Embodied

Embodied

WUNC

Sex and relationships are intimate — and sometimes intimidating to talk about. In this weekly podcast from North Carolina Public Radio WUNC, host Anita Rao guides us on an exploration of our brains and our bodies that touches down in taboo territory. Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter @embodiedwunc. You can find Anita on Twitter @anisrao.

‘I’ve Got The Same Thing You Do’: Ehlers-Danlos Across Generations

‘I’ve Got The Same Thing You Do’: Ehlers-Danlos Across Generations

Soph Myers-Kelley and his mom, René Myers, have always been close. As of five years ago, they also share a diagnosis: the connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Soph and René were diagnosed one year apart – Soph was 25; René was 60. EDS explained symptoms they’d both been experiencing for decades, including waking up with jaw or shoulder dislocations and having chronic pain.The two talk with Anita about how their diagnoses began a new chapter of their lives, including the decision to

Feb 20, • 49:06

Why Is Good Food So Sexy?

Why Is Good Food So Sexy?

Food and sex have been deeply intertwined in our cultural imagination for millennia. Anita talks with a cultural historian who has combed through centuries of sex and food chronicles to understand what makes that connection so strong. Plus, Puerto Rican chef Manolo López shares a Valentine’s recipe and his favorite sexy food.Meet the guests:- Rachel Hope Cleves is a historian, a professor at the University of Victoria and the author of “Lustful Appetites: An Intimate History of Good Food and Wi

Feb 13, • 49:21

One Woman's Guide To Divorcing America

One Woman's Guide To Divorcing America

In the hours and days following President Donald Trump’s re-election, online searches about leaving the U.S. surged. Historically, most folks who have considered a move haven’t taken action, but Tina Strawn is an exception. Anita talks to her about why, as a queer Black woman, she left America in 2020 in search of freedom. Tina answers listener's questions about expat life and shares why she encourages everyone to ask themselves: what would it feel like to be free?Meet the guest:- Tina Strawn, t

Feb 6, • 48:48

(Self) Helped: Inside The Industry That Wants To Change Your Life

(Self) Helped: Inside The Industry That Wants To Change Your Life

Anita is committed to self-improvement but skeptical of self-help. She brings her qualms and questions to the experts: Kristen Meinzer, a podcaster who has lived by the rules of more than 50 self-help books, and Beth Blum, a scholar who's traced the genre back to its roots. Plus Sondra Rose Marie, a former self-help fan, shares how the industry has failed her as a woman of color.Meet the guests:- Kristen Meinzer, pop culture commentator and podcast host, shares what she learned from following th

Jan 30, • 35:03

Tingled: Your Brain And Heart On ASMR

Tingled: Your Brain And Heart On ASMR

Anita finds a lot of ASMR videos to be deeply relaxing, but she doesn't get the well-hyped/well-documented 'brain tingles.' Why? She puts the question to a physiologist who's been exploring the science of ASMR for the past decade. Plus, she meets an ASMR artist who's entranced hundreds of thousands of people with her medical role play videos and a woman who turned to the world of Boyfriend ASMR to heal her broken heart.Meet the guests:- Craig Harris Richard, ASMR researcher and professor of biop

Jan 23, • 36:25

Offline Lives of Online Sex Workers

Offline Lives of Online Sex Workers

How does selling sexy online affect your offline relationship with sex and your body? Anita poses that question to two creators: Paris Bush, who in four years on Only Fans has become one of the site’s top earners, and Maxim Lupin, who says that online sex work is the profession that best supports his mental and physical health. Meet the guests:- Paris Bush creates content that runs the gamut from nude and spicy to spoofy and comical- Maxim Lupin creates content that focuses on kink and sex edRea

Jan 16, • 48:44

Boomers On Psychedelics

Boomers On Psychedelics

It's been half a century since the psychedelic era, but some baby boomers are returning to the drugs of their youth — not for rock and roll, but to confront aging. Writer Abbie Rosner re-experienced mushrooms in her 60s, and she tells Anita about her subsequent investigation into why other boomers are taking psychedelics to grapple with aging. Plus, a medical professional shares what it’s like to facilitate these experiences for her peers.Meet the guests:- Abbie Rosner is a writer who shares her

Jan 9, • 49:21

The Art of Giving Good Advice

The Art of Giving Good Advice

There are few things that are certain about 2025, but one of them is that at some point, you’ll be called upon for advice. Anita talks to Meghan Keane, the founder of NPR's Life Kit and author of “Party of One,” about how to give good advice. Meghan shares her personal journey to striking the balance between overthinking, venting and actually getting to the root of a problem. Plus, she sits in the hot seat to answer some big questions from our listeners.Meet the guest:- Meghan Keane is

Jan 2, • 49:21

Traveled: The Lives Of Third Culture Kids

Traveled: The Lives Of Third Culture Kids

As a child of two immigrants, Anita has a tumultuous relationship with the question: "Where are you from?" So, too, do many third culture kids — people who spend a significant number of their developmental years living in places that are not their parents' homelands. She talks with two third culture kids — one 35 and one 12 — and their moms about growing up between cultures and how they’ve built identity and relationships along the way.Meet the Guests:- Rayla Heide, a senior narrative designer a

Dec 26, 2024 • 31:03

BONUS: Food, Friends and Cultural Roots

BONUS: Food, Friends and Cultural Roots

Anita hands over the mic to Embodied’s intern, Nina Scott. After listening to our episode about food and cultural identity from a couple of weeks ago, Nina started talking to her friends about how their family recipes help them feel connected to their heritage. She shares some of those conversations and reflections. Meet the guests:- Sari Ghirmay-Morgan, Nina’s friend who is of Ethiopian and Eritrean heritage- Rebecca Wu, Nina’s friend who is of Chinese and Taiwanese heritage- Britney Watson, Ni

Dec 23, 2024 • 19:26

Mourned: Life After Losing A Parent

Mourned: Life After Losing A Parent

Anita has heard one resounding truth from her friends who lost a parent in early adulthood: That death was the biggest thing that has ever happened to them. She meets two people who've built specific communities around their grief on the internet and a writer who experienced losing his dad twice. Meet the guests:- Liz Zorn, photographer and model, talks about the sudden loss of her father and how it's changed her views on the afterlife - Naomi Edmondson, grief educator and space holder, shares h

Dec 19, 2024 • 31:55

Why Are We Afraid Of Baldness?

Why Are We Afraid Of Baldness?

Like the majority of American men over 35, Anita's partner is balding...and they're both a little distressed about it. But why? She brings her questions to two men who've interrogated baldness from all angles: race, sexuality, science, media, culture and lived experience. They'll explore where this fear comes from and how many other men feel this way.Meet the guests:- E. Patrick Johnson is dean of the School of Communication and Annenberg University Professor at Northwestern University and the a

Dec 12, 2024 • 49:21

Is Food The Key To Cultural Belonging?

Is Food The Key To Cultural Belonging?

Anita's been reckoning with what it means to stay connected to cultural identity as a mixed-race adult. And in pursuit of what things to prioritize, she's turning her focus to food. She talks to mixed-race foodie and writer Raj Tawney, whose hours in the kitchen with his mom and grandma have grounded his search for belonging. Then, she picks up the phone and calls the primary chef in the Rao family: her mom, Sheila.Meet the guests:- Raj Tawney is a writer, foodie and the author of “Colo

Dec 5, 2024 • 49:20

Unpartnered: Building A Full, Single Life

Unpartnered: Building A Full, Single Life

A growing number of American adults have the same feeling about romantic partnerships: They don’t want one. Anita meets three people who have chosen singlehood: a scholar who examines the double standard of relationship status, a single mother of two by choice and a man shedding toxic masculinity to build a deliberately single life.Meet the guests:- Dr. Kris Marsh, associate professor at the University of Maryland and author of “The Love Jones Cohort: Single and Living Alone in the Blac

Nov 28, 2024 • 33:40

Assisted Death And Dying in America

Assisted Death And Dying in America

The option to end one's own life through prescribed, lethal medication is legal in 10 states and in Washington D.C. Guest host Anisa Khalifa talks to two researchers about what the assisted death debate illuminates about dying in the United States. Meet the guests:- Mara Buchbinder, a medical anthropologist and the author of "Scripting Death: Stories of Assisted Dying in America," shares her research into how patients, doctors and caregivers interpreted assisted death law in Vermont- Harold Bras

Nov 21, 2024 • 47:52

Signed: How ASL Became A Language Of Resistance (Revisited)

Signed: How ASL Became A Language Of Resistance (Revisited)

American Sign Language is the third-most used language in the U.S. ASL has its own culture and art forms, and for many Deaf folks, ASL is about much more than just communication. Anita talks to Deaf author Sara Nović and Deaf ASL Slam poet Douglas Ridloff about how ASL gave them tools for self-understanding and artistic expression. Then she learns from scholars Carolyn McCaskill and Joseph Hill about Black American Sign Language (BASL), an ASL dialect that emerged because of school segregation.M

Nov 14, 2024 • 33:02

Desiring Disability in Fashion

Desiring Disability in Fashion

Mainstream adaptive fashion lines are relatively new, but creating clothes to fit and flatter a range of bodies has long been part of disability culture. Anita meets three disabled fashionistas who design with disabled bodies as a starting point, not an afterthought.Meet the guests:- Dr. Ben Barry is the Dean of Fashion at Parsons School of Design who's pushing for further inclusion in fashion – particularly when it comes to the ways clothing is designed, marketed and modeled for folks with disa

Nov 7, 2024 • 49:25

What Kids' Books Teach Us About Our Bodies

What Kids' Books Teach Us About Our Bodies

A new crop of children’s book authors are trying to help kids develop curiosity about their physical bodies. But how exactly do they turn fraught body politics into compelling children's stories? Anita gets answers when she meets Tyler Feder and Shelly Anand, the creators behind the books "Bodies Are Cool" and "Laxmi's Mooch."Meet the guests:- Tyler Feder, the author and illustrator behind the book “Bodies are Cool"- Shelly Anand, the author of “Laxmi’s Mooch"Read the transcript

Oct 31, 2024 • 49:45

Intersex Reframes On Sex & Gender

Intersex Reframes On Sex & Gender

While early biology lessons often teach us about sex as a binary, our bodies tell a different story. An intersex physician tells Anita about the decades-long attempt to erase intersex folks from existence, and a parent and two young adults share their advice on how to best support adolescents who defy the sex and gender binary.Meet the guests:- Suegee Tamar-Mattis, a physican who is also an intersex person, describes the decades-long attempt to erase intersex folks from existence, what support i

Oct 24, 2024 • 49:54

Masked: Coming Out As Autistic In Adulthood (Revisited)

Masked: Coming Out As Autistic In Adulthood (Revisited)

Many autistic people assigned female at birth remain undiagnosed at 18, so what's it like to get an autism diagnosis in your adulthood? Anita meets two women whose paths to a diagnosis started on the internet. Plus a non-binary photographer shares how their late autism diagnosis has informed their marriage and sense of self.Meet the guests:- Irene Chon, neurodivergent creator and self-empowerment coach, talks about the challenge of getting assessed for autism as an adult and why working in custo

Oct 17, 2024 • 34:05

Bisexuality Beyond The Binary

Bisexuality Beyond The Binary

Our understanding of the term bisexuality has been in a state of constant evolution. In a moment when bisexual adults make up the largest share of the LGBTQ+ population, how is bisexuality being re-imagined, reclaimed — and sometimes relinquished? Anita meets two people who have grappled with the term’s history, meaning and power for building community.Meet the guests:- J.R. Yussuf is the author of “Dear Bi Men: A Black Man's Perspective on Power, Consent, Breaking Down Binaries, and Combating E

Oct 10, 2024 • 50:05

Popped: Adult Acne In The 'Perfect Skin' Era (Revisited)

Popped: Adult Acne In The 'Perfect Skin' Era (Revisited)

Dealing with pimples and blackheads in middle school is practically a right of passage. But when acne is a defining feature of your adulthood... it’s a whole different experience. Anita meets two acne content creators and a photographer who talk about the emotional toll of severe acne, the myth of normal skin, and the responsibility of being today’s skincare influencers.Meet the Guests:- Patsy Chem, an acne-positive skinfluencer, shares the experience of getting severe acne in her 20s and how th

Oct 3, 2024 • 33:27

Reimagining The Wedding Ceremony

Reimagining The Wedding Ceremony

The marriage rate in this country has fallen nearly 60% in the last half century. So what’s motivating those of us still choosing to say I do? On her one-year wedding anniversary, Anita ponders this question with the Hindu officiant who helped her build a ceremony that bridged the gap between her values and her dad's traditional desires. Plus, a comedian and queer ex-nun explains how she takes people from the place of "marriage is a dumpster fire" to a ceremony they're excited about. Meet the gu

Sep 26, 2024 • 49:43

BONUS: Kennedy Ryan's Recipe For Romance

BONUS: Kennedy Ryan's Recipe For Romance

Kennedy Ryan has released 23 romance books in the past decade, and along the way she's developed a style and approach that speaks to hundreds of thousands of readers. Anita sits down with her at a special live event at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill to talk about how her own relationships inform her work, the art of writing unskippable sex scenes and what's next for her career as her Skyland series makes its way to TV.Meet the guest:- Kennedy Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling roma

Sep 23, 2024 • 39:28

Retrieved: What Egg Donors Want You To Know (Revisited)

Retrieved: What Egg Donors Want You To Know (Revisited)

Egg donation in the U.S. is a multibillion dollar industry with high stakes and complicated dynamics. Anita talks with two egg donors about why they donated and what they wish they'd known earlier. Plus, a medical anthropologist shines a light on the messy world of donor compensation and why some eggs are valued higher than others.Meet the guests:- Julie Ventura, egg donor and nail artist, shares her journey of donating eggs for her best friends to start a family- Claire Burns, egg donor and Can

