Get Naked with Dr. Kate

Zachary Zane is a Brooklyn-based columnist, sex expert, and activist whose work focuses on sexuality, culture, and the LGBTQ community. He is the author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto, coming out on May 9th, featuring real accounts of intimate and wild sexual experiences curated by the author.He's also the co-author of Men's Health: Best. Sex. Ever. He has a weekly sex advice column at Men’s Health titled “Sexplain It,” where he answers a diverse range of questions pertaining to masculinity, ethical non-monogamy, sexual insecurities, and the LGBTQ community. He also has a monthly column at Queer Majority called “Zach and the City,” which explores romance and sexuality through Zane’s fabulous life. Set against the backdrop of New York City, Zane uses his personal experiences as a young and adventurous queer socialite to unpack the current state of cosmopolitan sex, love, and dating. He currently writes for The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and Prevention and has written for a wide array of publications. As a leading bisexual activist, Zane has spoken across the country at universities and panels alike, discussing issues pertaining to the bisexual community, sex-positivity, and ethical non-monogamy. He attended the "Bisexual White House Briefing" at the White House (under Obama), Dr. Kate and Zach discuss bisexuality, sexuality, polygamy, and the sexual shame that arises from so many societal “norms”. They talk about being the rejector and the rejected, “nice” ways to reject someone, and inherent issues that come up even when you do the right thing.Zach is a “sex expert and activist” and honestly portrays the dilemmas and way he’s tried to figure out life unashamedly. Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, MD is a psychiatrist who is triple Board Certified in Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as well as Addiction Medicine. He completed his Psychiatry Residency at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and his Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Maryland and Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.   Dr. Mirza has had the privilege to work in a variety of settings, from inpatient psychiatric units with medical capabilities to the classrooms of Baltimore City public schools. He has learned from some of the leaders and pioneers in the field of psychiatry, and his experiences have allowed him to develop a deep understanding of neuropsychiatric conditions in both children and adults.   His unique experience as a child and adolescent psychiatrist provides a valuable perspective when working with adult patients, as he understands how early experiences can affect an individual's mental health later in life. Additionally, his board certification in Addiction Medicine allows him to understand individuals struggling with addiction better and be non-judgmental in his approach.   Dr. Mirza is knowledgeable and experienced with the latest pharmacological interventions and therapy modalities. However, he believes that every individual is different and seeks care for a unique reason. His practice is based on the belief that each person deserves the same respect and treatment that he would demand for himself.    He is active on Tik Tok  @kicksshrink    Dr. Kate and Dr. Mirza discuss Psych meds such as Ketamine and the concept of treatment resistant depression and frustrations with the insurance system that can hold up or deny necessary treatment prescriptions.   They also talk about how mental health is handled by the media, specifically how the media handles suicide reporting. It is important for journalists to not say examples of suicide. Algorithms have shown that specifics are then researched and there can be ideas put in people’s heads that may not be there already.   Dr.Mirza sees a sharp increase in cases of depression, adhd, suicide attempts, addictions and discusses why.   Listen to this episode on this very current and important topic.Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Holly Richmond is a Somatic Psychotherapist, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Sex Therapist (CST). She sits on the Clinical Board of Directors for Dame Products and is the Associate Director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes.    This unique combination of credentials enables her to focus on clients’ cognitive processes as well as mind-body health. In addition to teaching numerous sexual health-related subjects, she works with women, men, couples, and gender-diverse individuals on relationship and sexuality issues.    Her treatment specialties include low libido, sexual dysfunction, compulsive sexuality (often called “addiction”), desire discrepancies in couples, recovery from sexual trauma, and alternative/non-traditional sexual expression.    Her book Reclaiming Pleasure: A Sex-Positive Guide for Moving Past Sexual Trauma and Living a Passionate Life is an innovative look at both somatic and psychological factors in survivors’ erotic recovery.    Dr. Holly is regularly quoted in publications and media outlets including The New York Times, CNN, Shape, NBC, Wired, Forbes, Oprah, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health.  Each interlinked facet of her work is grounded in a sex-positive perspective: all sex is good sex as long as it is consensual and pleasurable. This non-judgmental position allows her to assist clients in discovering their true needs, desires, and personal path to wellness.  www.drhollyrichmond.com www.next-sex.com   Dr. Kate and Dr. Richmond discuss finding pleasure after sexual trauma. They highlight triggers that can surface years after the trauma such as pregnancy, birth, and major events. They also talk about when and if to tell your partner about your sexual trauma history.Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Court Vox’s practice, The Body Vox, provides coaching for Sexual Wellness and Intimacy.He is a Certified Sex & Intimacy Coach Surrogate Partner Intern, and Sacred Intimate based in Los Angeles CA. He is a member of the World Association of Sex Coaches, Founder of The Bodyvox, and Co-Founder of SQUIRM. He is a guide for a vast spectrum of individuals and those in relationships seeking more in their erotic and intimate lives.  When it comes to human connection and sexuality, some are beginning their journey while others have been pursuing erotic education and experiences for years.Court works gently with first-timers, as well as offers uncommon experiences to some of the world's most well-known sex educators and change-makers across multiple fields and disciplines. Court has become known for offering private, highly customized, exclusive experiences and travels extensively hosting and teaching workshops for all bodies, genders, and orientations. Court is also part of an elite team of sex educators that create the celebrated program for women,  Back to the Body, which runs retreats all across the globe.Dr. Kate and Court talk about ways to awaken our sexual selves by breath, movement, and sound. And addressing concerns such as body shame & awareness, boundary-setting, communication, and feeling stuck in sexual roles and identities. They also address the importance of listening to your body to hear what it needs, as well as feeling empowered to say what you need to your partner.Court’s website is: www.TheBodyvox.comWebsite: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elena Bahar, LMFT, is the Clinical Director at Modern Intimacy in Los Angeles, CA. She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from National University (NU) with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Elena is very passionate about working with individuals and couples who are looking to heal and grow, build a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives, and reintegrate with their true selves. Elena has special training and skill in interviewing and diagnosing clients, then counseling them and treating any mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family. As a Marriage & Family Therapist, Elena performs counseling and emotional support to help families navigate relationship and behavioral issues, while seeking to secure a long-term solution to mental and emotional disorders and a wide variety of relationship issues. Significant conditions treated by Marriage & Family Therapists include marital conflict, dysfunctional behavior, communication issues, and mental illness.  Dr. Kate and Elena talk about Mismatched libidos in a relationship. When one partner has a high or low sexual desire and the other has the opposite, It can create frustration, feelings of rejection, and inadequacy.  They talk about the importance of communicating one’s needs and help to avoid making this a wedge in the relationship.Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Euphemia Russell, (they/them) is a full spectrum pleasure coach and bestselling author of Slow Pleasure.Slow Pleasure is a practical and philosophical exploration of pleasure, teaching you how to claim, prioritize and integrate pleasure into your daily life.They combine their training in somatic coaching, and sex education to create space for their clients. Creating space for them to pause, listen and remember their full spectrum of pleasure and choices in each moment, drip by drip and microdose by microdose. All in the name of aliveness and reestablishing a nourishing connection to self, others, and the land.Euphemia is trained and certified in somatic coaching, International Coaching Federation, sex-positive education, sexual violence counseling, and trauma-informed facilitation, and has a background in Community Cultural Development.Their work aims to support people to flourish and feel pleasure. Even despite our collective crisis of pace and disconnection. They’ve been featured in Elle, Cosmopolitan, Vice, Harper’s Bazaar, and other publications.Dr. Kate and Euphemia discuss why people have forgotten, through Covid and other factors, how to know what pleasure is anymore. They discuss remembering… how to and why it’s important for connection and joy. We can start slowly, and build our capacity for pleasure and fun again!Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raquel Savage is a Black, queer, therapist, educator, and sex worker. She facilitates trauma therapy through Zepp Wellness Center, a non-profit organization she founded in 2019 that centers on the mental health needs of Black queer folk and sex workers.She does the majority of her education online via Savage University (where she has an archive of educational videos, #ThoughtProvokingThirstTraps, live streams, and more) and through Kink Media Group, a production company she started in 2020, where she posts her #SexxxEd series, a hands-on, informative and real-life version of sex ed that fills the gaps for adults who missed out on early, ethical and affirming examples of sex education.Through Kink Media Group, Savage also executive produces different projects for QTPOC and sex workers, including CVNT Productions, a porn production company that shoots exclusively Black, queer & trans, fat, and disabled performers.Savage is also building out the Equitable Care Certification, a certification for therapists around clinical competency for working with sex workers, and frequently leads workshops and lectures about mental health and sex work for undergrad, graduate, Ph.D. students, and organizations. Savage is also working on a workbook for Black women around healing trauma. She’s been a sex worker for a decade, including 6 years of full-service