What is Love?

No one person is an expert in love. So, for our season finale, Liz asked 50 strangers about LOVE: What is love? Does love hurt? Is love scary? Have you been in love? Their answers reflected a diversity of experiences and perceptions from young, old, single, happily partnered, divorced, polyamorous and currently heartbroken people. From fears of dying alone and being eaten by cats, to a couple that have been together 47 years— this episode covers it all. Visit www.thesexed.com to stay up to date on Season 2!

Podcast, Season 1, ConsciousnessThe Sex EdNovember 17, 2020Self Love, Spirituality and Religion, LGBTQ+, Love & Relationships

Betony Vernon

Betony Vernon is a sexual anthropologist, mistress of the ropes, the author of The Boudoir Bible: The Uninhibited Sex Guide for Today, and the designer behind Jewel Tools—a line of haute couture erotic jewelry. In this episode, Liz and Betony discuss the time Betony professionally tied Liz up (!) as well as digital dating and how bondage can be a healing tool for trauma. Learn more at BetonyVernon.com. You can also see a video of a talk we had in London with MatchesFashion on TheSexEd.com.

Podcast, Season 1, Consciousness, SexThe Sex EdNovember 17, 2020Bondage Fetish & Kink, Meditation, Self Love, Overcoming Trauma

Wendy Cherry

Dr. Wendy Cherry is a Sex Therapist and Executive Director and co-founder of the American Association of Couples and Sex Therapists (AACAST.) Dr. Cherry is also Co-Director of UCLA’s AACAST’s programming, for Medical residents, undergrads, licensed and practicing sex therapists. On this episode, Liz and Wendy cover what sex therapy is and how it works, how we can overcome internalized erotic shame, and how to break the ice to your partner when you want to address an issue in the bedroom.

Podcast, Season 1, Health, ConsciousnessThe Sex EdNovember 17, 2020Self Love, Orgasm, Sex Toys, Love & Relationships, Desire & Libido, Meditation

Erica Chidi

Erica Chidi is a doula, author and co-founder of LOOM— a center in Los Angeles that provides empowered education from periods to parenting. She has guided thousands of people in their transition from pregnancy to parenthood in her practice and through her book, Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Early Motherhood. Erica and Liz discuss doula care for patients through birth and abortion, how pregnancy effects sex drive and why there’s no such thing as the “best way” to give birth.

Diana Winston

Diana Winston is the Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center, aka “MARC.” MARC's mission is to foster mindful awareness across the lifespan of humanity to promote well-being and a more compassionate society. In this episode, Liz and Diana discuss what exactly mindfulness is, practical ways to integrate it in your daily routine, how to have more conscious sex, and— she leads Liz in a guided meditation which you can follow along.

Podcast, Season 1, ConsciousnessThe Sex EdNovember 17, 2020Meditation

Gwen McClendon

Gwen McClendon is a minister at Shabach Christian Fellowship Church in Los Angeles. She has also been a sex educator since 1969. With over 50 years of experience speaking to teenagers about sexuality, both in the public school system and as a Youth Pastor, Gwen understands first hand why abstinence only education doesn’t work. In this interview Gwen and Liz have a nuanced conversation about sex, love and God, as well as teenage hormones and the church’s responsibilities when it comes to sex education.

Podcast, Season 1, ConsciousnessThe Sex EdNovember 17, 2020Spirituality and Religion, Sex Toys, Love & Relationships, Self Love

Dr. Joshua Gonzalez

Dr. Joshua Gonzalez, MD, is a urologist specializing in Sexual Medicine. He has devoted his career to studying and treating sexual dysfunction, with a special concentration on LGBTQ+ issues. On this episode we discuss erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, birth control side effects, and a whole host of other medical mysteries that don’t get discussed enough in polite company.

