We are influenced by a lot in our early years that affect our sexual lives. Those who work on college campuses and teach human sexuality have noted that there is a rise in rough sex among the students. Some of what this rough sex involves is choking. Dr. Debby Herbenick has recognized how this can be problematic for many reasons, but one is that any constriction of breath can cause damage to our bodies and our brain.

The world of kink is big and often gets a bad rap, especially among religious communities. However, there is a lot more to kink that can help us open our world to a deeper understanding of ourselves. It’s within kink where we are often given permission to explore the depths of ourselves and to be fully present in intimate experiences.

Todd Malloy, a North Carolina Certified Sex Therapist and Educator, talks with Kara about the fullness that we can experience in our sexual lives when we allow intimacy to take the lead instead of our mindset based on performance. They also discuss how our childhood experiences shape the narratives we bring into the bedroom and how we can work to change them. We can learn how to take the hardships and turn them into the fuel to move forward and create a better world for ourselves and others.

In the last episode for Season One of Reframing our Stories: The Podcast, Kara and Jenny spend time reflecting over the last year about their business and personal lessons they have learned related to racism, intimacy, connectedness, and when to seek help. Please stay tuned for Season 2 this September!

Pamela Joy left her high-tech career at Apple and Facebook to found Down To There to help the world talk more openly about sex. Pamela is passionate about raising awareness within medical and mental health communities about the positive impact of peer support on female sexual health, presenting her research on this topic at TEDx Palo Alto.