The Kinky Coffee Break

I was definitely scratching an itch of my own curiosity this month when I invited DK Green to chat with me about the Leather Community!    DK gives us a peek into life as part of a leather family, including the dynamics and values that it's built around. From the subculture’s roots in gay community, we will hear what's changed and what's drawing a diverse range of people to leather today.    Pop the kettle on and buckle up for a lively and enticing conversation! DK Green (AKA DK Leather) has been the head of the UK KRuel Leather Family since the nineties, the first non-gay-male leather family in the UK. He’s a Master, Owner, Daddy, Leather dominant, and a respected and well known (notorious) speaker and educator in this field. He’s also a polyamorous, shamanic, trans man! Additionally he’s a respected/experienced Psychotherapist, supervisor, speaker, educator, author. Psychodynamic core integrative, holistic, national/international via Zoom. Serving GSRD communities (gender, sex, relationship diversities) aka LGBTQIA+, CNM (consensual non-monogamy), kink (BDSM/leather), tantra, sex work, & the intersectionalities of neurodiversity, disability/chronic illness, race & culture. Links: http://linktr.ee/dkleather Email: [email protected] You can check out the rest of my work at https://www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. For info on upcoming courses, workshops, and events, go to https://www.pleasurerebels.com/events 

This month, I’m joined on the podcast by the sexy polymath that is Alison Pilling to talk about the long journey of erotic discovery.    Ali shares what’s been helpful, what got in the way, and what advice she would go back and give to her younger self.    This was such an affirming conversation that is full of helpful insights for those of you who are seeking to discover more about yourself through exploring sexuality, just as much as those of you who are already years into your journey!    Alison Pilling is the creator and host of The Sex Lectures, as well as a mentor and teacher on the UK Sexological Bodywork training. She lives in Corfu where she’s transforming a former yoga bnb into something much less wholesome.    Growing up in a repressed Catholic household has had a lot to answer for and Ali is as surprised as anyone to find herself in this groundbreaking field. The good news from the other side of an erotic exploration is that reclaiming and expanding sexual expression is possible. However tricky, heartbreaking or exciting, it’s ultimately an expansion of the self and soul.    Ali may speak for many of us in feeling like we sense there's more out there, but we aren’t sure what. Discovering erotic and personal freedom allows us to begin to know more of who we are, what we want and how to ask for it. How do we get to define, feel and express what we want for ourselves? Exploring the answers to these questions, taking a chance gives us a chance of building a life full of connection, courage and choice.   Check out Ali’s work at: https://sexschoolforgrownups.com/ or find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.pilling.5. The next Sex Lectures will be taking place on Monday 16th February in Manchester, UK and you can find details and tickets here: https://buytickets.at/sexschoolforgrownups/2009456 (I’m on the lineup to give a talk about The Privilege of Love!)  You can check out the rest of my work at https://www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. For info on the upcoming courses, Getting into Ethical Kink, and POWER & PRESENCE, go to https://www.pleasurerebels.com/events

This month, we have our first returning guest on the podcast - Christian Red - to talk about the most common issues in bondage.    Shibari has exploded in popularity in recent years. And, whilst it’s great to see so many people exploring this as an art, form of intimacy, and technical challenge, it comes with some pretty significant risks that may not be obvious at first.    In true Christian style, this discussion - and the guide he has recently published on the topic - break the risks down in a way that is easy for even the most inexperienced kinkster to grasp. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in bondage.    Christian is a rope/takedown teacher based in Nottingham who has been teaching since 2012. His focus as an educator is giving people tools and ideas to express themselves by breaking complex topics into simple ideas. Christian Red's involvement in the kink community has lasted 20 years so far. In recent years, he has taught at Prague Shibari, Athens Rope, Anatomie Studios, Rope On!, Rope Office Hours, String Fling, UKREX, and Oxford Peer Rope. He's also a regular guest teacher at The Kinky Classroom and will be running an Intro to Shibari ONLINE course starting 27th January 2026, which you can find at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pleasurerebels/1987006 or check out all upcoming events, courses, and workshops at https://www.pleasurerebels.com/events    The free rope safety digital publication Knot Without Risk, which we reference throughout this episode is available in multiple languages: https://www.christian-red.co.uk/knotwithoutrisk    In addition to this, Christian has also released over 100 rope video tutorials and has been a frequent contributor to the online platform Shibari Study. Check out the Bondage Tuition channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bondagetuition   Christian Red’s first appearance on The Kinky Coffee Break podcast was Episode 7, in which we talk about censorship in our industry and the impact this has not only on educators and practitioners, but also on YOU!    If you can, make sure you support Christian to keep producing quality educational content via his Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BondageTuition    You can check out the rest of my work at https://www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels.