Sep 19, 2024 • 35:24

Dyslexia And The Reading Brain

Dyslexia And The Reading Brain

At its best, reading is a portal to new worlds and new ideas. But a lot can get in the way — up to 20% of the population experiences symptoms of dyslexia, a lifelong neurological disorder that makes it difficult to read fluently. An author who learned to read when he was 18 and a dyslexia scholar help Anita understand how reading develops in the brain and what's at stake if dyslexic learners are left by the wayside.Meet the guests:- Dr. Shawn Robinson is an entrepreneur, consultant and author of

Sep 12, 2024 • 49:53

Dating, Sex & Love With HIV

Dating, Sex & Love With HIV

How does living with a condition that is so deeply stigmatized affect who and how we love? Anita meets a mixed-HIV status couple who shares how they've approached sex and intimacy in their 11+ year relationship. Plus, a woman who was born HIV positive talks about dating, disclosure and overcoming the fear of rejection.Meet the guests:- Rainer Oktovianus is a photographer and user experience designer living with HIV- Eka Nasution is a project management professional and Rainer's husband- Diana Ko

Sep 5, 2024 • 48:46

Smooched: Why You'll Never Forget Your First Kiss (Revisited)

Smooched: Why You'll Never Forget Your First Kiss (Revisited)

Anita's highly-anticipated (and highly-awkward) first kiss was in eighth grade … but she remembers it like it was yesterday! A scientist tells her why our brains respond so strongly to kissing and how our kissing customs have changed over time. She also unpacks the power of a kiss with a photographer who documents queer Black love in public and three Gen-Zers school her on contemporary kissing culture.Meet the guests:- Sheril Kirshenbaum, science communicator and author of “The Science of Kissin

Aug 29, 2024 • 33:06

Bonus: Making Music From Family Secrets

Bonus: Making Music From Family Secrets

Anita brings you into part of our family secrets variety show from earlier this year, featuring North Carolina country duo Blue Cactus. She talks with the band about creating and performing an original song inspired by an anonymous secret. The secret was gathered by Song Confessional, an Austin-based podcast that matches songwriters with “confessions.”Meet the guests:- Walker Lukens, co-creator and co-host of the Song Confessional podcast- Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez, members of Blue CactusRea

Aug 26, 2024 • 39:21

(Un)Circumcised: How Parents Decide (Revisited)

(Un)Circumcised: How Parents Decide (Revisited)

It's a small procedure, but a big question. Anita talks with a urologist about what medical advice to consider while making the circumcision decision (and where medicine doesn't have the answers). She also meets a rabbi and mother who offers alternatives to centuries-old circumcision rituals and hears from a circumcised father raising an uncircumcised son.Meet the guests:- Dr. Emilie K. Johnson, a pediatric urologist and associate professor of urology at Northwestern University, answers Anita's

Aug 22, 2024 • 32:09

Life After A Gray Divorce

Life After A Gray Divorce

In Anita's lifetime, the divorce rate for Americans over 55 has doubled. People are living longer, divorce stigma has decreased and women are more financially independent. But leaving a decades-long marriage … is a big life upheaval. Anita gets personal accounts from two gray divorcees about what it was like to rebuild their identities, finances and freedom post-divorce. They discuss money management, surfing and why women initiate divorce most often in heterosexual partnerships.Meet the guests:

Aug 15, 2024 • 49:33

The Making Of Great Erotica

The Making Of Great Erotica

Anita's been deep in romantasy land this year reading Fourth Wing & ACOTAR. And it's gotten her thinking about the skill required to make steamy sex scenes come alive on the page and out loud. She goes behind the scenes with two prolific erotica author-editors and a former producer for the audio erotica app Dipsea to figure out how the sausage — and the butt slaps — get made.Meet the guests:- Rachel Kramer Bussel has been published in more than 100 erotica anthologies, edited at least 70 others

Aug 8, 2024 • 50:03

Amplified: Building Intimacy With Hearing Loss (Revisited)

Amplified: Building Intimacy With Hearing Loss (Revisited)

Anita and her partner John have started talking more openly about how his hearing loss informs their relationship and how they'll continue to navigate that as they age. She meets another interabled couple (Anna and Vika) who share the sometimes humorous, sometimes challenging moments that accompany sex and dating with hearing loss. Plus, former guest Yat Li returns to talk about deafness, disclosure, and disabled identity.Meet the guests:- Anna Pulley, author and columnist, talks about her journ

Aug 1, 2024 • 40:27

Bonus Episode: Introducing Tested from CBC and NPR

Bonus Episode: Introducing Tested from CBC and NPR

Tested is a new podcast series from CBC and NPR that asks the question, who gets to compete?  Since the beginning of women’s sports, there has been a struggle over who qualifies for the women’s category. Tested follows the unfolding story of elite female runners who have been told they can no longer race as women, because of their biology. As the Olympics approach, they face hard choices: take drugs to lower their natural testosterone levels, give up their sport entirely, or fight. To understand

Jul 29, 2024 • 39:07

Why We Need More Therapists Of Color

Why We Need More Therapists Of Color

It took Anita 12 years and five therapists to find someone who could help her tackle questions of racial and cultural identity. She meets two therapists of color working to make that kind of support more accessible. Sahaj Kaur Kohli, founder of Brown Girl Therapy, talks about approaching wellness from a more collectivist lens, and Jor-El Caraballo shares how he helps clients build tools for resilience in the face of systemic oppression.Meet the guests:-  Sahaj Kaur Kohli is a psychotherapist, th

Jul 25, 2024 • 49:32

Committed: Life Inside A Psychiatric Hospital

Committed: Life Inside A Psychiatric Hospital

Long-term stays in psychiatric institutions were once a relatively common treatment in this country. They’re not anymore, but that doesn’t mean they’ve gone away entirely. Anita meets someone who spent three years living in a psychiatric hospital in the early 90s and talks with an activist whose time spent in contemporary psychiatric hospitals pushed them to fight for alternatives.Meet the guests:- Suzanne Scanlon spent three years living inside the New York State Psychiatric Institute in her ea

Jul 18, 2024 • 48:31

Written: Disability Love Stories

Written: Disability Love Stories

When you live in a disabled body, you don’t always get to see yourself in the love stories you consume. Anita talks with three folks changing that through their own writing. She meets a novelist, essayist and activist who share their disability love stories and how writing has changed their relationships with others and themselves.Meet the guests:- Keah Brown, journalist and author of "The Pretty One," talks about her experience with cerebral palsy and her multi-year journey to self-love- Maria

Jul 12, 2024 • 49:41

Polished: Why We Care About Our Nails (Revisited)

Polished: Why We Care About Our Nails (Revisited)

Anita's nail habit has evolved in the past decade from $10 drop-in manicures to 90 minute appointments with a nail artist. That artist joins her for a conversation about how Black women have shaped nail culture. Plus a fashion historian details nail history from Egyptian mummies to ‘90s Chanel colors, and a Vietnamese-American woman tells the story of growing up inside her parents' nail salons.Meet the guests:- Crystal Sanders, nail artist and entrepreneur, shares her business and artistic philo

Jul 5, 2024 • 36:12

Journeyed: Crossing State Lines For Abortion

Journeyed: Crossing State Lines For Abortion

It’s been two years since the Supreme Court revoked the federal right to an abortion. Now, nearly one in five people seeking abortion care has to cross state lines to get it. Anita meets someone who spent 20 hours on the road to get her abortion, learns how folks afford thousands of dollars worth of travel and reviews the ways that Hollywood has taken on the abortion road trip.Meet the guests:- Taylor Shelton, abortion-seeker who traveled from her home state of South Carolina to North Carolina t

Jun 28, 2024 • 49:36

Tended: The Creative Work Of Dementia Caregiving

Tended: The Creative Work Of Dementia Caregiving

The vast majority of people living with dementia receive essential care from their own family and friends. This work is emotionally rigorous, but also filled with joy, surprise and creativity. More than 11 million Americans are doing this unpaid caregiving, and Anita meets two of them: a millennial who supported her mom and grandmother through different stages of Alzheimer's disease and a man in his 70s who is a care partner for his wife of 50 years.Meet the guests:- Jacquelyn Revere, creator of

Jun 21, 2024 • 50:33

Isolated: The Silence Around Male Infertility (Revisited)

Isolated: The Silence Around Male Infertility (Revisited)

Male fertility issues make up half of all infertility cases … but you’d never know it from consuming fertility content through culture, media and even medicine. Anita meets three men breaking the silence in hopes that others get the help and support they need.Meet the guests:- Jared Wright, journalist who wrote a piece about his infertility journey for VICE, talks through his first time in a fertility clinic, the treatments he and his wife have undergone since their marriage in 2020 and about hi

Jun 14, 2024 • 31:37

Adjusted: Second Puberty After Testosterone

Adjusted: Second Puberty After Testosterone

Puberty is a right of passage that most of us experience as teenagers. But for some trans folks, big hormonal changes happen again in adulthood. Anita meets three transmasculine people who started taking testosterone as adults...and experienced everything from emotional fluctuations and voice changes to acne and new body hair in a period of second puberty.Meet the guests:- Julian Socha, actor, shares his experience of second puberty after being on T for eight years and how the physical changes h

Jun 7, 2024 • 49:10

Opened Up: Black Masculinity and Friendship

Opened Up: Black Masculinity and Friendship

Building intimate friendships can be difficult, especially for men and masculine-of-center people. And once you add up the challenges presented by patriarchy, racism and sexism, it’s even tougher for Black men. Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott talks to four Black men about masculinity, friendship and vulnerability.Meet the guests:- Derrick Beasley, artist and community organizer, links male friendships and climate change in his art and shares how he thinks about building friendships with other Bl

May 31, 2024 • 49:03

Balanced: Love & Bipolar Disorder

Balanced: Love & Bipolar Disorder

When you’re living with a stigmatized mental illness like bipolar disorder, opening up to romantic partners can be tough, but Anita brings on two people who’ve found their own way through love and mental health. A writer-poet talks about navigating new romantic connections, and a married couple shares how they’ve built a strong foundation for weathering mental health ups and downs over 15 years together.Meet the guests:- Michelle Yang, a writer and advocate, shares her journey to a bipolar I dis

May 24, 2024 • 49:08

Hypersexualized: Understanding Sex Addiction (Revisited)

Hypersexualized: Understanding Sex Addiction (Revisited)

Anita learned in the early days of this show that there's no such thing as "normal" sexual behavior. But what *is* worth considering: how your relationship with sex affects your life. She meets two women whose compulsive sexual behaviors led them to seek support, and a sex-positive psychologist shares how she helps folks with sex addiction in their recovery.Meet the guests:- Krista Nabar, the executive director and founder of the Carolina Sexual Wellness Center, explains her sex-positive approac

May 17, 2024 • 30:11

Bonus Episode: Meeting ‘The Horny Housewife’

Bonus Episode: Meeting ‘The Horny Housewife’

Since late 2020, Jordyn Hakes has been on a quest to bring more pleasure and playfulness into her own relationship and those of her many listeners. Anita talks to Jordyn about the upheaval in her life that set her on this path and her best tips for sustaining connection in long-term intimate relationships.Meet the guest:- Jordyn Hakes, host of "The Horny Housewife" podcast, shares tips to keep the connection alive in the wake of parenting, body changes and other changes that long-term relationsh

May 14, 2024 • 24:24

(Single) Mothered: Choosing To Parent Solo

(Single) Mothered: Choosing To Parent Solo

There's a growing number of women challenging the expectation that you need a partner to have a child. In honor of Mother's Day, Anita meets two single moms by choice. They talk about why they chose this parenting path and how they navigate everything from false assumptions to dating. Plus, one of their daughters – 10-year-old Estela – joins the conversation to share her take on growing up in a nontraditional family.Meet the guests:- Hera McLeod, mother and civil rights activist, walks us throug

May 10, 2024 • 49:35

Bonus Episode: The Birds and the Bees, from Me and My Muslim Friends

Bonus Episode: The Birds and the Bees, from Me and My Muslim Friends

Something Special for you all: an episode from "Me and My Muslim Friends," featuring Sameera Qureshi. She is a therapist and founder of Sexual Health for Muslims. Her approach to sex education, therapy, and health is grounded in the Islamic framework and the Islamic understanding of the soul. Unfortunately, most Muslims don’t have access to a comprehensive sex education growing up. Host Yasmin Bendaas and Sameera dive into the consequences of that and talk about some of the most common issues Sa

May 3, 2024 • 34:50

Expanded: Sexuality in Conversation with Islam

Expanded: Sexuality in Conversation with Islam

Religion and sexuality are often pitted against one another...so where does that leave folks who feel attuned to both? Anita interrogates that question alongside Lamya H., the author of "Hijab Butch Blues," a memoir they wrote to be "unapologetically queer and unapologetically Muslim."Meet the guest:- Lamya H., author and activist, explains how their identity as a Muslim and as a queer are intertwined and talks about the intersection of bothRead the transcript | Review the podcast on your prefer

May 3, 2024 • 18:20

Advocated: How Disabled Activists Are Shaping Climate Justice

Advocated: How Disabled Activists Are Shaping Climate Justice

People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change yet often sidelined from policy conversations. Anita marks Earth Day by meeting three disability activists working to turn the tides. They share how their lives and bodies have been impacted by global warming — and how their wisdom could shift climate conversations.Meet the guests:- Daphne Frias, youth activist, shares how some policies aimed at addressing climate change disproportionately affect people with disabilities

Apr 26, 2024 • 49:18

Bonus Episode: The Parent Trap, from Love Letters

Bonus Episode: The Parent Trap, from Love Letters

Sharing something special today, an episode of the Love Letters podcast. Love Letters tells stories about romance, marriage, partnership, sex, loss and the human heart, all served with a side of advice by Boston Globe columnist Meredith Goldstein. On this episode: When Nimish left Nepal for college in the United States, he expected some serious challenges, like adjusting to a new culture and studying in a new language. Finding love was not top-of-mind. But as he got older and started to date mor

