• How to Have Better Sex with Dr. Nicole McNichols
    Jun 2 2026
    Dr. Kate Balestrieri interviews University of Washington professor Dr. Nicole McNichols who has taught “The Diversity of Human Sexuality” for about 15 years. They discuss McNichols’ book, “You Could Be Having Better Sex,” and answer a listener who wants to improve an already good sex life. Dr. McNichols introduces “micro-novelty” and explains how nonsexual forms of intimacy—intellectual, spiritual, aesthetic, and future-oriented—can strengthen sexual connection. She outlines her hierarchy of sexual needs (physical/psychological; social/emotional; creative/self-expressive) and reframes fantasies as pathways to desired feelings. They address mismatched effort, women’s sexual emotional labor (including the “fifth shift”), the harms of faking orgasms, and using curiosity, communication, and therapy to navigate blocks, emphasizing that pleasure is a birthright. 00:00 Meet Dr Nicole McNichols 01:20 UW Sex Class 02:10 Sex Ed Gaps 03:49 New Book Why 05:05 Listener Wants More (Question) 05:48 Micro Novelty Tips 07:05 Beyond Bedroom Intimacy 08:06 Intellectual Intimacy 10:21 Spiritual Aesthetic Intimacy 13:37 Permission For More 15:49 Sex Needs Pyramid 21:17 Fantasies As Metaphors 21:38 Sexual Growth Skills 22:42 The Fifth Shift Explained 25:00 Why Desire Drops 26:13 Stop Faking Pleasure 27:29 Talking Without Blame 29:38 When Truth Feels Betraying 33:30 Curiosity Questions That Work 38:42 Where To Find Dr. McNichols Dr. Nicole McNicholsBook: You Could Having Better Sex https://www.amazon.com/You-Could-Having-Better-Sex/dp/1668053772/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PVG61UHELD4J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TGA7IggxO47gFh5N7FNfeBdXNGVVmI5-9DvqXOTAcaNsnnyIvLnAi7cUiILcSlagzzthTiIXbfp0sf7GuFRPS8CibcFU1gSObU0J26bQz5hxWLmIgIIGDDAifMs_B3yFxLFBl3-24vDuMyh_QUX5qg._m6W5rD2D4ok2dM0UpMgNTOy-DdC2wwNRdUC8KTgrYI&dib_tag=se&keywords=you+could+be+having+better+sex&qid=1771878717&sprefix=you+could,aps,195&sr=8-1 Website: www.nicolethesexprofessor.comInstagram (@Nicole_TheSexProfessor)TikTok: (@Nicole_TheSexProfessor) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Embracing Sex Positivity with Luvbites Host Dr. Tara
    May 15 2026
    How do you embrace sex positivity if you grew up surrounded by social messaging filled with shame? Dr. Tara is ready to help you answer this question, and share her journey to sex positivity as well! This week on Get Naked, the doctors are in session – Dr. Kate and Dr. Tara, who will be on 90 Day Fiancé, sit down to discuss: • First sexual experiences • Defining sex positivity • Unpacking the judgement and backlash that sex positive individuals face (and why) • The macro- and micro-communications about sex and so much more! Dr. Tara is the internet's resident sex expert for GenZennials, on a mission to show that women can at once be sexual, intellectual, and powerful. She is a tenured professor of relational and sexual communication, and quantitative research at California State University Fullerton, an award-winning researcher, the TV host of Celebs Go Dating, an award-winning sex researcher, a TEDx speaker, host of the Luvbites by Dr. Tara podcast, and an in-demand sex and relationship coach based in Los Angeles. On TikTok, Dr. Tara is sharing bite-sized nuggets of wisdom to an audience eager to step into their power in sex, life, and beyond. Translation: she's making some serious moves destigmatizing sex, and having a blast while doing it. Sponsor: Lume - use code GETNAKED for 15% off your first purchase at LumeDeodorant.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Reclaiming Your Desire: Empowerment, Sovereignty, and Sexual Freedom with Pamela Madsen
    Oct 15 2024
    In this enlightening episode of "Get Naked with Dr. Kate," we welcome Pamela Madsen, the visionary behind Back to the Body. Together, Dr. Kate and Pamela dive deep into the world of embodied sexuality, desire, and vulnerability. Pamela shares how women can reclaim their pleasure and sovereignty by embracing their eroticism and shedding the shame that often surrounds sexual exploration. This conversation touches on the significance of immersive practices, the challenges of arousal imprints, and how sexual healing transcends the bedroom to affect all areas of life. Tune in for an empowering discussion that will leave you inspired to reconnect with your body and embrace your authentic desires. For more information about Pamela Madsen, you can find her here: Website: https://backtothebody.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepamelamadsen/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • The Misconceptions of a Resilience Mindset with Soraya Chemaly
    Aug 27 2024
    In this episode, Dr. Kate and renowned author, Soraya Chemaly, explore the misconceptions and dangers of resilience, highlighting the lack of social care and the value of care in society, highlighter in her new book: The Resilience Myth: New Thinking on Grit, Strength, and Growth After Trauma. Some of the key points include: - Resilience can be misconstrued and work against us when there is a lack of social care and value for care in society. - The concept of resilience has become detached from science and has proliferated as an ideology. - The science of resilience has biases and limitations, particularly in relation to gender and vulnerable populations. - Healing and resilience are not solely individual endeavors, but require community, relationships, and reflection. - Traditional notions of masculinity can hinder resilience and adaptability to change. - The idea of bouncing back to a pre-trauma state is a myth, and healing involves assimilating experiences and evolving as individuals. Rigid notions of masculinity can be harmful and lead to a lack of resilience. - Marginalized communities may overcompensate in one area to compensate for marginalization in another. - Cultivating an embodied awareness of our environments is important for resilience. - Resilience should be viewed from a relational perspective, emphasizing interconnectedness. -- Soraya Chemaly is a renowned journalist, activist, and author. Her work focuses on the words we use, the images we make, and how to act to build a better world. Her work will make you think, and give you plenty to talk about! Get Soraya Chemaly's books here: The Resilience Myth: New Thinking on Grit, Strength, and Growth After Trauma Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger Follow Soraya Chemaly: Instagram: @rageandresilience Website: https://www.sorayachemaly.com ____________________________________ 📞 SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION: https://www.modernintimacy.com/contact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • Can I Get Into My Partner's Inflation Fetish? With Brooke Brownlee, APCC