This month, we are joined by the pioneer that is Dr Betty Martin as we explore The Wheel of Consent. Betty shares how The Wheel originated in kink, how it’s both simple and very much not simple in practice, how it can give us insights into what’s happening in relationships, and the impact other forms of power have on how we negotiate. AND we both share how The Wheel can be a helpful way in to exploring D/s and power play. If your understanding of consent is as permission seeking and granting, then hopefully this episode will open your eyes to some of the depth and nuance that is often overlooked in the conversation. Dr. Betty Martin has had her hands on people professionally for over 40 years (some of it legal and some of it questionable) - 30 years of Chiropractic and other modalities, then later, 15 years of Somatic Sex Education and Surrogate Partner Therapy. Also Contact Improv and other kinds of play. She is the developer of the Wheel of Consent, a cutting edge model of receiving and giving, based on touch but amenable to non-touch practices as well. She is the author of The Art of Receiving and Giving: The Wheel of Consent, and developed a 5-day training in the Wheel of Consent for practitioners, which took her around the world, and then trained others to teach it so she could retire. She currently mentors helping professionals, from psychotherapists to sex workers, and all stripes of hands-on practitioners. You can find Betty’s work (including plenty of FREE materials and her book) here: https://www.wheelofconsent.org/. For information on trainings related to the Wheel of Consent, visit the School of Consent: https://www.schoolofconsent.org/ You can check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels.

Join me and my special guest, Dr Liam Wignall, as we take a deep dive into the kinky subculture that is Pup Play.    You’ll learn what it enTAILS(!), who typically engages in this type of play, and some of the many benefits people say they get from immersing themselves in this world. We also touch upon academic research on kink more broadly, neurodivergence and kink, and lots more. This conversation definitely got my geeky brain going!   Dr Liam Wignall is a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Brighton. His research focuses on sexual identity, behaviours, and communities, with a primary focus on kinky sexual practices and subcultures - he has written about this in his book, Kinky in the Digital Age. He’s published over 30 academic articles on a range of topics related to sex and sexuality.   Liam’s book Kinky in the Digital Age can be found here. Use discount code ASPROMP8 to get 30% off (and, fellow geeks, this MAY work on other books on the Oxford University Press site, although we can’t guarantee this!)     You can find Liam’s research profile as well as links to his academic papers here: https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/liam-wignall/    Liam recommended that listeners/watchers read Gayle S. Rubin’s The Catacombs as a book that inspired him. You can find information on that here: https://read.dukeupress.edu/books/book/1560/chapter-abstract/173959/The-CatacombsA-Temple-of-the-Butthole?redirectedFrom=fulltext, and he also mentioned a resource for people interested in finding out more about Pup Play: https://www.pupplay.info/   You can check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. And, finally, why not take the Kink Orientation Scale quiz for yourself: https://thekinkscale.com/ (I got 74 out of 90, in case you’re interested!)

We are back with Series 2 of The Kinky Coffee Break and this month we are joined by special guest Daniel Morrison for a suuuuuper interesting conversation about queering sex!    We covered some realy juicy topics in our chat from energy genitals to multiplicity, and how we can access polarity beyond the binary genders. Whether you identify as queer or not, there’s a lot of food for thought in this episode.    Daniel is a psychotherapist, writer, and parent. He offers EMDR trauma therapy as well as talking therapy and specialises in working with gender, sexuality and relationship diversity. He's passionate about creating spaces to facilitate connection for the Queer community, exploring movement, intimacy, consent and boundaries, and has run workshops around sacred sexuality, conscious kink and pagan sex magic. Daniel is also a Clinical Associate of Pink Therapy, and his writing has appeared in Non Binary Lives, Queering Gestalt Therapy and the forthcoming Pink Therapy book. His own poetry book, Effing the Ineffable, is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Effing-Ineffable-Daniel-Morrison/dp/B0F4XH914K You can find Daniel’s work at Q Changes: https://www.qchanges.co.uk/. We also referenced two other resources during our conversation, both of which I highly recommend checking out. You

This month, I’m joined on The Kinky Coffee Break by the fabulous Mark Cusack, author of the recently published book: Fluid: A Guide for People with Flexible Sexuality. Fluidity feels like such a core part of my own identity and personal journey but it’s a topic that’s rarely spoken about or visible, even within LGBTQ+ communities, so I was delighted to bring Mark on to the podcast to shed some light on this! Tune in to hear how fluid sexuality is way more prevalent than you might think (and not just in humans!), how it’s not just another trend or phase, and why it’s a controversial topic within the LGBTQ+ community. As well as being an author, Mark (he/they) is also a lecturer, content creator and coach who specialises in supporting people with complex, fluid or undefined orientation and gender. Mark runs the support site @notdefining where he posts educational content about the diversity of the sexuality and gender spectrums, as well as experiences from his own life as a bi+/asexual fluid person. Mark lives in Liverpool where he delivers talks, teaches trainee psychotherapists and writes articles on LGBTQ+ issues. He was formerly LGBTQ+ representative for the UK Civil Service. His home town is Kilmarnock in Scotland and he is a proud member of the autistic community. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, check out Mark’s website: www.notdefining.com, find him across social media @notdefining including the wonderful YouTube channel, and order a copy of the book via the publishers: https://uk.jkp.com/products/fluid. You’ll find my work including upcoming events, courses, and workshops at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. And if you have a question that you’d like us to address in a follow-up, please drop me an email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

This month, I’m joined on The Kinky Coffee Break by “the Nigella of parenting’, Roma Norriss!   I learnt why it’s essential that parents DON’T shut down their sexuality, in a permissive, perspective-shifting conversation that highlights the ways in which over-serving parenting isn’t actually making us the best parents for our kids.    We covered a lot of ground in this conversation - from the surprising overlaps between parenting and kink, to how we can handle some of the practical issues if you exploring kink and sexuality in a house that you share with children. I’m massively inspired by this conversation with Roma!    Roma Norriss (she/her) turns around scratch-your-eyes-out-hard family situations where nothing else has worked. She can be sighted in a naughty red dress but in actuality spends most of her time coaching internationally from her bed in pyjamas with her hair standing on end. Roma has been working with parents (as a Birthworker, NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor and Hand in Hand Parenting Instructor) since 2006 and is a warm, overconfident, prolific, playful, pattern interrupter who somehow has the answers to your life.    Based in Somerset, she sponges up any opportunity for intimacy and is an all-round bothersome wrestle-maniac. Lifelong foodie, she loves feeding people and when the chips are down is prone to escaping to the tropics for a God plug-in. What she doesn’t want you to know is that she actually finds children quite tedious and has been forced to master parenting only for the sake of making her own children significantly LESS so. Known for her warm, human, and forgiving approach, Roma is also deeply invested in exploring how intimacy, connection, and kink can coexist with the demands of parenting and is constantly navigating the complexities of exploring her own sexuality as a parent. She regularly appears on TV, Radio, webinars, conferences, panels and podcasts, including Newsweek, and Juno Magazine.   If you’d like to find out more about Roma and the amazing work she does, check out her website: www.romanorriss.com or head straight to the resources page: https://www.romanorriss.com/resources   And if you have a question that you’d like us to address in a follow-up, please drop me an email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you! 

This month, I’m joined on The Kinky Coffee Break by Writer, Creative Life Coach, Performer, Book Doula, Trauma-Informed Educator & Artist, and Founder of The Creative Genius, the marvellous Heidi Hinda Chadwick.    We explored some of the overlaps between the worlds of kink and creativity - from the way in which they both tap into our sensual innocence, to the impact of shame can have on the way we feel we can express ourselves.    I found Heidi Hinda’s perspective really refreshing, the way in which she invites us to not only know and accept ourselves but to celebrate!    Heidi Hinda Chadwick (she/her) is deeply passionate about Eros, Creativity, Sexuality, Kink, the Nervous System & Creative Living, Mental Health, Midwifing your Midlife, Tarot, Horror Movies, and Macabre and Folky Feminist Bad Ass Literature! She’s all about how to live a Juicy, Wild and Full-filled life, whilst allowing ourselves to be Vividly and Wildly Messy & Imperfect. Heidi Hinda has been writing for over 20 years, about Life, Love, Sex, Relationships, Soul, Creativity, Culture, & why Art is the Revolution! and has been published in various online and paper publications. She is also a Nomadic Tarot Reader & avid Cross-Stitcher! Join Writing The Revolution ~ https://writingtherevolution.substack.com/ Spell-Crafting ~ https://heidihinda.substack.com/ IG ~ https://www.instagram.com/heidihinda/ Website ~ https://www.heidihindachadwick.com/   If you’re interested in the POWER & PRESENCE course that I offer, the 2025 edition will run from April to July and you can find the details of this plus all other upcoming events, courses, and workshops at pleasurerebels.com/events. Check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels.

