The Sexology Lab

What does it take to become a sex coach in a culture where talking about sex is still considered taboo?In this episode of The Sexology Lab, Michelle sits down with Irene Cheung, a Sexual Health Alliance Certified Sex Coach based in Hong Kong and creator of Playtime Talk, to explore the cultural barriers, misconceptions, and opportunities shaping sexual-health education in Asia.Irene shares how her own struggles with partnered orgasms inspired her to pursue sex coaching and why she left a career in business and brand management to help others explore intimacy and pleasure. After hearing clients at her former beauty salon open up about their sexual concerns, she realized just how few opportunities people in Hong Kong had to discuss sexuality without judgment.Together, Michelle and Irene explore the influence of traditional Chinese family values, gender expectations, and pornography on sexual attitudes. They discuss why women often struggle to advocate for their pleasure, why men feel pressured to perform, and how shame prevents couples from having honest conversations about sex.Irene also takes us behind the scenes of building a sex coaching business in Hong Kong, from social media censorship and podcasting to certification, financial sustainability, and creating a professional community. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Sexual shame and gender expectations are creating barriers to pleasure.Pornography is not a substitute for sex education.Building a sex coaching career requires education, community, and a sustainable business model.SHOW SUMMARY:03:02 – Hong Kong Sexual Taboos & Demand05:00 – Cultural Stigma & Media Portrayal07:36 – Pornography & Male Performance Misconceptions08:47 – Client Shame & Safe Coaching Spaces09:47 – Normalizing Erectile Dysfunction & Pressure11:46 – Building a Niche Coaching Practice13:29 – Social Media & YouTube Marketing13:42 – Female Pleasure & Autonomy15:08 – Body Shame & Slut-Shaming Recovery17:03 – Female Orgasm Myths & Realities18:41 – Consent, Communication, & Faking Orgasms21:39 – Sensual Exploration & Body Appreciation23:31 – Passion & Purpose in Sexual Wellness24:10 – Future of Sex Education in Hong Kong26:23 – Online Harassment & Parental SupportRESOURCES MENTIONED THIS EPISODE:Playtime Talk — Irene's podcast and video platform exploring sexual-health education, intimacy, taboos, and common misconceptions in Hong Kong.Sexual Health Alliance — Professional sexual-health education and certification programs.SHA Sex Coach/Sexologist Certification — The professional certification pathway Irene discusses completing.ABOUT SEXUAL HEALTH ALLIANCE:This episode of The Sexology Lab is sponsored by Sexual Health Alliance (SHA), a global leader in professional sexual-health education since 2015.SHA offers certification programs in sex therapy, sex coaching, sexuality counseling, sex education, and sexology. Through education from leading experts, immersive learning experiences, and an international professional community, SHA helps people develop the knowledge and connections needed to build meaningful careers in sexual health.Irene Cheung completed SHA's Sex Coach/Sexologist Certification and shares how the program's research-based curriculum, expert educators, and professional community helped prepare her to establish her practice in Hong Kong.She also discusses the impact of attending SHA's Annual Sexological Conference in Denver, where she connected with leading researchers, educators, and other sexual-health professionals.Explore Sexual Health Alliance's certification programs and learn more about becoming a sexual-health professional.Thanks for tuning in to The Sexology Lab. See you next week! SexologyLab.com⁠.The content shared by the Sexology Lab and its speakers is for educational, informational, and professional development purposes only. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding personal health or clinical situations.

What can data and engineering teach us about orgasms, arousal, and women's sexual health? In this conversation, the host sits down with Anna Lee, co-founder and CEO of Lioness, to discuss how her transition from an Amazon mechanical engineer to a sex tech innovator led to building one of the world's largest physiological datasets on female sexual function.What started as an effort to build a better vibrator evolved into a mission to bridge the immense research gap in female pleasure and empower individuals through body literacy. Anna shares insights on what pelvic floor contractions reveal about orgasms, the surprising trends hidden within hundreds of thousands of sessions, and how factors like edging, THC, caffeine, and alcohol impact pleasure. The discussion also covers the systemic challenges of building a business in the tabood sex tech industry, navigating investor biases, overcoming cultural stigma, and the future role of AI in sexual wellness.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Knowledge is pleasure.Orgasm data fills a massive scientific gapOvercoming industry taboo requires direct communication.SHOW SUMMARY:00:00 – The "Magic Pill" for Better Orgasms01:36 – Meet Anna Lee, CEO of Lioness02:02 – From Amazon Mechanical Engineer to Sex Tech Pioneer05:36 – What is Lioness?06:12 – The Science of Measuring Orgasms07:01 – Closing the Research Gap on Female Pleasure08:43 – Surprising Trends from 500,000+ Orgasm Sessions11:48 – What Factors Impact Orgasm Quality?14:08 – Could Orgasms Be a "Canary in the Coal Mine" for Health?17:15 – Empowering Relationships Through Body Literacy20:22 – The Role of AI in the Future of Sex Tech22:37 – The Challenges of Building a Sex Tech Business24:48 – Pitching Orgasm Data to Investors26:50 – Becoming a Public Face for Asian-American Sexual Wellness28:16 – Lightning Round: Desk Trinkets, Mechanical Keyboards, and Industry FavoritesRESOURCES MENTIONED THIS EPISODE:Anna Lee — Mechanical engineer, co-founder, and CEO of Lioness. https://www.instagram.com/annaisaverage/?hl=enLioness — The biofeedback vibrator tracking arousal and orgasm data. https://lioness.io/SEXUAL HEALTH ALLIANCE:Sexual Health Alliance is the sponsor of The Sexology Lab and a global leader in education for sex therapy, coaching, counseling, sex education, and sexology.Explore the Community: https://sexualhealthalliance.com/Certifications: ⁠https://sexualhealthalliance.com/get-certified-allcertificationsSUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Sexology Lab on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.And if something in this episode challenged what you thought you knew about menopause, pleasure, or sexuality and aging, share it with someone who needs to hear it🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Sexology Lab. See you next week!The content shared by SHA and its speakers is for educational, informational, and professional development purposes only. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding personal health or clinical situations.

What can dominatrixes teach us about confidence, negotiation, boundaries, and getting what we want in life? More than you might think. In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Lindsay Goldwert, journalist, author, and podcast host, to explore the surprising lessons she learned while researching her book Bow Down: Lessons from Dominatrixes on How to Get Everything You Want.What began as an unconventional idea for a book about money and professional success became a much bigger exploration of power, self-advocacy, consent, communication, and personal transformation. Lindsay shares how meeting professional dominatrixes challenged her assumptions about authority and helped her recognize the importance of knowing what you want, asking for it, and refusing to make yourself smaller. The conversation also examines the financial discrimination and censorship experienced by sex workers, and why their experiences deserve greater attention.Lindsay and Michelle also explore changing sexuality in midlife, perimenopause, relationship expectations, and the pressure to maintain a particular kind of sex life. From redefining pleasure to replacing obligatory sex with meaningful intimacy, this conversation challenges the idea that confidence, desire, and personal reinvention belong only to the young.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Power begins with knowing what you want and communicating it.Sexuality and identity can evolve throughout adulthood. Intimacy doesn't have to mean intercourse.SHOW SUMMARY:00:00 – Lindsay Goldwert & Self-Advocacy in Midlife01:48 – Inspiration Behind Writing About Sex, Kink & Relationships02:43 – Writing Bow Down: Financial Literacy meets BDSM Philosophy05:03 – Sex Work, Financial Censorship & Early Warnings06:38 – Key Takeaway: Creating Your Personal "Ten Commandments"08:53 – The Midlife Plot Twist: Rethinking Perimenopause & Aging12:24 – Evolutionary Stress & Modern Sex Lives14:38 – Sex Playlists & Reclaiming Your Essential Self15:15 – Lightning Round: Writing Advice & Inspiration18:55 – Sensuality in Daily Life & Desk Essentials20:19 – Future Guest Recommendations for Sexology Lab21:08 – Standout Experience with Sexual Health Alliance (SHA)RESOURCES MENTIONED THIS EPISODE:Lindsay Goldwert — Journalist, author, and podcast host. https://www.lindsaygoldwert.com/ Bow Down: Lessons from Dominatrixes on How to Get Everything You Want — Lindsay's book exploring confidence, power, consent, and negotiation. SEXUAL HEALTH ALLIANCE:Sexual Health Alliance is the sponsor of The Sexology Lab and a global leader in education for sex therapy, coaching, counseling, sex education, and sexology.Explore the Community: ⁠⁠https://sexualhealthalliance.com/⁠⁠Certifications: ⁠https://sexualhealthalliance.com/get-certified-allcertifications⁠⁠Join Us at AMPLIFY this October 2026!As millions turn to digital media, social platforms, and modern culture for guidance on sex, relationships, and identity, clinicians and educators must shape conversations that are inclusive, evidence-based, and representative.Secure your conference pass: ⁠⁠https://www.sexologylab.com/amplify⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Sexology Lab on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.And if something in this episode challenged what you thought you knew about menopause, pleasure, or sexuality and aging, share it with someone who needs to hear it.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Sexology Lab. See you next week! ⁠https://www.sexologylab.com/⁠The content shared by SHA and its speakers is for educational, informational, and professional development purposes only. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding personal health or clinical situations.

What if the traits that make a man incredibly successful at work are the same ones making intimacy harder?Coral Osborne joins The Sexology Lab to explore what she has learned about high-achieving men through her experiences as a former escort, sexologist, coach, and someone who has spent years studying the intersection of sexuality, psychology, relationships, and masculinity. Coral says she repeatedly encountered successful men who could lead companies, negotiate deals, and maintain control professionally—but struggled when relationships demanded vulnerability, uncertainty, emotional honesty, and the possibility of rejection.This conversation goes far beyond the bedroom. Coral and Michelle explore "nice guy syndrome," shame-based achievement, the manosphere and red pill spaces, modern masculinity, male loneliness, vulnerability, infidelity, sexual shame, pattern recognition, and why sexuality can reveal much more about us than what we like sexually. Coral also shares how being doxxed as a sex worker ultimately led her to sexology, the coaching methodology she developed from her own experience, what she has learned from working with men, and why Sexual Health Alliance became one of the first places she felt fully accepted.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Professional success and relational success require different skills.Vulnerability isn't forced disclosure or "trauma dumping."Sexual concerns can be an entry point into something much deeper.SHOW SUMMARY:00:00 - Masculine Approval Dynamics & Introduction of Coral Osborne01:31 - Origin Story: Sex Work, Doxing, & Sexology Discovery02:37 - Men's Struggle with Intimacy & Relationship Disconnect05:12 - Dark Motivation & Challenges Facing High-Performing Men08:04 - Nice Guy Syndrome & Blind Spots in Men's Intimacy09:11 - Defining Healthy Masculinity11:13 - Masculinity & Vulnerability Misconceptions12:08 - Coaching Model & Shame Release Methodology13:59 - Pattern Recognition, Desires, & Fear Excavation16:08 - Fieldwork, Micro-Truths, & Support Ecosystems20:03 - The Next Man Up Podcast Origin & Dynamic22:25 - Impact of Sexology on Relationship Understanding24:23 - Psychological Bodywork & SHA Conference Presentations27:37 - Lightning Round: Success, Books, & Guest RecommendationsRESOURCES MENTIONED THIS EPISODE:Coral Osborne: https://coralosborne.com/ The Next Man Up podcast: https://coralosborne.com/pod Dr. David Ley: https://www.sexologylab.com/episodes/forensic-sexuality-bias-sex-laws-david-ley Dr. Chris Donaghue: https://www.sexologylab.com/episodes/sexual-bypassing-myth-of-normal-dr-chris-donaghue SEXUAL HEALTH ALLIANCE:Sexual Health Alliance is the sponsor of The Sexology Lab and a global leader in education for sex therapy, coaching, counseling, sex education, and sexology.Explore the Community: ⁠⁠https://sexualhealthalliance.com/⁠⁠Certifications: ⁠https://sexualhealthalliance.com/get-certified-allcertifications⁠⁠Join Us at AMPLIFY this October 2026!As millions turn to digital media, social platforms, and modern culture for guidance on sex, relationships, and identity, clinicians and educators must shape conversations that are inclusive, evidence-based, and representative.Secure your conference pass: ⁠⁠https://www.sexologylab.com/amplify⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Sexology Lab on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.And if something in this episode challenged what you thought you knew about menopause, pleasure, or sexuality and aging, share it with someone who needs to hear it.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Sexology Lab. See you next week! ⁠https://www.sexologylab.com/⁠ The content shared by SHA and its speakers is for educational, informational, and professional development purposes only. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding personal health or clinical situations.

What happens when researchers ask women going through menopause to self-pleasure three to four times a week—for months?Dr. Justin Lehmiller joins The Sexology Lab to unpack his latest research on menopause, masturbation, orgasm, and sexual health. His team first surveyed pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal women, then designed a longitudinal study that included an abstinence period followed by regular self-pleasure. The results challenge some of our biggest assumptions about sexuality and aging.Justin explains why menopause doesn't automatically mean worse pleasure, which symptoms appeared to improve during the study, and why orgasm and better sleep may be part of the story. We also get into vibrator myths, erotic flexibility, why doctors need to become more comfortable discussing pleasure, and why expanding our definition of intimacy may become increasingly important as we age.Later, Justin shares what he's researching next, the sexual-health books he recommends, what's actually on a sex researcher's desk, and why he loves leading Sexual Health Alliance's international study abroad programs.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Menopause does not mean the end of pleasure. Regular self-pleasure was associated with improvements in menopause symptoms.Sexual health needs to be part of healthcare.SHOW SUMMARY:00:00 - Dr. Justin Lehmiller Introduction01:41 - Origin of the Menopause & Masturbation Study04:07 - Why Sexual Pleasure in Aging is Taboo04:57 - Study 1: Masturbation vs. Orgasm Frequency in Post-Menopausal Women06:53 - Why Orgasms Can Improve After Menopause08:42 - Generational Differences & Medical Education Gaps11:25 - Study 2: Can Masturbation Relieve Menopause Symptoms?14:08 - The Neurological & Physical Power of Orgasm15:50 - Customizing Pleasure & Sex Toy Learning Curves19:23 - Debunking Anti-Masturbation Sentiment & Clitoral Desensitization23:20 - Integrating Self-Pleasure into Medical Menopause Care 28:11 - Perimenopause Advice & Myth-Busting Hormone Replacement Therapy31:22 - Expanding the Definition of Sex with Age34:57 - Rapid Fire / Lightning Round40:26 - SHA Study Abroad & Global Sexology CommunitiesRESOURCES MENTIONED THIS EPISODE:Dr. Justin Lehmiller, Sex and Psychology Podcast: https://www.sexandpsychology.com/ Dr. Cynthia Graham: https://genderstudies.indiana.edu/about/faculty/graham-cynthia.html Kinsey Institute: https://kinseyinstitute.org/index.html SEXUAL HEALTH ALLIANCE:Sexual Health Alliance is the sponsor of The Sexology Lab and a global leader in education for sex therapy, coaching, counseling, sex education, and sexology.Dr. Justin Lehmiller also directs SHA's international Study Abroad programs, which combine sexual-health education with immersive experiences exploring sexuality, culture, history, and research around the world.Explore the Community: ⁠https://sexualhealthalliance.com/⁠Certifications: https://sexualhealthalliance.com/get-certified-allcertifications⁠Join Us at AMPLIFY this October 2026!As millions turn to digital media, social platforms, and modern culture for guidance on sex, relationships, and identity, clinicians and educators must shape conversations that are inclusive, evidence-based, and representative.Secure your conference pass: ⁠https://www.sexologylab.com/amplify⁠SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to The Sexology Lab on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.And if something in this episode challenged what you thought you knew about menopause, pleasure, or sexuality and aging, share it with someone who needs to hear it.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to The Sexology Lab. See you next week! https://www.sexologylab.com/ The content shared by SHA and its speakers is for educational, informational, and professional development purposes only. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding personal health or clinical situations.