The Libido Fairy Podcast #125: The Three Phase Pleasure Cycle
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Feb 10, 2026 They break pleasure into three phases: wanting, liking, and learning, and why that frame matters for desire. A sourdough example shows anticipation, in-the-moment enjoyment, and reflection. Practical steps cover boosting wanting with flirting and nervous-system care, increasing liking through presence and novelty, and strengthening learning with clear feedback and after-sex reflection.
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Pleasure Is A Three Phase Cycle
- Pleasure is a three-phase cycle: wanting, liking, and learning that spans before, during, and after sex.
- Hannah Johnson explains that pleasure isn't a single brain center but a process where each phase is required to sustain long-term desire.
Sourdough Example Shows How Pleasure Builds
- Hannah Johnson uses freshly baked sourdough as an example to show wanting, liking, and learning in nonsexual terms.
- She describes smell, crackling crust, tasting, and later reflection as the wanting, liking, and learning phases respectively.
Dopamine Makes Anticipation Rewarding
- Dopamine peaks before a pleasurable experience, making anticipation itself rewarding and central to wanting.
- Hannah Johnson notes this explains why yearning and butterflies feel good prior to the encounter.