Podcast, Season 1, Health, ConsciousnessThe Sex EdNovember 17, 2020Masculinity, Desire & Libido, LGBTQ+, Stress

Season 3 Finale: Celibacy

What do you imagine when you hear the word celibacy? A monk taking a vow of chastity? Someone denying themselves pleasure? Do you imagine someone saving themselves for marriage or God? Do you think that if you go too long without penetrative sex, you’ll grow cobwebs? Do you consider celibacy the absence of all orgasms - including masturbation? Have you ever gone through a period of self-imposed celibacy? For our season three finale, Liz dives deep into the topic of Celibacy with the help of some friends and guests from this season.

Sex, Drugs & Rock 'N Roll

This special episode pays homage to rock’n’roll of the 60s and 70s with legends Bebe Buell and Pamela Des Barres. Pamela and Bebe are icons who have written groundbreaking, NY Times bestselling memoirs about their wild times loving, and leaving, some of the biggest rock stars of our time. This week, Liz talks to Pamela and Bebe about the free-love innocence of days gone by for this special episodeon sex, drugs and rock’n’roll!

Harvey Guillén

Harvey Guillén is a GLAAD award-winning actor and producer who currently stars as Guillermo on the FX TV show, What We Do In The Shadows. Harvey joined Liz to discuss pansexual vampires; fatphobia in the LGBTQ community; sneaking into the 18+ section of Circus of Books as a teenager; and what his dream Hollywood project is.

Justin Simien

Justin Simien is the creator of the incredible film and Netflix series Dear White People, which is now in its third season, and the upcoming film Bad Hair. Liz spoke to this renaissance man about queer black cinema; being the target of alt-right trolls; how he learned to market films before he made one; Buddhism; Carl Jung, Terence Nance and more.

Ramy Youssef

Ramy Youssef is the Golden Globe-winning creator and star of Ramy on Hulu, which debuts its second season on May 29th. Liz spoke with Ramy about faith and sex; observing Ramadan during quarantine; the differences between his fictional and real self; filling the void with emotional eating and porn; and how to find the middle ground between earthly desires and the divine.

Mykki Blanco

Mykki Blanco is an internationally renowned performance artist, LGBTQ activist, and musician who’s worked with the likes of Bjork, Kanye West, Madonna, Kathleen Hanna, Major Lazer and more. Liz sat down with Mykki in Milan in February shortly before the COVID-19 outbreak to chat about how transitioning has changed their sex life; sending letters to their heroes; being HIV positive and touring in the Middle East.

Joel Kim Booster

Joel is a hilarious and talented comedian, and writer that has been on Conan, Netflix, and Comedy Central. In this episode, Liz and Joel talk about sexual stereotypes; growing up in an Evangelical household; his thoughts on the fertility industry as an adopted child; his leaked nudes; and the Jane Austen anal sex joke that he has tattooed on his body.

Podcast, Season 3, Consciousness, SexThe Sex EdApril 27, 2020LGBTQ+, Masculinity, Anal, Self Love, Parenting, Reproductive Health, Race

Peggy Orenstein

Peggy Orenstein is the author of the groundbreaking NY Times bestseller Girls & Sex, and its followup, Boys & Sex. Her byline has appeared in the NY Times, The Atlantic, Washington Post and more. Liz talked to Peggy about “feminist fuckboys”; teaching boys to embrace their vulnerability and process complex emotions; why hookup culture isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, regardless of gender; and what we can do to raise boys away from the shadow of toxic masculinity.

Dr. Joycelyn Elders

Liz spoke to Dr. Joycelyn Elders, former US Surgeon General about being the Condom Queen of Washington, DC; entering the White House shortly after the Anita Hill trial; growing up in Dust Bowl-era Arkansas; the potential benefits to passing out vibrators in nursing homes; and why she’s optimistic about the future of sex education.

Alessandro Michele

An exclusive episode of the podcast featuring Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s Creative Director. Liz met Alessandro in Milan to talk about his erotic relationship to nature; why Rome is his mistress; moving beyond confining modes of masculinity; his passion for dressing like a 1950s granny and how he channels orgasmic energy every day.