work, and, currently creates adult content online.Dr. Kate and Raquel talk about the social implications of slut shaming and external and internal blaming. They talk about how to stop slut shaming yourself and the right to safety and well-being for every person.Social Media: IG: RaquelSavage Twitter: Raquel_Savage Website: raquelsavage.comWebsite: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefanie is an author and journalist covering the many ways Ambition touches women’s lives- from money to power to career.Stefanie’s work and advice has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, USA Today, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and more. A go-to expert, Stefanie has appeared on ABC World News, CBSN, Fox Business, Bloomberg, The Dr Oz Show, The Doctors and local television stations across the country.She is also the host of Real Simple Magazine’s podcast, Money Confidential. And look for ‘Too Ambitious’ a new series from Stefanie about work, money, and the price women pay for power.Dr. Kate and Stefanie talk about why there is a difference for women in integrating ambition with life and all the things around that including resistance to ambitious, powerful women...Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kayla Tricaso (she/her) is the Office Manager and Intake Specialist at Modern Intimacy. Kayla earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Columbia College Chicago. Whether scheduling appointments, helping with billing questions, or through the consultation process, Kayla works diligently to ensure current, and prospective clients feel seen, safe, and supported throughout their journey with Modern Intimacy.What is a "pick me" girl? It is a (shaming and misogynistic) term used to describe women who are entrenched in their own internalized misogyny, and aim to please men, at the expense of other women. Dr. Kate and Kayla discuss women being conditioned to maintain gender roles and make choices to be more liked by men.  They want to be “picked” by men. Some of this is very subconscious behavior. This podcast sheds light on this and may have women see patterns they have had that they may be ready to leave behind. Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jamie Goldenberg works at the University of South Florida and has been involved in the study of Terror Management Theory and Objectification of oneself and others, the body and sex, objectification of women. Roxanne Felig has been a part of the same research study. Dr. Goldenberg's research focuses on psychological experiences associated with being a woman. To this end, she has conducted extensive research examining the causes and consequences of objectification of women. One approach to these questions is to apply terror management theory, a theory that takes an existential perspective on human motivation. Her research suggests that people are motivated to deny mortality and any connection to animality (or creatureliness) – objectification of woman accomplishes this by turning women into literal (and immortal) objects. The focus on women’s appearance and consequent denial of personhood and internal attributes affects perceptions of women and can hinder their success, having implications for political progress for instance, and also affects women’s self-perceptions, undermining self-concept clarity and congruences between the self and bodily experiences (e.g., explaining why women sometimes dress as if they are imperious to the cold). They have also applied the terror management perspective to health outcomes, developing the terror management health model; this line of research led to 10 years of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health. Recently, she and her graduate students have been interested in the consequences of social media on women’s health and well-being.Dr. Kate discusses with her guests  Objectification : the Disconnect from one’s body, the pyscho dynamic denial of the body’s natural abilities including feeling pain or pleasure. And so much more on the findings of this study and the phenomenon of Objectification, fear of death, and connection of it all.Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brooke Brownlee, APCC is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor at Modern Intimacy under the supervision of Dr. Kate Balestrieri. Brooke is passionate about helping clients heal from trauma, feel more empowered sexually, and repair relationships. Brooke is continuing her education and working towards becoming a Certified Sex Therapist. “Where such men love, they have no desire, and where they desire, they cannot love.” This quote directly from Sigmund Freud describes a phenomenon he called the Madonna Whore Complex.  The Madonna Whore Complex is deeply rooted in misogynic beliefs and is damaging to women on both an individual and societal level. The Madonna Whore Complex (MWC) is a psychological complex often perpetuated by heterosexual, cisgender males which places women into two categories the “Madonna, “ a woman who is pure, virtuous, and nurturing, or a “Whore,” a woman who is deemed as overly sexual, manipulating, and promiscuous. The dichotomy of MWC creates a rigidity that limits women’s sexual expression, agency, and freedom by defining their sexuality into one of two categories. Dr. Kate and Brooke discuss the origin and effects of the Madonna Whore Complex in this podcast: the effects on women and men. Brooke wrote a blog on the Madonna Whore Complex that can be found on the Modern Intimacy website. https://www.modernintimacy.com/the-psychology-of-the-madonna-whore-complex/ Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Joe Kort is a psychotherapist, clinical director, and founder of The Center for Relationship Health in Royal Oak, Michigan, a board-certified sexologist, an author of 4 books, a lecturer and facilitator of therapeutic workshops. Dr. Kort specializes in marital problems and conflicts; mixed-orientation marriages; male sexuality and sexual health concerns; “compulsive sexual behavior,” out-of-control sexual behaviors; sexual identity issues; childhood sexual abuse; LGBTQIA Affirmative Therapy; Male Sexual Fluidity and Imago Relationship Therapy. Dr. Kort can be found on Instagram, TIkTok, Twitter,  Facebook, and LinkedIn @drjoekort, and his website iswww.JoeKort.com Dr. Kate and Dr. Kort discuss Straight Men having Sex with Men: About this choice, the reasons why, and effects of. They discuss: 1.  