Sexual Empowerment for Women

Send us Fan MailMost women don't lose desire overnight. It fades while you're holding everything else together, and one day you look up and you don't recognise yourself. Caroline Hood is a certified sex therapist and licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience, and the author of Sex Begets Sex. In this conversation we go into what actually happens to desire in a long term relationship, and why the story we've all been handed about it is wrong. We talk about why "she's got low libido" is a symptom and not a diagnosis, how the archetype of the selfless mother teaches women to abandon their own sexual identity, and what to say to him when you want more and you're afraid it will land as an attack. In this episode: Why desire doesn't disappear, it moves somewhere else The identity women give up when they become mothers, and why it was never a zero sum choice Why "low libido" puts the whole problem on her, and what to look at instead Being taught to be sexy but not sexual, and what that costs you in bed The what ifs that open things up instead of shutting them down The exact words to start the conversation with him What to do when sex has become too heavy to even look at This is for you if you love him and don't know where your wanting went, if sex has become one more thing on the list, or if you've decided it's too late for you. Chapters 00:00 I want to want again 00:34 Welcome, and who Caroline is 03:32 The story that desire has to die in a long term relationship 04:43 Desire doesn't go away, it goes somewhere else 05:20 "I don't even know what I want" 06:28 Twenty years later: I don't know if I'm attracted to anyone anymore 08:10 The archetype of a good mother is a selfless mother 09:38 She's a problem that requires fixing 10:49 "She's got low libido", the fever and not the cause 13:35 Trained to believe it's about his pleasure 14:52 You, him, and the third thing the two of you make 17:05 Where to start when the wanting isn't there 17:53 Do I think I'm still valuable as a sexual being? 19:24 The fear of being selfish, and the pendulum 20:46 The what ifs that open things up 22:49 What if I don't have to self abandon to be a good mother? 24:29 How to talk to him without it landing as an attack 26:12 The words to open the conversation 29:22 Nobody's having great sex when the pressure is high 30:16 Taught to be sexy but not sexual 31:27 When sex becomes a power dynamic 33:08 When it all feels too heavy and you want none of it 36:43 Caroline's message: there is so much hope 37:29 Where to find Caroline Caroline writes at desireinreallife.com, and she's on Substack and Instagram at the same handle. Want to work out what your desire actually needs? Take the free 5 day challenge, Decode Your Sexual Desire: sexualempowermentforwomen.com/challenge More at sexualempowermentforwomen.com Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailYou are not short on ability. You are short on permission. Simone Knego, two time TEDx speaker and USA Today bestselling author of REAL Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go From Unsure to Unshakeable, joins me to take apart what self doubt actually is and why waiting to feel ready is the thing keeping you stuck. Confidence is not a personality trait some women were handed. It is built, from the inside out, by doing things before you feel ready for them. In this episode: Why self doubt takes the joy out of everything, not only the big decisions The REAL Method: Respect yourself, Embrace your failures, Ask yourself what you want, Live without limits Why you have to act before you feel ready, and what happens when you wait What we are actually afraid of. Public speaking ranks above dying on the list of human fears, and almost nothing we are avoiding will actually kill us Kitchen Table Leadership, and why real leadership shows up in everyday choices rather than titles What our children learn from watching us doubt ourselves Simone is also the author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You and co-host of the podcast Her Unshakeable Confidence. She has been featured on ABC, NBC and CBS, and in Entrepreneur and Yahoo News. Find her at simoneknego.com. Take the Sexual Empowerment Quiz at sexualempowermentforwomen.com Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailWhat if pleasure is not the reward you get for being good, but one of the ways your body actually becomes healthier? Dr Erica Oberg, naturopathic doctor, concierge physician and author of Healthy Hedonism: Why Feeling Good Is Good for You, joins me to take apart the idea that health has to be built on restriction, discipline and self denial. We talk about why joyless routines keep collapsing, what pleasure does to your nervous system, and the five everyday things that genuinely move the needle on your health after 40. In this episode: Why restriction based wellness fails, and what actually sustains a habit How the way you eat changes your metabolism more than what you eat Why a workout you hate raises your stress hormones and will never stick What orgasms do to the default mode network, and why that is so good for your brain Dopamine, oxytocin and the small moments of connection that rewire you Laughter as the easiest doorway back into your body Dr Oberg is offering listeners a complimentary audiobook of Healthy Hedonism: claim it here Find Dr Oberg at drericaoberg.com and on LinkedIn. Take the Sexual Empowerment Quiz at sexualempowermentforwomen.com Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailSusan Morgan Taylor spent years in a sexless marriage waiting for her husband to become the lover she longed for. Then she left, and found out what nobody had told her. She had been the shut down one all along, and the pattern followed her straight into the next relationship.In this conversation we talk about why no one can give you an orgasm, why low libido in women is almost never a broken body, and what actually sits in the way of pleasure. Susan shares her Pleasure Keys process, the practices that reopen the pathway to desire, and the one question that changes everything in the bedroom: whose desire am I following right now?If you have ever waited for your partner to turn you on and felt let down when he could not, this one is for you.Susan Morgan Taylor, MA is a somatic sex therapist with over 25 years in somatic healing, creator of The Pleasure Keys Process and host of the Sex Talk Café podcast.Free Pleasure Keys ebook: pleasurekeys.comRetreats, coaching and a free consultation for listeners: pathwaytopleasure.comYour host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailMost of us grew up with sex ed that was clinical, fear-based, or missing entirely. No one taught us about pleasure, desire, communication, or how to actually feel alive in our bodies. So when women hit their 40s and notice they are shut down in the bedroom, they blame themselves, their hormones, or their relationship, when really they were never given the tools in the first place.In this episode I sit down with Lauren Elise Rogers, Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy & Relationship Coach, founder of Sex Ed For You. We talk about the sex education you never got, why so many women feel numb or disconnected from desire, and the practical pathways back to aliveness, pleasure, and confidence in your body.You will hear:Why low libido is rarely the real problemWhat holistic sexuality education actually looks likeHow shame and shutdown get wired in, and how to unwire themEmbodiment practices to reconnect with desireHow to talk to your partner about what you want without freezing upThis one is for every woman who has ever wondered why am I like this in the bedroom. You are not broken. You were never taught.About Lauren: Lauren Elise Rogers, CHSE, EIRC, is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy & Relationship Coach. She is the founder of Sex Ed For You, where she helps women and couples reclaim pleasure, deepen intimacy, and build the sex life they actually want.Connect with Lauren: sexedforyou.com/connect | Instagram @sex_ed_for_youConnect with Tarisha: sexualempowermentforwomen.com Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailHave you ever used alcohol to numb the pain, to cope with life, to survive? You're not alone — and there's a way home.In this episode, I sit down with Colleen Clifford — author, coach, commercial fisherwoman, and motivational speaker — about the hidden survival patterns that keep so many women trapped in cycles of binge drinking.If you're sober curious, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or stuck in gray area drinking — this raw, honest conversation will meet you exactly where you are.Colleen's upcoming book, Life Beyond the Binge, offers hope for any woman ready to stop surviving and start living.In this episode:The hidden survival patterns that quietly run your lifeHow grief, loss, and unprocessed pain fuel binge drinking in womenWhy "mommy wine culture" and gray area drinking are so dangerousThe moment of reckoning — when you know something has to changeHow to find your way home to yourselfGuest links:📖 Book: www.lifebeyondthebinge.com🌐 Website: www.purepotential.health📷 Instagram: @purepotential.health💼 LinkedIn: Colleen CliffordListen on your favorite platform:🍎 Apple Podcasts🎵 Spotify🔥 Free Webinar — 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire: www.shedesires.liveYour host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailIs your sex life feeling like a "dried prune"? Do you feel like you "couldn’t care less" about intimacy, even if you still love your partner? You are not alone.In this video, we dive deep into the biological and psychological shifts that cause low libido and changes in sexual desire during menopause. We explore why the "spark" often disappears and, more importantly, how you can reclaim your pleasure and connection.The Biology of Desire: How dwindling levels of estrogen and testosterone directly impact your libido and the "spark" for intimacy.Physical Barriers to Sex: Understanding why vaginal dryness and fragile tissue can make sex painful or uncomfortable, and how local estrogen or HRT can help.The "Sexless Marriage" Trap: How silence around menopausal symptoms leads to partners feeling rejected, unwanted, and detached, creating an emotional chasm in the relationship.Mindset & Shame: Breaking the myth that sex is "only for young people" and addressing the shame or past trauma (like childbirth or abuse) that can resurface during this transitionMenopause doesn't have to mean the end of your sexual self. By combining biological support (like hormone therapy) with psychological tools (like CBT and self-compassion), you can move from "machine operator" or "people pleaser" to feeling at home in your body once more.About Our Expert: Simona Stokes is a Psychologist,  Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Certified Lifestyle Medicine professional. In 2020, Simona founded the Menopause CBT Clinic, an independent psychology service supporting women with the emotional and psychological shifts of perimenopause and menopause, and training health professionals in menopause-informed psychological care.https://www.menopausecbtclinic.co.uk/Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailCouples often wait years before getting support, then wonder why it feels so hard. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Jessica Higgins to talk about the patterns that quietly take over long-term love, and how to shift them before you become flatmates with a mortgage and a “fine” relationship.We explore what a conscious intimate relationship actually means, why therapy is not a sign you’re failing (it’s a sign you’re learning), and how sex and desire after 40 isn’t about “trying harder”, it’s about coming back into your body.In this episode:Why couples often seek help years after the pattern starts (and the “broken arm seven years ago” metaphor)The pursuer-withdrawer cycle and how it feeds disconnectionWhy having a skilled third person (therapy) helps your nervous system tolerate the hard stuffSex as connection, vitality, and aliveness (not another task on the list)Why emotional safety matters, but erotic energy also needs risk, honesty, and “more of you”The Wheel of Consent and getting clear on giving vs receivingLinks & Resources:Dr Jessica Higgins: https://drjessicahiggins.comEmpowered Relationships podcast: https://drjessicahiggins.com/podcasts/Betty Martin, Wheel of Consent: https://bettymartin.orgDr Jessica also shares her work with couples, including an intimate Couples Adventure Retreat in Banff, Canada (September 2026).Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman Podcast, host Tarisha Tourok welcomes Dr. Ivana Matic-Stancin, a Melbourne-based GP with over 25 years of experience in women’s health and holistic medicine. Together, they explore the journey through perimenopause and menopause, discussing the loss of libido, healthy aging, sexual empowerment, and the importance of reconnecting with yourself.Key topics:Perimenopause and menopause explainedLoss of libido and sexual desire in midlifeHolistic and lifestyle medicine for womenReconnecting with your body and selfThe role of relationships and emotional safetySexual empowerment and self-confidenceHealthy aging and vitality for womenIf you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, or simply want to feel more empowered in your body and relationships, this episode is for you!Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on women’s health, sexuality, and empowerment.****About Dr Ivana Matic-StancinMD, Dip Obs &Gyne, FRACGP, FASLM, HCANZADr Ivana Matic-Stancin is a Melbourne-based medical doctor (GP) with over 25 years of clinical medical experience working with people of all ages, from various socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, and suffering from different medical conditions.Ivana offers three services:1/ Clinical Medical comprehensive one-on-one 60-minute consultation in her GP Clinic in Braybrook, Victoria. (Contact Maxwell Medical Group for the appointment.)2/ Mastering Menopause, a CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) program, is a six-week in-person course offered in a small group setting: Contact Maxwell Medical Group for information and to book an appointment. 3/ Online services: Individual online, telehealth consultations & Small Group CBT online group program (coming soon).  Ivana is a fluent speaker of English, Serbian, and Croatian.Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...

Send us Fan MailIn this episode I’m going to show you the 5 steps to go from roommates to lovers — so you can reignite passion, melt the distance, and feel cherished again.This is part 4 of the Melt the Distance in Your Relationship free training.  👉 Join here to watch full training: https://www.sexualempowermentforwomen.com/lovers/lovers-videos/This is where everything we’ve been exploring comes together: ✨ Why intimacy shifts after 40 (and why that’s actually good news) ✨ The myths that have been keeping you shut down ✨ How to release the intimacy wounds that block love ✨ And finally… the roadmap to rekindling your sparkYou’ll leave this session with clarity, practical steps, and the confidence that yes — you can have a relationship that feels alive, passionate, and deeply connected.Your host:Tarisha Tourok is the founder of the Sexually Empowered Radiant Woman movement where women learn how to become radiant, confident and own the power and beauty of their sexuality no matter their size, shape, age or race.FREE MINI COURSE: Unlock Your Sexual Confidence - Learn 5 Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Your Body & Your SexualityJoin hereFREE WEBINAR: Women Over 40: Discover 5 Keys to Unlock Your Desire So You Enjoy Heart-Melting IntimacyJoin hereThis is perfect for women who are in a relationship and feel frustrated with their love life, are single and don't want to repeat past hurtful patterns where they lose themselves and their voice, and women who want to feel confident expressing their longings and desiresJoin free online Decode Your Desire challenge where you'll learn 5 obstacles to your desire and 5 actionable strategies to activate your desire so you stop feeling frustrated with your love life Join h...