Welcome to the Sex Ed Book Review Podcast! In this installment, Landa dives into the CLASSIC book "Sex for One" by Betty Dodson. Landa and Barb explore the author's journey as a pioneering sexual health educator, discuss the book’s frank approach to solo sex and self-pleasure, and reflect on its impact, strengths, and legacy. Whether you’re a longtime fan of sex ed resources or just curious about the evolution of conversations around self-pleasure between the 1970's and today, this episode offers thoughtful insights, a few laughs, and plenty of book recommendations for your to-be-read pile.
SHOW NOTES:
Learn more about Betty: https://www.dodsonandross.com/ (CW: some real photographs of genitals on the website - not pornographic but educational.)
There is a great free clip from SlutEver with Betty where she calls herself a professional masturbator in the interview (and it’s a delight)
Sex Education- Television Series (Barb is convinced that Betty was the template for Gillian Anderson's Jean Milburn)
In this episode, Barb and Landa dive into "Pleasure Activism" by adrienne maree brown—a powerful collection of essays exploring the politics of feeling good. Join us as we unpack how pleasure, sex, and sexuality intersect with community, disability justice, and personal empowerment. We get PASSIONATE about this book today, and we are pleased to share it with y'all!
Find Pleasure Activism HERE!
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
adrienne maree brown https://adriennemareebrown.net/
Rest is Resistance- Tricia Hersey http://www.triciahersey.com/ The Will to Change - bell hooks
Laziness Does Not Exist- Dr. Devon Price
Beyond “Yes Means Yes”: A Behavioral Conceptualization of Affirmative Sexual Consent - Emily Sandoz and the Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group (note from Barb: DEEPEST APOLOGIES to Dr. Sandoz for forgetting everything about you and your incredible lab!!!)
Hi everyone, we're back and looking forward to learning with you!
Wondering how to help teens make sense of what they are watching online? Today we're talking with Jess Melendez, author of "Porn Is Not Sex Ed." Discover how her new book is making conversations about pornography literacy more inclusive, approachable, and fun! Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just passionate about honest conversations, this episode is packed with real talk, creative ideas, and the encouragement you need to start the conversations that matter.
Get Jess’s book here! https://us.jkp.com/products/porn-is-not-sex-ed
Learn more about Jess: https://www.jessmelendez.com/
Check out the YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@Jess.Melendez
Remy Alva’s Instagram: @hewasazombie
Show Notes:
Welcome back to the book review! This time, Landa and Barb review "Me and My Dysphoria Monster" by Laura Kate Dale and illustrated by Ang Hui Qing. This 2022 publication from Jessica Kingsley provides a relatable window into the experience of gender dysphoria, empowering youth and educating caregivers. Don't miss this essential episode!
Find the book here: https://us.jkp.com/products/me-and-my-dysphoria-monster
It's been quite a while, friends. We missed you, and we have explanations! Here's some info on where we've been, what we've been reading, and what we have planned.
Notes/Links:
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-every-body-book-of-consent-an-lgbtqia-inclusive-guide-to-respecting-boundaries-bodies-and-beyond/9781839976834.html
https://kathleenhema.com/
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/growing-into-you-an-inclusive-shame-busting-get-real-guide-to-your-changing-body-and-mind/9781683694311.html
https://www.emilynagoski.com/
https://www.akpress.org/pleasure-activism.html
https://www.newharbinger.com/9781684038077/the-act-workbook-for-perfectionism/
https://www.routledge.com/Acceptance-and-Commitment-Therapy-for-Behavior-Analysts-A-Practice-Guide-from-Theory-to-Treatment/Dixon-Hayes-Belisle/p/book/9781032168081
Today, Landa and Barb share three informative books all about menopause and perimenopause: Dr. Jen Gunter's "The Menopause Manifesto" (Random House, 2021), Kate Reynolds' guide for autistic individuals called "What is Menopause?", (Jessica Kingsley, 2022) and Heather Corinna's "What Fresh Hell is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You" (Hachette Books, 2021). Grab your favorite snacks, your best handheld fan, and relax with us as we talk about how to navigate these life changes!
