The holidays are intended to be a time of cheer, but the data suggests that they can, in fact, be a time of stress for many. With the additional stress of COVID and distancing restrictions, 2020 presents some unique challenges. Jess joins Global TV's The Morning Show to discuss the top issues of contention and how to have a more harmonious holiday season.

My husband and I never agree on finances and it’s worse around the holidays. I want to spend and be generous and I see him as a cheapskate and it always leads to fights. Help!

I think you can be generous is more ways than one — you can be generous with your time, your effort, your thoughtfulness, and your money, so can you consider expanding your definition of generosity.

And can you talk to him about why you want to spend more money and what it means to you. Perhaps financial generosity is one way you show love and a way that your loved ones feel it. That’s okay if it’s not a strain on your own finances.

...

In this episode, we chat about our own issues with food as a couple — fights from our past, lessons we’ve learned, and the ways in which individual and cultural differences influence our expectations. We also answer some listener questions including:

• How do I get over feelings of worthlessness related to my partner not having an orgasm?
• How do I get more comfortable with masturbation?
• How can I learn to orgasm without a toy?
• Is it normal to not enjoy clitoral stimulation?
• What is mindful masturbation?

If you’ve got questions for the podcast, please send them our way! And feel free to share your food fight (or harmony) stories as well.

If you’ve got questions or topic suggestions for the podcast, submit them here. As well, you can now record your messages for us! Please record your message/question in a quiet room and use your phone’s headphones with a built-in mic if possible.

And be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts...

Do you talk about the role technology plays in your relationships — for better or worse? This week, we discuss some of the ways in which technology interferes with connection and explore an important conversation all couples (and singles!) can use to minimize technoference. We also discuss anxiety related to tech and the pandemic, share strategies to change the way we use technology, and answer a listener question about how to respond to a sticky situation with a new beau.

Consider these prompts to start this important conversation:

Technology 

1. How do you feel the use of tech devices affects your relationship? Be specific.
2. How do you feel about electronics in the bedroom or at the table (or elsewhere)?
3. How often do you want to be connected/disconnected?
4. Why are you drawn to your phone/device?
5. Would you like to reduce your use of technology when you’re together? If so, why?
6. How do you feel when your partner is on their phone in different...

Say hello to our newest Sexuality Superhero, Brittany Broaddus-Smith. Brittany is the founder of The Intimacy Firm. The Intimacy Firm is an intimacy coaching and sexuality education organization. With the influence of sex and faith, Brittany aims to empower individuals to discover, embrace, and navigate the world of sexuality in a way that doesn’t compromise their personal or professional values. Check out her feature below!

1. How did you get started in the field?

Funny story actually, I started off wanting to be a lawyer. From about 3rd grade to until my first day of college, where I enrolled as a Political Science major, I was going to be Johnny Cochran and find my way to the Dream Team. However, my first professor for that 8am class bored me to tears. Literally! The next day I changed my major to Psychology. From there, I would go on to get a master’s in social work and another in Clinical Human Sexuality. My primary focus was to do couples therapy. But God had other...

Psychologist Dr. Gina Di Giulio joins us to discuss Covid anxiety, CBT, and the ways in which attachment styles affect our relationships. She walks us through the three dimensions of attachment theory as well as the four main styles of attachment. Jess and Brandon open up about their own irritability and frustrations and they discuss cognitive strategies to increase feelings of security. And on a totally separate note, Jess also weighs in on a listener question regarding how to ride like a pro!

Check out Dr. Gina's notes below...

Attachment theory: How we attach to other adults strongly corresponds to how we attach to others, especially our primary caregivers, as a child.

• Adults with different attachment styles will differ in terms of how they deal with emotional intimacy
• How they communicate in relationships, in terms of their needs and wants, how readily they are willing to consider others' as well
• How much they trust others, how vulnerable they're willing to be in relationships
...

This morning on Global TV's The Morning Show, Jess chats with Carolyn and Jeff on how we can support our loved ones at home during the pandemic. Check out her notes and video segment below!

