Ep. 233: Sex, Identity, and The Stories We Inherit w/ Sex Therapist Laura Rademacher
EQ: How much of our sexuality, relationships, and sense of self are truly our own and how much are shaped by the families, histories, and identities we inherit?
Guest: Laura Rademacher, Director of the Human Sexuality Certificate Program at Southwestern College/New Earth Institute; author of The Principles of Pleasure; Online classes, social media, and more
In this episode, we’re joined by Laura Rademacher, author of The Principles of Pleasure, for a wide-ranging conversation about sexuality, relationships, identity, and what it actually means to know yourself. Laura shares how she found her way into sex therapy and coaching work, the biggest misconceptions people have about the field, and what clients are often really searching for underneath their relationship or sexuality goals. We talk about intimacy beyond sex, how attraction and communication are shaped by both experience and identity, and why an intersectional lens matters so much in conversations around pleasure, connection, and healing. Laura also discusses her work with neurodivergent clients and LGBTQ families, offering insight into mixed-neurotype relationships, parenting under social stigma, and the ways culture, race, and family history can influence how we understand sexuality. The episode also explores ancestral trauma, epigenetics, and the stories we inherit from past generations, whether spoken aloud or quietly carried through family dynamics. Honest, thoughtful, and deeply human, this conversation challenges listeners to think more openly about intimacy, pleasure, and the ways we relate to ourselves and each other.
Do Your Fudging Homework:
Annie: Please check out Laura’s work and find your own way in to examine your sexuality and sexual experience with renewed self-compassion and openness.
Hope: what Annie said & maybe find a friend/confident you can start to have these conversations with in a safe space.
Laura: notice a time when you were feeling pleasure (how/why/where); find out your family history.