“ We don't choose what turns us on… but we get to play with it.”

Too often, women move into adulthood (and even marriage) without a real roadmap for understanding their own desires, let alone the conversations that bring intimacy to life. In this episode, we’re exploring how putting yourself at the center of your erotic life can transform not just your sex life, but your confidence, creativity, and sense of empowerment in every area.

Our guests, Danielle Harel and Celeste Hirschman, are co-founders of the Somatica Institute, known for their pioneering, hands-on approach to sex and relationship coaching. They don’t just teach theory—they teach the real-world skills we all wish we’d learned in school, like tolerating awkwardness, negotiating desires without guilt, and sitting with the sometimes-uncomfortable tension of wanting different things to create deeply fulfilling relationships.

In this candid, powerful episode, Erin, Danielle, and Celeste unpack:

• Why so many people enter adult relationships without the tools to express feelings, ask for what they need, support a partner, or handle emotional tension
• The importance of women learning to re-center themselves (over others!) in sex, relationships, and life
• How to sit with discomfort and why it’s essential for creating healthy, lasting relationships
• Why most of us are taught to downplay our own pleasure and how to finally unlearn it
• Creating a “pleasure menu”: how getting specific about your unique turn-ons and needs can transform sex and relationships
• Why a wide range of sexual fantasies can be a healthy part of your erotic life when explored consciously and consensually
• Why we don’t get to choose what turns us on, but we can choose how we play and interact with those feelings in the bedroom, with agency and empowerment
• How building a “village” of emotional support (friends, therapists, community) can take the pressure off your romantic relationships

OUR GUESTS: Danielle Harel, Ph.D., and Celeste Hirschman, M.A., are pioneers in intimacy, sexuality, and relationship coaching. Co-founders of the Somatica® Institute, they’ve transformed how love and connection are taught through their experiential, science-based Somatica Method. Together, they’ve trained over 1,000 coaches and helped countless individuals and couples embrace vulnerability, rediscover desire, and create deeply fulfilling relationships. Authors of three influential books—Making Love Real, Coming Together, and Confidence—Danielle and Celeste blend authenticity, humor, and bold honesty to inspire transformation. Their relatable insights into intimacy and connection make them captivating guests, offering audiences practical tools to enhance relationships and live passionately.

Want more Danielle and Celeste? Find them online at https://www.celesteanddanielle.com/ and https://www.somaticainstitute.com/

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“You are not alone.”

We hear this phrase often—but truly feeling less alone is something else entirely. Real connection begins when we share our stories, speak our truths, and let ourselves be seen. Few people champion this idea more powerfully than today’s guest, Dr. Jessica Zucker. Jessica is a psychologist specializing in reproductive and maternal mental health, and is the author of “I Had a Miscarriage: A Memoir, a Movement”. After experiencing her own miscarriage, Jessica launched the now-viral #IHadAMiscarriage campaign—a deeply personal yet universal invitation for women to speak their truths on their own terms. Her next book, “Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women's Lives”, is out on April 22nd.

In this episode, Erin and Jessica explore the silence, shame, and societal expectations around grief, body image, motherhood and many other fundamental aspects of women’s lives—and how sharing our stories can help dismantle them. We discuss:

• Why storytelling is an act of liberation—and how speaking openly about miscarriage and other stigmatized experiences builds healing and connection
• How silence around common women’s experiences like infertility, illness, menopause, and abortion perpetuates shame and isolation
• The problem with comparative suffering—and why women often minimize their pain by telling themselves “others have it worse”
• How girlhood teaches us to self-silence and be “good,” and the long-term impact this has on authenticity and self-expression
• Why it’s essential to talk to kids early and openly about bodies, sexuality, and emotions
• The cultural cost of silence—and how creating space for women to share their whole truths can shift the narratives we’ve been taught to hide

OUR GUEST: Jessica Zucker is a Los Angeles-based psychologist specializing in reproductive health and the author of the award-winning book I HAD A MISCARRIAGE: A Memoir, a Movement. Jessica is the creator of the viral #IHadaMiscarriage campaign. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Vogue, and Harvard Business Review, among others. She’s been featured on NPR, The Today Show, and Good Morning America and earned advanced degrees from New York University and Harvard University. Her new book, NORMALIZE IT: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women’s Lives, is out April 22nd!

Want more Jessica? Find her online at https://www.drjessicazucker.com/ and check out her books “I Had A Miscarriage” and “Normalize It” at the links below:

• https://www.drjessicazucker.com/i-had-a-miscarriage
• https://www.drjessicazucker.com/normalize-it

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ihadamiscarriage/

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“ You can't say the wrong thing to the right person.”

Modern dating can feel like a chaotic mess—swiping fatigue, societal pressures, and outdated patriarchal norms make it seem more like a minefield than a path to love. But what if dating could actually be joyful, empowering, and aligned with your values? Enter Lily Womble, a feminist dating coach, author, speaker, and founder of Date Brazen, which is on a mission to help women create dating lives that feel extraordinary and authentic.

In this episode, Erin and Lily break down the biggest myths about dating and offer powerful, actionable strategies to help you approach love on your terms. Whether you’re feeling disheartened by the process or just need a fresh perspective, this conversation will leave you ready to date with confidence. We discuss:

• Why dating is still stuck in the dark ages and how to reclaim your power & joy in the process
• Dating as self-care— prioritizing boundaries, agency, and pleasure over pressure and scarcity
• Most people aren’t your person and how to focus on the ones who actually align with you
• Ditch the checklist, because true compatibility is about how they make you feel, not just what’s on paper
• Words matter—how reframing your dating mindset creates new possibilities
• Using qualifying & disqualifying questions to filter for true compatibility
• Dating apps are just a tool—how to attract great matches both online and IRL

OUR GUEST: Lily Womble is an intersectional feminist dating coach and founder of Date Brazen. She has led thousands of badass, feminist women around the world to build dating lives that feel like self-care, that also lead to extraordinary love. Womble has been featured in InStyle, HuffPost, Bustle, ABC News, and Oprah Magazine. She lives in Brooklyn.

Want more Lily? Find her and Date Brazen online at https://www.datebrazen.com/ and listen to the Date Brazen podcast https://www.datebrazen.com/blog. Check out her book Thank You, More Please.

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datebrazen/

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