Apr 23, 2024 • 33:36

Undertaken: The Next Generation Of Funeral Directors

Undertaken: The Next Generation Of Funeral Directors

A significant portion of the funeral home workforce is entering retirement...but there's a crop of young people who are ready to take the helm. Anita meets two young funeral directors who felt called to this work at a young age. They take her inside their world -- from organizing end of life ceremonies to learning how to embalm for the first time. Plus, they share their hopes for a more death-positive future.Meet the guests:- Jasmine Berrios, licensed funeral director and embalmer, shares how sh

Apr 19, 2024 • 49:16

Singled: Inside The Only-Child Family (Revisited)

Singled: Inside The Only-Child Family (Revisited)

Anita has many close friends who defy all stereotypes about only children. But when it comes to thinking about having her own kids, she still can't shake some of those ingrained ideas. She hears three perspectives on single-kid families (including that of former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins) and learns why the debunked mythology around only children still lingers today.Meet the guests:- Lauren Sandler, journalist and author of "One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and

Apr 12, 2024 • 33:23

Stimulated: How Vibrators Became America's Favorite Sex Toy (Revisited)

Stimulated: How Vibrators Became America's Favorite Sex Toy (Revisited)

True or false? Victorian doctors invented the vibrator to cure women's "hysteria" by bringing them to sexual climax. The answer may surprise you...as it did Anita! She gets the truth about vibrator history from journalist Hallie Lieberman and meets Anna Lee, the engineer behind the first-ever “smart” vibrator that can help you better understand your arousal patterns.Meet the guests:- Hallie Lieberman, author of "Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy," shares the history of the vibrator an

Apr 5, 2024 • 32:57

Transitioned: When One Partner Comes Out As Trans

Transitioned: When One Partner Comes Out As Trans

A gender transition is a moment of personal flux that can also have a big impact on a romantic relationship. Anita meets two couples who continued to choose each other after one partner came out as trans: a South African couple in their 20s and an American couple who went through a transition after 22 years of marriage.Meet the guests:- Summer Tao and Lucy Aalto, partners and freelance writers in South Africa, describe the unexpected ways in which Summer’s transition brought them closer together

Mar 28, 2024 • 39:16

Bonus Episode: Can Couples Learn to Argue Better? from The Happiness Lab

Bonus Episode: Can Couples Learn to Argue Better? from The Happiness Lab

No matter how much you love your partner, your relationship will never be totally free from disagreement. And nor should it be, say researchers Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman. We actually just need to learn to argue better. Enjoy this episode from our friends at The Happiness Lab.The Gottmans join Dr Laurie Santos to talk us through how to raise complaints with our partners and how to react when they complain about us. Further reading: Fight Right: How Successful Couples

Mar 26, 2024 • 34:58

Signed: How ASL Became A Language Of Resistance

Signed: How ASL Became A Language Of Resistance

American Sign Language is the third-most used language in the U.S. ASL has its own culture and art forms, and for many Deaf folks, ASL is about much more than just communication. Anita talks to Deaf author Sara Nović and Deaf ASL Slam poet Douglas Ridloff about how ASL gave them tools for self-understanding and artistic expression. Then she learns from scholars Carolyn McCaskill and Joseph Hill about Black American Sign Language (BASL), an ASL dialect that emerged because of school segregation.M

Mar 22, 2024 • 33:02

Tingled: Your Brain And Heart On ASMR

Tingled: Your Brain And Heart On ASMR

Anita finds a lot of ASMR videos to be deeply relaxing, but she doesn't get the well-hyped/well-documented 'brain tingles.' Why? She puts the question to a physiologist who's been exploring the science of ASMR for the past decade. Plus, she meets an ASMR artist who's entranced hundreds of thousands of people with her medical role play videos and a woman who turned to the world of Boyfriend ASMR to heal her broken heart.Meet the guests:- Craig Harris Richard, ASMR researcher and professo

Mar 15, 2024 • 36:25

Retrieved: What Egg Donors Want You To Know

Retrieved: What Egg Donors Want You To Know

Egg donation in the U.S. is a multibillion dollar industry with high stakes and complicated dynamics. Anita talks with two egg donors about why they donated and what they wish they'd known earlier. Plus, a medical anthropologist shines a light on the messy world of donor compensation and why some eggs are valued higher than others.Meet the guests:- Julie Ventura, egg donor and nail artist, shares her journey of donating eggs for her best friends to start a family- Claire Burns, egg dono

Mar 8, 2024 • 35:24

Lifted: Wanting (And Getting) A Bigger Butt

Lifted: Wanting (And Getting) A Bigger Butt

The Brazilian butt lift (or BBL) is the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery in recent memory ... but why? Anita learns about the ins and outs of the procedure from a plastic surgeon and a BBL recipient. Then a scholar puts our obsession with big butts in historical context — tracing the conversation from Sir Mix-a-Lot to Kim Kardashian.Meet the guests:- Dr. Kelly Bolden, a clinical assistant professor at Howard University and Medical Director and plastic surgeon at CulturaMed, details the procedure

Mar 1, 2024 • 33:51

[Simulated Part Three] Immortalized: Building An AI Afterlife

[Simulated Part Three] Immortalized: Building An AI Afterlife

When a loved one dies, a big part of the grieving process involves letting go of the role they once played in your day-to-day life. But with new developments in AI technology … the dead can live on in new and interesting ways. Anita meets a tech journalist who built bots of her parents to see how AI could preserve their memories for the long term. She also talks with a philosophy professor about the ways that ancient Chinese philosophy can address AI's emerging ethical issues and how grief tech

Feb 23, 2024 • 38:09

[Simulated Part Two] Fantasized: The Arrival Of The Sex Robots

[Simulated Part Two] Fantasized: The Arrival Of The Sex Robots

Science fiction and real-life tech experts have promised a future filled with sex robots. But how many of those predictions will actually come true? Anita talks to an artificial intelligence scholar who's traced sex robots from Greek mythology to the prototypes on the market today. Plus, a writer shines a light on the dark world of a futuristic brothel … explored from the perspective of an AI Sex Bot herself.Meet the guests:- Dr. Kate Devlin, a scholar in artificial intelligence and soc

Feb 16, 2024 • 32:55

[Simulated Part One] Auto-mated: When A Bot Becomes Your Boo

[Simulated Part One] Auto-mated: When A Bot Becomes Your Boo

When human romance isn't working out, can an AI chatbot successfully take its place? Anita hears varied perspectives on that question. She meets a journalist who got dumped by her AI crush and talks with a woman whose AI companion turned her life around. Plus, psychologist Melissa McCool, the clinical product consultant for AI tech company Luka, takes Anita behind the scenes of making AI companions.Meet the guests:- Christina Campodonico, the senior reporter of arts and culture at The San Franci

Feb 9, 2024 • 34:49

Menstruated: What Our Period Blood Tells Us

Menstruated: What Our Period Blood Tells Us

In the 34 years that guest host Omisade Burney-Scott was a menstruating person, she always felt that blood held more significance than just the biological. She meets an OB/GYN who shares little-known facts about period blood, and talks with two menstrual health advocates about how art and community have connected them to their cycles. Plus, an attorney discusses what she's paying attention to this year in terms of period policy.Meet the Guests:- Dr. Charis Chambers, who is known as "The

Feb 2, 2024 • 31:24

Bonus Episode: How y'all conquered the world

Bonus Episode: How y'all conquered the world

You might have noticed that the word “y’all” is popping up everywhere. For decades, linguists have noted that regional American accents are disappearing. But at the same time, use of this traditionally Southern pronoun is rapidly spreading — and the reasons may surprise you. We hope you learn as much as we did from this special episode from The Broadside, produced by our colleagues at WUNC!Meet the Guests:- Brody McCurdy, Linguist and Researcher at NC State- Antonia Randolph, Assistant Professor

Jan 30, 2024 • 20:31

Obsessed: Breaking the OCD Cycle (Revisited)

Obsessed: Breaking the OCD Cycle (Revisited)

Anita is no stranger to anxiety, but her spirals are mostly short lived. In this episode she meets folks who often get caught in loops of extreme worry and compulsions with little relief. A married couple shares how OCD put them in survival mode, and a woman whose OCD symptoms began in kindergarten talks about learning how to open up about her experience in friendships and dating.Meet the guests: Mike and Nicole Comforto, writers and married couple, talk about what led to Mike's diagnosis with

Jan 26, 2024 • 36:53

Sobbed: Why We Cry (Revisited)

Sobbed: Why We Cry (Revisited)

Anita usually feels better after a good, long cry. But why is that? She explores that question with a poet who spent years diving deeply into the science and culture of crying. And a forerunner of the "crying selfie" trend shares how he pushes back on toxic masculinity by embracing tears.Meet the guests:- Heather Christle, poet and author of "The Crying Book," takes us into some of the science of crying and looks at tears through a political and gender-informed lens- Viorel Tanase, a model and c

Jan 19, 2024 • 34:35

Normalized: Speaking Up About Erectile Dysfunction

Normalized: Speaking Up About Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction affects as many as 30 million people in the U.S. — yet the fears of not being “normal” prevent folks from speaking up about it. Anita meets a man who was silent about his ED for 10 years before getting surgery and opening up to partners…and talks with a sex therapist who challenges the word “dysfunction.” Plus, a 72-year-old describes how he’s redefined intimacy in his 30 years of experiencing ED.Meet the guests:- Ven Virah, a public speaker and global healthcare staffing pr

Jan 12, 2024 • 33:05

(Self) Helped: Inside The Industry That Wants To Change Your Life

(Self) Helped: Inside The Industry That Wants To Change Your Life

Anita is committed to self-improvement but skeptical of self-help. She brings her qualms and questions to the experts: Kristen Meinzer, a podcaster who has lived by the rules of more than 50 self-help books, and Beth Blum, a scholar who's traced the genre back to its roots. Plus Sondra Rose Marie, a former self-help fan, shares how the industry has failed her as a woman of color.Meet the guests:- Kristen Meinzer, pop culture commentator and podcast host, shares what she learned from following th

Jan 5, 2024 • 35:03

Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak (Revisited)

Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak (Revisited)

Stuttering occurs in every culture with a spoken language. So why do many communities treat it as a source of shame? Two speech-language pathologists and a comedian help Anita question cultural assumptions about stuttering and explore the growing movement to embrace speech diversity.Meet the guests:- Dr. Derek Daniels, licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and associate professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University, shares his own expe

Dec 29, 2023 • 34:48

Separated: Growing Up With An Incarcerated Father (Revisited)

Separated: Growing Up With An Incarcerated Father (Revisited)

Anita reconnects with the woman who changed her thinking on incarceration: her beloved college thesis adviser Ashley Lucas. Ashley reflects on her father's 20-year prison sentence and the untold stories of families navigating incarceration from the outside. Journalist Sylvia A. Harvey also shares how losing her mother to asthma and her father to a life sentence in prison before she was 6 years old led her to investigate the carceral system as a whole. Meet the guests: - Ashley Lucas, professor o

Dec 22, 2023 • 30:40

Popped: Adult Acne In The 'Perfect Skin' Era

Popped: Adult Acne In The 'Perfect Skin' Era

Dealing with pimples and blackheads in middle school is practically a right of passage. But when acne is a defining feature of your adulthood... it’s a whole different experience. Anita meets two acne content creators and a photographer who talk about the emotional toll of severe acne, the myth of normal skin, and the responsibility of being today’s skincare influencers.Meet the Guests:- Patsy Chem, an acne-positive skinfluencer, shares the experience of getting severe acne in her 20s and how th

Dec 15, 2023 • 33:23

Cared: The Last Decades Of Our Lives

Cared: The Last Decades Of Our Lives

More Americans are living into their 90s and 100s than ever before, and it blows Anita's mind that so few people are talking about it! She meets a 94-year-old man who opens up about the changes in his romantic, platonic, and familial relationships, and his two kids join to share their perspectives. Plus, a woman in her 70s introduces Anita to an innovative model for combating social isolation in your senior years.Meet the Guests:- Charles Owens, a 94-year-old man living in North Carolina, talks

Dec 8, 2023 • 31:39

Gripped: The Passion For Pole Dancing

Gripped: The Passion For Pole Dancing

Anita walked away from her first pole dancing class slightly bruised … but very intrigued. She talks with a veteran stripper about the history and politics of modern pole dancing and meets a pole sport athlete and studio owner who is trying to build an inclusive space for pole practitioners. Plus, a nonbinary pole dancer shares how their relationship with the pole has evolved alongside their gender identity.Meet the Guests: NatsHoney, a veteran stripper, pole artist, entrepreneur and m

Dec 1, 2023 • 34:13

Commodified: When 'Wellness' Makes Us Unwell (Revisited)

Commodified: When 'Wellness' Makes Us Unwell (Revisited)

Anita has fallen down her fair share of wellness rabbit holes [including a certain alliterative family's beauty and shapewear brands...]. Wellness industry insider and journalist Rina Raphael shares how this $4 trillion industry misleads all of us, and 'Dope Black Social Worker' Kim Young gives us the wellness reframes we all need.Meet the guests:- Rina Raphael, author of "The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop and the False Promise of Self-Care,” shares how insidious wellness indust

Nov 24, 2023 • 29:35

Inherited: Healing From Generational Trauma (Revisited)

Inherited: Healing From Generational Trauma (Revisited)

Anita has been unpacking intergenerational trauma ... thanks, in part, to Hollywood. Seeing herself in movies like "Turning Red" and "Everything Everywhere All At Once" has helped her make sense of her own family's challenges. She talks with three women who've investigated how events in their own family histories have rippled through the generations to influence their bodies, parenting and culture. Meet the guests: - Dr. Ramona Beltrán, multiracial Chicana, mother, scholar and dancer, shares how

Nov 24, 2023 • 32:22

Complicated: Healing from Complex PTSD

Complicated: Healing from Complex PTSD

What happens when trauma occurs not as a single isolated event, but millions of smaller, ongoing incidents? Guest host Anisa Khalifa talks with an artist, psychotherapist and racial trauma expert about understanding complex post-traumatic stress disorder and the path to healing.Meet the Guests:- Fariha Róisín, a multidisciplinary artist and writer, talks about her journey to healing from complex trauma and why her newest book is titled "Survival Takes a Wild Imagination"- Dr. Karen Winkler, a nu

