Episodes

  • Court Vox - Shadow Work within BDSM, Psychedelics & Somatics - Ep 57

    Court Vox - Shadow Work within BDSM, Psychedelics & Somatics - Ep 57
    Nov 4 2024
    We all have a shadow side, that part of us that we tend to disown, but what if we embrace it instead? In this episode, our guest, Court Vox discusses how we can play with our shadow via BDSM, psychedelics and somatic work. Carl Jung originated the concept of the shadow, and states, “Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. At all counts, it forms an unconscious snag, thwarting our most well-meant intentions.” This quote drives home the importance of discovering what blocks us from consciously being aware of our shadow along with why learning how to dance with it once we do is so crucial. In this episode, we discuss the relationship shame and fear has with the shadow, why people might avoid making darkness conscious, and how to find one’s own shadow, so one can not only go next level with emotional growth, but also partake in naughty joy. Please join us on the shadow side of life, as we once again, dare to Open Deeply. Court Vox's Bio: Court Vox is a Certified Sex & Intimacy Coach, based in Los Angeles CA . He is Founder of The Bodyvox. Through his courses, workshops, retreats, and private immersions, clients cultivate toys to unlock limitations and shame, to embrace a deeper sense of intimacy with their whole self. Traditional forms of therapy are done solely through talk, while the work of a somatic coach is to further this form of work via body-based exercises, experiential learning, and touch, in comfortable, judgment-free, and caring environments. Body acceptance, exploration of sensation and desires (and learning how to ask for what you want), boundary-setting and intimacy work are some of the many reasons clients seek this form of learning. Vox is a sex educator experienced working with clients of all sexualities and genders and has been featured in AskMen.com, Cosmopolitan, and Well & Good magazines. He offers workshops and retreats across the globe for GBTQ men, and is also part of an elite team of sex educators that create the celebrated program for women, Back to the Body. His online course and community, Invitations to Intimacy, offers foundations in embodiment suited for the eroticerotic, as well as a community of like-minded individuals to support one another on their journey. For more information, please visit, www.thebodyvox.com How to find Court Vox: https://thebodyvox.com/ IG: http://instagram.com/thebodyvox FB: Facebook http://facebook.com/vox.court https://gaywellness.com/los-angeles/coaching/court-vox How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Jessica Stoya on the Globalization of the Adult Film Industry - Ep 56

    Jessica Stoya on the Globalization of the Adult Film Industry - Ep 56
    Oct 15 2024
    During a time in which social justice efforts for adult professionals are silenced, we welcome the iconic Jessica Stoya to discuss the globalization of the adult film industry and its impact on adult industry professionals. Along with discussing historical events that have led to changes in the adult industry, we discuss some of the hurdles that adult performers experience in their personal life that put their basic needs for food and shelter in jeopardy. These hurdles exist due to right wing, sex negative influences in our culture and can result in, for example, the performer being “unbanked” meaning that the performer may have trouble finding and keeping a bank that will allow them to have an account and other banking fundamentals, or they may be refused housing when looking to rent or buy property which can lead to a very real fear of homelessness. This all sounds heavy, but Stoya’s impromptu Les Mis musical parody makes it all worth the emotional labor. Trust me. Then, we go on to discuss Stoya’s bold career transition from mostly being an adult performer to focusing on writing and being an intimacy coach for Pam Shaffer’s clinic Best Self Psych. This is a fascinating and important episode, especially if you care about adult performers’ rights. We hope you join us as once again as we dare to Open Deeply. Stoya's Bio: Jessica Stoya has been working with sexuality since 2006. Her writing on the subject has appeared in The New York Times, VICE, Playboy, and many other publications. She, along with Rich Juzwiak, pens Slate’s How To Do It sex advice column. Her first book, Philosophy, Pussycats, & Porn, has been published in English, and Spanish, Russian and Serbian translations. She completed her Ante Up! Professional Development certification in 2021, and has begun an undergraduate degree studying philosophy. Jessica Stoya recently joined Best Self Psych as a certified sexuality coach. How to find Stoya: https://www.bestselfpsych.com/coaches IG & X: @stoya https://stoya.substack.com/ https://medium.com/@stoya https://slate.com/author/stoya How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
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    55 mins
  • Barbara Carrellas, Portals to Ecstatic Experiences, Ep. 55