Research on Autistic Experiences of menopause:
Brady et al (2024) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/13623613241244548
Groenman et al (2021) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13623613211059721
Moseley et al (2020) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1362361319901184
Episodes we mentioned:
Wait, What? - Episode 15
What is Sex? - Episode 39
Things Tom Likes/Things Ellie Likes - Episode 5
Greetings listeners! Landa and Barb are BACK again to introduce today's fascinating discussion about two new children's books on human anatomy. As sex educators Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller explain, their books "All About Penises" and "All About Vulvas and Vaginas" aim to give kids and caregivers accessible information and language to talk about bodies. Illustrated by Tyler Feder, the books celebrate diversity and inclusion. Best of all, they'll be released this Tuesday (April 30th) by Macmillan Publishers, just in time for curious minds everywhere. Tune in to learn more about these important resources and how they can help families everywhere.
Show Notes:
Episode 45: The “P” Word with Dr. David Hu
Episode 27: Bodies are Cool
Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education
Learning About Bodies (Dorian's and Marshall's Website)
Under Your Wing: Conversation tips and at-home reading recommendations
You're in for a real treat today as we chat with Dr. Jessica Cauchi, co-author of the new book "A Clinician's Guide to Sexuality in Autism". Jess is here to tell us all about this important resource and why teaching sexuality education is so vital, especially for those on the autism spectrum. With Barb's stuffy nose providing the perfect audio backdrop, you know we're in for an insightful and entertaining discussion. It's a real and honest conversation about sexuality and how to get started in empowering disabled people of all ages. Thanks for joining us Jess - we're excited to dive in!
Jess’s website: https://www.atlasinsights.ca/
Find the book: https://shop.elsevier.com/books/clinician-s-guide-to-sexuality-and-autism/cauchi/978-0-323-95743-4
OAR Sex Ed for Self-Advocates Web Resource: https://researchautism.org/self-advocates/sex-ed-for-self-advocates/
Guide to Getting It On, 10th Edition: ttps://www.amazon.com/Guide-Getting-Paul-Joannides/dp/188553504X
This week on the Sex Ed Book Review podcast, Landa and Barb chat with Tracy Whitmore, author of "It's About You Too: A Calm, Compassionate Guide for Parents of LGBTQ+ People." Tracy shares her inspiration for writing the book after seeing the positive impact of parental support on LGBTQ+ youth. She walks us through the major themes and chapters, which focus on helping parents navigate their own journey of self-reflection and managing difficult emotions. Join us to hear more from our conversation with Tracy!
Find the book here! https://indigojourney.co/book/
Indigo Journey- Tracy’s website: https://indigojourney.co/
In this episode, we explore the upcoming release "With Sprinkles on Top" by Stefani Goerlich, a certified sex therapist and master social worker. Stefani shares insights from her clinical practice where she noticed couples struggling with desire discrepancies, particularly when those differences center on fantasies. Her book offers an empowering guide to navigate these differences, focusing on support and celebration rather than "fixing."
Designed for everyday couples, "With Sprinkles on Top" provides tools like worksheets to explore fantasies and understand desires. Join us for an enlightening conversation as we prepare for the book's release on October 10, 2023, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and understanding in the realm of sexuality and relationships.
Show Notes:
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists: www.aasect.org
Sex and Psychology Podcast: https://www.sexandpsychology.com/podcasts/
Off the Cuffs Podcast: https://www.offthecuffs.org/
Loving BDSM Podcast: https://lovingbdsm.net/
Security Sexuality- Stefani’s Podcast: https://www.securingsexuality.com/the-podcast#/
"The P Word: A Manual for Mammals" from Dr. David Hu (published by Science, Naturally! in 2023) is a delightful resource that encourages kids to see penises as normal and to be confident in discussing their bodies with others. It's a playful guide to understanding penises across the animal kingdom and helps children develop a healthy relationship with their own bodies from a young age. We also talk about how this book can entertain and inform readers of ALL ages, though. Join us for a humorous, educational, and eye-opening adventure into the world of penises!