Nov 17, 2023 • 32:35

Traveled: The Lives Of Third Culture Kids

Traveled: The Lives Of Third Culture Kids

As a child of two immigrants, Anita has a tumultuous relationship with the question: "Where are you from?" So, too, do many third culture kids — people who spend a significant number of their developmental years living in places that are not their parents' homelands. She talks with two third culture kids — one 35 and one 12 — and their moms about growing up between cultures and how they’ve built identity and relationships along the way.Meet the Guests:- Rayla Heide, a senior narrative d

Nov 10, 2023 • 30:59

Adored: How Fandoms Build Community

Adored: How Fandoms Build Community

Guest host Anisa Khalifa first became a fan in high school. She gets an explanation from a psychologist about how being in fandoms benefits mental health, and a journalist describes what role the internet has played in shaping fan culture. Plus, Anisa invites the co-hosts of her K-drama podcast to reflect on how fandom brought them together — and what it means to be a fan.Meet the guests:- Lynn Zubernis, a psychologist and professor at West Chester University, talks about what poises some people

Nov 3, 2023 • 36:02

Masked: Coming Out As Autistic In Adulthood

Masked: Coming Out As Autistic In Adulthood

Many autistic people assigned female at birth remain undiagnosed at 18, so what's it like to get an autism diagnosis in your adulthood? Anita meets two women whose paths to a diagnosis started on the internet. Plus a non-binary photographer shares how their late autism diagnosis has informed their marriage and sense of self.Meet the guests:- Irene Chon, neurodivergent creator and self-empowerment coach, talks about the challenge of getting assessed for autism as an adult and why working in custo

Oct 27, 2023 • 33:35

Posed: Intimate Photography Goes Beyond Nudes (Revisited)

Posed: Intimate Photography Goes Beyond Nudes (Revisited)

Anita hasn't always loved getting her photo taken, but seeing herself through the artistic eye of a close friend and photographer has changed her perspective. She meets two intimate photographers who take her behind the scenes of their shoots and share their philosophies on capturing the erotic in an image. Plus, she talks with a model about her intimate work that explores disability and sexuality. Meet the guests: - LaQuann Dawson, an artist and community organizer, shares his passion for docum

Oct 20, 2023 • 31:20

Seen: Living With The Schizophrenias

Seen: Living With The Schizophrenias

Meet the guests: - Esmé Weijun Wang, a writer, speaker and the author of "The Collected Schizophrenias," talks about navigating medical stigma and the ways that writing and performance have contributed to her understanding of schizophrenia - Christopher Grant, an artist and animator based in Canada, talks about how he uses drawing to process his moments of psychosis and what it's been like to share his story on TikTok and Instagram - Ashley Smith, an author and writer who runs the blog "Overcomi

Oct 13, 2023 • 34:47

Guided: Practicing Intimacy & Sex With A Surrogate

Guided: Practicing Intimacy & Sex With A Surrogate

Anita first learned about surrogate partner therapy from the 2012 movie "The Sessions," and her curiosity was piqued. It's a widely misunderstood and stigmatized type of therapy work in which touch is a mechanism for healing. Two surrogate partners take her inside the day-to-day of their jobs, and a certified sex therapist shares why she hopes others in her industry will be more welcoming to the practice. Meet the guests: - Brian Gibney, a surrogate partner, educator and advocate, exp

Oct 6, 2023 • 31:11

Plucked: The Calm And Chaos Of A Hair-Pulling Disorder (Revisited)

Plucked: The Calm And Chaos Of A Hair-Pulling Disorder (Revisited)

Anita agrees to a suggestion posed by a listener: Explore why the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania is so taboo. She talks with an artist who started pulling their hair more than two decades ago but only recently told her parents…after publishing part of their story in a national news outlet. A psychologist on the front lines of studying trich treatment talks about the importance of acceptance; and a hairstylist with trich takes us into why her salon is a safe haven for other folks

Sep 29, 2023 • 33:20

Inked: Rewriting Your Body’s Story With Art

Inked: Rewriting Your Body’s Story With Art

Anita has no tattoos but plenty of admiration for the art form that gives us new ways to experience our bodies. She talks with a heavily-tattooed scholar who's interrogated how society treats tattooed women; a queer, Jewish tattoo artist reclaiming body art; and an artist who's pushing back on the misconceptions of tattooing melanated skin. Meet the guests: - Beverly Thompson, professor in the sociology department at Siena College in New York, talk about how gender impacts the perception of tatt

Sep 22, 2023 • 33:51

Dominated: Getting Kinky with BDSM

Dominated: Getting Kinky with BDSM

Anita discovers just how wrong “Fifty Shades of Grey” was about BDSM. A dominatrix and community leader introduce her to kink spaces rooted in community and healing. Plus, a scholar talks about the long history behind our understanding of masochism. Meet the guests: - Smoky, the co-founder of Obsidian, shares how she became interested in the world of BDSM, what draws her to the role of submissive and what inspired the creation of Obsidian - Dia Dynasty, a professional dominatrix based in New

Sep 15, 2023 • 37:03

Mourned: Life After Losing A Parent

Mourned: Life After Losing A Parent

Anita has heard one resounding truth from her friends who lost a parent in early adulthood: That death was the biggest thing that has ever happened to them. She meets two people who've built specific communities around their grief on the internet and a writer who experienced losing his dad twice. Meet the guests: - Liz Zorn, photographer and model, talks about the sudden loss of her father and how it's changed her views on the afterlife - Naomi Edmondson, grief educator and space holder, sha

Sep 8, 2023 • 31:55

Reconstructed: Building New Definitions of Masculinity

Reconstructed: Building New Definitions of Masculinity

Fifteen years ago Anita took Women's Studies 101 on a whim … and to this day, she still doesn't have an answer to the question: what is masculinity? In further pursuit of some clarity, she talks with a trans man and a non-binary person about what's possible when we take a more gender-fluid approach to manhood. The two share where their own beliefs about gender come from and how they're building a more expansive definition of masculinity in their own lives. Meet the guests: - Ocean Wei, a rising

Sep 1, 2023 • 27:59

Unfriended: When Your BFF Breaks Your Heart (Revisited)

Unfriended: When Your BFF Breaks Your Heart (Revisited)

Anita got friend dumped for the first time in 6th grade, and she's still not over it. She talks to folks about the distinct pain of a platonic breakup and gets some tools for building strong friendships, setting boundaries and figuring out when it's time to let go. Meet the guests: - Michelle Elman is an author and life coach best known for her activism campaign Scarred Not Scared. She tells Anita about "the mass exodus" — a period of time in which she went through multiple friend breakups - Ton

Aug 25, 2023 • 23:49

Co-Worked: The Good, Bad & Ambivalent of the Office Bestie (Revisited)

Co-Worked: The Good, Bad & Ambivalent of the Office Bestie (Revisited)

Anita wouldn't have made it through her 20s without her work friends. But now that she's a manager and working in a hybrid office, she's noticed that work friendships don't come as easily as they used to. A psychologist answers her burning workplace relationship questions and dives into the surprising amount of data about work besties. Plus, a Gen Z writer urges her to re-think the importance of work as a primary social hub. Meet the guests: - Dr. Marisa G. Franco, a psychologist and author of "

Aug 18, 2023 • 32:52

Uncoupled: Thank U, Next (Revisited)

Uncoupled: Thank U, Next (Revisited)

Anita has no qualms about being an armchair therapist for friends going through a breakup. But sometimes she wonders how her advice aligns with what relationship experts say. Advice columnists Meredith Goldstein and Stacia Brown give guidance on breaking up "well," going no-contact, navigating social media and finding the right breakup anthem for the moment. Meet the guests: - Meredith Goldstein, writer and podcast host behind The Boston Globe column and podcast "Love Letters," shares insights f

Aug 11, 2023 • 33:36

Hooked Up: The Myth Of Sex With No Strings Attached (Revisited)

Hooked Up: The Myth Of Sex With No Strings Attached (Revisited)

Anita is confused about hook up culture. Is it a thing, and if so, who makes the rules? She talks to a recent college grad about her research on the sex lives of her peers, plus a therapist who shares her take on why it doesn't feel as liberating as we think it should. Then she dives into Celibacy TikTok — a space where Gen Zers are committing to being sex-free. Meet the guests: - Sophie Aaron, a writer, researcher and 2021 graduate of Oberlin College shares insights from her senior thesis on

Aug 4, 2023 • 31:51

Mixed (Parent Edition): The Rao Family Talks Racial Identity

Mixed (Parent Edition): The Rao Family Talks Racial Identity

Anita invites her parents back to Embodied for a special bonus episode. She hears their take on our recent episode "Mixed," about growing up biracial. Then she turns the tables and puts herself in the guest seat as her parents ask her a few questions. Meet the guests: - Sheila Rao, Anita's mom, shares some of the context surrounding her marriage to Satish and how that influenced the way they raised their children — and asks Anita how she's thinking about these issues as she's building

Jul 28, 2023 • 23:42

Polished: Why We Care About Our Nails

Polished: Why We Care About Our Nails

Anita's nail habit has evolved in the past decade from $10 drop-in manicures to 90 minute appointments with a nail artist. That artist joins her for a conversation about how Black women have shaped nail culture. Plus a fashion historian details nail history from Egyptian mummies to ‘90s Chanel colors, and a Vietnamese-American woman tells the story of growing up inside her parents' nail salons. Meet the guests: - Crystal Sanders, nail artist and entrepreneur, shares her business and artistic phi

Jul 21, 2023 • 35:28

Mixed: Owning Your Multiracial Story

Mixed: Owning Your Multiracial Story

When Anita moved away to college, she experienced a big shift in her biracial identity. Turns out that the questions that emerged for her are ones that many mixed young adults still ponder today ...15 years later. She meets two college seniors and they talk through navigating everything from "Where do I belong?" to "How do I date?" Plus she hears wisdom from a life coach who helps mixed adults tell new stories about identity. Meet the guests: - Adiah Siler, a senior at the University

Jul 14, 2023 • 35:08

Partnered: Mixing Business With Pleasure (Revisited)

Partnered: Mixing Business With Pleasure (Revisited)

Anita does not work with her boo, but after sharing home office space for two pandemic years, she's started to wonder how couples who *do* work together make it work. She talks with two sets of couples in very different professional industries about their strategies for tackling finances, alone time and intimacy. Meet the guests: - Sarah & Austin McCombie, the married duo behind the North Carolina-based band Chatham Rabbits talk about how they learned to give each other constructive creative f

Jul 7, 2023 • 38:17

Sexted: Authoring Your Own Erotica

Sexted: Authoring Your Own Erotica

Anita is a bashful sexter, and she's ready to get over her insecurities. A pleasure enthusiast advises her on the art of a good sext; a sexting expert traces the short and spicy history of sexting in this country; and a high schooler breaks down the relationship between sexting and consent. Meet the guests: - Penda N’diaye, founder and CEO of Pro Hoe and pleasure enthusiast, shares tips to help Anita get more comfortable with sexting and outlines the importance of consent - Amy Hasin

Jun 30, 2023 • 33:00

Intentioned: Parenting Ourselves And Our Kids

Intentioned: Parenting Ourselves And Our Kids

Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott is well aware that gentle parenting is a divisive concept. So she's gets into it! Omi talks with two other Black mothers about their definitions of gentle parenting and how it can break cycles of generational trauma. Then her older son shares how he has seen her parenting evolve over the past three decades. Meet the guests: - Destiny Bennett, a content creator and mother of three boys, explains why she chooses to describe her parenting philosophy as "in

Jun 23, 2023 • 35:48

Isolated: The Silence Around Male Infertility

Isolated: The Silence Around Male Infertility

Male fertility issues make up half of all infertility cases … but you’d never know it from consuming fertility content through culture, media and even medicine. Anita meets three men breaking the silence in hopes that others get the help and support they need. Meet the guests: - Jared Wright, journalist who wrote a piece about his infertility journey for VICE, talks through his first time in a fertility clinic, the treatments he and his wife have undergone since their marriage in 2020

Jun 16, 2023 • 30:40

Distracted: Adulting With ADHD

Distracted: Adulting With ADHD

Anita passes the mic to our friends at the feminist documentary podcast "Bodies" for an exploration of ADHD and identity. Producer Hannah Harris Green talks about how getting an ADHD diagnosis helped her release the shame she'd been carrying since childhood. Meet the guests: - Hannah Harris Green, contributing producer for "Bodies," shares her journey to an ADHD diagnosis as an adult and how the disorder has impacted her entire life - Matthew, Hannah's partner, talks about how Hannah's ADHD impa

Jun 9, 2023 • 36:13

Unpartnered: Building A Full, Single Life

Unpartnered: Building A Full, Single Life

A growing number of American adults have the same feeling about romantic partnerships: They don’t want one. Anita meets three people who have chosen singlehood: a scholar who examines the double standard of relationship status, a single mother of two by choice and a man shedding toxic masculinity to build a deliberately single life. Meet the guests: - Dr. Kris Marsh, associate professor at the University of Maryland and author of “The Love Jones Cohort: Single and Living Alone in the Black Middl

Jun 2, 2023 • 32:58

Smooched: Why You'll Never Forget Your First Kiss

Smooched: Why You'll Never Forget Your First Kiss

Anita's highly-anticipated (and highly-awkward) first kiss was in eighth grade … but she remembers it like it was yesterday! A scientist tells her why our brains respond so strongly to kissing and how our kissing customs have changed over time. She also unpacks the power of a kiss with a photographer who documents queer Black love in public and three Gen-Zers school her on contemporary kissing culture. Meet the guests: - Sheril Kirshenbaum, science communicator and author of “The Scie