    Aug 6 2024
    In this episode, Dr. Kate Balestrieri and Brooke Brownlee, APCC (Clinical Associate at Modern Intimacy) discuss a listener question, about how to navigate a partner's inflation fetish. They address questions about what an inflation fetish involves, how to ensure safety during activities, and how to support a partner's interests without feeling uncomfortable. They also debunk myths surrounding inflation fetishes and provide resources for further exploration. Takeaways - It is common for partners to have mismatched sexual interests, and it is important to approach these differences with curiosity and support. - Engaging in inflation activities can be safe as long as there is consent, communication, and awareness of potential risks. - Supporting a partner's inflation fetish does not require personal arousal, but rather a willingness to understand and participate in a way that feels authentic. - Myths surrounding inflation fetishes, such as associations with child attraction, should be debunked to promote understanding and acceptance. - Self-exploration, open communication, and seeking resources can help navigate and introduce inflation fetishes into the bedroom. Keywords #inflation #inflationfetish #partnership #partnersupport #safety #resources Read More: What Does It Mean to Have an Inflation Fetish? by Brooke Brownlee, APCC https://www.modernintimacy.com/what-does-it-mean-to-have-an-inflation-fetish/ The Juicy Round World of Blueberry Porn, by Samantha Cole, Vice https://www.vice.com/en/article/wjmjqw/the-juicy-round-world-of-blueberry-porn ____________________________________ 📞 SCHEDULE A FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION: https://www.modernintimacy.com/contact ____________________________________ 🔗 FOLLOW MODERN INTIMACY ↘ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/themodernintimacy/ ↘ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernintimacy ↘ NEWSLETTER: https://www.modernintimacy.com/newsletter ↘ Check out the Modern Intimacy podcast on Apple Podcast or Spotify ____________________________________ 🔗 FOLLOW DR. KATE BALESTRIERI ↘ INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/drkatebalestrieri/ ↘ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@drkatebalestrieri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • Does ADHD Impact Your Sex Life? With Alexandre Fraysse of Healthy Pillars
    Jul 23 2024
    ADHD can impact so many different aspects of a person’s life…including in the bedroom! On this week’s episode of Get Naked, Dr. Kate is joined by Alexandre Fraysse to discuss how to navigate living with ADHD (or loving someone with ADHD) and the ways that it may show up in the bedroom. Together, they unpack: • Tips for taking accountability • Sharing tasks in partnership • Recommendations when you’re stuck in a “functional freeze” • The role ADHD plays in the bedroom And so much more! Alexandre Fraysse is an ADHD coach for professionals who specializes in helping his clients master their lives and natural gifts, empowering them to become unstoppable forces of nature in their professional and personal lives. Through creating personalized strategies and providing unwavering support, Alex’s clients transform their lives, harness their strengths, and conquer any obstacles in their way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • What To Do When You're Feeling Touched Out, with Author Amanda Montei
    Jun 25 2024
    Have you ever had a stressful day, filled with seemingly never ending tasks, and found yourself recoiling at the advances of your partner? If yes, you may be, as author Amanda Montei coins it, touched out. Amanda joins Dr. Kate in the studio this week to discuss this concept of being “touched out”, and the ways that it can permeate into our intimate and familial relationships. Together, the two explore: • The surprises one may encounter when entering motherhood • Being in recovery while becoming a mother • Weaponized choice in parenthood • The division of labor in households And so much more. Amanda is the author, most recently, of Touched Out: Motherhood, Misogyny, Consent & Control. She is a contributing writer for New York Times Magazine, and her work has also appeared at The Cut, New York Times, Elle, Time, Slate, and many others. She writes the newsletter Mad Woman. A special thank you to this week's sponsor, SEED! Support your gut this summer with Seed’s DS-01® Daily Synbiotic. Go to Seed.com/GETNAKED and use code 25GETNAKED to get 25% off your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • How to Raise Emotionally Mature Sons with Eli Weinstein, LCSW
    Jun 11 2024
    Can you ever be truly prepared to be a parent? And how can fathers show up for their sons to ensure that they grow up with emotional maturity? On this week's episode of Get Naked, Eli Weinstein joins Dr. Kate to discuss the in's and out's of parenting, especially when it comes to navigating fatherhood. Together, the two unpack: • How weaponized incompetence may be used in parental dynamics • The lack of role modeling for fatherhood that many men face • How postpartum may impact men • Tips for new fathers and so much more! Eli Weinstein is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Therapist who has worked in multiple settings, including psychiatric hospitals and outpatient clinics. Eli has honed his skills of CBT, ACT, positive psychology, and other therapy techniques to reach a grasp of the inner workings of the human mind. His mission is to use his experience, expertise, and voice to help empower individuals and let them know the life they hope for is possible. A very special thank you to this week's sponsors, SEED and VIIA Hemp! Support your gut this summer with Seed’s DS-01® Daily Synbiotic. Go to seed.com/getnaked and use code 25GETNAKED to get 25% off your first month. Head to Viiahemp.com and use the code GETNAKED to receive 15% off + one free sample of their award-winning gummies. (21+). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 mins