This month, I’m joined by (Feminist) Love Coach, Bear Phillips to talk about What Makes a Great Lover. We covered a lot of ground here - from the way in which men are socialised to disconnect from important parts of themselves, to the way that we can inadvertently create disconnection in our relationships when we avoid being vulnerable. And YES - we do get to hear Bear’s secret to being a great lover! I really appreciated the way that Bear presented his ideas and critique of popular ideas in such a warm and grounded way, calling us back into discovery and curiosity once again. Bear Phillips (he/ him) is a poly-sexual, polyamorous, and kinky-slut by night, and a trauma-informed bodyworker and a sex & love coach by day. In his coaching with men, he works with questions of masculinity and how patriarchy impacts our ability to have meaningful and authentic relationships. Bear has been involved in various forms of therapy and personal development for more than half his life, having recently completed the *Compassionate Inquiry Professional Training* with Gabor Maté. His first book; Feminism Will Make a Man Out of You! is due for release soon. You can find Bear at www.bearphillips.co.uk or substack: @bearphillips1 / bearphillips1.substack.com/. He’s also on IG: @bear_phillips and FB: facebook.com/bearphillipsUK. We referenced one of Bear’s recent articles during this conversation, and you can find that here. If you’re interested in my upcoming Getting into Ethical Kink course, you can find all of the details here or find the full list of upcoming events, courses, and workshops at pleasurerebels.com/events. Check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels.

Join me and my guest, Rosy Pendlebaby, as we discuss smut and the lost art of letter writing. There can be a great vulnerability in expressing our desires and many of the obstacles we face in doing so - such as our fear of judgment, shame, and self-censorship - can be present in our other creative pursuits. What emerged from a desire to stay connected during Covid lockdowns, is an idea that I believe offers an antidote not only to our blocks around desire and creativity but to these ridiculously fast-paced times we live in. I love the way that Rosy presents this in a way that I hope will inspire all of us to pick up a pen and paper and get the creative juices flowing once again! Rosy Pendlebaby (she/they) is a queer performer, facilitator, and activist, working in the UK and internationally, making work that explores the intersection of creativity, pleasure, and change-making. She is director of body positive life drawing project, Body Love Sketch Club, and of creative lab for rebellious arts, Revolting Arts Club. Since launching the ‘Smutty Letters’ project online in 2020, she has gone on to perform and facilitate it at Edinburgh Fringe, London Vault Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, Soho House, Wilderness Festival, Glasgow Comedy Festival, Shambala, and more. Find Rosy on Instagram: @revoltingrosy @revoltingartsclub @bodylovesketchclub Rosy will be running a Smutty Letters event in London on Thursday 20th Feb 2025. Details and tickets can be found here. Check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels.

This month I’m joined on the podcast by Rope Bondage Educator and regular guest teacher at The Kinky Classoom, Christian Red. Christian is a firm favourite here at Pleasure Rebels, not only because of his technical knowledge but also his wealth of lived experience, open mind, and ability to dive into the juicy conversations about WHY we’re drawn to certain things.  This episode could have gone in so many different directions, but we wanted to dive into a topic that is deeply impactful to us as educators and our audiences. Strangely, we can’t say much more upfront, but I invite you to tune in and see what you think!  Christian Red (he/him) is a rope/takedown teacher based in Nottingham who has been teaching since 2012. His focus as an educator is giving people tools and ideas to express themselves by breaking complex topics into simple ideas. Christian Red's involvement in the kink community has lasted 20 years so far. In recent years, he has taught at Prague Shibari, Athens Rope, Anatomie Studios, Rope On!, Rope Office Hours, String Fling, UKREX, and Oxford Peer Rope. He's also a bloody awesome human, and a trusted teacher and mentor. Find out more about Christian’s work at https://www.christian-red.co.uk// and follow him on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/christianredv2. You’ll also find his incredible and educational YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@bondagetuition  We referenced Christian’s recent video message to YouTube about censorship double standards, which you can find here: https://youtu.be/O1ZwYmqZLaw?si=P0JThZRhbbNCYUGN (unless it gets deleted). I’d highly recommend giving it a watch!   I also referenced Eric Wycoff Rogers and some of their work around Critical Hedonism(s), which you can find here: https://www.criticalhedonisms.com/  Check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. This conversation was recorded in November 2024.