May 26, 2023 • 32:26

Sobbed: Why We Cry

Sobbed: Why We Cry

Anita usually feels better after a good, long cry. But why is that? She explores that question with a poet who spent years diving deeply into the science and culture of crying. And a forerunner of the "crying selfie" trend shares how he pushes back on toxic masculinity by embracing tears. Meet the guests: - Heather Christle, poet and author of "The Crying Book," takes us into some of the science of crying and looks at tears through a political and gender-informed lens - Viorel Tana

May 19, 2023 • 33:59

Delivered (Part Two): No More Postpartum Silence (Revisited)

Delivered (Part Two): No More Postpartum Silence (Revisited)

Anita treasures sleep and moments of silence. So when she hears typical narratives of early parenthood that include unending cries and restless nights, she has concerns for the mental toll on new parents. But culturally there is a lot of silence around how challenging it can be and recognizing deteriorating mental health while caring for another person can be isolating. In part two of the postpartum series "Delivered," she meets a prolific artist whose experience with postpartum depress

May 12, 2023 • 34:12

Delivered (Part One): Supporting A Post-Baby Body (Revisited)

Delivered (Part One): Supporting A Post-Baby Body (Revisited)

Anita has been around enough postpartum folks to know that there's a whole lot they felt unprepared for when it came to how their physical bodies would experience pregnancy and childbirth. In part one of a two-part series, she hears from folks about meeting their new postpartum bodies. A postpartum doula talks about her trauma-informed approach to caring for the physical body; a photographer shares why they're trying to diversify the images we associate with postpartum bodies; and a for

May 5, 2023 • 33:31

Obsessed: Breaking The OCD Cycle

Obsessed: Breaking The OCD Cycle

Anita is no stranger to anxiety, but her spirals are mostly short lived. In this episode she meets folks who often get caught in loops of extreme worry and compulsions with little relief. A married couple shares how OCD put them in survival mode and a woman whose OCD symptoms began in kindergarten talks about learning how to open up about her experience in friendships and dating. Meet the guests: - Mike and Nicole Comforto, writers who published a Modern Love essay about how Mike's OC

Apr 28, 2023 • 36:12

(Un)Circumcised: How Parents Decide

(Un)Circumcised: How Parents Decide

It's a small procedure, but a big question. Anita talks with a urologist about what medical advice to consider while making the circumcision decision (and where medicine doesn't have the answers). She also meets a rabbi and mother who offers alternatives to centuries-old circumcision rituals and hears from a circumcised father raising an uncircumcised son. Meet the guests: - Dr. Emilie K. Johnson, a pediatric urologist and associate professor of urology at Northwestern University, ans

Apr 21, 2023 • 31:27

Decided: Child-Free By Choice

Decided: Child-Free By Choice

Anita has interrogated so many aspects of parenthood. But how about the decision to become a parent at all? She talks with three women about making their child-free decisions and meets a psychotherapist who's devoted her career to helping people find clarity in that choice. Meet the guests: - Sarah Deavitt, certified holistic nutritionist, talks about her decision to live a child-free life and how taking over care for her grandfather with Alzheimer's solidified that decision - Samhita Mukhopadhy

Apr 14, 2023 • 33:20

Scented: Life According To Your Nose (Revisited)

Scented: Life According To Your Nose (Revisited)

Anita sniffs out what's so fascinating about the science of smell — and gets her mind blown. A psychologist shares why smell is our most emotional sense, plus stories about the mental health consequences of anosmia (losing your sense of smell) and a scent designer describes how to re-create memories through candles. Meet the guests: - Bonnie Blodgett, author of “Remembering Smell.” - Rachel Herz, neuroscientist and author of “The Scent of Desire.” - Christina Degreaffenreidt, founder and creator

Apr 7, 2023 • 31:22

Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak

Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak

Stuttering occurs in every culture with a spoken language. So why do many communities treat it as a source of shame? Two speech-language pathologists and a comedian help Anita question cultural assumptions about stuttering and explore the growing movement to embrace speech diversity. Meet the guests: - Dr. Derek Daniels, licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and associate professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University, shares

Mar 31, 2023 • 34:43

Naked: No Clothes, No Problem (Revisited)

Naked: No Clothes, No Problem (Revisited)

Anita learns about non-sexual, social nudity and why opting to live life mostly in the nude could actually make her think about her body LESS. [This episode originally aired in September 2021.] Meet the guests: - Naomi Brown, a reporter and host at WUNC, talks about her personal journey to becoming a practicing naturist - Jay Shapiro, lead coordinator and president of Triangle Area Naturists LLC, shares how to separate sex from nudity - Sam and Aleah, creators of Our Natural Blog, share how they

Mar 24, 2023 • 32:24

Stimulated: How Vibrators Became America's Favorite Sex Toy

Stimulated: How Vibrators Became America's Favorite Sex Toy

True or false? Victorian doctors invented the vibrator to cure women's "hysteria" by bringing them to sexual climax. The answer may surprise you...as it did Anita! She gets the truth about vibrator history from journalist Hallie Lieberman and meets Anna Lee, the engineer behind the first-ever “smart” vibrator that can help you better understand your arousal patterns. Meet the guests: - Hallie Lieberman, author of "Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy," shares the history of th

Mar 17, 2023 • 32:16

Singled: Inside the Only-Child Family

Singled: Inside the Only-Child Family

Anita has many close friends who defy all stereotypes about only children. But when it comes to thinking about having her own kids, she still can't shake some of those ingrained ideas. She hears three perspectives on single-kid families (including that of former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins) and learns why the debunked mythology around only children still lingers today. Meet the guests: - Lauren Sandler, journalist and author of "One and Only: The Freedom of Having an Only Child, and the Joy

Mar 10, 2023 • 33:18

Dreamed: Inside Your Night Brain (Revisited)

Dreamed: Inside Your Night Brain (Revisited)

The name Embodied came to Anita in a dream, and she's on a quest to figure out how that happened. She talks to a dreamworker about strengthening the bridge between dreaming and creativity, unpacks weird COVID-19 dreams and learns about nightmare therapy. [This episode originally aired in March 2022] Meet the guests: - Angel Morgan, an artist, filmmaker and the founder of Dreambridge, gives Anita a Dream Science 101 lesson and shares how folks can better connect their dreams to their creativity -

Mar 3, 2023 • 29:40

Commodified: When 'Wellness' Makes Us Unwell

Commodified: When 'Wellness' Makes Us Unwell

Anita has fallen down her fair share of wellness rabbit holes [including a certain alliterative family's beauty and shapewear brands...]. Wellness industry insider and journalist Rina Raphael shares how this $4 trillion industry misleads all of us, and 'Dope Black Social Worker' Kim Young gives us the wellness reframes we all need. Meet the guests: - Rina Raphael, author of "The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop and the False Promise of Self-Care,” shares how insidious wellness in

Feb 24, 2023 • 28:45

Slayed: Gender Performance Beyond The Binary

Slayed: Gender Performance Beyond The Binary

After not seeing a drag show for the first 30 years of her life, Anita now dives in. She explores the history and evolution of the artform with a drag scholar-turned-performer; meets a non-binary drag 'thing' pushing boundaries through performance; and talks with a Durham-based drag artist who speaks out against anti-drag violence. Meet the guests: - Rose Butch, Vancouver's premiere Drag Thing, explains the origins of the term "Drag Thing" and talks about how their gender transition o

Feb 17, 2023 • 33:01

Separated: Growing Up with an Incarcerated Father

Separated: Growing Up with an Incarcerated Father

Anita reconnects with the woman who changed her thinking on incarceration: her beloved college thesis adviser Ashley Lucas. Ashley reflects on her father's 20-year prison sentence and the untold stories of families navigating incarceration from the outside. Journalist Sylvia A. Harvey also shares how losing her mother to asthma and her father to a life sentence in prison before she was 6 years old led her to investigate the carceral system as a whole. Meet the guests: - Ashley Lucas, professor o

Feb 10, 2023 • 30:40

Amplified: Building Intimacy With Hearing Loss

Amplified: Building Intimacy With Hearing Loss

Anita and her partner John have started talking more openly about how his hearing loss informs their relationship and how they'll continue to navigate that as they age. She meets another interabled couple (Anna and Vika) who share the sometimes humorous, sometimes challenging moments that accompany sex and dating with hearing loss. Plus, former guest Yat Li returns to talk about deafness, disclosure, and disabled identity. Meet the guests: - Anna Pulley, author and columnist, talks about her jou

Feb 3, 2023 • 40:08

Refused: When You're Too Fat For Top Surgery

Refused: When You're Too Fat For Top Surgery

Last October Anita got an e-mail that piqued her curiosity: a story pitch about how anti-fat bias affects people seeking gender-affirming surgery. She hands the mic over to audio journalist H Conley, who follows a 26-year-old Black nonbinary food writer as they overcome repeated barriers to getting top surgery due to body size. Meet the guests: - Chala June, an associate editor at "Bon Appétit" magazine, shares their experience of being told to lose weight before getting top surgery

Jan 27, 2023 • 41:36

Hypersexualized: Understanding Sex Addiction

Hypersexualized: Understanding Sex Addiction

Anita learned in the early days of this show that there's no such thing as "normal" sexual behavior. But what *is* worth considering: how your relationship with sex affects your life. She meets two women whose compulsive sexual behaviors led them to seek support, and a sex-positive psychologist shares how she helps folks with sex addiction in their recovery. Meet the guests: - Krista Nabar, the executive director and founder of the Carolina Sexual Wellness Center, explains her sex-positive appro

Jan 20, 2023 • 29:45

Sobered: Reexamining Your Relationship With Alcohol

Sobered: Reexamining Your Relationship With Alcohol

Anita has not participated in a Dry January, but there are times when she's motivated to pay extra-close attention to her relationship with alcohol. Most recently: during the pandemic. While some of us started drinking more, another group of folks committed to sober curiosity: a movement encouraging introspection about your relationship with alcohol. She meets two people who are years into building sober lives and asks them to reflect on how their sobriety journeys have shaped everything from re

Jan 13, 2023 • 34:53

Inherited: Healing From Generational Trauma

Inherited: Healing From Generational Trauma

Anita has been unpacking intergenerational trauma ... thanks, in part, to Hollywood. Seeing herself in movies like "Turning Red" and "Everything Everywhere All At Once" has helped her make sense of her own family's challenges. She talks with three women who've investigated how events in their own family histories have rippled through the generations to influence their bodies, parenting and culture. Meet the guests: - Dr. Ramona Beltrán, multiracial Chicana, mother, scholar and dancer,

Jan 6, 2023 • 32:22

Purified: A Live Event Turned Podcast (Part Two)

Purified: A Live Event Turned Podcast (Part Two)

Anita is a sucker for live storytelling, so when she and the Embodied team planned their first in-person event, they knew the vibe they were going for. They invited five people to stand on stage in front of a live audience and explore how purity culture has shaped their faith, relationships and sexuality. In part two, you'll meet a poet and a producer who're questioning what purity culture taught them about sexual identity and masculinity. Meet the guests: - Ashley Lumpkin, a poet and educator,

Dec 23, 2022 • 33:21

Purified: A Live Event Turned Podcast (Part One)

Purified: A Live Event Turned Podcast (Part One)

Anita met Embodied listeners IRL for the first time earlier this year at the show's first in-person event "Purified." The evening was part late night talk show and part live storytelling. With music DJ-ed by Quilla to set the tone, five people shared their unique experiences with purity culture on stage in front of a live audience. In part one, you'll meet a social worker, preacher and faith leader who take you from church camp to the pews. Meet the guests: - Indhira Udofia, a student in the joi

Dec 16, 2022 • 46:52

Navigated: The Rao Sisters on Holiday Conversations

Navigated: The Rao Sisters on Holiday Conversations

Anita has a lot of practice talking about taboo topics with strangers. But when it comes to having these conversations in her own family, especially around the holidays, she gets squirmy like the rest of us. She invites her older sister Priyanka onto the podcast to reflect on tricky — but often inevitable — conversations with family members. Priyanka, a mom and pediatrician, talks about her ongoing journey to broach difficult subjects that come up a lot this time of year: loss, family dynamics a

Dec 9, 2022 • 22:55

Co-Worked: The Good, Bad & Ambivalent Of The Office Bestie

Co-Worked: The Good, Bad & Ambivalent Of The Office Bestie

Anita wouldn't have made it through her 20s without her work friends. But now that she's a manager and working in a hybrid office, she's noticed that work friendships don't come as easily as they used to. A psychologist answers her burning workplace relationship questions and dives into the surprising amount of data about work besties. Plus, a Gen Z writer urges her to re-think the importance of work as a primary social hub. Meet the guests: - Dr. Marisa G. Franco, a psychologist and

Dec 2, 2022 • 32:52

Involved: A Front-Row Seat To Your Parent’s Love Life

Involved: A Front-Row Seat To Your Parent’s Love Life

Anita has not lived with her parents since leaving for college. But during the pandemic, many Millennials and Gen Zers returned home. For some of them, especially those with unpartnered parents, this meant new and unexpected insights into their parents’ love lives. Anita shares an episode of the podcast “Dating While Gray” that features conversations between parents and their adult kids about the ongoing search for a happily ever after. Adult children of single parents … are they a source of emo

Nov 25, 2022 • 32:29

Posed: Intimate Photography Goes Beyond Nudes

Posed: Intimate Photography Goes Beyond Nudes

Anita hasn't always loved getting her photo taken, but seeing herself through the artistic eye of a close friend and photographer has changed her perspective. She meets two intimate photographers who take her behind the scenes of their shoots and share their philosophies on capturing the erotic in an image. Plus, she talks with a model about her intimate work that explores disability and sexuality. Meet the guests: - LaQuann Dawson, an artist and community organizer, shares his passion for docum

