The Erotic Realm

What happens when the sexuality you've been taught to suppress becomes the very thing you need to explore to understand yourself?In this episode I'm joined by Tash Doherty, author, erotic writer and creator of The Intimacy Journal, to explore the psychology of sexual shame, erotic self-discovery and the transformative power of writing about desire.We explore:The psychology of sexual shame: where it comes from and how it shapes our erotic identities.Sexual suppression and self-discovery: distinguishing authentic desire from social expectations.Erotic writing as self-exploration: how personal storytelling can reveal hidden aspects of our sexuality.Erotic poetry and intimacy: the relationship between creativity, emotional expression and desire.Sexual communication and satisfaction: what research reveals about expressing our needs and desires.Reclaiming sexual confidence: moving from private self-understanding towards expressing what we want with others.Research article: Dimensions of Couples’ Sexual Communication, Relationship Satisfaction, and Sexual Satisfaction: A Meta-AnalysisThis episode is proudly sponsored by Hedon House - A BDSM and kink dungeon/playspace, accommodation, bath house, private dance floor, resting place, and so much more. Book your stay at hedonhouse.com with code THEREALM for 15% off.Follow Hedon House on Instagram. Check out my full conversation with the creator of Hedon House- Gala Vanting on Episode 30: Building Sanctuaries for BDSM & Erotic Exploration.Interested in Kinky Speed Dating? ⁠⁠⁠Register Here.⁠⁠⁠The Erotic Realm now has it’s own merchandise! If you love the show and want to support it check it out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠psychologyofdesire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, or apply to be a guest. I'd love to chat to you.Thanks for listening!Stay perverted,EmmaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can sexual energy be used in magick? And could BDSM, ritual and altered states of consciousness be connected in ways we don't yet fully understand?In this episode I'm joined by Sanhre to explore the fascinating intersection of sex magick, BDSM, occultism, chaos magick and erotic spirituality.We explore:What occultism, chaos magick and sex magick actually mean.The relationship between BDSM, erotic energy and spiritual practices.Aleister Crowley and the idea of sexuality as a sacred force.Subspace, topspace, deep rope states and altered consciousness.The neuroscience of BDSM and its possible parallels with ritual experiences.Sigil magick, intention, belief and the ethics of magical practice.Research article: Consensual BDSM Facilitates Role-Specific Altered States of Consciousness.This episode is proudly sponsored by Stigma Health.Interested in Kinky Speed Dating? ⁠⁠⁠Register Here.⁠⁠⁠The Erotic Realm now has it’s own merchandise! If you love the show and want to support it check it out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠psychologyofdesire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, or apply to be a guest. I'd love to chat to you.Thanks for listening!Stay perverted,EmmaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the very communities built around consent, freedom and sexual exploration develop their own forms of toxicity, manipulation and abuse?In this episode I'm joined by Ayzad, a pioneering Italian BDSM educator, author and kink coach with more than thirty years of experience, to explore the dark side of BDSM, toxic kink culture, power dynamics and the psychology of consent.We explore:The dark side of BDSM and toxic kink culture.How to distinguish consensual BDSM from psychological abuse.Power dynamics, manipulation and the limits of consent.Why good intentions don't always prevent harmful behaviour.What has changed as BDSM has become more mainstream.The psychology behind unhealthy kink relationships and community dysfunction.Research article: Sexual Violence and Nonconsensual Experiences Among Alt-Sex Communities’ Members.This episode is proudly sponsored by Hedon House - A BDSM and kink dungeon/playspace, accommodation, bath house, private dance floor, resting place, and so much more. Book your stay at hedonhouse.com with code THEREALM for 15% off.Follow Hedon House on Instagram. Check out my full conversation with the creator of Hedon House- Gala Vanting on Episode 30: Building Sanctuaries for BDSM & Erotic Exploration.Interested in Kinky Speed Dating? ⁠⁠⁠Register Here.⁠⁠⁠The Erotic Realm now has it’s own merchandise! If you love the show and want to support it check it out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠psychologyofdesire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, or apply to be a guest. I'd love to chat to you.Thanks for listening!Stay perverted,EmmaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why does the human brain sometimes transform pain into sexual pleasure? And what can BDSM teach us about neuroscience, desire and consciousness?In this episode I'm joined by Hermes Solenzol, a pain neuroscientist, writer and lifelong kinkster, to explore the fascinating relationship between BDSM, pain, pleasure, sadism and the kinky brain.We explore:The neuroscience of BDSM and why pain can become erotic pleasure.How the brain processes pain, anticipation, arousal and desire.BDSM pain thresholds and how context can change pain perception.Subspace, altered states of consciousness and the neuroscience of kink.The psychology of consensual sadism and compassionate dominance.Becoming a BDSM switch and exploring both sides of power exchange.BDSM, spirituality, Buddhism and the subjective experience of pain.Free will, monogamy, polyamory and the psychology of human relationships.Sexuality and ageing: remaining erotic at 69 and beyond.Erotic fantasy, writing and discovering ourselves through imagination.Further reading: Beyond Pain: A Study on the Variance of Pain Thresholds Within BDSM Interactions in Dominants and Submissives.Supporters of The Erotic Realm:Firm Tech for sexual health tracking here.Splash blanket for intimacy-friendly comfort here.ProDx Health at home STI testing here.Innovative Sex Tech:Lioness here.Kiiroo here.Luxus here.Lovense here.Science-backed libido support:Flow supplement here.Desire supplement here.Interested in Kinky Speed Dating? ⁠⁠⁠Register Here.⁠⁠⁠The Erotic Realm now has it’s own merchandise! If you love the show and want to support it check it out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠psychologyofdesire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, or apply to be a guest. I'd love to chat to you.Thanks for listening!Stay perverted,EmmaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why does the human brain sometimes transform pain into sexual pleasure? And what can BDSM teach us about neuroscience, desire and consciousness?In this episode I'm joined by Hermes Solenzol, a pain neuroscientist, writer and lifelong kinkster, to explore the fascinating relationship between BDSM, pain, pleasure, sadism and the kinky brain.We explore:The neuroscience of BDSM and why pain can become erotic pleasure.How the brain processes pain, anticipation, arousal and desire.BDSM pain thresholds and how context can change pain perception.Subspace, altered states of consciousness and the neuroscience of kink.The psychology of consensual sadism and compassionate dominance.Becoming a BDSM switch and exploring both sides of power exchange.BDSM, spirituality, Buddhism and the subjective experience of pain.Free will, monogamy, polyamory and the psychology of human relationships.Sexuality and ageing: remaining erotic at 69 and beyond.Erotic fantasy, writing and discovering ourselves through imagination.Further reading: Beyond Pain: A Study on the Variance of Pain Thresholds Within BDSM Interactions in Dominants and Submissives.Supporters of The Erotic Realm:Firm Tech for sexual health tracking here.Splash blanket for intimacy-friendly comfort here.ProDx Health at home STI testing here.Innovative Sex Tech:Lioness here.Kiiroo here.Luxus here.Lovense here.Science-backed libido support:Flow supplement here.Desire supplement here.Interested in Kinky Speed Dating? ⁠⁠⁠Register Here.⁠⁠⁠The Erotic Realm now has it’s own merchandise! If you love the show and want to support it check it out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠psychologyofdesire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support the podcast, or apply to be a guest. I'd love to chat to you.Thanks for listening!Stay perverted,EmmaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.