Beyond the Bedroom

#9 Flying Purple People Pleaser

So many of us have an urge to assess the needs of others and tend to them before we consider our own. This can show up in so many ways in a relationship and really impact your satisfaction. So how do we combat this? I’ll dive into my own journey with codependency and people-pleasing, along with some practical advice to combat it both in the bedroom (and beyond). To submit questions or suggestions head to birna.net or my Instagram @bbirna 

#8 Lies about the Vagina pt. 1

In this new series, I explore the lies we’ve been told about the vagina, whether from old wives' tales or internet trends. Lie number one: "all and any vaginal odor is bad". I break down what vaginal odor really is, how to get out of hypervigilance mode, and the culprits behind this myth that perpetuate purity. This episode is for everyone, not just those with vaginas (busting myths can help the stigma!). To check out more of my work head to Birna.net, or on my Instagram @bbirna. 

#7 Shame on Me

Shame is the basis of stigma, which can lead to violence or oppression. It sounds like a heavy topic, but I promise I’ll keep it as light as I can, as I share some of my favorite ways to deal with sex-negative haters online. We might repress healthy conversations about sex because we’re embarrassed, ashamed, or clueless when it comes to what is the right info to give. I’ll go into the social aspects of how shame shows up in people’s sex lives, along with some recommendations on how to combat it in your own life or others’. My reading list is at birna.net/writing and feel free to reach out to me on Instagram too, @bbirna. 

#6 Ghost Stories

Happy Halloween! Ghosts tend to be the center of attention this time around, so it's the perfect time to talk about relationship ghosting. When is it okay to do, and is there a way to avoid it? Also, I’m a firm believer you’re never too old to dress up, so I’ll be chatting about costumes and the psychology behind sexual roleplay. I asked my wonderful audience for some fun stories about these topics that I’ll share at the end. If you want keep up with more of my work head to birna.net or reach out to me on Instagram @bbirna 

#5: Q&A Part 2 (Bonus!)

Part 2 of the Q&A dives a little deeper into relationship issues, what do to if your libido doesn’t match up, what toys are best for someone after bottom surgery, and more. If you want to ask a question or learn more head to my site birna.net or follow me on Instagram @bbirna and share your thoughts. Don’t forget to subscribe and rate this podcast to help others find it!

#4: Q&A Part 1

Hands down, my favorite thing to do as a sex educator is to answer some interesting and personal questions. In part one I tackle some “am I normal” questions, and I give some advice on bringing up anal, help a lesbian who isn’t into oral, and what to do if your partner is embarrassed by your kinks. If you want to ask a question or learn more head to my site birna.net or follow me on Instagram @bbirna 

#3 On Queerness

Content Warning: I do mention sexual assault in this episode (I remind you right before I go into it). This episode sheds light on my own experience growing up realizing I wasn't straight, and how this has shaped my life. I discuss topics like compulsory heterosexuality, coming into your queerness, and how bi-erasure is prevalent in both spaces. If you want to support my work, head to birna.net or follow me on Instagram @bbirna. 

#2: What’s Your Body Count?

What counts as sex? What's the deal with the body count? How are these things related? In episode two, I investigate what goes into people's individual definitions of sex as I encourage my audience to rewrite the rules when it comes to intimacy. This episode is more geared toward men than my usual work (not exclusive to cis men though!) and includes some talking points for the guys in your life you care about. Head to my website birna.net/podcast to find the free journal for episode two. Follow me on IG @bbirna to keep the convo going!

# 1: Did You Learn to Hate Your Body?

If you’re worried about your belly while on top, you’re not alone. Every decade, a new unattainable body ideal is being sold to us, and these cultural messages can get in our heads and start to chip away at our self-worth. Birna sheds light on her role as a sexuality educator along with providing some insight on her own journey from disordered eating to self-compassion. A few weeks back, she posted an open-ended question about when people feel the most and least self-conscious and she goes over some of her favorite replies. At the end of the episode, there are some questions for deeper introspection on your own time. Don’t forget to leave a review if you enjoyed it. If you’d like a free workbook with journal prompts from this episode, head to birna.net to get your free download.