Nov 18, 2022 • 31:20

Plucked: The Calm and Chaos of A Hair-Pulling Disorder

Plucked: The Calm and Chaos of A Hair-Pulling Disorder

Anita agrees to a suggestion posed by a listener: Explore why the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania is so taboo. She talks with an artist who started pulling their hair more than two decades ago but only recently told her parents…after publishing part of their story in a national news outlet. A psychologist on the front-lines of studying trich treatment talks about the importance of acceptance; and a hairstylist with trich takes us into why her salon is a safe haven for other folks with hai

Nov 11, 2022 • 33:20

Valued: Unpacking Your Money Baggage

Valued: Unpacking Your Money Baggage

Anita is getting married next year, which means she's been thinking a lot about money and what kind of spending aligns with her values. Turns out that her money behaviors (and yours) are shaped by experiences and beliefs that have accumulated since childhood. She talks with a financial therapist and a money coach about their work to help people better understand their money hang-ups and explores some unconventional ways to think about your money. Meet the guests: - Steven M. Hughes, a financial

Nov 4, 2022 • 30:05

Provided: A Gender-Inclusive Guide To Pelvic PT

Provided: A Gender-Inclusive Guide To Pelvic PT

The first time we did an episode about the pelvic floor, Anita learned that y'all needed that education just as much as she did. She revisits the topic with a focus on access for trans and gender nonconforming folks. Two providers reflect on the sexuality education that has informed their approaches to treatment, and a patient shares his experience navigating pelvic pain with providers who weren't always well-informed about treating trans patients. Meet the guests: - Markus Harwood-Jones, an aut

Oct 28, 2022 • 35:04

Carried: How Surrogacy Grows Families

Carried: How Surrogacy Grows Families

Anita is well aware that bringing a new baby into the world is a lotttttt of work (even though she's never done it herself). But when she heard about friends and family members choosing surrogacy to build their families, she realized how little she knows about that process — and how many misconceptions exist. She talks to a three-time surrogate about why she chose this path. A father who has had a child via surrogacy details how his family navigated the process from a financial, legal and emotio

Oct 21, 2022 • 31:38

Disobeyed: Elissa Wall’s Journey To Reclaim Her Body

Disobeyed: Elissa Wall’s Journey To Reclaim Her Body

After Anita watched the Netflix docuseries "Keep Sweet," it was on her mind for weeks. She sat down with Elissa Wall, one of the central figures in the series, to talk about growing up in an isolated, polygamist religious community in which everything was decided for her – from what she could wear to whom she would marry. Elissa talks about adjusting to life outside the FLDS Church, her process of healing after a traumatic childhood and her ongoing journey of embodiment. Meet the guest: - Elissa

Oct 14, 2022 • 43:36

Horrified: Joy, Memory & The Body In Black Horror

Horrified: Joy, Memory & The Body In Black Horror

For most of guest host Omisade Burney-Scott's life, she was a reluctant viewer of horror films — squinting through her fingers long enough to get to the closing credits. In recent years, that trepidation has turned into thrill as she's watched the Black horror genre evolve. She talks with a filmmaker, director and horror scholar about how they see their own experiences reflected in the Black horror renaissance. Meet the guests: - Lana Garland, writer, director, producer and curator of the Hayti

Oct 7, 2022 • 30:16

Supported: The Stories Behind Our Bras

Supported: The Stories Behind Our Bras

Anita pretty much stopped wearing bras in the pandemic, and she's likely not going back. But she knows that for many, a good bra is clutch for daily comfort. She traces the surprising history and technology of the brassiere with the inventor of the sports bra and an expert who consulted with the Army on their first-ever tactical bra. Then she meets two people whose bra stories bump up against how we define and redefine gender and social norms for ourselves and others. Meet the guests: - Lisa Li

Sep 30, 2022 • 31:40

Secured: Health Data In A Post-Roe World

Secured: Health Data In A Post-Roe World

Anita has long taken a laissez-faire approach to digital security. But as she's learned (the hard way), just because she doesn't have something to hide, doesn't mean she has nothing to lose. She calls in experts, including an abortion doula and sex worker, to learn strategies for keeping personal information safe online. Meet the guests: - Amanda Bennett, a project manager for Digital Defense Fund, walks us through the basics of digital security and shares practical tips - Kestrel, an abortion d

Sep 23, 2022 • 30:56

Feminized: Aligning Your Inner And Outer Selves

Feminized: Aligning Your Inner And Outer Selves

Anita revisits a conversation with folks who've undergone facial feminization surgery as part of their gender confirmation process. FFS is a set of bone and soft tissue surgical procedures that reshape the forehead, brow, jaw and more. They share what the surgery meant for them, plus a medical anthropologist helps unpack who gets to decide what femininity looks like. Meet the guests: - Emma Ward, songwriter, producer and community manager, shares her experience of facial feminization surgery - E

Sep 16, 2022 • 35:06

Destined: Using The Stars As A Guide

Destined: Using The Stars As A Guide

Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott is a proud Aries Sun-Leo moon-Virgo rising and has been looking to the stars since the ‘70s. She and her best friend of over 50 years look back on how astrology influenced their relationship growing up and how they move in the world today. Plus, she talks to two astrologers about how this practice can play a role in social justice movements and in the intersections of our identities. Meet the guests: - Cheyanne Headen, a community and de-escalation specialist and

Sep 9, 2022 • 34:55

Invested: When It Gets Uncomfortable With Family

Invested: When It Gets Uncomfortable With Family

Anita shares an episode of “This Is Uncomfortable,” a podcast from Marketplace that explores the ways money messes with our relationships and life plans. Rebecca Danigelis never planned to stop working. Raising two kids as a single mom, everything she earned went to making sure they got the best education she could afford. But when her son Sian-Pierre's career took off, hers started to crumble. Find “This Is Uncomfortable” wherever you get your podcasts. Look out for their next season in early O

Sep 2, 2022 • 37:25

Renounced: Leaving A Religious Community

Renounced: Leaving A Religious Community

Anita grew up betwixt and between two religious communities and never felt like she fully belonged to either. The upside? She had a lot of room to figure things out on her own. She talks with two people who didn't find that freedom until they left their conservative religions. They tell her about extracting themselves from tight-knit religious communities and reconnecting with their sexuality and identity on their own terms. Meet the guests: - Nicole Hardy, writer and author of the me

Aug 26, 2022 • 30:44

Undaunted: How Abortion Doulas Support You

Undaunted: How Abortion Doulas Support You

Before recording this episode, Anita would have turned to Google for her burning questions about abortion. But now, she knows better. She meets two abortion doulas who share the practical and philosophical components of their job. They reflect on what has changed for them since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and what's stayed the same for their alternative and community-based networks of care. Meet the guests: - KáLyn Banks Coghill, an abortion doula, writer, organizer, educator and doctoral stude

Aug 19, 2022 • 32:33

Aged Out: Life After Foster Care

Aged Out: Life After Foster Care

Anita had a terrible 18th birthday (she'll tell you later), but not much changed for her when she legally became an adult. For tens of thousands of young folks in the U.S. each year who turn 18 while in foster care, "legal adulthood" brings a slew of new challenges. Two women who aged out of foster care tell Anita about their experiences and how they informed the relationships they're building today. Plus, she meets someone who's seen the foster care system from both sides — as a kid, a

Aug 5, 2022 • 34:04

Remembered: How To Grieve An Animal Loved One

Remembered: How To Grieve An Animal Loved One

Anita is a dog mom. Her wire-haired, bearded terrier Oliver has been her companion through heartbreak, job changes and pandemic turmoil. She's never going to feel ready to say goodbye, but she knows from watching others lose family pets, that pet grief can wreck you, and it's better to acknowledge this reality sooner rather than later. She talks with pet owners, a veterinary social worker, a vet and her own parents about making space for pet grief and memorializing the animal companions

Jul 29, 2022 • 33:58

Neurodiversified: New Representation In Romance Novels

Neurodiversified: New Representation In Romance Novels

Anita's idea of relaxation often involves a good book. She's begun exploring the vast world of romance novels and was surprised to learn how much more diverse the genre has become since the days when Fabio was the only inspiration for sexy book covers. Three neurodivergent authors tell her about writing the characters they longed for as readers and making space for new takes on the "happy ending." Meet the guests: - E.S. Yu, author of the paranormal romance “Human Enough” talks about the way ind

Jul 22, 2022 • 28:54

Partnered: Mixing Business With Pleasure

Partnered: Mixing Business With Pleasure

Anita does not work with her boo, but after sharing home office space for two pandemic years, she's started to wonder how couples who *do* work together make it work. She talks with two sets of couples in very different professional industries about their strategies for tackling finances, alone time and intimacy. Meet the guests: - Sarah & Austin McCombie, the married duo behind the North Carolina-based band Chatham Rabbits talk about how they learned to give each other constructi

Jul 15, 2022 • 38:17

Sobered: Reexamining Your Relationship With Alcohol

Sobered: Reexamining Your Relationship With Alcohol

Anita has not participated in a Dry January, but there are times when she's motivated to pay extra-close attention to her relationship with alcohol. Most recently: during the pandemic. While some of us started drinking more, another group of folks committed to sober curiosity: a movement encouraging introspection about your relationship with alcohol. She meets two people who are years into building sober lives and asks them to reflect on how their sobriety journeys have shaped everything from re

Jul 8, 2022 • 34:53

Overturned: Accessing Abortion Care In A Southern State Where You Still Can

Overturned: Accessing Abortion Care In A Southern State Where You Still Can

Anita's now living in one of the few places in the U.S. South without an abortion ban. As her home state becomes the nearest safe provider for millions of people, she's observing how abortion providers here are preparing for the spike in demand. She reconnects with one of them, Dr. Rathika Nimalendran, who has been providing access to abortions in North Carolina for years, to talk about what action she's taking in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Meet the guest:

Jul 1, 2022 • 29:32

Caffeinated: The Science & Culture Of Your Coffee Habit

Caffeinated: The Science & Culture Of Your Coffee Habit

Anita comes from a tea-drinking family, but she's happiest when she's holding a mug of coffee the size of her face. For years, she's been reading headlines about why coffee is "good" for you, but she's not sure where myth ends and fact begins. So, she turns to the experts: Dr. Rao (her dad) is back to explain why coffee makes you poop, and how it affects your gut. A neuroscientist tells her about what her brain is doing once coffee hits her system. And two folks with deep ties to java talk about

Jun 24, 2022 • 34:14

Delivered (Part Two): No More Postpartum Silence

Delivered (Part Two): No More Postpartum Silence

Anita treasures sleep and moments of silence. So when she hears typical narratives of early parenthood that include unending cries and restless nights, she has concerns for the mental toll on new parents. But culturally there is a lot of silence around how challenging it can be and recognizing deteriorating mental health while caring for another person can be isolating. In part two of the postpartum series "Delivered," she meets a prolific artist whose experience with postpartum depression catal

Jun 17, 2022 • 34:10

Delivered (Part One): Supporting A Post-Baby Body

Delivered (Part One): Supporting A Post-Baby Body

Anita has been around enough postpartum folks to know that there's a whole lot they felt unprepared for when it came to how their physical bodies would experience pregnancy and childbirth. In part one of a two-part series, she hears from folks about meeting their new postpartum bodies. A postpartum doula talks about her trauma-informed approach to caring for the physical body; a photographer shares why they're trying to diversify the images we associate with postpartum bodies; and a former Marin

Jun 10, 2022 • 33:21

Perceived: Disrupting The Blind Stereotype

Perceived: Disrupting The Blind Stereotype

Anita got glasses young, and as a kid every time her prescription got worse, her anxiety about losing her vision spiked. She realizes now how much of that fear was ableism at work. Three artists who've lost their sight and found myriad ways to fortify a culture of blind pride show her it's about disrupting the binary and pushing for a more accessible, creative future Meet the guests: - Dr. M. Leona Godin, writer, performer, educator, and the author of "There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural H

Jun 3, 2022 • 32:38

Re-Cleansed: Skip The 10-Step Routine, But Not Your SPF

Re-Cleansed: Skip The 10-Step Routine, But Not Your SPF

Anita finally learned how to put on sunscreen properly and care for her body’s largest organ, thanks to medical and skincare industry experts who give advice she revisits in this episode. Their tips helped her figure out what to focus on in her skincare routine, and how to resist the temptation to fall down Tik-Tok beauty rabbit holes. Meet the guests: - Dr. Chesahna Kindred, a board-certified dermatologist at the Kindred Hair & Skin Center in Maryland, teaches Anita about the science of the ski

May 27, 2022 • 33:12

Co-Parented: Raising Children In Community

Co-Parented: Raising Children In Community

Anita turns the mic over to guest host Omisade Burney-Scott to explore the many ways folks are raising kids outside the nuclear family unit. First, Omi talks with her former romantic partner about their evolution from significant other to co-parents. Plus, she meets a woman who is part of a four-person parenting structure and hears from someone who is creating resources for folks in blended families. Meet the guests: - Michael Scott, Omisade’s coparent and father of Taj talks about their evoluti

May 20, 2022 • 35:00

Fated: Terminal Illness & No-Limit Love

Fated: Terminal Illness & No-Limit Love

Anita knows there's no way she can prepare herself or her loved ones for the ways a terminal illness can alter their lives. But meeting people with incurable conditions, and their loved ones, helps her understand what is possible when time suddenly becomes limited. A couple navigating a terminal ALS diagnosis share their story and how their definition of intimacy has evolved. Plus, a woman in her 20s talks about building a dating profile and keeping her sense of humor when her life expectancy is

May 13, 2022 • 28:26

Counseled: How Sex Therapy Works

Counseled: How Sex Therapy Works

Anita's clocked hundreds of hours in therapy, and she's a fan. But there's a part of the profession she hasn't tapped yet: sex therapy. This kind of counseling is designed to support couples — and individuals — through challenges with their bodies and in the bedroom. Some experts join her to share how it can help people reconnect, plus she tests a smartphone app that helps folks broach uncomfortable sexual conversations. Meet the guests: - Dr. Lauren Walker, a registered clinical psychologist an

May 6, 2022 • 33:53

Scented: Life According To Your Nose

Scented: Life According To Your Nose

Anita sniffs out what's so fascinating about the science of smell — and gets her mind blown. A psychologist shares why smell is our most emotional sense, plus stories about the mental health consequences of anosmia (losing your sense of smell), and a scent designer describes how to re-create memories through candles. Meet the guests: - Bonnie Blodgett, author of “Remembering Smell" talks about what it was like to lose her sense of smell - Rachel Herz, neuroscientist and author of “Th

Apr 29, 2022 • 31:44

Widowed: Living With 'Great Grief'

Widowed: Living With 'Great Grief'

Anita shares an episode of a podcast produced by her colleagues that gets her teary every time she listens (but in a good way). “Black Widow” from the podcast Great Grief features Grammy-nominated musician Nnenna Freelon reflecting on what’s changed for her in the years since her husband Phil’s passing. Nnenna’s now grappling with a brand new identity: widow.

