Erin is a 34-year-old, cis-gender female who describes herself as queer, in a new relationship, she isn't certain of her preferred relationship style.
Erin deals with OCD, plus related mental conditions that cause her to pull her hair (Trichotillomania) and pick her skin (Dermatillomania). Those conditions cause her nervousness when exposing herself with a new partner.
Major themes in this episode include being queer, OCD, and exploring sex in adulthood.
- Feeling the tingle watching animated cartoons
- Growing up in a progressive culture
- The lack of good sex education, even in a progressive city
- Erin's first time having sex
- The dreaded moment of receiving oral from a boyfriend who didn't like doing it
- Basing her teen body image on being the "funny one"
- How getting tattoos as an adult has helped Erin to embrace her body
- The positive impact improving her body image has had on her sex life
- Erin's first relationship with a woman
- Navigating dating and sexuality with a form of OCD that is very visible (skin picking and hair pulling)
- Erin talks about her hard red lines around sex
Audio extras for this episode are:
- Erin and I talk about bisexuality – the language that is used around it and the experiences each of us have had around being rejected for it as well as being fetishized for it
- Erin talks about choosing a monogamous relationship after exploring ethical non-monogamy.
- The extended Q&A
Update:
Since this episode was released, the podcast has concluded. Here's how you can find me now:
EPISODE CREDITS:
Host / Producer – Leah Carey (email)
Audio Editor – Gretchen Kilby
Administrative Support - Lara O'Connor, Maria Franco
Transcript creation – Jan Acielo
Music – Nazar Rybak
