comfortable with masturbation? How can we explore pleasure in a healthy, positive, shame free way? How can we access sex-positive, trauma-informed care? Why as a society are we so obsessed with abortion? Why is it abortion such a heavily debated and politically charge topic? What options exist for teens who want access to birth control, emergency contraception, and/or abortion care? Do they need their parents' consent? How much do things cost? Where can they go? What are crisis pregnancy centers and why should we avoid them? 🙅🏽‍♀️ Can religion and sex-positivity co-exist? How can you embrace both? How can parents raise sex-positive kids, especially if they are also religious? Yes, we get INTO IT! This episode is brought to you by our friends at Coconu—100% safe, cruelty free, non-toxic, organic personal care. Embrace smooth sailing with Coconu’s all-natural lubes (both water-based and oil-based). Lube it up at coconu.com and use code TABU for 15% off! 💦 There's more? But, of course. We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Get 25% off your purchase with code TABU. Today's magical find? Honey Play Box's 😇 Angel 😇  Get your pleasure on! Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

What They Definitely Do Not Tell You About Pregnancy Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. In this episode, I am joined by April Davis of The Vagina Blog (@thevaginablog) to, of course, discuss all things vaginas. We exactly did we talk about? Feeling empowered and advocating for yourself as a patient in healthcare settings Birth control and reproductive healthcare shaming What to expect when you're not expecting, but you know, also when you are expecting - pregnancy and childbirth are a trip! What a doula is and how it's different than a midwife (and, how to find the right fit for your birthing needs) How to recognize when something's going wrong during childbirth and what your options are in the moment Epidurals and if they're necessary Body image and sexuality postpartum and during pregnancy How the partner of a pregnant person can feel more included in the process and embrace their partner's evolving body  How to become more comfortable naked and taking sexy photos This conversation is not for the faint of heart, but wow was it super eye-opening for me! Let's get into it. This episode is brought to you in part by ONE® Condoms. ONE products are uniquely designed for safe, healthy, enjoyable sex. With myONE® Perfect Fit, you have more than 60 sizes to choose from. Find your perfect fit and get 15% off using code TalkTabu. There's more? But, of course. We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Get 25% off your purchase with code TABU. Today's magical find? Honey Play Box's ✨ Kong✨  Get your pleasure on! Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Therapy, Instagram, and Instagram Therapy Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. In this episode, I am joined by Amanda White, LPC (@therapyforwomen) and Todd Baratz, LMHC (@yourdiagnonsense) to discuss what it's like to be a therapist on Instagram and how reliable "Instagram therapy" is. We cover quite a lot of territory. Such as, you might be asking?     Balancing the personal with the professional Establishing boundaries with your followers The responsibility of mental health professionals to set an example and publish reliable, trustworthy, accurate content — is there an added expectation or obligation? Building anti-racism into your life and practice as a White clinician Navigating titles and credentials on Instagram — how to know who is "legit" Tips for creating content that is personally fulfilling and beneficial to your audience Mental health challenges that come along with using Instagram as part of your business model Pretty saucy stuff. Let's get into it!   This episode is brought to you in part by Awkward Essentials, personal solutions for hella personal problems. Check out dripstick, their after-sex cleanup sponge that broke the Internet at awkwardessentials.com! There's more? But, of course. We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Get 25% off your purchase with code TABU. Today's magical find? Honey Play Box's ✨ Radiant ✨  Get your pleasure on! Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message

Navigating Ethical Non-monogamy Welcome back to Asking for Myself, where I ask all the questions you're too afraid to. In this episode, I am joined by Jo Encarnacion aka @gofitjo and Gabrielle Smith to discuss all things polyamory and ethical non-monogamy. What exactly do we talk about?   Defining ethical non-monogamy — what is it? Are polyamory and ENM the same thing? What does "ethical" mean? How to explore non-monogamy and how to know if it's right for you The relationship escalator and how to hop off if it's not working for you Opening up conversations about jealousy and other fears/insecurities with your partner(s) Values and practices of ethical non-monogamy that can benefit monogamous relationships Sex-positive parenting and how to talk about ethical non-monogamy with your kids Yes, we cover a lot of tabú territory! Let's get into it. This episode is brought to you in part by #open, the polyamorous dating app for couples and singles who embrace ethical non-monogamy—from polyamory to threesomes, kinky dates, and more. #open is dating, updated. Download #open on the App Store or Google Play Store today!    That's right! We're back at it again with our amazing partners in sexual play and wellness, Honey Play Box. Get 25% off your purchase with code TABU. Today's magical find? ✨ The Explosive ✨  Get your pleasure on! Ready to start #AskingForYourself? Join us on Instagram @asking4myself! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/askingformyself/message