Apr 22, 2022 • 28:32

Televised: 'Sex Education' On Screen

Televised: 'Sex Education' On Screen

Anita has been inhaling the Netflix show "Sex Education." It's bold, not just in its approach to representation and inclusivity, but also sex. A critic, sex therapist and show superfans join her and guest host Anthony Howard (Embodied's intern) to talk about what the show taught them about self-pleasure, boundaries and methods for healthier sexual relationships. Meet the guests: - Drew Gregory, screenwriter, staff writer for Autostraddle, and co-host of the podcast “Wait Is This a Dat

Apr 15, 2022 • 34:04

Reimagined: The Sex Ed You Deserve (But Didn't Get)

Reimagined: The Sex Ed You Deserve (But Didn't Get)

Anita remembers only a few things about her in-school sex education: humor-laden condom demos and pregnancy fear. It's safe to say, she had a lot to figure out on her own after class, and that's typical. Only half of U.S. students get info that meets national standards, so it's clear that something has gotta change! Two high schoolers share why they've taken it upon themselves to give their peers inclusive, shame-free sexuality education. Plus, an expert on college sex lives tells us how the sex

Apr 8, 2022 • 31:00

Purified: The Lasting Legacy of The Abstinence Pledge

Purified: The Lasting Legacy of The Abstinence Pledge

Anita grew up in the 1990s, the era of Purity Culture. Unlike Britney (Spears) and Jessica (Simpson), she had no purity ring, but she's seen how abstinence messaging shaped her generation's relationship with sex, religion, pleasure and their bodies. She talks to two folks who've been unraveling their own indoctrination, and meets someone who's on an mission to help parents recover from purity culture and raise a more sex-positive generation. Meet the guests: - Lyz Lenz, the author of

Apr 1, 2022 • 28:17

Parented: Raising A Gender-Expansive Kid

Parented: Raising A Gender-Expansive Kid

Anita declines invites to gender-reveal parties, but she gets why some expectant parents look to gender as a way of organizing the world — they've been socialized to do so. So what happens when a kid comes out as trans or gender nonbinary? Anita talks to three parents of gender-expansive kids about learning to support and advocate for their children. The parents, and one of their kids, share what it's looked like for them to push back on the gender binaries present everywhere: from doctors offic

Mar 25, 2022 • 32:54

Hooked Up: The Myth Of Sex With No Strings Attached

Hooked Up: The Myth Of Sex With No Strings Attached

Anita is confused about hook up culture. Is it a thing, and if so, who makes the rules? She talks to a recent college grad about her research on the sex lives of her peers, plus a therapist who shares her take on why it doesn't feel as liberating as we think it should. Then she dives into Celibacy TikTok — a space where Gen Zers are committing to being sex-free. Meet the guests: - Sophie Aaron, a writer, researcher and 2021 graduate of Oberlin College shares insights from her senior thesis on ho

Mar 18, 2022 • 32:05

Dreamed: Inside Your Night Brain

Dreamed: Inside Your Night Brain

The name Embodied came to Anita in a dream, and she's on a quest to figure out how that happened. She talks to a dreamworker about strengthening the bridge between dreaming and creativity, unpacks weird COVID-19 dreams and learns about nightmare therapy. Meet the guests: - Angel Morgan, an artist, filmmaker and the founder of Dreambridge, gives Anita a Dream Science 101 lesson and shares how folks can better connect their dreams to their creativity - Chris Ufere, the founder and CEO

Mar 11, 2022 • 29:38

Unfriended: When Your BFF Breaks Your Heart

Unfriended: When Your BFF Breaks Your Heart

Anita got friend dumped for the first time in 6th grade, and she's still not over it. She talks to folks about the distinct pain of a platonic breakup and gets some tools for building strong friendships, setting boundaries and figuring out when it's time to let go. Meet the guests: - Michelle Elman, an author and life coach best known for her activism campaign Scarred Not Scared, tells Anita about "the mass exodus" — a period of time in which she went through multiple friend breakups - Tony Liu,

Mar 4, 2022 • 24:04

Uncoupled: Thank U, Next

Uncoupled: Thank U, Next

Anita has no qualms about being an armchair therapist for friends going through a breakup. But sometimes she wonders how her advice aligns with what relationship experts say. Advice columnists Meredith Goldstein and Stacia Brown give guidance on breaking up "well," going no-contact, navigating social media, and finding the right breakup anthem for the moment. Meet the Guests: - Meredith Goldstein, writer and podcast host behind The Boston Globe column and podcast "Love Letters," share

Feb 25, 2022 • 33:58

Estranged: When Family Bonds Break

Estranged: When Family Bonds Break

Anita has a close nuclear family unit but knows that's not the case for everyone. Meeting folks who — by choice or circumstance — are estranged from members of their family, she hears reflections on finding belonging elsewhere and seeking support from non-traditional sources. She also learns from two siblings who were estranged for more than 40 years that while reconciliation is possible, it's not for everyone. Meet the Guests: - Raksha Vasudevan, a writer, talks about her estrangement from her

Feb 18, 2022 • 33:13

Floored: The Pelvic Muscles You Need To Know

Floored: The Pelvic Muscles You Need To Know

Anita figures out why everybody's talking about the pelvic floor. Turns out, getting-to-know the hammock-like structure of muscles we carry around has helped some people heal their relationships with sex and their bodies. She also uncovers the game-changing ways her own dad has contributed to pelvic floor medicine. Meet the Guests: - Ijeoma Nwankpa, a certified specialist in pelvic health, trained sexuality counselor and owner of the Center of Pelvic Excellence Physical Therapy &

Feb 11, 2022 • 24:48

Vocalized: The Sound Of Who You Are

Vocalized: The Sound Of Who You Are

Anita's voice is her bread and butter, but yours likely means a lot to you too. How we sound speaks volumes about our identities...but should it? A vocalist, a vocal coach and an artist sound out the links between voice and gender, and what our built-in instruments reveal about who we are. Meet the Guests: - Tona Brown, a violinist and vocalist who founded Aida Studios, talks about becoming the first trans vocalist to headline at Carnegie Hall and the space she's creating for other students as a

Feb 4, 2022 • 30:31

Painted: The Politics Behind Every Red Lip

Painted: The Politics Behind Every Red Lip

Anita applies herself to learning the fascinating history of her favorite item of makeup: bold red lipstick. Experts and aficionados tell her about influencers who have shaped makeup throughout history, from Rosie the Riveter to Rihanna, and how the cosmetics industry has evolved over time. Meet the Guests: - Rae Nudson, the author of "All Made Up: The Power and Pitfalls of Beauty Culture from Cleopatra to Kim Kardashian," takes us through the history of products like bold red lipstic

Jan 28, 2022 • 27:37

Accepted: Bringing Body Neutrality Into The Conversation

Accepted: Bringing Body Neutrality Into The Conversation

Anita brings the RESOLVED series to a close by revisiting a conversation about body neutrality. Fat activists teach her about radical reframes, including body positivity and a newer term to her: body neutrality. Meet the Guests: - Virgie Tovar, a fat activist, host of the Rebel Eaters Club podcast and author of “The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color" talks about why body neutrality is a helpful step for some in their body liberation journey - Tigress Osborn, thee c

Jan 21, 2022 • 33:25

Intuited: Trusting Your Body On What And When To Eat

Intuited: Trusting Your Body On What And When To Eat

Intuitive eating is an approach to food and health that encourages tuning into your body’s signals about when, what and how much to eat. Anita talks to a neuroscientist about how our brains respond to dieting and two registered dieticians walk her through the 10 principles of intuitive eating and what can change for folks when they relearn their body's food cues. Meet the Guests: - Sandra Aamodt, a neuroscientist and author of Why Diets Make Us Fat: The Unintended Consequences of Our

Jan 14, 2022 • 27:34

Dieted: Unlearning Lessons From Thin-Obsessed Culture

Dieted: Unlearning Lessons From Thin-Obsessed Culture

Diet culture is the water we're all swimming in. Anita unpacks the science that props it up with a registered dietician and certified internal medicine physician. She also hears how folks are pushing back against the ways it manifests in the doctor's office, on the trails, and in the gym. Meet the Guests: - Christy Harrison, an anti-diet registered dietician and a certified intuitive eating counselor takes us inside the history she explores in her book: "Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time,

Jan 7, 2022 • 30:50

Muscled: Competitive Bodybuilders On Strength And Sacrifice

Muscled: Competitive Bodybuilders On Strength And Sacrifice

Athletes who push their bodies to muscular limits take Anita inside their physique sport. She explores their personal motivations and talks with a health professional about the toll this kind of training takes on competitors' physical and mental health. Meet the Guests: - Coryne Butler, a bodybuilding lifestyle and transformation coach with FitBody Fusion, shares her experience as a woman in the sport of bodybuilding - Tommy Murrell, a personal trainer and former bodybuilding competi

Dec 17, 2021 • 22:34

Unbuttoned: The Surprising History Of Lingerie

Unbuttoned: The Surprising History Of Lingerie

Anita stopped wearing real bras in the pandemic. But that doesn't mean she's stopped eyeing lingerie. Lingerie aficionados — including a historian, model and designer — take her inside the world of undergarments: from the history of crotchless panties to how folks are rethinking intimate apparel design to fit a wider range of bodies. Meet the Guests: - Cora Harrington, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lingerie Addict blog and author of "In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear and Love Lingerie

Dec 10, 2021 • 27:52

Napped: The Right To Remain Rested

Napped: The Right To Remain Rested

Anita doesn't slow down...until her body demands it. That's thanks in part to a culture that values productivity, making true rest a challenge for many, especially people from marginalized backgrounds. For Black folks in particular, sleep deprivation has roots in slavery and racial oppression — which makes rest a form of resistance. Hear from people who are reclaiming their right to rest and pushing back against hustle culture through art, therapy and activism. Meet the Guests: - Gabr

Dec 3, 2021 • 32:03

Primed: Getting Ready To Grow Old

Primed: Getting Ready To Grow Old

Anita's parents have told her that they want their aging process to be easy on her and her siblings. But how does that intention become reality? Anita talks to folks who are looking at the aging process head-on and thinking about how to build webs of community and care for their older selves. Meet the guests: - Steven Petrow, journalist and author, talks about how watching his parents age has informed what he does and doesn't want for his older self and shares his tangible preparations and minds

Nov 19, 2021 • 24:23

Aced: Love, Romance and Asexuality

Aced: Love, Romance and Asexuality

Anita learns from folks who identify as the A on the LGBTQIA spectrum. It's a sexual identity that's long been ignored, minimized and misunderstood. They share their differing experiences of not being sexually attracted to anyone and a reminder we could all use: love and sex are not the same. Meet the guests: - Angela Chen, journalist and author of “Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society and the Meaning of Sex,” talks about the range of experiences in the ace community, including her

Nov 12, 2021 • 23:13

Feminized: Aligning Your Inner And Outer Selves

Feminized: Aligning Your Inner And Outer Selves

Anita meets folks who've undergone facial feminization surgery as part of their gender confirmation process. FFS is a set of bone and soft tissue surgical procedures that reshape the forehead, brow, jaw and more. They share what the surgery meant for them, plus a medical anthropologist helps unpack who gets to decide what femininity looks like. Meet the guests: - Emma Ward, songwriter, producer and community manager, shares her experience of facial feminization surgery - Eric Plemons, associate

Nov 5, 2021 • 34:33

Menopaused: Life's Misunderstood Chapter

Menopaused: Life's Misunderstood Chapter

Anita sometimes fantasizes about no longer having to deal with having a period. But folks along the perimenopausal parkway remind her that menopause is no quick and easy road. Anita's mom and others navigating the change share how it's shaped their relationships with their bodies, sex and where they turn for support. Meet the guests: - Sheila Rao, Anita’s mom, shares her experience of bodily changes once menopause set in - Dr. Anna Camille Moreno, certified menopause practitioner at

Oct 29, 2021 • 33:12

Tracked: How Tech Can Be A Tool Of Abuse

Tracked: How Tech Can Be A Tool Of Abuse

Anita learns about how the smart devices that keep many of us connected have also contributed to the rise of a new type of intimate partner violence. Survivors share stories of tech-enabled domestic abuse and a cybersecurity expert discusses what folks can do about it. Meet the guests: - Ashley, a survivor of digital domestic abuse who runs a TikTok account under the name MerelyAshley - Kathryn Kosmides, a multi-time gender-based violence survivor and founder and CEO of Garbo.io, a background c

Oct 22, 2021 • 33:22

Coordinated: The Making of a Sex Scene

Coordinated: The Making of a Sex Scene

Anita now knows why sex scenes in some of her favorite recent TV shows look a whole lot more like real life: intimacy coordinators. Two of them join her to talk about their work choreographing intimacy and training everyone on set about how boundaries and structure makes things sexier and more fun. Meet the guests: - Mia Schachter is a consent educator and intimacy coordinator who takes Anita behind the scenes of their work on set. - Teniece Divya Johnson is a stunt performer and intimacy coord