Additional Resources and Show Notes:
How to Walk Up Water and Climb Up Walls by David Hu: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691169866/how-to-walk-on-water-and-climb-up-walls
“The Other Golden Rule” Ted-Ed Talk: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/do-larger-animals-take-longer-to-pee-david-l-hu
Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis by Emily Willingham: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/621131/phallacy-by-emily-willingham/
Check out the book for additional resources and things to include in your exploration of penis education!
In today's episode, we're diving into "A Dirty Word: How a Sex Writer Reclaimed Her Sexuality" by Steph Auteri. This captivating memoir, published in 2018 by Cleis Press, delves into the cultural perception of female sexuality as a dirty word. Steph, a writer and editor, shares her journey of becoming a sex writer to overcome her own sexual dysfunction and discovering that she wasn't broken to begin with. Throughout the book, she tackles various themes like sexual health, body image, and the pathologization of female sexuality. Join us as we explore the importance of adult sex education and why this book is a valuable resource for readers of all backgrounds.
Steph’s website: https://www.stephauteri.com/
Guerilla Sex Ed: https://guerrillasexed.org/
Steph’s Insta: https://www.instagram.com/stephauteri/
Steph’s Recommendations for Further Learning:
Come as You Are https://www.emilynagoski.com/home
Pussypedia https://www.pussypedia.net/
Afrosexology https://afrosexology.com/
Lovehoney https://www.lovehoney.com/advice/
Pleasure Mechanics https://www.pleasuremechanics.com/
Selema Noon https://www.saleemanoon.com/
Justine Ang Fonte https://www.justinefonte.com/
Nadine Thornhill https://www.nadinethornhill.com/
Al Vernacchio https://alvernacchio.com/
"Amber's Voice: Navigating Through a Difficult Conversation with a young child about Sexual Abuse" was written by Amber Latimore, with illustrations by Renee Hunt. Published independently in 2020, this book tackles the difficult topic of sexual abuse and how to navigate conversations about it with young children. The story follows Amber, a five-year-old girl, as she shares her experiences and emotions surrounding sexual abuse. The book also provides valuable resources, statistics, and warning signs related to sexual assault. With its discussion prompts and storybook format, "Amber's Voice" offers a valuable tool for parents and caregivers to start conversations about a sensitive subject. We'll talk about what we like and what we would add in this "from the vault" episode recorded in 2022!
Show notes/links:
Child advocacy centers (United States): https://www.nationalcac.org/find-a-cac/
Canadian Centre for Child Protection: https://protectchildren.ca/en/resources-research/understanding-child-sexual-abuse/
Today's Book: Creating Consent Culture: A Handbook for Educators by Marcia Baczynski (she/her) & Erica Scott (they/her). Published in 2022 by Jessica Kingley Publishers https://us.jkp.com/products/creating-consent-culture
This book for educators outlines a series of fun and interactive exercises that teach young people a variety of consent skills. We're THRILLED to be joined by Erica Scott, one of the book's authors and hope that our conversation inspires you to have more conversations about consent!
Erica’s website: https://www.creatingconsentculture.com/
Marcia’s website: https://askingforwhatyouwant.com/
Cuddle Party: https://cuddleparty.com/
I Have the Right To: https://ihavetherightto.org/
Today's book: Loving Touches: A Book for Children about Positive, Caring Kinds of Touching by Lory Freeman (Britain), Illustrated by Carol Deach. Published by Parenting Press in 1986. https://a.co/d/hyB7O2n
We talk on the podcast about pleasure, and about the importance of teaching children about pleasure. This is the first book we're bringing (that we can think of) which starts to approach this topic with very small children in an age-appropriate and comfortable way. We recommend pairing this book with other materials related to abuse prevention (check out Episode 3, 11, 14, or 20 for ideas).