1. For some couples the pandemic has forced them to spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week together which can be overwhelming, but it's actually bringing people together?

That’s right. While, of course, the grief, loss, disruption, stress and fear can lead to tension in relationships, some couples are reporting that they’re feeling closer than ever for several reasons.

1. They have more time to dedicate to the relationship and turn to one another for support.
2. They’ve finally decided to address issues at their root instead of distracting themselves with work, social engagements, kids, etc..
3. They have a new perspective and appreciation for life and health, and this attitude of gratitude can spill over into feeling more appreciation for one another.
4. Improved understanding resulting from...

Sexologist Ashely Cobb joins us to talk about her new program Hoe and Tell as well as to answer a ton of sex & relationship questions including:

• What is pegging?
• What sexual secrets are your friends and neighbours harbouring?
• How do I get my shy partner to make noise in bed?
• How do I introduce something new?
• Does everyone need lube?
• Can you get good sex ed on Tik Tok?
• How do you let go of sexual shame that is tied to religion?
• What are might-as-well relationships and what can we do about them?
• How to ditch pressures related to family and cultural expectations.
• Should a couple really operate as a unit?
• What questions should you ask before you get into a committed relationship?
• Is it okay to not like blow jobs?

Follow Ashley on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. Also, check out Ashley's podcast, Hoe and Tell.

If you’ve got questions or topic suggestions for the podcast, submit them here. As well, you can now record your messages for us! Please record your...

We talk labia, penis size, public relationships, consensual non-monogamy and more with Taylor Nolan. Taylor is a psychotherapist who appeared on ABC's The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise. She hosts her own podcast and is recognized on social media for being outspoken and vulnerable on issues around  intersectional feminism, animal rescue, and mental and sexual health.

Follow Taylor on Instagram & Twitter. Check out Taylor's podcast, Let's Talk About It!

Here are a few notes on our discussion of labia...

Why are we so obsessed with the way our labia looks?

Because we have very few opportunities to see real naked bodies, we tend to draw our expectations from porn. But porn, as we know, is not generally representative of the general population. The bodies depicted tend to reflect one specific standard and oftentimes don’t align with what we see in ourselves. When it comes to how we view our labia, we may want to thicken, shorten, lengthen,...

Feature image by Jeff Perera.

In the second of a two-part series, Healthy Manhood speaker and writer Jeff Perera shares with fellow cis-hetero guys some takeaways from navigating COVID-19 to help us better navigate our interactions with people of other genders.

Layers of Emotional PPE

Many men (myself included) are trying to navigate dating during a pandemic: maneuvering uncharted waters in meeting people they are attracted to, and possibly build romantic or sexual connections. Complicated at best in more familiar times, but now?

*takes off his face shield to wipe his forehead*

Some of us men tend to complain how cold or ‘stand-offish’ people can be when trying to meet them at a bar, or match with them online. Rather than fixating on ‘techniques’ to persuade someone to lower their defensive layers of protection (or devaluing the person for having them up) we can instead be more mindful around why their guard is up in the first place. Women, for example,...

How’s your penis doing? How’s your diet and how does it relate to the pleasure you experience? And how can you have better anal sex? Sexual Medicine fellow & LGBTQ advocate, Dr. Josh Gonzalez, MD, joins us to discuss arousal, orgasm, ejaculation, erection, pain and more. He shares his expertise and answers your questions including:

• What’s the best diet for your penis?
• How can you deal with painful ejaculation?
• What is a muted orgasm?
• How can you deal with delayed ejaculation?
• What are excitatory neurotransmitters?
• What is soft glans and what are your treatment options?
• What is Peyronie’s and how can it be treated?
• How do some antidepressants inhibit and help and harm sexual pleasure including orgasm and desire?

Follow Dr. Josh Gonzalez on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Check out his recent articles on the Astroglide blog here.

This podcast is brought to you by Cliovana. 

If you’ve got questions or topic suggestions for the podcast,...