The Philosophy of Sex

As an industry that has nearly tripled in size in the last three years, the future for sex toys is seemingly bright. With an influx of brands emerging and toy use becoming less stigmatised and more commonplace, we explore how the world of sex toys is rapidly changing. Lora DiCarlo shares how one mind-blowing orgasm led her to found her namesake company. Changing the way we think about sex toy design, industrial designer and Professor, Judith Glover shares her experience creating toys that put people’s pleasure at the centre. We also discuss how despite the growth and demand for sex toys, many barriers and discrimination exist against toy companies.From increasing pleasure for those with disabilities to the orgasm gap, this episode explores how toys are so much more than a novelty or added extra. Resources:Find Judith Glover's work with DASHI here: http://dashi.rmitidsites.net.au/Handi- Sex toys by and for disabled people: https://thatshandi.co/Check out Lora DiCarlo's range of toys: https://loradicarlo.com/Connect with us: @becumingmehttps://www.becuming.me/Becuming takes the frustration out of finding the perfect sex toy by sending you personalised recommendations. Check it out at www.becuming.meCredits:Producer & host: Caroline Moreau-HammondProducer, editor & original music: Zoltan Fecso Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you hear the word Tantra, what comes to mind? Marathon sex sessions or ancient Eastern spiritual practice?Depending on where you look, you might get the impression that Tantra is anything from a lifestyle choice, to sexual therapy, to a religious practice. In this episode, we explore the grey areas surrounding Tantra. Advocates of Tantra, such as Tantric practitioner Elisa Caro, report improved intimacy and healing from trauma, while others, such as cultural critic Vikram Zutshi, warn of cultural appropriation and the extreme reduction of esoteric philosophies. Along with Professor of Religious Studies, Sthaneshwar Timalsina, we discuss how Tantra has been adapted for secularised and capitalist environments, and what the potential impacts of this adaptation are. We’ll see how Tantra is becoming simultaneously subject to greater popularity and scrutiny…Resources:Find Elisa Caro’s work here - https://elisacaro.com/Read ‘Tantra and The West’ by Sthaneshwar Timalsina: http://www.sutrajournal.com/tantra-and-the-west-sthaneshwar-timalsinaRead ‘The Pleasures and Perils of “Tantric Sex”’ by Vikram Zutshi: https://www.academia.edu/38756864/The_Pleasures_and_Perils_of_Tantric_Sex_Connect with us: @becumingmehttps://www.becuming.me/Becuming takes the frustration out of finding the perfect sex toy by sending you personalised recommendations. Check it out at www.becuming.me Credits:Producer & host: Caroline Moreau-HammondProducer, editor & original music: Zoltan Fecso Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google “sex and taboo” and you’ll be returned results like “It’s 2021. Why is sex still taboo?” It’s a fair question. It is 2021, so why is sex still taboo? In this episode, we explore the underlying purposes taboo serves when it comes to sex. We interrogate whether sexual taboos are fundamentally at odds with shame-free sex, and discuss how our erotic imaginations can contradict our ethical positions. Some taboos may contribute to sexual desire, but is there a way to explore them while reducing potential harm to others?Over the next thirty minutes, Cheyenne M Davis, Sue Jaye Johnson, Jeanne Proust and Caroline talk about the imbalances and problems that emerge when taboos aren’t examined carefully.In this episode, we dig into the nuances of sex positivity, kink and fetishisation, and explore the delicate relationship between power and privilege, and personhood and autonomy.  Resources:Read these articles by Cheyenne, breaking down toxicity and phobia in the kink community https://medium.com/unveild Find Cheyenne on Instagram - @cheymodee Read articles by Sue and other contributors on The Pleasure Report: https://thepleasurereport.substack.com/ Read more of Jeanne Proust’s work: https://jeanneproust.github.io/index.htmlListen to her podcast "Can you phil it" here.Connect with us: @becumingmehttps://www.becuming.me/Credits:Producer & host: Caroline Moreau-HammondProducer, editor & original music: Zoltan Fecso Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you take an orgasm pill, if it existed? If you didn’t want to, what other roads to more pleasurable sex are available? In this episode, we examine the influences impacting how women relate to their pleasure. Women have been taught to have a voice and demand egalitarian treatment in all areas of their lives. Yet, this doesn’t seem to have extended to sex. Today we’ll be interrogating how we got here…We hear from Liz Canner, creator of the documentary Orgasm Inc., about the race to medicalise the female orgasm. Sexologist Kassandra Mourikis also joins us to discuss how myths and misconceptions have left many people incorrectly feeling broken and abnormal. Two brave women, Laura Eustace and Francesca Gonzales, share their stories about working through sexual abuse trauma and fighting for their right to pleasure. As we unpack the many false truths surrounding female sexuality, from marketing tactics to pharmaceuticals, we explore the risks of exploitation and misinformation. Resources:If you have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment and feel you would like to speak to someone for support or information, 1800RESPECT (Phone: 1800 737 732) can provide counselling 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.Laura Eustace speaks up about her trauma at The Flourish Project. Find her on Instagram @flourishprojectnzFrancesca Gonzales is a Melbourne based songwriter and vocal coach. Find her on Instagram @francescagonzales_Kassandra Mourikis is a trauma-informed sexologist based in Melbourne - https://www.pleasurecentredsexology.com.au/Liz Canner is the award-winning director of Orgasm Inc - http://www.orgasminc.org/about-the-filmmaker.phpYou can watch Orgasm Inc here - https://vimeo.com/ondemand/orgasmcpConnect with us: @becumingmehttps://www.becuming.me/Credits:Producer & host: Caroline Moreau-HammondProducer, editor & original music: Zoltan Fecso Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Euphemia Russell, pleasure coach who centers somatic, slow-pleasure practices. Raja Halwani, philosopher probing Kant and sexual desire. Victoria Brooks, researcher challenging Western sexual morals via public-sex studies. Lisa Wade, sociologist studying hookup culture on US campuses. They explore hookup scripts, embodied pleasure versus dualistic shame, Kantian puzzles about objectification, and building pleasure-centered sexual ethics.

Everyone's talking about sex. But, where's the information really coming from? I’m Caroline Moreau-Hammond and this is a show called The Philosophy of Sex, where I want to talk more deeply about what sex means to us - and why? This podcast is for anyone who’s interested in why we think and behave the way we do. What are the philosophies we’ve inherited through history?How do we deal with Taboo?What role does medicalisation play?What is Tantra and BDSM?How is technology transforming the sex toy industry?We’re going to line up the facts, without judgement, to help you form your own Philosophy of Sex. Tune in, I’m sure it’ll make you see sex in a way you’ve never seen it before. We're on Instagram @becumingme"It's not about normalisation, because it's normal to exist as we are, but it's about having the autonomy or the choice. That is what we should be pushing for." - Cheyenne M DavisCredits:Producer & host: Caroline Moreau-HammondProducer, editor & original music: Zoltan Fecso Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.