Avsnitt
-
A listener wrote in about her upcoming girls' weekend. The rental has a hot tub, everyone's going to be in bikinis, and she's nervous about how she looks in a bathing suit. Em and Cass share their own experiences navigating this exact scenario, plus a few tips for managing the anxiety without limiting your damn life.
From there, Cass walks us all through her recent nose job: why she wanted it, the cost breakdown, post-anesthesia antics and the healing process.
Emma shares the story of Elise Ottesen-Jensen, a Swedish journalist and anarchist who started teaching women about their bodies in the early 1900s and went on to co-found the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
They close with a "normalize-this" segment on what summer bodies actually look like, plus listener hot takes (i.e. FREE THE BUSH).
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
You asked, our favorite gynecologist answered. We brought Dr. Maria Sophocles, a board-certified OB-GYN of 30 years, back on Honeydew Me to tackle the questions our community has been too nervous to ask their own doctors (which we COMPLETELY understand).
Before we got into your questions, she explained exactly why so many of us feel behind: most of us learned about sex from porn, a sibling, or a condom on a banana, and the U.S. still largely refuses to teach it well. (The Dutch, it turns out, are doing it right, and their teens are WAY better off for it.) So no, it's not your fault you don't know this stuff, and you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Now let's get into iiiiit!
We cover:
When a doctor shames you for asking a question: why a dismissive provider is usually acting from their own discomfort, not your ignorance, and how to advocate for yourself anyway.
Can your gynecologist tell if you've had sex recently? The honest answer is yes, but only in one specific case. Dr. Maria explains what actually gives it away and why there's no reason for shame either way.
What to expect at your first gyno appointment: why a first visit may not involve an exam at all, what the full exam actually includes, and how to make it a two-step process if you're nervous.
Do pap smears have to hurt? Dr. Maria validates that the pain is real and pushes back on the "tough it out" culture, with specific things you can ask for: a smaller speculum, numbing, and meds beforehand.
Scared of the gyno or putting it off? Facing the real barriers honestly, including bias in women's healthcare, and why skipping care still only hurts you.
What an "abnormal" pap really means: why it's usually not what you fear, what the levels actually signify, and how the HPV connection factors in.
The fishy-smell question, answered: what BV actually is, the surprising polyester link, and how to treat it (including whether boric acid really works).
This conversation is educational and not a substitute for your own provider's advice.
Connect with Dr. Sophocles on Instagram @mariasophoclesmd, on her website here, or by ordering a copy of The Bedroom Gap!
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Thanks to Bellesa for sponsoring the show! Our friends at Bellesa are sending out free toys or gift cards for toys to EVERYONE who signs up! Click the link to get yours! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/honeydewme-pod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Anna Nickerson is the founder of Cherry, the first brand closing the gap between period care and pleasure. Their first product is a menstrual disc designed for completely mess-free period sex. She joins Cass and Emma to talk about why period sex is still taboo (and what we lose by avoiding it: roughly seven years of sex over a woman's lifetime), how to actually use a disc without panicking, the difference between period positivity and period neutrality, and why a man who refuses period sex is usually telling on himself.
In this episode:
The real girl math we need to be doing: skipping intimacy during your period adds up to almost seven years of sex over your lifetime
Period positivity vs period neutrality: what actually destigmatizes the conversation around periods and why we don't have to aim for absolutely LOVING our periods
What happens when we apologize for being on our periods and what changes when we stop
The double standard nobody calls out: women accept everything men's bodies do (the semen, the sweat, the lack of a headboard), but our blood is somehow the grossest thing in the relationship
Cherry's menstrual disc explained: what it's made of, where it actually sits (under the cervix, not in the vaginal canal), how to insert it without it being scary, and why your partner shouldn't feel it
The Berkeley study that found lead in tampons and the lack of FDA enforcement that lets it stay there
Why a partner being disgusted by period blood is a red flag worth taking seriously
Find Cherry at cherry.love, on Instagram at @wearecherry.love, and follow Anna on TikTok at @theperiodseggsgirl.
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Emma and Cass open with a listener question that hits a little too close to home: "I just turned 30 and I hate my job, my apartment, and the city I live in. Do I blow it all up or am I just having a moment?" Emma says blow it the f up. Cass, who spent a year deeply unhappy in her marriage, her motherhood, and her life in general, says try 5% better first. \
From there: Cass on the motherhood imposter syndrome that hit her like a freight train (after 27 years of never feeling it), Emma on the version she's lived with her whole life, the menstrual blood research that's genuinely wild, and an unhinged agree/disagree game powered by Cass's husband's questions.
In this episode:
The listener question: turning 30, hating everything, and Emma vs Cass on whether to blow it up or stay put.
"Wherever you go, there you are." Cass on the year she was deeply unwell and what she did instead of running, plus the 5% rule for making your life better without burning it down.
"If you're a girly pop in your 30s who has let decisions make you instead of making them, maybe it's time to fucking blow it up." Emma's case for the hard pivot, geographic escapism included.
Motherhood imposter syndrome that lasted two years, the postpartum therapist who said stop waiting for the cute walks to happen to you, and the day at the park when Cass realized she was a real mom talking to real moms.
Emma on feeling like an imposter in every room she walks into, including the one she literally built.
Emma's run-in with a guy she used to sleep with, and a description of his anatomy you will not forget.
New menstrual blood research: Dr. Gemma Evans at the Hudson Institute found menstrual plasma heals wounds 40 times faster than regular blood plasma.
A review of decades of yo-yo dieting research turns out to be way less scary than we've been told, and Cass is mad about how women get shamed either way.
The SPF lip gloss that Emma keeps stealing from Cass's bathroom.
The toy Emma can't get enough of. Get yours HERE at Bellesa!
Agree/disagree with questions from Cass's husband: texting your ex, thirst-trap likes, body counts as a red flag, fighting a goose, landing a passenger plane, men should always pay.
For anyone in their late 20s or 30s who's ever wanted to quit everything by Tuesday, or felt like an imposter in a room they literally built.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
NYC-based comedian, actor, and storyteller Star Stone (@starstonespeaks) joins us to talk about the years she spent inside Onetaste, a Bay Area "sexual wellness" group that built a multi-million dollar operation around a 15-minute clitoris stroking practice and is now better known for being investigated by the FBI. Star takes us through the sex education gap that primed her for it, the relationship that kept her there, the empowerment language that quietly turned coercive, and the long road back to her own desires.
In this episode:
Why Star (and basically every millennial woman) ended up Googling her own anatomy in her 20s, and how that vacuum is exactly what predatory communities count on
How "edge work" gets weaponized: when "lean into your edge" becomes a way to talk you past your own no, and what to listen for before you sign anything
The exact red flags Star wishes she'd clocked sooner (absolute promises, paywalls disguised as inner circles, "you're blocked, that's why you need the course," and the universal cult truth: there's always land)
What actually happened inside Onetaste: the practice, the paid intros, the group rooms, the moment the FBI investigation quietly ended in-person practices and nobody told the members
Toxic empowerment versus the real thing: how organizations dress up dependency as liberation, and how to spot the difference before they have your money and your nervous system
Getting out: the eviction, calling her dad, going viral and getting hated online days after leaving, and the five years of celibacy and self-isolation that followed
Rebuilding a sexual identity from scratch when you can't tell anymore which desires were yours and which were normalized inside the group
For anyone who's ever wondered how smart, curious women end up in places like this, and for anyone trying to tell the difference between a teacher and a trap. Star's show CL*T CULT runs June 3rd at 7 p.m. at The Pit NYC, tickets at starstonespeaks.com or @starstonespeaks on Instagram.
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Cass turns 30 the day this episode drops, and this is the conversation we wish someone had handed us at 22. Not our Pinterest board versions of adulthood (there was too much turquoise and chevron on there anyway). The real one, where "adult money" gets spent on prenatal vitamins for thinning hair, a trampoline, and a personal finance book.