    Barbara Carrellas, Portals to Ecstatic Experiences, Ep. 55
    Sep 30 2024
    Please join us for episode fifty-five of Open Deeply as our guest, sex ed icon, Barbara Carrellas joins us to proclaim that ecstasy is everywhere, it has profound gifts to give you, and it’s necessary. The episode is filled with her personal journey with ecstasy along with how and why it became her personal calling, a passion that has spanned decades and has brought ecstatic gifts to all who have attended her trainings or read her books. Sadly, most people don’t even understand what ecstasy is or their view is incredibly limited. The reality is that ecstasy is expansive and accessible to you. Furthermore, ecstasy is found in unexpected places, such as on the other side of great suffering or soul wrenching emotion. We explore this phenomenon and why it occurs. By the end of this episode, you will have a better understanding of how to access ecstasy in your life along with the plethora of ways that it might manifest. We hope you join us again as we dare to Open Deeply. Barbara's Bio: Barbara Carrellas is an author, artist, innovator, instigator and thought leader in the fields of sex, gender and spirit. Barbara is the founder of Urban Tantra® an approach to sacred sexuality that adapts and blends a wide variety of conscious sexuality practices from Tantra to BDSM—and the Urban Tantra® Professional Training Program. Barbara’s pioneering workshops were named best in New York City by TimeOut/New York magazine. In 2016 she was awarded a Sexual Freedom Award for Lifetime Achievement. She is the author of Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty-First Century, Ecstasy is Necessary: A Practical Guide to Sex, Relationships and Oh So Much More, and Luxurious Loving: Tantric Inspirations for Passion and Pleasure. She is also a university lecturer, motivational speaker and theater artist. Barbara has lectured at many educational institutions, including Harvard, the Chicago Art Institute and Yale. She frequently collaborates with her partner, Kate Bornstein, with whom she performs and tours their sex positive, gender-bending lecture/performance piece There And Back Again: An Epic Tale of Sex, Death, and Gender. Finally, she is no stranger to tv and film. Here are just a few examples. Barbara taught Caitlyn Jenner and friends how to have gender-free orgasms on the E! reality series I Am Cait. She has also appeared in the HBO television series Real Sex, and on Britain’s Sky Channel as part of the documentary, Sex in America. Whew! And this is the abbreviated bio. Truly, Barbara is a force of nature. How to find Barbara: barbaracarrellas.com/ Facebook: BarbaraCarrellasUrbanTantra Threads & Twitter/X: Urbantantrika Instagram: Urbantantrika How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
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    1 hr
  • Sunny Megatron - Expat in the Azores, Portugal, Ep 54

    Sunny Megatron - Expat in the Azores, Portugal, Ep 54
    Sep 9 2024
    Please join us as Sunny describes what her new life is like an expat in Portugal. In 2023, her family got rid of most of their belongings from a lifetime in the U.S. and moved to the Azores, an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic that is part of Portugal. The islands are characterized by gorgeous, dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, green pastures, and hedgerows of blue hydrangeas. It’s even more breathtaking than it sounds. The islands can be found right between New York and Portugal, about three hours either way. So, in this episode, Sunny tells us about her journey and what it’s like being an ex-pat on a beautiful little island. Is it the little slice of heaven that it seems? And what is it like being far away, as we, here in the U.S., cascade towards our election day with the hopes of maintaining our democracy. We will find out all this and more in this episode. Sunny's bio related to kink: Sunny began teaching about BDSM in 2010. Her area of expertise is the soft skills--which center around things like ethics, cultivating self-awareness, and strategies for effective communication. She received a FROST Certificate of Gratitude in 2020 honoring her service to the kink community, was voted XBIZ sexpert of the year in 2021, and Kinkly’s sex blogging superhero in 2017. Her alternative sexuality focused podcast American Sex was awarded the AASECT podcast award in 2020. Sunny also creates curriculum about BDSM for sexuality professionals. Some of her most recent projects include designing & teaching the BDSM unit for a well-known sex educator certification program plus a lesson for the Sexual Health Alliance’s Kink Informed Certification Program for therapists and other care professionals. Sunny’s first book, Customizable Kink: A Strategic Guide to Erotic Play is scheduled to be released in 2022. How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Tiktok http://tiktok.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Instagram http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Please know this episode has themes of sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. If you catch yourself becoming emotionally overwhelmed by this episode’s content, please get support. Call a friend, therapist, or an emotional support hotline, such as 988.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Jane Whitlock , A Death Doula on Life's Mystical Final Chapter, Ep 53

    Jane Whitlock , A Death Doula on Life's Mystical Final Chapter, Ep 53
    Aug 30 2024
    In this episode, the amazing death doula, Jane Whitlock, joins us. In the U.S., there is so much avoidance of understanding death and preparing for death, but if we lean in to learning and feeling, we can learn so much from dying and the death process including how to live, the mysteries and spiritual aspects of death, and how to die under the best circumstances possible for both us and our loved ones. Jane once said, “In circumstances in which death is not sudden, if we treated death as we treat birth, then death would not be a time of fear and anxiety but love, connection and a time to access our deepest emotions.” It can be such a better experience if we learn to manage our fear and grief. We also get into how to frame death for our own spiritual evolution, for instance Jane has stated, and I’m paraphrasing, “The soul should be in the driver’s seat with death is riding shot gun. The ego should be in the back seat” as a way to look at death through a Buddhist lens. We hope you join us for this fascinating episode of Open Deeply in which we face what is for many, a biggest fear. Jane's Bio: Jane Whitlock is an end of life doula, a passionate end of life educator and an arm chair astrologer. She believes that by holding the truth that we will die close, we will not only have a more meaningful life but a more meaningful death. She did a Ted talk in 2018 entitled, "What Death Taught Me About Life" which launched her into the field of death education. She is the co founder of the MN Death Collaborative an end of life resource for all facing death. In 2021 she co founded Full Circle Care, an end of life program at a skilled nursing facility. As a Gemini rising she is a talker so prepare yourselves! How to Find Jane: Website: http://www.deathdoulajane.com/ Tedtalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_whitlock_what_i_learned_about_life_from_death?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deathdoulajane/ How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Pam Shaffer on ADHD & AuDHD within Relationships - Ep 52

    Pam Shaffer on ADHD & AuDHD within Relationships - Ep 52
    Aug 12 2024
    Have you noticed lately that everybody feels like they have ADHD? Do you really have it or is it simply all the doom scrolling that has you scattered? Well, today we have a guest that might help you take a step towards having that sorted out. Please welcome, Pam Shaffer, who specializes in ADHD, non-monogamy, and creative practices. She is the founder of Best Self Psych, a group of ENM, kink, and LGBTQ+ affirmative therapists and coaches. As a coach, herself, she offers sessions for high performing neurodivergent individuals who want to have more authentic, fulfilling relationships. In this episode, Pam explains what AuDHD is (a combo of autism and ADHD), how to recognize the symptoms, and how to cope with common struggles, such as rejection sensitivity. She shares some interesting personal stories of her journey being neurodivergent, both the joys and the struggles. Then we move on to talking about what it’s like to date someone who is neurodivergent and what it’s like to date when you, yourself, are neurodivergent. We even cover what it’s like to be a porn performer who is also neurodivergent. So please join us as we explore why human differences actually add color and fun to life and once again dare to Open Deeply. Pam's Bio: Pam Shaffer is a psychotherapist and coach, who specializes in ADHD, non-monogamy, and creative practices. She is the founder of Best Self Psych, a group of ENM, kink, and LGBTQ+ affirmative therapists and coaches .As a coach, herself, she offers sessions for high performing neurodivergent individuals who want to have more authentic, fulfilling relationships. She refers to herself as a compassionate guide that will help clients through the ups and downs of life with pragmatism and a bit of magic. She identifies as poly/ENM, kink, and LGBTQIA+ affirmative and she loves to help people who are experiencing difficulty in their relationships or feel stuck in their professional and creative lives. She has been quoted in Cosmo, Oprah Magazine, Forbes, BBC, Men’s Health Magazine, Women’s Health and many others for her expertise in sexuality, relationships and neurodiversity. Outside of therapy and coaching, she hosts her own podcast Why Not Both about how our multiple passions shape our identity and will be releasing music as Pearl Holly in the spring of 2024. How to find Pam Shaffer: @bestselfpsych on insta @pamshaffercreates on insta and tiktok Website is http://www.bestselfpsych.com How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Ian Ferguson's Journey: Erotic Blueprint to Prostate Cancer - Ep 51

    Ian Ferguson's Journey: Erotic Blueprint to Prostate Cancer - Ep 51
    Jul 29 2024
    Please join us for episode fifty-one, with Ian Ferguson, expert trainer in the Erotic Blueprint Methodology and co-founder, along with his partner, Jaiya, of the Blueprint Breakthrough, Inc., a company educating clients to use Jaiya’s revolutionary Erotic Blueprint framework. In this episode, Ian tells the story of how the Erotic Blueprints were manifested as a byproduct of some of his and Jaiya’s endeavors to overcome relationship difficulties. He defines the five erotic blueprint types: sexual, kinky, sensual, shapeshifter and energetic. And then he gives examples about how two people who seemingly have non-compatible blueprint types can find ways to come together. Finally, we switch gears and discuss Ian’s recent diagnosis of prostate cancer which happened concurrently with Jaiya’s other platonic long-term partner, John, also having a life-threatening experience with cancer which of course has rocked the foundations of their family. However, you would be hard pressed to find a stronger, more loving family than theirs and perhaps that’s part of the reason they have already experienced some miracles. We hope you decide to check out this episode that often reveals that anything is possible. Ian's Bio: Ian Ferguson is the co-creator of The Erotic Blueprint Breakthrough™ and co-founder of The Blueprint Breakthrough, Inc., a company dedicated to Erotic Liberation for All. Our company mission is to realize a vision of global sexual wellness, putting an end to the perpetuation of sexual trauma, empowering every person to have the healthy relationships they desire and to claim the consensual and fulfilling pleasure they deserve. Ian, an internationally recognized speaker, has appeared on Netflix’s ‘Sex, Love and Goop,’ as well as top podcasts for Tony Robbins and on other media such as Good Morning America, VH1, Anderson Live and Details magazine. Ian is an Expert Trainer of the Erotic Blueprint™ Methodology and has helped to license over 300 Erotic Blueprint Coaches™ who now serve the global Blueprint community. How to find Ian along with other fun links: Main Free gift: Erotic Breakthrough Quiz: https://theblueprintbreakthrough.com WEBSITE: The Blueprint Breakthrough https://missjaiya.com Erotic Breakthrough Quiz: https://theblueprintbreakthrough.com SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Spotify: theecstaticlife Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ian.ferguson.925 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NewWorldSexEducation Instagram: Missjaiya Theblueprintbreakthrough How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Kate Loree's Cancer and Psychedelic Journey - Ep 50

    Kate Loree's Cancer and Psychedelic Journey - Ep 50
    Jul 1 2024
    Please join us for episode fifty in which Open Deeply’s co-host, who is a psychotherapist and a two-time cancer survivor, discloses the intertwined psychedelic journey and cancer journey that she experienced throughout 2023. The story begins with a psychedelic journey at a retreat center deep in jungles of Costa Rica that changes the trajectory of her life for close to a year. During her last psychedelic experience at the retreat center, her lung area felt like a concrete block. She tried to use all her somatic psychotherapy skills to move it through to no avail. She describes how she finally resolved her suffering and what happened once she returned home. She had learned from listening to countless stories of psychedelic journeys, that it’s not wise to ignore the medicine if it focuses on a body part. So, upon returning to L.A., she decided to get her lungs checked. Months later, the biopsy results revealed that she had a small tumor in her lung. The doctors kept asking, “How did you know to come in?” Strange but true. Now, most people describe cancer as a monster. We often here, “F*ck cancer!” But what if, in some cases, cancer has something to teach us. In Kate’s experience, she states that although having cancer both times was brutal, the lessons it has taught her keep coming. She describes it as more of a spiritual journey that has provided tremendous growth. And she has lived to tell us about it in this episode. So, join us, for another episode of Open Deeply, in which we will find out why so many cancer survivors ask the question, “Why did it take cancer to teach me how to live?” Kate's Bio: Kate Loree, LMFT, is a sex-positive licensed marriage and family therapist with a specialty in non-monogamous, kink, LGBTQ, and sex worker communities and the author of Open Deeply: A Guide to Building Conscious, Compassionate Open Relationships. In addition to her master’s in marriage and family therapy, she also has an MBA and is a registered art therapist (ATR). She is an EDSE certified sex educator and an EMDR certified therapist with additional training in the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) for the treatment of trauma. She has been practicing psychotherapy since 2003. She cohosts her own sex-positive podcast, Open Deeply, with Sunny Megatron, has been featured in Buzzfeed videos, and has been a guest on Playboy Radio and many podcasts, including Sex with Dr. Jess, American Sex, Sluts and Scholars, and Multiamory. She has written for Authority Magazine and Good Vibrations, been featured in Vice and Ms. Magazine, and is a frequent public speaker. For more information, please visit her on the web at KateLoree.com. How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.
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    53 mins