Join me and my guest, Catherine Hale, as we discuss trauma and nervous systems and why these are important for all of us to know about!  I think one of the most undervalued skillsets in society is our ability to recognise and tend to dysregulation in our own nervous systems. And it’s pretty close to impossible not to feel dysregulated at least some of the time when we are constantly striving, working, and overwhelmed by information. When we don’t have the skills to do this, to regulate ourselves and coregulate with others, we’re more likely to numb out and avoid feeling what’s really going on for us, which in turn makes it much harder for us to actually find pleasure in our lives.  I love how much Catherine invites compassion and gentleness in her approach, whilst giving lots of practical tips on how we can start to form better relationships with our own nervous systems.  Catherine Hale (she/her) is a passionate nervous system coach and educator who inspires seasoned change-makers - coaches, healers, and leaders - to unlock their full potential. With her guidance, individuals can tap into the extraordinary power of post-traumatic growth, transforming their healing journey into a path of empowerment and purpose. In 2023, Catherine launched the Culture of Care training, a groundbreaking program that fosters a holistic approach to trauma-informed care. Designed for practitioners and facilitators, this training equips them with the skills to create safe, sensitive environments that honour the diverse needs of individuals and groups.  Catherine believes that by mastering trauma-informed techniques and understanding the intricacies of the nervous system, we can collectively cultivate a culture that empowers profound transformations in our lives and work. Together, we can build the beautiful world our hearts know is possible—one that thrives on compassion, resilience, and deep connection. Find out more about Catherine’s work at https://catherinehale.co.uk/ and follow her on Insta @catherinehaleuk or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.hale.5209. Catherine referenced a new training for practitioners, which you can find here: https://www.the-field.com/online  Check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. This conversation was recorded in October 2024.

Join me and my guest, Æris Grace, as we discuss the presence of ageism in the world of intimacy.  It can be a big step for any individual to enter a group setting to explore topics as vulnerable as sexuality but add to that the artificial divides that can be present between age groups and it can leave older individuals feeling somehow unwelcomed or even excluded.   What struck me about this conversation with Æris was how they got to the root of the issue in a way that calls us to reflect on where ageism in these spaces really comes from and how it impacts ALL of us, at all ages. This is an opportunity, more broadly, for us to deconstruct and reclaim more intimacy for ourselves when we can open our minds to the potential for desire and vitality that exists at any age.  Æris Grace (they/them) is a genderqueer, pansensual, pansexual, polyamorous, neurodiverse & kinky Intimacy worker, facilitator & organiser. They have a heart for creating body positive, age affirming, neuro nurturing & queer friendly intimacy spaces. This Belgium Based Human loves to co create juicy projects with local creators and to connect Belgium to the international world of Intimate Embodiment. Find out more about Æris’ work at https://linktr.ee/intimacypro and follow them on Insta @queerjoyisaprotest I referenced Desirability Politics throughout this podcast and I find this episode from the Multiamory podcast a helpful resource for those who wish to learn more on that topic. Æris also followed up with a recommended podcast episode from The Heart of Healthcare featuring Cindy Gallop. Check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. (This conversation was recorded in June 2024)

Join me and my guest, Artemisia de Vine, as we discuss the unexpected wisdom of Sexual Fantasies.  “Sex is just SO MUCH MORE than procreation and stress release and having a bit of fun. There’s so much we can discover about ourselves and each other through this lens”  Fantasies come up a LOT in my line of work and, whilst for some people they can be playful and arousing, for others they can be a source of shame, confusion, or even disconnection between them and their partner/s. Listen in to hear Artemisia’s take on what fantasies really are, why we should pay more not less attention to them, and how the deVinery Method can help to unlock the rich insights within them.  Artemisia de Vine is a Sexual Fantasy expert who teaches the world's leading sexperts the meaning of our sexual fantasies, and how to bring them out of our heads and into our beds! Author of the upcoming book: The Spirituality of Smut: The surprising wisdom of sexual fantasies, Artemisia is a Certified somatic sexologist, BA in anthropology, and former sex worker and professional dominatrix.  Find out more about Artemisia's work at www.artemisiadevine.com. If you mention this podcast you can get a significant discount on The deVinery Sexual Fantasy training program!  Or check out the freebie referenced in our chat at www.myfantasyis.com.  You can also work with me to discover more about your Sexual Fantasies through my online coaching programme found here: www.pleasurerebels.com/fantasy-coaching or check out the rest of my work at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. 