Emma found her old high school career class papers this week. Sixteen-year-old Emma wanted to open an equine therapy center, planned to go to college in the Pacific Northwest (where she'd meet her husband), wanted to fix "ignorance" in the world (misspelled), and confessed her most recent life lesson was that she didn't like pot pies but kept making them anyway. Emma's now 30, single, and living alone. Cass swore she'd be single, childfree, and a world-traveling journalist, and now she's married with a kid. We use that gap as the jumping-off point for the lives we pictured versus the lives we actually built.
In this episode:
Cass on what nobody tells you: trying to be skinny made her miserable. Trying to be strong made her feel hot.
"If you want to be someone who does, then do." How buying one shirt led to a triathlon, a solo trip to Europe, and fly fishing in Wyoming.
Why "have more opinions" is a real New Year's resolution.
The shift from being palatable for everyone to picking your people.
Why community asks you to be inconvenienced, and the unsexy truth that no, it doesn't just happen if it's meant for you.
Making and keeping friends as an adult when nobody's built-in anymore.
What the listener polls said about what changes most in your 30s (spoiler: 48% of you said the same thing).
Emma's 30th birthday recap: 90% on the couch, 5% in a hot tub, 100% a little high.
What we hope we're doing at 40, and what we hope we never do.
For anyone in their late 20s or 30s who suspects all the adults around them are also winging it.
Thank you to Bellesa for sponsoring this week's episode! EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE WhisperVibeTM OR a FREE Rose toy with any WhisperTM order https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/honeydewme-pod
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Motherhood is supposed to come naturally… right? That’s the story so many women are sold, and according to Dr. Sarah Oreck, it’s one of the biggest reasons us mommys are struggling in silence. In this episode, we're unpack the guilt, pressure, identity shifts, and impossible expectations placed on women during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. From “maternal instincts” to breastfeeding shame to the myth of bouncing back, Dr. Sarah is dispelling the myths that hold us back and offering a fresh take on what motherhood actually means.
We Cover:
The myth of “maternal instinct” and why so many women feel blindsided by motherhood. How unrealistic expectations around motherhood can leave even high-functioning women feeling disconnected, anxious, or like they’re doing it wrong.
The pressure to be the “perfect mom” from the moment you get pregnant. From food choices to birth plans to feeding decisions, we unpack the constant guilt and policing women experience during pregnancy and postpartum.
Why “bouncing back” after having a baby is harming women’s mental health. Dr. Sarah explains how identity shifts, hormonal changes, and emotional overwhelm are often treated like personal failures instead of normal human experiences.
The truth about breastfeeding, formula feeding, and maternal shame. A nuanced conversation about bodily autonomy, sexual trauma, mental health, and why feeding your baby should never come at the expense of the mother’s wellbeing.
How motherhood can completely change your relationship with your body. From pregnancy to postpartum recovery, we talk about body image, autonomy, touch exhaustion, and feeling disconnected from yourself.
Why moms desperately need more support, community, and honest conversations. The emotional labor of motherhood is massively underestimated, especially in a culture that expects women to do everything without complaint.
Permission to make choices that actually work for YOU and your family. Whether it’s C-sections, formula feeding, medication, childcare, or mental health support, this episode is about rejecting shame and building a version of motherhood that feels sustainable and aligned with your values.
Connect with Dr. Sarah by following @sarahoreckmed and @mavidahealth on Instagram.
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Zachary Zane aka “The Boyslut” joins us for one of our most freeing conversations yet. Zach is a sex expert, advice columnist, and author known for his honest, no-BS takes on sexuality, shame, and modern dating. We’re talking about what it actually means to embrace your sexuality without shame, how to define pleasure on your own terms, and why the word “slut” might not mean what you think it does.
We cover:
Redefining “slut” (and taking your power back). Why being a “slut” has nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with ownership, desire, and self-expression.