Other Helpful Links:
Lory Britain website: https://www.lorybritain.com/
FRIES model of consent: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/relationships/sexual-consent
Today's Book: Where do babies come from: Our First Talk about birth by Dr. Jillian Roberts - Illustrated by Cindy Revell. Published by Orca books in 2015 https://www.drjillianroberts.com/books/where-do-babies-come-from/
Having many different ways to talk about one topic is a theme of our show! Today, we're bringing you another way to answer the question, "Where do babies come from?"- it's up to you and those you care about to decide which books are going to be what you need! Listen as Barb asks Landa to describe how this book is different from others we've reviewed...and we hope her answers are helpful for you!
Other episodes on this theme:
Episode 26 The Science of Babies with Deborah Roffman: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3wS1JVgkIho53Y6IFmwFlF?si=bqqLlWs3S1GJzj3xWakFKg
Episode 18 Mummy Laid an Egg: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lY5dM1lYf0AjXVBwfX3oO?si=3-VXadkmT8uDMfw9tNdGHw
Episode 19 What Makes a Baby: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sewA9QSsrk32EKsqfu4SE?si=S3DjwZZ3RTeRzeZci7fatA
Today’s Book: What is Sex? A Guide for People with Autism, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. By Kate E Reynolds, Illustrated by Jonathon Powell. Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in 2022 you can get it from https://us.jkp.com/products/what-is-sex or other regional online book sellers.
We're SO happy to be back! Landa brought today's book to us, and it's an exciting addition to a sex educator's bookshelf. Hopefully you find this as useful as we did!
Today’s book is a fun, brief, accurate, and educational book exploring what everyone needs to know about vaginas and periods!
Vaginas and Periods 101 - A Pop-Up Book is independently published through Sex Ed Talk LLC Publishers and is co-authored by Christian Hoeger (she/her) and Kristen Lilla (she/they), Illustrated by Sara M Lyons (she/her). You can find it at https://sexedtalk.com/popup
Kristen Lilla is the only AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Sexuality Educator in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. She won the 2020 AASECT sexuality educator of the year award. Kristen has also published the book Boxes and How We Fill Them: A Basic Guide to Sexual Awareness.
Christian Hoeger is a mental health therapist and sex educator in Omaha Nebraska. She has Masters degrees in Education and Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. Christian works full-time in private practice and teaching sex ed.
Additional Links:
Sara Lyons - Illustrator Shop: https://saramlyons.myshopify.com/
Sara Lyons - Illustrator Instagram https://www.instagram.com/saramlyons/
Wondrous Vulva Puppet - https://vulvapuppet.com/
National Sex Ed Conference - https://sexedconference.com/
Alison and Ian Smyth - https://www.papersmyths.com/
Indiegogo - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vaginas-and-periods-101-a-pop-up-book#/
Vagina and Periods - https://www.instagram.com/vaginapopupbook/
Today's Book:
The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward. Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in 2019 with photos taken by Martin Delaney.
Visuals? Step-by-step guides? Medically accurate and non-judgmental, approachable language? It's all the things we love! We'll talk about what makes this Jessica Kingsley publication great...and give ideas for how you can use other resources to enhance what author Robyn Steward has provided for you!
Today's Links:
Author Website: http://autismfriendlyperiods.com/autism-and-periods%3F
Authentically Emily Blog Post: https://www.authenticallyemily.uk/blog/lets-talk-about-autism-and-periods
SexABA Conference: www.sexaba.com
Changing the Flow: https://changingtheflow.ca/products/the-autism-friendly-guide-to-periods
Landa’s Resources! https://www.positiveconnections.ca/resources
It's our final show before we take a little break, and as our holiday gift to you, we go through as many library books as we can in an hour! In alphabetical order, today's books are:
OTHER SHOW NOTES
A Place in the Middle - Ho’onani”: Hula Warrior: https://aplaceinthemiddle.org/
I’m Not a Girl: https://www.bustle.com/articles/180131-why-we-need-to-stop-calling-girls-tomboys
Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sexedbookreview