Can better sex really re-wire your brain for calm, confidence, and joy? Clinical sexologist Dr. Suzanne Mulvihill sits down with behavioral neuroscientist and certified sex therapist Dr. Nan Wise, author of the award-winning Why Good Sex Matters, to find out. Drawing on her groundbreaking fMRI studies, Dr. Wise explains how stimulating the clitoris, vagina, cervix and even the nipples lights up a tucked-away area she nicknames the “brain crotch,” creating a flood of feel-good chemicals that boost mood, ease pain, and sharpen focus.
What you’ll learn in plain language:
How pleasure rewires the nervous system
Regular sexual play (solo or partnered) increases blood flow, releases natural painkillers and endocannabinoids, and may even beat sudoku for brain health.
Why stress is the real bedroom villain
Chronic cortisol keeps bodies stuck in “fight or flight.” A simple trick; inhale, then exhale a little longer, helps shift the brain into safety so arousal can build.
Trauma-informed tips for reclaiming desire
From micro-dosing cannabis to gentle, curiosity-driven touch, Dr. Wise shares tools that foster neuroplasticity and dissolve old fear loops.
The orgasm gap (and why women can have longer, multiple peaks)
Her research shows female orgasms last longer and recruit wider brain networks than male orgasms, and you can train those pathways at any age.
The real story behind her late-career PhD, the surprising role of the vagus nerve, and why she calls pleasure “essential healthcare, not a luxury.” Press play and discover science-backed ways to feel safer, happier, and more connected in and out of the bedroom.