Why shame is the biggest block to good sex. How internalized shame shapes your sex life more than your actual experiences, and how to start unlearning it.
What it really means to explore your sexuality. Moving beyond performative sex into curiosity, experimentation, and figuring out what actually feels good for you.
The pressure to be “good” in bed (and why it backfires). How trying to meet expectations kills connection and pleasure, and what to focus on instead.
Communication that actually makes sex better. Why being honest about your wants, turn-ons, and boundaries is the key to more satisfying sex.
Letting go of labels and rigid sexual identities. How loosening your grip on labels can create more freedom, flexibility, and fun in your sex life.
Permission to want what you want. The core of this conversation: you’re allowed to desire, to explore, and to define your sex life on your own terms.
Connect with Zach:
Buy his book "Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto" HERE!
Visit his website HERE
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
In this week's episode we're answering one of YOUR questions with a combination of expert tips and personal experience.
The Question: “Why do I enjoy sex more alone than with my boyfriend?”
What We Cover:
Why sex feels better alone than with your partner. Breaking down the very real (and very common) experience of enjoying solo sex more and why it doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong with you or your relationship.
What actually makes the difference: intentional, pressure-free pleasure vs rushed, performative sex. Why solo sex often includes more time, curiosity, and attention to your body while partnered sex can feel goal-oriented, fast, or just plain shitty.
You know your body, your partner might not. How years of self-exploration give you an advantage and why many partners haven’t developed the same level of sexual awareness or skill.
Why so much sex doesn’t actually center your pleasure. Unpacking how penetration-focused sex, lack of communication, and porn-influenced expectations can leave you feeling unsatisfied.
The impact of feeling unseen, unheard, or disappointed in bed. How repeated experiences of being rushed, overlooked, or not fully considered can train your body to prefer solo sex.
Solo sex is real sex. Reframing masturbation as a valid, fulfilling part of your sex life that doesn’t need to compete with or be replaced by partnered sex.
How to use what works alone to improve partnered sex. Practical ways to bring your self-knowledge into the bedroom with your partner.
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Dirty talk can feel… intimidating. What do you say? When do you say it? What if it comes out weird, awkward, or just not you? In this solo episode, we’re breaking down how to talk dirty in a way that actually feels natural, fun, and authentic to YOU.
We cover:
Why dirty talk feels so hard for so many people. How shame, pressure, and the idea of needing to “perform” can make it feel intimidating instead of fun.
What dirty talk actually is (and what it’s not). Why it’s not about saying the “perfect” explicit line, and how it can be playful, romantic, confident, or even a little silly.
How to start dirty talk without feeling awkward. Simple, low-pressure ways to ease into it.
Real-life dirty talk examples you can actually use. Easy phrases like saying what you like, sharing fantasies, narrating sensations, and giving compliments that feel natural and doable.
How to make dirty talk feel authentic to YOU. Why you don’t need to be a different person or “sexier version” of yourself, and how to find what genuinely turns you on.
Confidence hacks to get out of your head during sex. Using humor, trying on a persona if it helps, and focusing on fun instead of performance.
What to do when dirty talk goes wrong (because it will). How to laugh it off, recover in the moment, communicate after, and keep the experience light instead of shutting down.
A simple dirty talk framework to fall back on. Using sensations, actions, and emotions as an easy formula when you don’t know what to say.
Why dirty talk is a learned skill (not something you’re born good at). How practice, repetition, and lowering the stakes can completely change your confidence over time.
Dirty Talk Cheat Sheet FREEBIE!
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tara, tenured professor, award-winning researcher, and author of the new book "How Do You Like It: A Guide For Getting What You Want (In Bed)," to talk about what it actually takes to have a satisfying, connected sex life. From communication to confidence to understanding what it is you like, this conversation breaks down the practical skills behind better sex.
We Cover:
Why great sex is a learned skill, not something you’re just “good at.” Breaking down the myth that sex should come naturally and why education, practice, and communication matter.
How to figure out what you actually want in bed. Simple ways to explore your desires, preferences, and turn-ons without shame or pressure.
The biggest communication mistakes couples make about sex. Why avoiding conversations leads to disconnection and how to start talking about sex in a way that feels safe and productive.
How to ask for what you want without feeling awkward or rejected. Practical tools for expressing needs, giving feedback, and building confidence when communicating about sex.
Why desire can feel confusing or inconsistent in relationships. Understanding different desire styles and why your sex drive might not work the way you think it should.
How to create more satisfying and connected sex in long-term relationships. Small shifts that can make a big difference in intimacy, pleasure, and emotional connection.
What’s getting in the way of your sex life (and how to start shifting it). Common blockers like stress, shame, and unrealistic expectations, and how to work through them in real life.
Connect with Dr. Tara by buying her book "How Do You Like It" HERE, following her on Instagram HERE, or going to her website HERE!
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
In this episode, we’re sitting down with Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, OB-GYN and OB hospitalist, to talk about birth in the only way we know how... with a whole lot of honesty and oversharing. So many people go into labor thinking they know what to expect… and then everything feels confusing, fast, or completely different than what they had planned. We talk about what’s actually normal, how decisions get made in the moment, and how to stay informed without feeling overwhelmed by it all.
We Cover:
What “normal labor” actually looks like (and why it’s more flexible than you think). Breaking down the stages of labor, timelines, and variations so you understand what’s typical, what’s not, and why there’s a wide range of normal when it comes to childbirth.
How to advocate for yourself during labor and delivery in a medical system that can feel overwhelming. What informed consent really means, how to ask questions, and how to feel more in control of your birth experience even in high-pressure or emergency situations.
The biggest myths about birth and pregnancy on social media (and what’s actually evidence-based). Separating fear-based narratives and misinformation from real medical guidance so you can make decisions rooted in facts, not that random TikTok you saw while doom scrolling.
Your options during labor: inductions, C-sections, epidurals, and everything in between. A clear, judgment-free breakdown of common interventions, what they involve, and how to decide what’s right for you and your body.
What happens when things don’t go according to plan (and how to navigate unexpected outcomes). Understanding complications, emergency scenarios, and how to mentally and emotionally prepare for the unpredictable nature of birth.
How to approach decision-making when labor isn’t progressing as expected. Exploring how providers assess labor in real time, what “not progressing” actually means, and how to stay informed instead of rushed or pressured.
Why so many people still feel unprepared for birth (even after doing all the research). How overwhelming information, lack of clear guidance, and mixed messaging can still leave you feeling unsure going into labor.
Connect with Dr. Lincoln by buying "The Birth Book" and following her in Instagram.
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
In this week's episode we're answering one of YOUR questions with a combination of expert tips and personal experience.
The Question: “All my friends talk about how amazing their sex lives are, and meanwhile my partner and I are struggling. It’s starting to make me feel like something is wrong with me or our relationship. We’ve been together a couple years… is it normal to have this many issues or is this a red flag?”
What We Cover in This Episode:
Why it feels like everyone else is having better sex than you. The truth about comparison, what people don’t share about their sex lives, and how this impacts your confidence.
What are actual red flags in a sex life vs normal relationship struggles. How to tell the difference between fixable intimacy issues and deeper problems like lack of care, effort, or emotional connection.
Why your sex life might not feel good (and it’s not your fault). How poor sex education, lack of communication, and not knowing your own desires can create a disconnect in the bedroom.
How to figure out what you like sexually. Practical ways to explore desire, including solo play, Want/Will/Won’t lists, and expanding your understanding of pleasure.
How to communicate about sex without making it awkward. Simple ways to talk about turn-ons, turn-offs, and different desire styles like responsive vs spontaneous desire.
How to improve your sex life and feel more connected to your partner. Taking pressure off, redefining what sex means beyond penetration, and creating a version of intimacy that actually works for you.
FREE "Want, Will, Won't List" here!
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Pelvic floor health is one of the most overlooked parts of our bodies, and for many people with vulvas, it’s the missing link to better pleasure, stronger orgasms, and feeling more connected to their body.
This week, we’re joined by Jana Danielson, founder of Bloom Better, a longtime Pilates instructor, pelvic floor educator, and creator of the Cooch Ball, a pelvic floor fitness tool designed to help people reconnect with their bodies.
Jana shares her personal journey from years of chronic pain and medical dismissal to becoming a leader in pelvic floor education. We talk about why pelvic floor health matters for everything from core strength to sexual pleasure, how shame has kept many of us disconnected from this part of our body, and the small things you can start doing today to support pelvic floor health.
We cover:
Jana’s journey from chronic pain to pelvic floor advocacy. How years of unexplained pain, medication, and medical dismissal led Jana to explore movement, Pilates, and the pelvic floor as a path toward healing.
Why the pelvic floor is so misunderstood. How shame, lack of education, and gaps in traditional health care have left many people disconnected from this important part of their anatomy.
The role the pelvic floor plays in pleasure and sexual function. Why pelvic floor health impacts arousal, orgasm, and sensation more than most people realize.
How movement and breath affect pelvic floor health. The connection between the nervous system, breath, posture, and pelvic floor engagement.
Common pelvic floor issues many people experience. From tension and pain to weakness and lack of awareness, and why these challenges are more common than most people think.
How Pilates and body awareness can improve pelvic floor function. Why strengthening, relaxing, and reconnecting with the pelvic floor can transform both physical comfort and sexual wellbeing.
The inspiration behind the Cooch Ball. How Jana created the first pelvic floor fitness tool designed specifically to help people release tension and reconnect with their pelvic floor.
Why pelvic floor care matters at every stage of life. From postpartum recovery to aging and menopause, and why this part of the body deserves attention long before problems show up.
CLICK HERE to get your own Cooch Ball!
Connect with Jana on Instagram or TikTok.
Interested in 1:1 coaching with Cass & Em? Book a FREE strategy sesh HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Vulvas and vaginas aren't complicated or mysterious, we've just never been properly taught how to pleasure them. Until now. In this episode, we’re joined by Susan Bratton, intimacy expert to millions, educator, and longtime advocate for pleasure-forward sex education. Together we break down the anatomy of female arousal, the full erectile tissue system in the vulva, and why so many people misunderstand what our bodies actually need to experience deep pleasure.
We talk about why arousal takes time, how the body physically changes during sexual stimulation, and why expanding our understanding of pleasure anatomy can completely transform the sexual experience for both partners.
If you’ve ever wondered why foreplay matters so much, why stimulation can feel different depending on arousal levels, or how to create more pleasure in partnered sex, this conversation is for you Honey Bun.
We Cover:
The vulva’s erectile tissue system. Why arousal involves far more anatomy than just the clitoris and how engorgement changes sensation.
How arousal physically changes the body. What actually happens to the vulva and vaginal tissues during sexual stimulation and why time and blood flow matter.
Why many people with vulvas struggle to feel enough stimulation during sex. How misunderstandings about pleasure anatomy can lead to rushed arousal and less pleasurable experiences.
The role of engorgement in pleasure. Why the body needs time and stimulation for tissues to swell and become more sensitive.
How to build stronger arousal before penetration. Why extended stimulation and touch can dramatically change sensation and comfort.
Understanding different pleasure pathways. How different types of stimulation activate different parts of the vulva and internal erectile tissue system.
Why sex education often gets vulva anatomy wrong. The cultural and educational gaps that leave many people confused about how pleasure actually works in these bodies.
How partners can support deeper pleasure. Simple mindset shifts that help couples slow down and explore arousal more intentionally.
Resources:
drivedesire.com
expandherorgasmtonight.com
1:1 coaching with Cass & Em. Book a FREE strategy sesh HERE!