Join me and my guest, Sian Johnson, as we discuss why and how men can benefit from empowerment work. Within the current systems of power that we live within, men can also be disempowered. As practitioners working with men, it’s not uncommon to see this showing up as anything from them experiencing performance anxiety to a loss of libido, and from shame around what they find pleasurable to boredom related to the sex they are having. In Sian’s words “pleasure is a catalyst for change”. Hear what this means in terms of empowering men and why Sian feels this work is so important, for us all.  Sian Johnson (she/her) is a Consent Trainer, Sex and Intimacy Coach, and Mentor supporting Couples and individual Men on their quest for a deeper and more authentic sex life: for life. Her mantra is “Pleasure is a Catalyst for Change”. Since 2016, Sian has trained with some of the world’s leading experts in Tantra, Sexology, Psychotherapy, Trauma Awareness, Consent, and Conscious Kink, and supported thousands of men to access more pleasure, to step into their healthy, mature authority and discover more satisfying intimacy and fulfilling relationships.  Sian offers International English language sex coaching programmes online and in-person sessions from her home in West Yorkshire, UK .  Find out more about Sian’s work at www.sianjohnson.com. Check out her YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@sianjohnsonmenssexcoach or follow her on Facebook. And you'll find me, Lex, at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels. For information on the courses I mentioned (plus more group learning opportunities), go to www.pleasurerebels.com/thekinkyclassroom

Join me and my guest, Sasha Damjanovski, as we discuss the exhilarating world of play parties.  Many people I work with are curious about exploring these spaces, yet they can be a bit baffling - like, what's the difference between a play party, a sex party, and a temple night? What do you wear? Will I find myself in the middle of an orgy within minutes of arriving?! Sasha and I share our thoughts on these questions, as well as insights into how to prepare, what to expect, and some of the less obvious benefits of being in these spaces.  Sasha Damjanovski (he/him) is a multi-disciplinary practitioner. With a holistic approach to personal growth, exploration and healing, he uses a combination of counselling, coaching, body work, conscious kink, dance and more. His clients are humans of all genders and cultures, seeking to explore their own curiosities, needs and boundaries in both personal and professional relationships.  Sasha is also a multiple award-winning filmmaker and the years of creating narratives has greatly influenced his work as a practitioner, as he helps people create their own authentic and empowering life narratives.  "Play parties are an extreme sport. They can be exhilarating and fun but one doesn't go skydiving without doing any research or preparation beforehand!" Find out more about Sasha and the work he does at CuriousMaster.com or catch him on Instagram @proactive_loving And you'll find me, Lex, at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels 

Join me and my guest, Andrew Cain, as we discuss some of the surprising overlaps between the worlds of kink and improv, as well as the misconceptions. Discover why play is so important for us as adults, and some of the ways that we can make this a part of our lives. I did NOT want to learn improv and yet the skills I developed in doing so have massively influenced how I work daily, to the extent that I now encourage Dom/mes-in-training to give it a go!  Andy (he/him) sees himself as possibly the world’s most unlikely improviser! As a child, he excelled at school stuff – thinking and getting the “right” answers – and was quite shy. Over the years this led to him, like many adults, getting tangled up in thought and losing contact with freedom, fun, and expression. When Andy first encountered improv he felt a fascination and fear that showed him it contained something he needed. It’s helped Andy to reclaim fun, laughter, being seen and not worrying about being “right”. It’s been both deep and fun. Alongside Andy’s therapy and coaching work, he loves sharing improv - particularly with people, like him, who would never normally do that kind of thing! “Play, connection, and fun are not ‘nice to haves.’ They’re key parts of emotional and physical wellbeing.” Find out more about Andy and the work he does at www.playconnect.co.uk You'll find me at www.pleasurerebels.com and https://linktr.ee/pleasurerebels