Oct 15, 2021 • 21:27

Cleansed: Skip The 10-Step Routine, But Not Your SPF

Cleansed: Skip The 10-Step Routine, But Not Your SPF

Anita finally learned how to put on sunscreen properly and care for her body’s largest organ, thanks to medical and skincare industry experts who give advice she revisits in this episode. Their tips helped her figure out what to focus on in her skincare routine, and how to resist the temptation to fall down Tik-Tok beauty rabbit holes. Meet the guests: - Dr. Chesahna Kindred, a board-certified dermatologist at the Kindred Hair & Skin Center in Maryland, teaches Anita about the sci

Oct 8, 2021 • 32:09

Overnighted: 24-Hour Childcare Center Workers Are An Extension Of Families

Overnighted: 24-Hour Childcare Center Workers Are An Extension Of Families

Anita learns daycare for children can continue well into the night thanks to facilities open around the clock meeting the needs of parents working nontraditional hours. Two 24-hour care providers take her into their day-to-day operations and discuss the unique bonds they form with the families they work for. Plus a single mom shares her story of relying on a 24-hour facility to help meet her needs. Meet the guests: - Deloris Hogan, co-founder of Dee’s Tots Childcare in New Rochelle, N

Oct 1, 2021 • 33:35

Snipped: Why A Vasectomy Is A Great Idea

Snipped: Why A Vasectomy Is A Great Idea

Anita learns the science behind the most effective form of birth control and hears from a sociologist about how getting a vasectomy transformed his relationship with his masculinity. Meet the guests: - Dr. Matt Coward, an associate professor of urology at the UNC School of Medicine, talks about the science of the vasectomy. He is also the director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at UNC Fertility. - Ryan Cragun is a sociology professor at the University of Tampa. He shares his experien

Sep 24, 2021 • 27:10

Accepted: Why Feeling Neutral About Your Body Can Be A Good Thing

Accepted: Why Feeling Neutral About Your Body Can Be A Good Thing

Anita acknowledges that looking in the mirror and loving everything she sees may be unrealistic. Fat activists teach her about radical reframes, including body positivity and a newer term to her: body neutrality. Meet the Guests: - Virgie Tovar, a fat activist, host of the Rebel Eaters Club podcast and author of “The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color" talks about why body neutrality is a helpful step for some in their body liberation journey - Tigress O

Sep 17, 2021 • 32:27

Transitioned: Death Doulas On Dying Well

Transitioned: Death Doulas On Dying Well

Anita's only had a handful of up-close experiences with dying people, and it's something she'd rather not think about. It's the antithesis to the philosophy of some folks she admires: death doulas. They say: Spend more time looking head-on at the inevitable. Respect death, don't fear it. Turns out, this uncomfortable approach may make things more comfortable in the end. Meet the guests: - Vivette Jeffries-Logan, a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, a person who holds healing sp

Sep 10, 2021 • 30:24

Naked: No Clothes, No Problem

Naked: No Clothes, No Problem

Anita learns about non-sexual, social nudity and why opting to live life mostly in the nude could actually make her think about her body LESS. Meet the guests: - Naomi Prioleau, a reporter and host at WUNC, talks about her personal journey to becoming a practicing naturist. - Jay Shapiro, lead coordinator and president of Triangle Area Naturists LLC, shares how to separate sex from nudity. - Sam and Aleah, creators of Our Natural Blog, share how they're working to bring more young folks into th

Sep 3, 2021 • 32:35

TLDR: You'll Be Hearing More From Us

TLDR: You'll Be Hearing More From Us

Anita shares an exciting announcement about the Embodied podcast and what you can expect in your feeds starting next week! Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Aug 27, 2021 • 1:25

Incarcerated: Love In Lockdown

Incarcerated: Love In Lockdown

Anita loves a good romantic story — especially when lovers prevail against all odds. There are a million reasons to give up on happily ever after when one or more people in a relationship are incarcerated. But for those who stay together despite prison walls, a special kind of connection is created, as we learn in the season two finale. Meet the guests: - Monae and Adriel Alvarado share their one-of-a-kind love story — from meeting inside prison while they were both incarcerated and sending lov

May 26, 2021 • 34:04

Discussed: Tips On Taking Conversations Into Tough Territory

Discussed: Tips On Taking Conversations Into Tough Territory

Anita may not shy away when conversations get uncomfortable, but approaching difficult topics can depend on who you're talking to and which self you're bringing to the discussion. In this special episode, she exchanges notes and kinship with Anna Sale and Allison Behringer, hosts of the podcasts "Death, Sex & Money" and "Bodies" respectively. Meet the guests: - Anna Sale, host of "Death, Sex & Money," shares lessons learned from 7 years of hosting hard conversations on the microphone and persona

May 19, 2021 • 35:10

(Un)Rested: Awakening Our Understanding Of Sleep

(Un)Rested: Awakening Our Understanding Of Sleep

Anita has little trouble knocking out for a good night's sleep. But feeling well rested all the time? That's a little more complicated. Why do our bodies struggle to do what we know is good for us? Meet the guests: - Jade Wu, a psychologist and sleep specialist, gives us some sleep science 101 and shares her top tips on battling insomnia. - Andre Royal Sr. shares how narcolepsy affects his relationships and why he's trying to help folks better understand what narcolepsy looks like th

May 12, 2021 • 29:30

Disabled: Dating And Sex In The Body You Have

Disabled: Dating And Sex In The Body You Have

Anita surprised herself with judgements she made about others with only a photo to go on during her years of online dating. Such bias and misconceptions are something folks with physical disabilities contend with every day on the apps...and IRL. Meet the guests: - Julie-Ann Scott-Pollock, a performer and communication studies scholar, talks about living with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and what non-disabled people can learn about consent and communication from the disabilities community. -

May 5, 2021 • 20:29

Adopted: Claiming Space For Transracial Kids

Adopted: Claiming Space For Transracial Kids

Anita has the skin privilege of a white woman and the upbringing of an Indian-American girl. That can make belonging a challenge, something like what transracial adoptees often experience in their own families. Meet the guests: - Shruti Shah talks about growing up as a transracial adoptee in a mixed-race family in Memphis. She also brings on her parents to ask them some lingering questions. - Writer Andrew Lee and his father are both Korean adoptees. Andrew shares how his family's story fits int

Apr 28, 2021 • 27:33

Returned: Bouncing Back With Boomerang Love

Returned: Bouncing Back With Boomerang Love

If Anita weren't boo'd up, she might wonder if there's someone in her life she already knows who is a good romantic match for her. But is it healthy to look to the past for a chance at future happiness? With help from the podcast Dating While Gray, we examine the pros and cons of "boomerang love." Meet the guests: - Jeannie Thompson talks about her own boomerang heartbreak that led her to leading online discussion forums on reconnecting with former loves. - Grace shares what happened when she r

Apr 21, 2021 • 35:28

Infected: Putting Misinformation About Herpes To Bed

Infected: Putting Misinformation About Herpes To Bed

Anita, like many of us, was essentially taught that a herpes diagnosis means the end of a good sex life. Now it's time for a real education about the sexually transmitted infection, which is extremely common and far less terrifying once you open the door to conversation about it. Meet the guests: - Sex and culture critic Ella Dawson talks about her experience navigating a herpes diagnosis and how opening up about it publicly has shaped her life and relationships. - Infectious disease

Apr 14, 2021 • 21:56

Played: What Today's Generation Of Gamers Get Right

Played: What Today's Generation Of Gamers Get Right

Anita is over adulting and would love to lose herself in some serious play time. She's never been a gamer but is intrigued by how video games help us tap into the fun side of our brains while creating spaces designed to help us strengthen our connections with others. Meet the guests: - Hadley Causey talks about founding Spectrum, a queer exclusive server on Discord (a social network for gaming communities) that helped them create a safe space they didn't have in real life. - Tess Tanenbaum, an a

Apr 7, 2021 • 21:23

Terminated: Abortion Stories You Won't Hear From Hollywood

Terminated: Abortion Stories You Won't Hear From Hollywood

Anita appreciates how movies and TV are now more representative in portraying narratives about pregnancy termination. But those stories can't compete with talking to real people about their experience having an abortion. Meet the guests: - Gretchen Sisson, a sociologist, talks about how television and real life diverge when it comes to abortion — and how fictional portrayals influence our understanding of the procedure and the people who get it. - Ruth and Margaret share their experiences termin

Mar 31, 2021 • 25:13

Shaved: Our Tangled Relationship With Body Hair

Shaved: Our Tangled Relationship With Body Hair

Anita combs through her own tangled relationship with body hair and asks why so many of us invest time and money on removal methods. Meet the guests: - Scholar Rebecca Herzig explains when and why we started caring so much about body hair and how hair removal practices have evolved over the centuries. - Sharan Dhaliwal, founder and editor-in-chief of Burnt Roti, talks about about coming to terms with being a hairy Indian woman. - Photographer Kristie DeGaris shares how she's raising her daughter

Mar 24, 2021 • 21:54

Trailer: Season Two

Trailer: Season Two

Embodied is back for a second season!

Mar 16, 2021 • 2:54

Embattled: Trans Troops On A Mission For Equality

Embattled: Trans Troops On A Mission For Equality

Anita says all the time "what's personal is political." So, she's interested to see how a new presidential administration will affect the ability of transgender Americans to serve in the U.S. military, which has long suffered from barriers to equity for troops and veterans from marginalized communities. Meet the guests: - Lt. Col. Bree Fram, the highest-ranking, out transgender officer in the Department of Defense, shares what it meant to come out after Obama lifted the ban on trans service memb

Jan 14, 2021 • 24:06

Transitioned: The Double Shift

Transitioned: The Double Shift

Anita is all kinds of in love with her newborn niece, a relationship that has her thinking more about motherhood. Her thoughts on the matter are at least somewhat informed by listening to "The Double Shift" podcast, which challenges the status quo for moms. This episode explores the roles of gender and community in raising kids through the story of a transgender man named Ted. Plus, Anita extends an invitation for a virtual hangout. Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Dec 10, 2020 • 30:29

Aged: Sexual Desire And Dating After 50

Aged: Sexual Desire And Dating After 50

Anita is admittedly anxious about aging and what she'll have to re-negotiate about her body and her relationships as she gets older. Wisdom wanted. Meet the guests: - Omisade Burney-Scott, creator and host of "The Black Girls' Guide To Surviving Menopause" talks about how aging has affected her mind, body and spirit - Pepper Schwartz, a sociologist, sexologist and relationships expert, talks about how the cultural myths around aging shape how people approach sex and relationships - Ellen Ashley,

Oct 1, 2020 • 29:55

Gendered: What It's Like To Be Trans In The Exam Room

Gendered: What It's Like To Be Trans In The Exam Room

Anita knows how frustrating it can be to find the right doctor and get good healthcare. Transgender people have to navigate all those challenges and take extra measures to advocate for their wellbeing with medical providers who are too often untrained to treat them. Meet the guests: - Max Brown, a transgender teenager living in North Carolina, talks about being misgendered in the healthcare system and how finding a supportive healthcare provider has changed his physical and mental health. - Fran

Sep 24, 2020 • 23:16

Mothered: Raising Kids Radically

Mothered: Raising Kids Radically

Anita is thinking more and more about entering the club of motherhood. But first, she'd appreciate a reality check on things we don't often talk about — like child care and health concerns around pregnancy and labor. Meet the guests: - Angela Garbes, writer and author, talks about the cultural baggage surrounding American motherhood and how she separates the signal from the noise - Dani McClain, journalist and author, outlines how racial bias shapes the personal and professional experiences of B

Sep 17, 2020 • 27:24

Othered: The Only One In The Room

Othered: The Only One In The Room

Anita loves podcasts, especially ones that make space for intimate, unexpected conversations. "The Only One In The Room," hosted by Laura Cathcart Robbins, is one of those shows. This episode explores the excitement and emotions of being in an open marriage. Read the transcript Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Sep 10, 2020 • 35:47

Pooped: The Second Brain Inside Us

Pooped: The Second Brain Inside Us

Anita has a gut feeling none of us know as much as we should about the connection between our intestinal health and how our minds work. Meet the guests: - Ian Carroll, assistant profession of nutrition at UNC-Chapel Hill teaches us what we need to know about our gut microbiome. - Lin Chang, a gastroenterologist and co-director of the G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, explains the science behind the "gut feeling." - Lydia Greene, a postdoctoral fellow at the Duke L

Sep 3, 2020 • 22:26

Burned: The Stress Threshold

Burned: The Stress Threshold

Anita is a workaholic. Being overworked stresses Anita out. Too much stress leads to poor health. Don't be like Anita. Meet the guests: - Amelia Nagoski, conductor and co-author of "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" talks about the physical and psychological signals our body sends when its in distress. - Emilio Vicente, activist and communications manager for Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, shares the unique burnout challenges for activists and how changing

Aug 27, 2020 • 23:35

SeXXXed: Porn For All

SeXXXed: Porn For All

Anita questions whether her inner feminist will ever let her come around to enjoying porn without shame. Meet the guests: - Monèt Noelle Marshall, an artist and activist, talks about creating an artistic project exploring sexual shame. - Shine Louise Houston, founding director and producer of Pink and White Productions, takes us behind-the-scenes of creating ethical porn. - Mia Little, an adult film actor and content creator, talks about challenging the sexual stereotypes about Asian people whil

Aug 20, 2020 • 24:08

Pleasured: The Sex Talk That Wasn't

Pleasured: The Sex Talk That Wasn't

Anita realizes she never got 'the sex talk' growing up. And even if she had, it probably wouldn't have gone like this. Meet the guests: - Emily Nagoski, author and sex educator, introduces a new framework for thinking about sex and pleasure. - Carin Bondar, biologist and science communicator, talks about what humans can learn from understanding how sex works in the animal kingdom. - Anita's parents reflect on why they never gave her the sex talk and what they hope to do differently with their gr

Aug 13, 2020 • 24:02

Embodied: Trailer

Embodied: Trailer

Impolite conversations. Intimate connections. Important self-discoveries. Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Jul 28, 2020 • 3:03

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