About Susan Bratton:
Susan Bratton is a globally recognized intimacy expert, educator, and advocate for pleasure-positive sexuality. She has spent decades teaching people how to expand their understanding of arousal, connection, and pleasure in long-term relationships.
Susan is known for translating complex sexual health concepts into practical, approachable tools that help couples experience more intimacy, communication, and satisfaction in their sex lives.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
Most of us spend our entire lives being someone’s daughter, but we rarely talk about what that role actually asks of us. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Allison Alford, a professor of communication at Baylor University and a leading researcher on “daughtering,” to unpack the expectations, emotional labor, and pressure many women carry in their families and how those dynamics can quietly shape our relationships, boundaries, and even our sex lives.
What “daughtering” actually means. Why the role of daughter is rarely talked about but deeply shapes our identities, responsibilities, and expectations in families.
The invisible labor daughters often carry. How emotional support, family coordination, and relational maintenance quietly fall on daughters.
Why being a “good daughter” becomes tied to self-worth. How many women internalize the idea that being available, supportive, and reliable is what makes them worthy.
The pressure of family expectations. Why daughters often feel responsible for maintaining harmony, showing up for everyone, and never dropping the ball.
The shift from “perfect daughter” to “good enough daughter.” A simple reframe that helps reduce the pressure and unrealistic standards so many of us carry.
How daughterhood affects romantic relationships. Why carrying too much emotional labor in family dynamics can leave women feeling mentally tapped out and impact desire and intimacy.
Why partnership and delegation matter. How allowing siblings or partners to share emotional responsibilities can relieve pressure and strengthen relationships.
Setting boundaries with family members. Practical ways to decide what you are and are not willing to discuss and how to communicate those boundaries clearly.
Preparing for difficult family conversations. Why going into family interactions with a plan can help prevent frustration and resentment.
How to start reshaping your role as a daughter. Small mindset shifts that help relieve some pressure while still maintaining connection with family.
Connect with Dr. Allison Alford
Learn more about Dr. Alford’s research on daughterhood and family communication on her website or by listening her podcast Hello Mother, Hello Daughter, where she explores the mother-daughter relationship through both academic insight and lived experience. You can also purchase a copy of her book "Good Daughtering" HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
In this week's episode we're answering one of YOUR questions with a combination of expert tips and personal experience.
The Question: "Is there a way for someone with responsive desire to initiate sex? Do you have any recommendations?"
What We Cover in This Episode:
• Can you initiate with responsive desire? Yes. Initiation does not have to mean you are ready for sex right away. This episode explores how people with responsive desire can start connection in ways that feel safe, honest, and pressure-free.
• What responsive desire actually means. Why some people need emotional or mental build-up before physical arousal, and how explaining your “longer runway” can change the way your partner understands intimacy.
• The fear of being a tease or changing your mind. A real conversation about hesitation around initiating, including the pressure to follow through and how to reframe initiation as starting foreplay, not promising sex.
• How to talk about initiation with your partner. Scripts and examples for getting on the same page about timelines, expectations, and what initiating looks like when you need more build-up before intimacy.
• Creative ways to initiate without pressure. From morning cuddles and daytime flirting to teasing PDA and slow-burn make-outs, we share playful techniques that help build anticipation while honoring responsive desire.
• You are not too much for needing more. A reminder that responsive desire is valid, that foreplay and communication create better sex for everyone, and that your needs matter whether you are dating, single, or in a long-term relationship.
Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
In this week’s Honey Archive episode we’re answering one of YOUR questions with a mix of expert insight, personal experience, and a very real conversation about what to do when the sex in your relationship just isn’t clicking. If you’ve ever loved someone but felt disconnected in the bedroom, this one’s for you.
The Question:“I’ve been with my boyfriend for a while now, and the sex… it’s just not great. It’s not that we don’t like each other, but it just feels off. I want to be honest, I just don’t know how to approach it, so please HELP!”
We cover:
Questions to ask yourself first. How to figure out whether the issue is chemistry, communication, expectations, or simply not knowing what you actually want yet.
Expert tips for talking about sex with a partner. Ways to start the conversation without triggering shame, defensiveness, or pressure so it feels collaborative instead of critical.
How to give honest feedback without being harsh. Why tone, timing, and framing matter and how to express your needs in a way that builds connection instead of distance.
What giving feedback in the moment can look like. Small language shifts that help guide your partner without turning sex into a performance review.
Why being “bad at sex” is more normal than you think. How most people never receive real sex education and why awkwardness is part of learning, not a sign of incompatibility.
The difference between skill issues and deeper mismatches. How to tell when something can grow with communication versus when values, desire, or attraction might not align.
Permission to outgrow sexual dynamics that don’t feel good. Why it is okay to want more pleasure, more effort, or a different kind of connection.
When it might be time to leave. A grounded conversation about recognizing when the sexual disconnect reflects a bigger relationship issue and giving yourself permission to choose what feels right for you.
Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
For a lot of us, having kids absolutely wrecks our sex lives… at least for a while. And no one really prepares you for that. In this episode, we’re joined by Rebecca Howard Eudy, PhD, LMHC, an AASECT-certified sex therapist and couples therapist, to talk about what actually happens to desire, intimacy, and connection after kids (or even just in long term relationships). We dig into exhaustion, resentment, pressure, and why so many couples assume something is wrong with them, when really they’re just navigating a huge shift. This conversation is about understanding what’s happening and figuring out how to rebuild intimacy in a way that actually works for the season you’re in.
We cover:
How pressure kills intimacy. What happens when sex becomes another expectation instead of a point of connection.
Why resentment shows up in the bedroom. How unequal labor, emotional disconnect, and unspoken needs quietly erode desire.
How to rebuild emotional and physical intimacy. Practical ways to reconnect that do not rely on forcing desire or “trying harder.”
Why sex changes so much after kids. Rebecca explains how exhaustion, mental load, and identity shifts directly impact desire and arousal.
The difference between low desire and low capacity. Why many parents still want sex but feel too depleted to access it.
Understanding desire differences after parenthood. Why mismatched desire is common and not a sign something is wrong with your relationship.
Why scheduling intimacy can actually help. How planning connection creates safety and reduces pressure instead of killing spontaneity.
The importance of redefining sex after kids. Moving beyond penetration-focused sex and expanding what intimacy can look like now.
How to talk about sex without blame or defensiveness. Language shifts that help couples feel like teammates again.
Connect with Rebecca:
BUY HER BOOK HERE!
Visit her website HERE!
Follow her on Instagram HERE!
Listen to her podcast HERE!
Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Join our Patreon and access exclusive content HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices -
What if your sex life could tell you something important about your health? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Elliot Justin, an ER doctor of 25 years who pivoted into sexual health innovation to change the way we talk about bodies, pleasure, and well-being. We explore how erections, cardiovascular health, data-driven tools, and honest conversations can give us earlier insight into what’s happening in the body and why sexual health should never be treated as separate from overall health.
We cover:
Why sexual health is a health issue, not a vanity issue. Dr. Justin explains why pleasure, performance, and function are often early indicators of deeper health patterns.
What erections can reveal about cardiovascular health. How nighttime erections are connected to blood flow and heart health long before other symptoms appear.
Why men’s sexual health is often ignored until there’s a crisis. How stigma and silence delay diagnosis and meaningful conversations.
The science behind nocturnal erections. What’s normal, what’s not, and why the body’s nighttime patterns matter.
How data can change the way couples talk about sex. Why shared, objective information can reduce shame, blame, and guesswork in the bedroom.
The role of technology in modern sexual wellness. How tools like FirmTech are bringing measurable insights into intimacy and performance.
Why early awareness matters more than quick fixes. How prevention and understanding beat waiting for symptoms or relying on temporary solutions.
Use code "DEWME" for a discount at FirmTech!
Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.
Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!
Join our Patreon and access exclusive content HERE!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices - Visa fler