Talk about some of the reasons a straight man would engage in sex with another man? 2.  What would you tell a straight man who has had these thoughts or has had sex with another man? 3.  What would you tell people who say this action defines a person’s sexuality? 4.  How might this impact other people in his life?  5.  If the man is in a relationship with a woman, what might the repair process look like? And so much more on this topic. Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Steven Kniffley jr. is a clinical psychologist, professor, author, speaker and advocate for marginalized populations. His work empowers others through therapy, education, and advocacy with issues of Racial trauma and its negative effects, how to become aware of racial and intergenerational trauma and not compartmentalize it.Dr. Kniffley is the Chief Diversity Officer for Spalding University and an Associate Professor at the Spalding University’s School of Professional Psychology. He is also the coordinator for the Collective Care Center which is one of the few racial trauma clinics in the country. He received his doctorate and master’s degree in clinical psychology from Spalding University where I specialized in child, adolescent, and family therapy. He completed his post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kniffley’s area of expertise is research and clinical work with Black males. Specifically, his work focuses on understanding and developing culturally appropriate interventions for Black male psychopathology as well as barriers to academic success for this population.Additionally, he conducts research and clinical work on the challenges related to the experience of racial trauma. Specifically, he has developed a treatment protocol for the experience of racial trauma and trains clinicians in the implementation of the protocol. As an educational consultant, he has worked internationally with students and school administrators in South Africa and India. He also serves as an organizational diversity consultant and works with law enforcement departments on addressing conflicts between communities of color and police officers. Some of his books and works in progress include: “Knowledge of Self: Understanding the Mind of the Black male,” “Out of KOS (Knowledge of Self): Black male psychopathology and its treatment, ” and “Black males and the Criminal Justice System.” Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Keeley Rankin, featured in publications like Huffington Post and O Magazine. She calls herself a pleasure advocate and a sexy-preneur. Keeley is a sex and relationship coach based in San Francisco, California. She works with individuals and couples who want to embrace their innate desires, build sexual confidence, and fully realize their sexual potential.Dr. Kate and Keeley define and discuss Sex Clubs, and answer multiple questions such as What are the different frameworks of consent practiced at sex clubs. Conversations that may behoove them to have beforehand. Are they for couples and singles?  And of course, the pros and cons of embarking on this type of outing, along with the psychological and emotional states of each partner about this issue.  You can find Keeley at: www.keeleyrankin.com and IG https://www.instagram.com/keeleyrankinsexcoach/ Website: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raquel Savage is a Black, queer, therapist, educator, and sex worker. She facilitates trauma therapy through Zepp Wellness Center, a non-profit organization she founded in 2019 that centers on the mental health needs of Black queer folk and sex workers. She does the majority of her education online via Savage University (where she has an archive of educational videos, #ThoughtProvokingThirstTraps, live streams, and more) and through Kink Media Group, a production company she started in 2020, where she posts her #SexxxEd series, a hands-on, informative and real-life version of sex ed that fills the gaps for adults who missed out on early, ethical and affirming examples of sex education. Through Kink Media Group, Savage also executive produces different projects for QTPOC and sex workers, including CVNT Productions, a porn production company that shoots exclusively Black, queer & trans, fat, and disabled performers.Savage is also building out the Equitable Care Certification, a certification for therapists around clinical competency for working with sex workers, and frequently leads workshops and lectures about mental health and sex work for undergrad, graduate, Ph.D. students, and organizations. Savage is also working on a workbook for Black women around healing trauma. She’s been a sex worker for a decade, including 6 years of full-service work, and, currently creates adult content online. Dr. Kate and Raquel talk about the social implications of slut shaming and external and internal blaming. They talk about how to stop slut shaming yourself and the right to safety and well-being for every person.Social Media: IG: RaquelSavage Twitter: Raquel_Savage Website: raquelsavage.comWebsite: www.modernintimacy.com  Dr. Kate Balestrieri  Modern Intimacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices