Honeydew Me

Pelvic floor health is one of the most overlooked parts of our bodies, and for many people with vulvas, it’s the missing link to better pleasure, stronger orgasms, and feeling more connected to their body. This week, we’re joined by Jana Danielson, founder of Bloom Better, a longtime Pilates instructor, pelvic floor educator, and creator of the Cooch Ball, a pelvic floor fitness tool designed to help people reconnect with their bodies. Jana shares her personal journey from years of chronic pain and medical dismissal to becoming a leader in pelvic floor education. We talk about why pelvic floor health matters for everything from core strength to sexual pleasure, how shame has kept many of us disconnected from this part of our body, and the small things you can start doing today to support pelvic floor health. We cover: Jana’s journey from chronic pain to pelvic floor advocacy. How years of unexplained pain, medication, and medical dismissal led Jana to explore movement, Pilates, and the pelvic floor as a path toward healing. Why the pelvic floor is so misunderstood. How shame, lack of education, and gaps in traditional health care have left many people disconnected from this important part of their anatomy. The role the pelvic floor plays in pleasure and sexual function. Why pelvic floor health impacts arousal, orgasm, and sensation more than most people realize. How movement and breath affect pelvic floor health. The connection between the nervous system, breath, posture, and pelvic floor engagement. Common pelvic floor issues many people experience. From tension and pain to weakness and lack of awareness, and why these challenges are more common than most people think. How Pilates and body awareness can improve pelvic floor function. Why strengthening, relaxing, and reconnecting with the pelvic floor can transform both physical comfort and sexual wellbeing. The inspiration behind the Cooch Ball. How Jana created the first pelvic floor fitness tool designed specifically to help people release tension and reconnect with their pelvic floor. Why pelvic floor care matters at every stage of life. From postpartum recovery to aging and menopause, and why this part of the body deserves attention long before problems show up. CLICK HERE to get your own Cooch Ball!  Connect with Jana on Instagram or TikTok. ⁠Interested in 1:1 coaching with Cass & Em? Book a FREE strategy sesh HERE!⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vulvas and vaginas aren't complicated or mysterious, we've just never been properly taught how to pleasure them. Until now. In this episode, we’re joined by Susan Bratton, intimacy expert to millions, educator, and longtime advocate for pleasure-forward sex education. Together we break down the anatomy of female arousal, the full erectile tissue system in the vulva, and why so many people misunderstand what our bodies actually need to experience deep pleasure. We talk about why arousal takes time, how the body physically changes during sexual stimulation, and why expanding our understanding of pleasure anatomy can completely transform the sexual experience for both partners. If you’ve ever wondered why foreplay matters so much, why stimulation can feel different depending on arousal levels, or how to create more pleasure in partnered sex, this conversation is for you Honey Bun. We Cover: The vulva’s erectile tissue system. Why arousal involves far more anatomy than just the clitoris and how engorgement changes sensation. How arousal physically changes the body. What actually happens to the vulva and vaginal tissues during sexual stimulation and why time and blood flow matter. Why many people with vulvas struggle to feel enough stimulation during sex. How misunderstandings about pleasure anatomy can lead to rushed arousal and less pleasurable experiences. The role of engorgement in pleasure. Why the body needs time and stimulation for tissues to swell and become more sensitive. How to build stronger arousal before penetration. Why extended stimulation and touch can dramatically change sensation and comfort. Understanding different pleasure pathways. How different types of stimulation activate different parts of the vulva and internal erectile tissue system. Why sex education often gets vulva anatomy wrong. The cultural and educational gaps that leave many people confused about how pleasure actually works in these bodies. How partners can support deeper pleasure. Simple mindset shifts that help couples slow down and explore arousal more intentionally. Resources: drivedesire.com  expandherorgasmtonight.com 1:1 coaching with Cass & Em. Book a FREE strategy sesh HERE!⁠⁠ About Susan Bratton: Susan Bratton is a globally recognized intimacy expert, educator, and advocate for pleasure-positive sexuality. She has spent decades teaching people how to expand their understanding of arousal, connection, and pleasure in long-term relationships. Susan is known for translating complex sexual health concepts into practical, approachable tools that help couples experience more intimacy, communication, and satisfaction in their sex lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most of us spend our entire lives being someone’s daughter, but we rarely talk about what that role actually asks of us. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Allison Alford, a professor of communication at Baylor University and a leading researcher on “daughtering,” to unpack the expectations, emotional labor, and pressure many women carry in their families and how those dynamics can quietly shape our relationships, boundaries, and even our sex lives. What “daughtering” actually means. Why the role of daughter is rarely talked about but deeply shapes our identities, responsibilities, and expectations in families. The invisible labor daughters often carry. How emotional support, family coordination, and relational maintenance quietly fall on daughters. Why being a “good daughter” becomes tied to self-worth. How many women internalize the idea that being available, supportive, and reliable is what makes them worthy. The pressure of family expectations. Why daughters often feel responsible for maintaining harmony, showing up for everyone, and never dropping the ball. The shift from “perfect daughter” to “good enough daughter.” A simple reframe that helps reduce the pressure and unrealistic standards so many of us carry. How daughterhood affects romantic relationships. Why carrying too much emotional labor in family dynamics can leave women feeling mentally tapped out and impact desire and intimacy. Why partnership and delegation matter. How allowing siblings or partners to share emotional responsibilities can relieve pressure and strengthen relationships. Setting boundaries with family members. Practical ways to decide what you are and are not willing to discuss and how to communicate those boundaries clearly. Preparing for difficult family conversations. Why going into family interactions with a plan can help prevent frustration and resentment. How to start reshaping your role as a daughter. Small mindset shifts that help relieve some pressure while still maintaining connection with family. Connect with Dr. Allison Alford Learn more about Dr. Alford’s research on daughterhood and family communication on her website or by listening her podcast Hello Mother, Hello Daughter, where she explores the mother-daughter relationship through both academic insight and lived experience. You can also purchase a copy of her book "Good Daughtering" HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode we're answering one of YOUR questions with a combination of expert tips and personal experience.  The Question: "Is there a way for someone with responsive desire to initiate sex? Do you have any recommendations?" What We Cover in This Episode: • Can you initiate with responsive desire? Yes. Initiation does not have to mean you are ready for sex right away. This episode explores how people with responsive desire can start connection in ways that feel safe, honest, and pressure-free. • What responsive desire actually means. Why some people need emotional or mental build-up before physical arousal, and how explaining your “longer runway” can change the way your partner understands intimacy. • The fear of being a tease or changing your mind. A real conversation about hesitation around initiating, including the pressure to follow through and how to reframe initiation as starting foreplay, not promising sex. • How to talk about initiation with your partner. Scripts and examples for getting on the same page about timelines, expectations, and what initiating looks like when you need more build-up before intimacy. • Creative ways to initiate without pressure. From morning cuddles and daytime flirting to teasing PDA and slow-burn make-outs, we share playful techniques that help build anticipation while honoring responsive desire. • You are not too much for needing more. A reminder that responsive desire is valid, that foreplay and communication create better sex for everyone, and that your needs matter whether you are dating, single, or in a long-term relationship. ⁠Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s Honey Archive episode we’re answering one of YOUR questions with a mix of expert insight, personal experience, and a very real conversation about what to do when the sex in your relationship just isn’t clicking. If you’ve ever loved someone but felt disconnected in the bedroom, this one’s for you. The Question:“I’ve been with my boyfriend for a while now, and the sex… it’s just not great. It’s not that we don’t like each other, but it just feels off. I want to be honest, I just don’t know how to approach it, so please HELP!” We cover: Questions to ask yourself first. How to figure out whether the issue is chemistry, communication, expectations, or simply not knowing what you actually want yet. Expert tips for talking about sex with a partner. Ways to start the conversation without triggering shame, defensiveness, or pressure so it feels collaborative instead of critical. How to give honest feedback without being harsh. Why tone, timing, and framing matter and how to express your needs in a way that builds connection instead of distance. What giving feedback in the moment can look like. Small language shifts that help guide your partner without turning sex into a performance review. Why being “bad at sex” is more normal than you think. How most people never receive real sex education and why awkwardness is part of learning, not a sign of incompatibility. The difference between skill issues and deeper mismatches. How to tell when something can grow with communication versus when values, desire, or attraction might not align. Permission to outgrow sexual dynamics that don’t feel good. Why it is okay to want more pleasure, more effort, or a different kind of connection. When it might be time to leave. A grounded conversation about recognizing when the sexual disconnect reflects a bigger relationship issue and giving yourself permission to choose what feels right for you. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For a lot of us, having kids absolutely wrecks our sex lives… at least for a while. And no one really prepares you for that. In this episode, we’re joined by Rebecca Howard Eudy, PhD, LMHC, an AASECT-certified sex therapist and couples therapist, to talk about what actually happens to desire, intimacy, and connection after kids (or even just in long term relationships). We dig into exhaustion, resentment, pressure, and why so many couples assume something is wrong with them, when really they’re just navigating a huge shift. This conversation is about understanding what’s happening and figuring out how to rebuild intimacy in a way that actually works for the season you’re in. We cover: How pressure kills intimacy. What happens when sex becomes another expectation instead of a point of connection. Why resentment shows up in the bedroom. How unequal labor, emotional disconnect, and unspoken needs quietly erode desire. How to rebuild emotional and physical intimacy. Practical ways to reconnect that do not rely on forcing desire or “trying harder.” Why sex changes so much after kids. Rebecca explains how exhaustion, mental load, and identity shifts directly impact desire and arousal. The difference between low desire and low capacity. Why many parents still want sex but feel too depleted to access it. Understanding desire differences after parenthood. Why mismatched desire is common and not a sign something is wrong with your relationship. Why scheduling intimacy can actually help. How planning connection creates safety and reduces pressure instead of killing spontaneity. The importance of redefining sex after kids. Moving beyond penetration-focused sex and expanding what intimacy can look like now. How to talk about sex without blame or defensiveness. Language shifts that help couples feel like teammates again. Connect with Rebecca: BUY HER BOOK HERE! Visit her website HERE! Follow her on Instagram HERE! Listen to her podcast HERE! ⁠⁠⁠Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon and access exclusive content HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if your sex life could tell you something important about your health? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Elliot Justin, an ER doctor of 25 years who pivoted into sexual health innovation to change the way we talk about bodies, pleasure, and well-being. We explore how erections, cardiovascular health, data-driven tools, and honest conversations can give us earlier insight into what’s happening in the body and why sexual health should never be treated as separate from overall health. We cover: Why sexual health is a health issue, not a vanity issue. Dr. Justin explains why pleasure, performance, and function are often early indicators of deeper health patterns. What erections can reveal about cardiovascular health. How nighttime erections are connected to blood flow and heart health long before other symptoms appear. Why men’s sexual health is often ignored until there’s a crisis. How stigma and silence delay diagnosis and meaningful conversations. The science behind nocturnal erections. What’s normal, what’s not, and why the body’s nighttime patterns matter. How data can change the way couples talk about sex. Why shared, objective information can reduce shame, blame, and guesswork in the bedroom. The role of technology in modern sexual wellness. How tools like FirmTech are bringing measurable insights into intimacy and performance. Why early awareness matters more than quick fixes. How prevention and understanding beat waiting for symptoms or relying on temporary solutions. Use code "DEWME" for a discount at FirmTech! ⁠⁠⁠Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon and access exclusive content HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode we're answering one of YOUR questions with a combination of expert tips and personal experience.  The Question: "I’m 22 and in my first long-term relationship with a partner I truly love. Everything is healthy and supportive, but I’ve noticed I’ve started deferring to his routines and preferences instead of my own. I miss parts of myself, like how I used to spend my free time and make plans just for me. How do I stay true to myself while still making room for my relationship?" What We Cover in This Episode: Losing yourself in a relationship. Why this is common in early long-term relationships and how it can happen even when the partnership is healthy and loving. Staying true to yourself while partnered. Why maintaining your own identity, routines, and desires takes intention in a committed relationship. People-pleasing and resentment. How deferring to a partner’s needs and preferences can slowly lead to disconnection and frustration. Identifying what you’ve stopped prioritizing. How to recognize the hobbies, values, and personal time that have taken a backseat. Solo needs vs relationship needs. Understanding the difference between individual fulfillment and shared intimacy in a long-term relationship. How to communicate your needs. Practical language for talking to your partner about independence, boundaries, and personal time without blame. Following through with boundaries. Why awareness isn’t enough and how to actually implement change in your daily life. Rebuilding a relationship with yourself. Why solo time, self-dates, and personal routines support emotional health and relationship satisfaction. Why this improves intimacy. How staying connected to yourself strengthens attraction, communication, and long-term relationship success. ⁠Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most of us were never actually taught how to understand our own sexuality. In this episode, we’re joined by Tash Doherty, author and sexuality advocate behind Misseducated, to talk about what it really means to become shamelessly sexy. We get into unlearning bad sex education, reconnecting with desire, and why curiosity, reflection, and self-knowledge are foundational to confidence and pleasure. We Cover: Why most of us are still “miseducated” about sex. Tash breaks down the gaps in traditional sex education and how they shape shame, confusion, and silence. How shame disconnects us from desire. Why feeling awkward, guilty, or “behind” is incredibly common and not a personal failure. What it actually means to be shamelessly sexy. Moving beyond performative confidence and into self-trust, curiosity, and ownership. The role of self-reflection in sexual confidence. Why understanding your own patterns, turn-ons, and boundaries changes everything. How journaling can transform your relationship with sex. Tash shares how intentional reflection helps women access desire, clarity, and agency. Why desire changes and how to work with it. Normalizing libido shifts and learning to stay connected to pleasure across life stages. How to build a healthier relationship with your body. Tools for getting out of comparison and back into embodied experience. Creating space for pleasure without pressure. Why slowing down and listening to yourself is more effective than “trying harder.” What women actually need more of in sex education. And why access to better tools leads to better relationships, communication, and confidence. Connect With Tash: Misseducated The Intimacy Journal  These Perfectly Careless Things Website Connect with Us: ⁠⁠Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon and access exclusive content HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If sex in your long-term relationship feels expected, routine, or disconnected, you’re not alone. In Part 2 of our 50 best sex tips for 2026 series, we talk about desire, pressure, and how to build a more satisfying sex life that actually feels good. This episode is about when sex starts to feel like something you’re doing because you’re supposed to. Going through the motions. Having sex because it feels expected. Checking boxes. Trying to be a good partner. Forcing yourself to want it. And still wondering why it doesn’t feel good. We cover: Doing what you think you’re supposed to do. Why “good partner” sex often disconnects you from what you actually want and feel. Going through the motions. How routine, obligation, and autopilot sex quietly drains desire. Having sex because it feels expected. Why expectation creates pressure and shuts desire down. Checking boxes instead of tuning in. How tracking frequency, effort, or outcomes pulls you out of connection. Forcing yourself to want it. Why trying to manufacture desire backfires. Trying to be a good partner. How people-pleasing and self-abandonment show up in sex. Wondering why it still doesn’t feel good. Why “fine” sex can still feel empty and what actually changes that. Get your FREE Want, Will, Won't list in our Linktree HERE! Connect with Us: ⁠Looking to apply these tips to your REAL life? Schedule a FREE 1:1 strategy session with Cass & Em to see if coaching can support you.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon and access exclusive content HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices