February 11, 2026 • 51 mins
Text me what you think of today’s episode!
Want to make dinner feel like more than dinner? We sit down with chef, author, and aphrodisiac food expert Amy Reiley to explore how everyday ingredients can lift mood, boost confidence, and deepen connection without turning your kitchen into a lab or your meal into a gimmick. Amy traces her path from wine writing to gastronomy and nutrition, sharing how a health crisis opened her eyes to the power of food and why intention matters as much as what’s on the plate.
We dig into what actually makes a food “aphrodisiac,” from circulation and hormones to endorphins and mood. You’ll hear practical picks you can use tonight—coffee to bridge dinner to intimacy, ginger to soothe digestion and heighten sensation, chili for warmth and a gentle rush, and salmon for steady sexual health support. Amy also disarms the hype, calling out harmful myths like rhino horn, shark fin, and “Spanish fly,” and replaces them with ethical, affordable choices that are easy to love. Dessert fans get good news too: smart swaps like chickpea flour in dark chocolate brownies can add fiber and protein without killing the joy.
Beyond ingredients, we focus on ambiance and agency. Small shifts—pillow picnics on the floor, fairy lights in the yard, a shared espresso—change the experience and help you be present. Amy’s free “What Turns You On at the Table” worksheet guides you to track how food affects your energy and mood and make one weekly upgrade you’ll actually keep. We also talk gender-specific needs, from testosterone support for men to hormone balance, peri- and post-menopause, postpartum, and fertility considerations for women, and how a well-stocked “Passion Pantry” sets you up for better choices every day.
If you’re curious, cautious, or just ready to refresh your routine, this conversation offers science, stories, and simple steps to turn meals into moments. Listen, grab the worksheet at eatsomethingsexy.com/podcast, and tell us the aphrodisiac ingredient you’re trying first. If you enjoy the show, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps others find us.
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Amy's FREE Podcast Worksheet - What Turns You On At The Table
Romancing the Stove Cookbook
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_05 (00:00):
Thanks for tuning in this week.
Just a reminder, hit that followor subscribe button wherever
you're listening to thispodcast.
Thanks, and here's this week'sepisode.
(00:22):
Everyday people following theirpassions.
SPEAKER_08 (00:26):
That's probably like one of the highlights of my life
so far, just being able to becreative like that.
I mean I've always wanted.
SPEAKER_00 (00:34):
And then I decided to get another hive, and that
turned into a lot of hives.
As long as I can do that, I wantto be a good citizen.
Help people out.
SPEAKER_05 (00:45):
Putting themselves out there, taking chances, and
navigating challenges along theway.
SPEAKER_04 (00:52):
I I absolutely identified with having stage
ride because, you know, any timeI went on stage, I just felt
like I was having a hot attack.
SPEAKER_01 (00:59):
Very first laugh, very first practice session, I
crashed, turned the car upsidedown, made a spectacle of
myself, and I got back on thathorse and started riding again.
SPEAKER_05 (01:09):
As they pursue what makes them happy and brings them
joy.
SPEAKER_02 (01:14):
As long as people are having a good time and I
have the opportunity to putsmiles on people's faces.
I I love what I do.
SPEAKER_03 (01:20):
I have done things that I never thought I could do.
To have somebody tell me howreal it looks and how, you know,
from their actual memory.
Because that's telling me Icaptured what I was trying to
get.
SPEAKER_05 (01:36):
Welcome to Astorted Conversations.
I'm your host, Helen.
Hello, and welcome to anotherAssorted Conversation.
I don't know where you'relocated, but here in Boston,
we're getting ready for yetanother Arctic blast.
(01:58):
I love winter, but this is justtoo much.
It's the kind of weather thatjust makes me want to stay in
and stay warm.
This week's guest is all aboutturning up the heat in the
kitchen and making food thattickles more than your taste
buds.
I got to have a conversationwith an aphrodisiac food expert
(02:22):
who has put her gastronomydegree to great use as she's
researched and recipe testedfoods that can not only improve
your health and confidence, butcan also put you in the mood.
She links good nutrition andgood health with forming deeper
connections outside of thekitchen.
(02:43):
Buckle up for this week'sconversation just in time for
Valentine's Day, and I'll seeyou on the other side.
Today's guest is a chef, author,and leading expert on
(03:06):
aphrodisiac foods.
With a background in culinaryarts and nutrition, she blends
food science, wellness, andpleasure to explore how what we
eat can influence mood,confidence, and connection.
She regularly speaks andconsults on the topic of
aphrodisiacs and has appeared onThe Today Show, CBS Early Show,
(03:29):
Nightline, and even Playboy TV.
You'll recognize her as the onewearing clothes.
Her work in aphrodisiacs isquoted in publications including
National Geographic, The NewYork Times, Epicurious, Wine
Enthusiast, Health, and ofcourse, Playboy magazine.
(03:49):
Her endeavors show thatintention matters just as much
as ingredients, and that dinnercan be both nourishing and
quietly transformative.
Let's just say this conversationmay change the way you think
about what's on your plate.
I am so happy to welcome AmyRiley to Assorted Conversations.
(04:10):
Hi, Amy.
SPEAKER_07 (04:11):
Well, hi, thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_05 (04:14):
Oh, thanks for being here.
So I would love to know theinitial reaction that people
give you when you tell themyou're an aphrodisiac food
specialist.
SPEAKER_07 (04:25):
You know, I got a lot of people step back a couple
paces.
A few go, what exactly is anaphrodisiac?
Which I think is a prettyreasonable reaction, but most
are pretty excited.
You know, it's sort of like whenyou meet that doctor who you
think can answer all of yourproblems.
(04:46):
Uh, I start getting those kindof questions.
SPEAKER_05 (04:48):
Right, right.
Oh, that's funny.
Was there any moment, you know,based on people's reactions or
questions that have been askedof you, that you thought, wait,
this is actually my job?
SPEAKER_07 (05:01):
Oh, I think that every day.
SPEAKER_05 (05:04):
How did this, you know, all begin?
What first sparked your interestin the connection between food,
pleasure, and intimacy?
SPEAKER_07 (05:14):
So I I have two stories.
One is a little weird and one isa little boring, but they both
kind of came together.
It was the confidence of thetwo.
So it started with I I got very,very sick in my early 20s, and I
kept losing weight, and no onecould figure out what was wrong
with me.
I am quite tall and I was lessthan 90 pounds.
(05:34):
And wow.
When I was finally, I went to adoctor who really was both a
naturopath and you know, and uhprimary care physician, and and
that doctor figured out that itwas a combination of a mold
allergy and a systemic yeastinfection.
Oh wow, which is something I'dnever heard of.
(05:56):
But luckily the treatment wasvery simple.
It was just horrible.
I had to modify my diet and onlytemporarily, but I had I was on
about the most restrictive dietyou could ever imagine.
I couldn't have anythingfermented, anything that could
potentially contain mold andanything with any kind of sugar
whatsoever.
unknown (06:15):
Wow.
SPEAKER_07 (06:16):
So I could eat like four vegetables and some meat.
SPEAKER_05 (06:19):
Wow.
That kind of sounds like myrenal diet.
SPEAKER_07 (06:23):
I'm sorry.
That being said, within a coupleof weeks, I felt different.
I felt remarkably better.
And it just was this light bulbfor me of whoa, like what you
put in your body, the food youput in your body has this
tremendous of an effect on likeit can make you feel fantastic.
(06:46):
And I just wanted to show thisto other people.
I wanted to teach other peoplethat that, you know, we maybe
want to think a little bit moreabout what we're putting in our
bodies.
That eighth grade health classdid not prepare us for survival
in the modern world with all thetemptations, you know.
(07:08):
Um, the the you know, down thecandy aisle and the fast food
and everything else that istasty, but not maybe not
rewarding to our bodies.
SPEAKER_05 (07:17):
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (07:18):
So I sort of I went, I decided, well, I I wanted to
be a writer and I wanted towrite about food and wine.
And at the time I was followingthat path.
Food, wine, and travel wasreally my thing.
SPEAKER_05 (07:28):
And my three favorite things in life.
SPEAKER_07 (07:31):
Exactly, exactly.
It was quite indulgent, I admitit.
And I was working primarily as awine writer at the time, just
because that was how I found themost work and it was very
enjoyable, which was because Iwas a bit of a novelty being in
my early 20s and writing aboutwine.
SPEAKER_05 (07:45):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_07 (07:47):
And once I stopped being a novelty, you know, at
the ripe old age of 26 orwhatever it was, I needed to
find more topics to write on.
And and I still had this goalthat I wanted to show people
about how they could make greatfood choices and feel amazing.
And so I stumbled upon the topicof aphrodisiacs and I was like,
(08:08):
whoa, well, this is it.
Like this still combines mywine, my passion for wine,
right?
Right.
Um, potentially travel with thiswhole idea of eating, to how
eating can if impact you knowyour life.
And and if I sell it to peopleas impacting your romantic life,
they're probably more apt tolisten than my just telling them
(08:30):
if you cut down on the fastfood, you're gonna feel better,
right?
If I take that for you, if youmake some great food choices,
you're gonna have a better sexlife, probably more successful.
Right.
So that's there it is.
That's how it all happened.
SPEAKER_05 (08:41):
Oh, that's funny.
So this really wasn't a personalcuriosity prior to it becoming a
professional endeavor.
It really was just an offshootof the direction you were
already moving in.
SPEAKER_07 (08:53):
Yes, completely.
SPEAKER_05 (08:54):
Interesting.
How did how did your culinaryand nutrition education kind of
shape the way you approachedaphrodisiac foods?
SPEAKER_07 (09:03):
Well, you know, I I first I approached it primarily
historically and looked at it,you know, from the
anthropological perspective.
And then I started realizingthat how much how much
nutrition, you know, thenutritional information
supported all of this, all theseor you know, the discoveries
(09:25):
throughout early history, likethese foods.
Let's face it, people were usingthese foods as aphrodisiacs in
cultures that were starving.
Right.
So they had to have really seensomething, something they had a
real effect.
And so when you start looking atthe nutrition, you realize, oh,
yeah, that that really supportsit, which inspired me then to
get nutrition and coachingcertification so I could kind of
(09:47):
better understand this idea andbetter support my knowledge.
SPEAKER_05 (09:50):
Right.
Yeah.
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (09:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (09:52):
Okay.
Now, what what are some of thethe I know some, you know,
oysters has always been pointedto as an aphrodisiac, but uh
with all of your research andknowledge, what name some
aphrodisiac foods that that are,I guess, powerful.
SPEAKER_07 (10:12):
So oysters are actually great.
My only problem with, and theydo, they have nutrition both
nutritionally and they arethey're kind of a sexy food and
they're kind of like luxuryfoods.
So they really fit the bill asan aphrodisiac for sure.
My problem with oysters, though,of course, is A, they're a
luxury food.
So you can't always, you know,it's not something you just
(10:32):
could run to the store and pickup every day, for most of us
anyway.
But also, yeah, kind of have tohave a little bit of an ick
threshold to enjoy an oyster.
Exactly.
Not everyone, not everyone hasthat.
So I do like to promote a lotmore food options that are
potentially more sexy to people.
(10:53):
Chili peppers are veryeffective.
That's another one where notthey're not for everyone, and
that's fine.
Because obviously, noteverything is for everyone.
And my recommendation if youwant to use chili peppers in a
romantic situation is to makesure the person that you're
trying to seduce actually likesheat.
Otherwise, for ginger.
(11:14):
Ginger has some of the sameproperties as chili in that it
helps warm your body, raise yourbody temperature.
Um, it can make your tonguetingle, but just kind of give
you that more, a little bit moreof an awareness of your of your
senses and of your mouth.
It can make your lips plump up alittle bit and maybe make you
look a little more kissable.
(11:35):
So I do like ginger.
And the other thing I like aboutginger is it aids digestion.
So, you know, it kind of helpshelps the meal go through while
you're trying to get in the moodfor something else.
So that's a great one.
Believe it or not, coffee,coffee is an aphrodisiac.
SPEAKER_05 (11:54):
Huh.
SPEAKER_07 (11:55):
And I I love coffee as an aphrodisiac.
I love the idea of like anespresso at the end of the meal
if you're trying to move fromthe kitchen to the bedroom.
Because coffee not only, youknow, gives you that little
burst of energy, obviously,coffee is also a mood enhancer.
And we all yeah, we all kind of,you know, you need you need to
(12:19):
be in a good mood to get intothe other mood.
SPEAKER_05 (12:21):
I'm I'm I'm in a much better mood after I've had
a cup of coffee.
SPEAKER_07 (12:24):
Yes.
And people think it's justbecause you're awake.
But you can be awake and grumpy,you know.
The next time you try coffee,pay attention.
Like, are you does it just makeyou awake, or does it make you
awake and like everything feelsa little better?
SPEAKER_05 (12:38):
Right.
unknown (12:39):
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (12:40):
What I mean, what makes an aphrodisiac food an
aphrodisiac food?
I know, you know, you hadmentioned chili peppers, and I
know capsaicin has it, you know,a really good effect on on your
system.
unknown (12:53):
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (12:54):
But I I can't see that that's in coffee or
oysters.
So is there is there kind of acommon denominator amongst the
aphrodisiac foods?
SPEAKER_07 (13:04):
No, and that is the tricky part of my job.
Yes, yes, and no.
I mean, obviously, they all insome way contribute to either
desire or sexual performance.
But the ways in which they do socan be so very different.
I mean, obviously, with coffee,you get a little burst of energy
(13:25):
and you get a little moodenhancement versus capsaicin,
where you can, you know, kind ofget can can get that endorphin
release, you can get the raisedbody temperature.
So these are very differentthings.
There are other foods, andoysters would would be among
them, although oysters aren't agood example because they have
kind of that that built-insensuality to them.
SPEAKER_05 (13:46):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (13:46):
So maybe salmon, another seafood.
So we'll take salmon, where it'slargely it's not necessarily so
much that it's considered a sexyfood, partially because it's so
ubiquitous.
Like it's just salmon is like ifyou're gonna have fish,
someone's always gonna servesalmon, and sometimes it's not
great salmon, you know.
(14:07):
The salmon was dry.
The salmon was dry, or fish.
Sometimes it can be fishy.
I mean, you there is greatsalmon, believe me, but
occasionally it's it's not.
So we don't maybe think of itnecessarily as quite as sexy of
a food, but salmon is a foodthat is great for sexual, has
many benefits to your sexualhealth.
(14:28):
So eating salmon regularly couldactually enhance your sexual
performance.
SPEAKER_05 (14:34):
So is are there is there a group of foods that just
plays into better health ingeneral, and then another subset
of those that take it one stepfurther to play into your your
your your sexual life?
SPEAKER_07 (14:53):
Yes, you can definitely use aphrodisiacs that
way.
And in fact, in one of mycookbooks, Romancing the Stove,
I tried, I know, I tried toseparate each chapter into how
you might want to useaphrodisiacs.
So there was a whole chapter ofrecipes that would be simply
(15:15):
beneficial to your sexualhealth.
There was a chapter that waslike, if you want to have a long
romantic weekend, make recipesfrom this chapter because you
know you're gonna kind of feelmore amorous all weekend long.
There were others that werelike, just if you if you just
want to have that romanticdinner kind of effect.
SPEAKER_05 (15:34):
Right, like on Valentine's Day.
SPEAKER_07 (15:35):
Yes, this induced someone dinner foods.
And so, yes, you couldabsolutely sort of separate them
out.
I for me, I really like to lookat them as just making strong
choices that make your body likefeel more ready for that mood
all the time.
(15:56):
Like the foods that make youfeel more confident and feel
more sexy and have energy.
Um to me, that's a huge part ofit, especially as a parent of
two, you know, I've got I've gota 10 or 13 year old, and all I
want are foods that give meenergy.
Yeah, I'm never gonna like Idon't even want to face the
bedroom without like my energy.
(16:17):
So, you know, so that's where Ithat's really how I I mostly
other than trying to help peoplewalk people through that
romantic dinner situation.
I really like to just encouragethem, make the great choices for
you or for you and your partnerthat that just make you feel
like more, you know, the mostready you could be, right?
(16:41):
You know, both sexualhealth-wise and desire-wise.
And it's different for everyone.
And it's not like, and peopleget a little scared when I talk
this way.
I have worked with, I actuallyhave worked with a few
one-on-one clients, and peopleget a little scared, like, are
you going to like put me on adiet?
And it's not, it's not likethat.
It's really just becoming awareof the foods that affect you and
(17:05):
how they affect you and whichones affect you in a positive
way, where you could make smallshifts away from the ones that
don't.
And I actually have, I have thatwas perfect timing because I
have, I've just made, I justmade a little exercise, a little
worksheet.
I hate the word worksheet, alittle exercise for your
(17:26):
listeners.
It's a podcast exclusive.
Fantastic.
I've called it What Turns You Onat the Table.
And it really is just to helpyou like become aware for
yourself of like, how did I feelafter that food?
Like the thing I said about thecoffee after you have your cup
of coffee.
Did it give me a little bitbetter of a mood?
(17:46):
And it's it's just walks youthrough that through your day so
that you can, and then gives youa suggestion of when or where to
maybe make that shift to a onebetter choice and see how that
goes.
And it's repeatable if you likeit and it works for you.
Like you could do it once everyweek and make another shift
every week, you know, to helpyourself just feel fantastic.
SPEAKER_05 (18:08):
Oh, that's that is great.
SPEAKER_07 (18:11):
I'm excited.
So go to my website, eatsomething sexy.com/slash
podcast, and you can download itthere and go through this
exercise and really experiencelike how food makes you more
sexy.
SPEAKER_05 (18:24):
Right, right.
And be and because everybody'sdifferent.
Right, completely, and that'sthe thing.
Yeah.
Do you find as far asaphrodisiac foods are concerned,
that there are inherentdifferences between men and
women, or is everybody justcompletely different?
SPEAKER_07 (18:42):
Oh yeah.
I mean, yes, there are there arethere are I wouldn't say big
differences, but there aresignificant differences between
men and women.
And that just comes down tosimple nutrition.
Men and women need different,have different nutritional
needs.
We have different, you know, ourhormone balance is different.
(19:02):
Our muscle composition, our bodycomposition is different.
Men need more protein.
They need foods for testosteroneproduction.
So, yeah, so there are, in fact,on eat somethingsexy.com, I made
a list of 10 best foods for menif you're considering sexual
health, and the 10 best foodsfor women if you're considering
sexual health.
And I do want to say, becausepeople go there and like, oh, I
(19:24):
don't want to eat kale orwhatever it is they don't, you
know, that they find that youdon't have to eat all of them,
but here's a list of foods, youknow, 10 foods that are great
choices for you.
SPEAKER_05 (19:32):
Right.
And maybe pick up pick two orthree or four.
SPEAKER_07 (19:35):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_05 (19:36):
That that you know you like or that it doesn't have
that ick factor for you.
Yes.
Oh, that's fantastic.
So as you got deeper intoresearching and and and
experimenting, what surprisedyou most about you know what you
were uncovering?
SPEAKER_07 (19:56):
Ooh, actually, what surprised me most was the
reluctance of the public,particularly of mainstream
media, to accept what I wastalking about.
And not because the ideas wereradical.
(20:17):
It was just the whole topic wasjust naughty.
SPEAKER_05 (20:21):
Taboo.
SPEAKER_07 (20:22):
Yes.
SPEAKER_05 (20:22):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (20:23):
I wouldn't I wouldn't quite go so far as
taboo, but it was like, oh, thisis uncomfortable.
unknown (20:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (20:29):
Actually, I won't even Yeah, I'm gonna say what it
was.
I got banned from Martha StewartRadio because in an interview on
Martha Stewart weddings, I usedthe words erectile dysfunction.
SPEAKER_05 (20:42):
Oh, you're kidding.
SPEAKER_07 (20:43):
And it was just, I mean, it was out of like was a
it was a thoughtful answer outof real concern for, you know,
it like it wasn't like I wasjust trying to slip in some
erectile dysfunction.
SPEAKER_05 (20:55):
Yeah.
Well, nobody ever really triesto do that.
In fact, it's probablyimpossible, but yeah.
Was this before or after we hadpresidential candidates doing
commercials for erectiledysfunction medication?
SPEAKER_07 (21:11):
Yeah, this was this was to be fair, it was like 15
years ago.
That being said, I still I'mstill up against a lot of these
same challenges.
SPEAKER_05 (21:23):
Um yeah, yeah.
Wow.
What what what do you think thebiggest myth about aphrodisiac
foods is and that makes youlaugh because you've got the
information?
SPEAKER_07 (21:37):
Oh gosh, you know, the like the weird and taboo
aphrodisiacs that peopleactually think that they work.
It doesn't really make me laughbecause it's so terrible, but
it's just like how could anyonethink that powdering the horn of
a rhino, which by the way, isjust made of the same thing our
(21:57):
hair is, so you're basically,you know.
Ingesting powdered hair.
How?
How is that going to eliminateerectile dysfunction?
I said it.
SPEAKER_05 (22:07):
And I will not ban you.
As a matter of fact, I'll haveyou back.
So is that is that Spanish fly?
SPEAKER_07 (22:16):
What is Spanish fly?
Let's just rhythm a whole role.
So Spanish fly is not a fly,it's actually a beetle.
And it's, I mean, I think thatit may actually have an effect,
but it's also weird anddangerous, and half of what's
sold a Spanish fly isn't evenit's probably ground up.
Black flies, not the beetleanyway.
(22:38):
But that's one to very, yeah,very much stay away from.
And there, you know, there areothers too.
Like I I kind of like the ideaof snake whiskey, which is a
Thai thing.
I think it's Thai, Cambodia.
No, it's Thai.
I like kind of like the idea ofit just because I kind of I feel
bad for the snake, but I kind oflike the idea, the vision, the
visual of a snake in a bottle ofwhiskey.
(23:00):
I don't know why.
Just as like somethingfascinating to look at.
But why?
Why is putting it so why iskilling a snake and putting it
in a bottle of whiskey going tosuddenly make you more virile?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_05 (23:13):
And and that that is a that is considered an
aphrodisiac food in SoutheastAsia, yes.
SPEAKER_07 (23:21):
Whoa.
Yes, I don't know.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_05 (23:26):
I'm I'm thinking, no, I'll have a cup of coffee,
thanks.
SPEAKER_07 (23:29):
Right, exactly.
Much more practical anddelicious.
SPEAKER_05 (23:35):
Yeah, yeah.
What what other what other likeodd or unique things have you
found in other cultures as faras what they consider
aphrodisiacs?
SPEAKER_07 (23:48):
Well, you know, what's most fascinating to me is
historically cultures in Eastand West chose very often chose
the same food when when similarfoods were available, they held
the same foods in regard asaphrodisiac.
You know, and they were, I mean,they were living in very
separate worlds.
There wasn't communication,there wasn't a trade, it was
(24:11):
they all found the sameproperties were effective.
SPEAKER_05 (24:17):
Oh, wow.
unknown (24:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (24:19):
That's pretty interesting.
SPEAKER_07 (24:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (24:21):
That is really interesting.
If this this is this is just akind of a jokey thing, but if
aphrodisiac foods had a PR team,what rumor would you want them
to shut down?
SPEAKER_07 (24:36):
Oh man.
You know, I think we go back tothe dangerous and not dangerous
andor not actually effectivefoods.
Like stop with the shark fins,stop finning sharks in the name
of fertility.
SPEAKER_05 (24:52):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (24:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (24:57):
Doing nothing.
SPEAKER_07 (24:58):
It it does nothing for anyone.
So, but yet people think they'llhave a better sexual
performance, maybe morechildren, whatever it is, from
from eating shark fin.
And it's like, no, you all youdid was make a shark suffer.
SPEAKER_05 (25:16):
Wow.
SPEAKER_07 (25:17):
Yep.
SPEAKER_05 (25:18):
So has your expertise ever turned a normal
meal into something morememorable?
And I don't know, maybe we needyour husband for this.
unknown (25:30):
Okay.
SPEAKER_07 (25:31):
So got another story for you.
So when I was working on my veryfirst cookbook, Fork Me Spoon
Me.
I had this friend, this malefriend.
I didn't know him all that well,but I knew that he worked long
hours and he didn't cook.
Now, I don't know if you knowmuch about creating a cookbook,
(25:53):
but it involves a tremendousamount of recipe testing.
SPEAKER_05 (25:56):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (25:57):
And, you know, you're just making the same
recipe over and over, maybe witha little refinement, or maybe
just making it again to doublecheck it.
At any rate, you're eating thesame foods over and over and
over again.
And I really didn't want to eatmy food anymore.
So I just kept inviting him overbecause I had I have all this
food.
I have all this food.
(26:17):
So let's see, that was almost 20years ago.
So 20 years later, we've got a10-year-old and a 13-year-old
child together.
unknown (26:25):
Oh damn it.
SPEAKER_07 (26:27):
And I had no romantic designs when this
started.
SPEAKER_05 (26:31):
Oh, that's funny.
That is funny.
SPEAKER_07 (26:34):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (26:34):
So we've we've got fork me, spoon me, we've got
romancing the stove.
SPEAKER_07 (26:40):
And I actually became pregnant while recipe
testing romancing the stove.
unknown (26:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (26:46):
So there's there's a lot of truth.
I I really need to pick theseup.
And then there's eat somethingsexy.
SPEAKER_07 (26:53):
No, so eat something sexy is my website.
SPEAKER_05 (26:56):
Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_07 (26:57):
Yes.
And you know, I've got types inif you're aphrynesiac curious.
I have tons of resources there.
I do have another book.
It's an all-desert book becauseI have an incurable sweet tooth.
I I was co-written by a womanwith a PhD in nutrition.
So we went deep and got veryserious, but it's called Eat
(27:18):
Cake Naked.
And it's all aphrodisiacdesserts.
And the idea was to reshape alot of desserts with ingredients
that would that had nutritionalbenefits and could potentially
improve your sexual health.
Oh.
Without tasting like dirt.
SPEAKER_05 (27:39):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_07 (27:41):
Give me a couple of example recipes that are so my
favorite example is that ourbrownie recipe, which is they
are so good.
It's dark chocolate, darkchocolate chunk brownies, which
we added nuts for protein,right?
But then we took out the whiteflour and put in chickpea flour.
Oh.
You will never know it when youtaste it.
(28:04):
But now suddenly our brownies,you know, we're we're white
flour free, we're gluten-free,but they also now have fiber and
more added protein.
SPEAKER_05 (28:13):
Oh, that's fantastic.
Yep.
Yep.
That's and those aresubstitutions.
I mean, I know, I mean, I cook,I bake.
I probably I don't cook as muchas I used to.
I when I was married and had afamily, I cooked a ton, but it's
just me now.
So you know, my kids are grownand gone.
I cooking for one's boring.
SPEAKER_07 (28:34):
Yeah, it's so boring.
SPEAKER_05 (28:35):
I guess it is very boring.
So, you know, just as an averagecook, chickpea flour is not a
substitution I would even dreamof making.
Yeah, yeah.
Oh, fantastic, fantastic.
Has when you've when you'vecooked for friends, do they read
(28:56):
way too much into the menu?
SPEAKER_07 (28:58):
Oh, totally.
Yes, yes.
It's like, and then sometimesit's embarrassing because
they'll come over with theirchildren.
Like our families will have ameal together.
I'm like, no, this is not, I'mnot sending you home to like get
it on.
This is just, we're just havinga meal together.
SPEAKER_05 (29:14):
It's not a key party.
Not fun.
I I I I have some friends inmind that if I did what you did,
I think would question everytime I'd say, oh, come on over
for the Super Bowl, you know, ormake an app or something.
unknown (29:34):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (29:35):
Remember, I had one friend over and we had coffee,
and I just politely said, Wouldyou like a cookie?
And they were like, oh, whatkind of cookie?
Just sometimes a cookie is justa cookie.
SPEAKER_05 (29:47):
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
I think I'm gonna put that on at-shirt.
Did you face, and and you talkeda little bit about it, but did
you face resistance orskepticism when you continued to
talk openly about aphrodisiacfoods?
I mean, are you still facing thesame challenges?
SPEAKER_07 (30:09):
Of course, yes.
I do think now it's changed alittle bit because there's more
talk about like the nutritionside.
SPEAKER_05 (30:16):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (30:17):
All of those, do you remember those Palm Wonderful
made those pomegranate ads withlike research about testosterone
and things?
I don't incorporated it intotheir pomegranate juice ads at
one point.
And things like that havehelped, like people are like,
oh, so it's just nutrition,right?
Or but yeah, of course, there'sstill there's still a lot of
skepticism around the topic asas a whole.
SPEAKER_05 (30:40):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, uh that's to me, I thinkthat's that's a short sight.
Yeah.
And keeping some goodinformation from from the masses
that may know how to take, youknow, may take advantage of it
and you know, have a betterquality of life.
SPEAKER_07 (30:57):
Well, I think I kind of feel in our society it it's a
little bit that way withanything that's inexpensive and
could benefit your health.
SPEAKER_05 (31:09):
Yeah.
Oh, that's true.
That's a really good point.
Yeah.
That's a really good point.
How you know, obviously, there'sthere's still no pun intended, a
hunger for what you do.
How did you learn to balanceyour credibility and
approachability on a topic thatyou know is still really awkward
(31:30):
for people to put out there inthe media?
SPEAKER_07 (31:34):
Credibility was a struggle at first.
It was it was tough.
And that's why the one of thefirst things I did was to get my
master's degree in gastronomyfrom Le Cordon Bleu.
SPEAKER_06 (31:50):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_07 (31:50):
And so people understood that at least I had
an academic background and I didhave a solid foundation in food
history.
So that helped.
But then when I started talkingabout what it's, you know, it
could be, you know, it couldboost your testosterone or
anything else for the one,they're like, well, how do you
(32:11):
know you're not a doctor?
And of course, I can read,right?
SPEAKER_06 (32:15):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (32:17):
We can all, we all have the ability to figure these
things out for ourselves as longas we know where to look.
But that's why I then went,okay, let's get nutrition
coaching certification andreally get deeper into this and
then have those credentials aswell.
SPEAKER_05 (32:36):
Okay.
Oh, good.
Yeah, because you're, I mean,you talk freely about this,
you're not loose with it.
I think you're respectfulbecause you are aware of how
these things can land.
But at the same time, uh you'rehaving fun with it too.
(32:58):
And not in a disrespectful way,which which I really respect.
SPEAKER_07 (33:02):
Yes.
I mean, first of all, the topic,let's face it, if you're talking
about romance, the topic shouldbe fun, right?
It's yeah, if you're talkingabout making a romantic
connection and sensuality andall of those things, it should
be fun.
And then if you're talking aboutthe sexual health side, that's
more uncomfortable.
And it's important to feel atease about that as much as
(33:24):
possible.
Otherwise, people just shutdown.
SPEAKER_05 (33:30):
Where should a beginner start to look if
they're curious but cautiousabout kind of getting more into
understanding the science andthe nutrition behind good health
and good sexual health?
SPEAKER_07 (33:46):
So I'm gonna send you to my own website because
I've worked very hard to createexactly that materials for
people who are eitheraphrodisiac, curious, or have
realized they want to make apositive change in their sexual
health and need a startingpoint.
And I will say it is a startingpoint.
(34:06):
There are definitely wonderfuldirections you could go from
there.
But go to eat somethingsexy.com.
I have information there aboutspecifically about there's a
whole section that'sspecifically about sexual health
and you know that nutritionside.
But I also have a list of 88aphrodisiac foods.
(34:28):
And if there's a food thatyou're curious about, you can
find it there.
I provide some historicinformation as well as some of
the the science that canpotentially back it up when it's
available.
I also provide links to where,you know, the sources for that
information if you wanna if youwant to fall down the rabbit
hole with an ingredient, yeah,that will get you where you want
(34:50):
to go.
SPEAKER_05 (34:51):
Oh, that's fantastic.
So if there's a couple at homeand they want to explore
aphrodisiac foods at home,what's the most approachable way
to do it?
Like what would be the firststep?
What would be the second?
And you know, if you want to usethe information from your
website, you know, to kind ofreinforce the example, that'd be
(35:13):
great.
SPEAKER_07 (35:14):
So I think it's different for everyone.
We talked about how food affectsyou is different for everyone.
SPEAKER_05 (35:20):
Yep.
SPEAKER_07 (35:21):
What's gonna be the best romantic fit is different
for everyone, and maybe it'sjust opening up the right bottle
of wine together.
unknown (35:32):
Okay.
SPEAKER_07 (35:33):
Something that you would both enjoy just to be able
to sit down and have that momentof connection.
Could be as simple as that.
If you if you like fun, Iactually created, I sell an
aphrodisiac scavenger hunt on mywebsite.
Oh, cool.
You can go through and createthis whole scavenger hunt for
(35:54):
your partner with you, you andan aphrodisiac picnic as the as
the final reward.
When I walk you through thesetup and the picnic and
everything else.
So that if you just love fun,that is a way to go.
SPEAKER_05 (36:07):
Um that sounds like a great Valentine's Day.
SPEAKER_07 (36:11):
It's a really great Valentine's Day.
It's a really anniversary.
But you know what?
Yeah, it's but it's also like wehaven't had a night together in
a while.
So let's it could be a randomTuesday.
Then if you, you know, it can belike a it's it can be something
simple, as simple as a glass ofwine or a cocktail, or maybe
(36:34):
it's just a snack.
You know, and finding aningredient or two that are
supposedly aphrodisiac,incorporating them into a snack.
Like I said, I've got a list of88 ingredients.
You can find a couple you bothlike, right?
And have that snack and tellyour partner, these are
aphrodisiac ingredients, youknow.
It can be as simple as that.
(36:54):
Or it could be an elaboratecandlelit dinner if that, you
know, if that's it's it'swhatever works for you.
SPEAKER_05 (37:02):
Right, right.
What what what's one simpleshift that can change how a meal
feels and not just tastes?
SPEAKER_07 (37:13):
I the the easiest thing, it's not actually the
food.
It's create an atmosphere thatdoesn't feel like every day.
SPEAKER_05 (37:22):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (37:23):
Whatever that means to you.
It doesn't have to be theclassic dim the lights and put
on some berry white or whatever.
Um it's whatever that is to you.
String some fairy lights in thebackyard, throw down a blanket,
or you know what, it's or itcould be it could be even more
simple.
(37:44):
Make a little make a little nestof pillows in front of the
coffee table and eat thereinstead of instead at the table.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (37:52):
Oh, that's awesome.
I um, yeah, it definitelyatmosphere, I think, plays plays
into that.
Because that was, you know, whenI when I was thinking about how
would I answer that question?
Not that I'm the expert, but itit really is atmosphere.
If you're just doing the sameold, same old, it doesn't matter
what's on the plate.
(38:12):
You've got to change everythingup.
Yeah, and it doesn't have to behumongous changes, just a change
of scenery.
SPEAKER_07 (38:19):
That ch that change in atmosphere, it's just makes a
whole shift in your mindset.
It's like I am present in adifferent situation than you
know, I'm not in my usual.
I'm here, I'm present, and thisis different.
And let's go.
SPEAKER_05 (38:35):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so and for some folks, it'sgetting all dressed up and
putting on a dress heels and asuit and a tie or a jacket, you
know, and a nice shirt.
So, okay.
All right, good.
So now moving on, kind ofswinging things back to you on a
personal level.
How has this journey changed theway you experience food
(38:58):
personally?
SPEAKER_07 (39:01):
Well, I now do the things I practice what I preach.
It has made me more aware ofwhat the foods that I put in my
body and how I feel afterward.
And I will still fully admitthat I will have things that I
know I'm not going to feel sogreat afterwards because I just
enjoy them on occasion.
(39:21):
A large slab of chocolate cake,I'm still going to have it.
Right.
Even though I will probably wantto go to sleep as soon as it's
over.
But it has really for me changedmy awareness and my relationship
with foods and overall, youknow, my food choice overall.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (39:40):
What do you hope people feel after they visited
your website or tried some ofyour recipes or really have
absorbed some of the informationthat you have to share with
them?
What's your hope that folks takeaway from it?
SPEAKER_07 (39:54):
I want them, I would like to see them make that
shift.
Have to just have that awarenessthat I can make these small
changes that make me feel great,or I now understand the things
that don't make me feel so good,or I've realized I'm not
drinking enough water every day.
Whatever it is, but that's thattiny, I'd love it if they walk
(40:16):
away with at least one tinyshift that can make their life
better.
SPEAKER_05 (40:22):
Nice.
Nice.
And you know, you how many yearshave you been been doing this?
You've you've been at this forquite a while.
SPEAKER_07 (40:30):
I don't want to admit that.
My children think I'm areconvinced I'm 29.
So, you know, the math doesn'tadd up.
SPEAKER_05 (40:40):
It never does.
SPEAKER_07 (40:41):
No, it never does.
So I have been doing this.
My first book came out 20 yearsago.
So 23 years?
23, 24?
Yeah.
A while.
SPEAKER_05 (40:56):
All those years.
What surprises you most abouthow people respond to your work?
SPEAKER_07 (41:07):
I just sometimes people just are all in from the
beginning.
They're like, Yes, I neverthought of it, but I'm gonna do
it.
I'm gonna try it.
It's gonna be great.
Like, it surprises me when thathappens.
Like they walk in a skeptic, butimmediately just grab it.
But I love that.
SPEAKER_05 (41:27):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (41:27):
I think that's part of the reason I do it.
It just that's so exciting.
SPEAKER_05 (41:31):
Yeah.
Do you have do you have successstories or stories from folks
who have written to you orshared with you?
Hey, I tried this recipe andyou'll you'll never believe what
happened.
SPEAKER_07 (41:43):
I I do.
Some of them are X-rated.
One of my favorites, and thisoddly, this came through someone
else.
I the person didn't even tellme.
I so I got I got it third handor secondhand?
Second hand, I guess.
I became a new bakery opened inmy neighborhood about a year
(42:08):
after Fork Me Spoon Me, my firstbook came out.
And I quickly became friendswith the owner because, as I
mentioned, I have an incurablesweet tooth.
And a few months into thisfriendship, she realized who I
was in the book that I hadwritten.
And she said, No, that's yourbook.
(42:28):
I have this friend.
So no, it would have been alittle more than a year that's
after Fortney Spoon came.
It was a couple, it was a coupleof years.
But anyway, she had this friendwho said, who bought that book
because she was single, and herbig life goal was within a year
to find a husband and start afamily.
So why she bought my book?
(42:49):
I don't, but she bought FortneySpoon Me and said, This is gonna
be my guide.
And she used the book, she madethe recipes, she found the man,
she had the child.
Your kid and she swears it wasall because of my book, Fork Me
Spoon Me.
And I'm being told this by thiswoman who owns a bakery who's
like, I can't believe that'syou.
SPEAKER_05 (43:08):
This was oh, that's a riot.
Yeah, holy cow.
SPEAKER_07 (43:13):
That was really wild.
SPEAKER_05 (43:14):
And any that that is amazing.
It are there any other storiesthat you feel comfortable
sharing?
SPEAKER_07 (43:22):
Oh gosh.
Well, I mean, I think my ownstories that I mentioned earlier
are quite the testimonial.
SPEAKER_05 (43:27):
Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_07 (43:28):
I get I get lots of kind stories about how, you
know, someone made one of myrecipes and it really made their
Valentine, that Valentine's Daymore memorable.
That made that evening standout.
I just, you know, I get a lot ofkind kind messages that way that
I I really enjoy.
Enjoy hearing.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (43:46):
Nice.
Nice.
So I'm obviously not going toget an X rated story out of you.
SPEAKER_06 (43:50):
Nope, nope.
SPEAKER_05 (43:53):
That's why I said if you feel comfortable sharing.
But you know, in in in thinkingabout where you're at now.
Where you've been, where do yousee yourself going forward from
here?
SPEAKER_07 (44:06):
Well, I really I took a bit of a pause on my
career, you know, to raise toraise kids.
And they're now getting to thepoint of being independent.
I had stopped, you know, touringand and speaking and all of
those things.
I also stopped.
(44:27):
I've only written one book sinceI had children.
And so I am working on a newbook.
I am working on a new bookconcept as well, which is
coming, it's coming out verysoon.
It's coming out for Valentine'sDay.
Um yeah, it's little quarterly,a quarterly, a quarterly
(44:49):
romantic dinner plan.
It's your recipes, it's yourwhole plan seasonally.
Northern hemisphere seasonally.
I do have, I actually have a lotof fans in Australia and New
Zealand.
So I have to sorry for them.
They'll have to flip-flop theguides.
SPEAKER_05 (45:08):
I was gonna say you're gonna just have to mix a
match.
SPEAKER_07 (45:10):
Yeah, they'll have to flip-flop the guides, but
seasonally a menu that that youknow you can experience a you
can just, it's just amade-to-order one night, one
romantic evening each time.
So I'm starting with winter 2026and I hope to continue every
quarter for years, as well as mynew book, which is actually two.
(45:30):
I had I just I split it into twobooks.
You asked me about thesignificance of men versus
women.
I'm calling it Passion Pantryfor him and Passion Pantry for
her, because that, you know, wemen and women have such
different, but they havedifferent needs, and we need to
respect that and promote that,particularly for women.
(45:53):
We do get kind of oh, absolutelyreflected.
SPEAKER_05 (45:57):
So especially uh peri and post-menopausal.
SPEAKER_07 (46:02):
Right, right, exactly.
And postpartum.
SPEAKER_05 (46:06):
Yes, yep, postpartum.
SPEAKER_07 (46:08):
Yeah, so and and these days for a lot of women,
fertility as well, because we'rewaiting till later to have
children, and then sometimes youneed to have a shift in
fertility as you know, for forfertility as well.
So for women, there's so muchmore than for men, although for
men, the problems are so muchmore pronounced.
(46:30):
So there's an interest for both.
And the whole I concept is thisis really where I'm going, is
this concept of how you stockyour kitchen is what matters.
Which is why they're passionatepantry.
It's all about focusing on howyou stock your kitchen, the
things to choose to stock yourkitchen, you know, so that it's
(46:52):
inspiring and delicious whereyou you want to cook and you
want to eat these foods, butyou're eating the foods that are
are very much the beneficialfoods.
SPEAKER_05 (47:02):
Right.
Oh, fantastic.
I love that concept.
Thank you.
So uh will those be availablethrough your website or can you
pre-order on Amazon?
SPEAKER_07 (47:13):
I I am debating whether I'm going to sell them
through my distributor or justsell them through my website.
I haven't made that decisionyet, but for sure they will be
available through eatsomethingsey.com.
Yes.
SPEAKER_05 (47:27):
Perfect.
Perfect.
Amy, I cannot thank you enoughfor all of your time today and
and for all the laughs and allthe information shared.
Uh I can't wait.
You know, I had gone throughyour website and I had I had had
kind of perused it and scannedit.
I am definitely going back for amuch deeper dive and anxiously
(47:49):
awaiting the Passion Pantry forwomen.
SPEAKER_07 (47:53):
Oh, that's so great.
I'm really excited now.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
And I do, I want to remind yourlisteners if you're now
aphrodisiac curious at all orjust curious about the concept
of how food affects you, likemakes you feel, go to eat
something sexy.com slashpodcast.
Get the exclusive guide I madefor you.
(48:16):
This try out the little exerciseand really discover how food
makes you feel.
SPEAKER_05 (48:22):
Awesome.
Amy, thank you so much.
I have had such a great timewith you today.
(48:42):
But never really considered theother connections she
researched.
What struck me about Amy and herwork throughout our conversation
on and off mic is that shereally wants to help people and
make a difference in how theyeat, how they feel, and how
those two things connect to ouremotional, physical, and sexual
(49:05):
well-being.
It really is all about makingthings better in one of the most
fun ways.
She has such a great attitudeabout the awkwardness this topic
can bring for some folks, yetstill is fun with it.
Just look at her cookbook titlesFork Me Spoon Me, Romancing the
(49:25):
Stove, and Eat Cake Naked.
Get over to her websiteeatsomethingsexy.com, complete
her podcast listener worksheet,and use your results to step up
the excitement in your diet andbeyond.
Keep an eye out for her passionpantry for men and women, which
should be out close to when thisepisode drops, and make sure
(49:49):
you're lined up to get herseasonal romantic meal plans.
Jump down to the show notes forall the links.
And while you're there, don'tforget to connect with me.
All my socials are linked thereas well.
I'd love to hear your thoughtson today's episode, so use the
Send Me a Text link in the shownotes to connect with me and
(50:12):
share your thoughts.
As always, thanks for listening,and I'll see you in two weeks.
Thanks for tuning in this week.
Just a reminder, hit that followor subscribe button wherever
you're listening to thispodcast.
Thanks, and here's this week'sepisode.
(00:22):
Everyday people following theirpassions.
SPEAKER_08 (00:26):
That's probably like one of the highlights of my life
so far, just being able to becreative like that.
I mean I've always wanted.
SPEAKER_00 (00:34):
And then I decided to get another hive, and that
turned into a lot of hives.
As long as I can do that, I wantto be a good citizen.
Help people out.
SPEAKER_05 (00:45):
Putting themselves out there, taking chances, and
navigating challenges along theway.
SPEAKER_04 (00:52):
I I absolutely identified with having stage
ride because, you know, any timeI went on stage, I just felt
like I was having a hot attack.
SPEAKER_01 (00:59):
Very first laugh, very first practice session, I
crashed, turned the car upsidedown, made a spectacle of
myself, and I got back on thathorse and started riding again.
SPEAKER_05 (01:09):
As they pursue what makes them happy and brings them
joy.
SPEAKER_02 (01:14):
As long as people are having a good time and I
have the opportunity to putsmiles on people's faces.
I I love what I do.
SPEAKER_03 (01:20):
I have done things that I never thought I could do.
To have somebody tell me howreal it looks and how, you know,
from their actual memory.
Because that's telling me Icaptured what I was trying to
get.
SPEAKER_05 (01:36):
Welcome to Astorted Conversations.
I'm your host, Helen.
Hello, and welcome to anotherAssorted Conversation.
I don't know where you'relocated, but here in Boston,
we're getting ready for yetanother Arctic blast.
(01:58):
I love winter, but this is justtoo much.
It's the kind of weather thatjust makes me want to stay in
and stay warm.
This week's guest is all aboutturning up the heat in the
kitchen and making food thattickles more than your taste
buds.
I got to have a conversationwith an aphrodisiac food expert
(02:22):
who has put her gastronomydegree to great use as she's
researched and recipe testedfoods that can not only improve
your health and confidence, butcan also put you in the mood.
She links good nutrition andgood health with forming deeper
connections outside of thekitchen.
(02:43):
Buckle up for this week'sconversation just in time for
Valentine's Day, and I'll seeyou on the other side.
Today's guest is a chef, author,and leading expert on
(03:06):
aphrodisiac foods.
With a background in culinaryarts and nutrition, she blends
food science, wellness, andpleasure to explore how what we
eat can influence mood,confidence, and connection.
She regularly speaks andconsults on the topic of
aphrodisiacs and has appeared onThe Today Show, CBS Early Show,
(03:29):
Nightline, and even Playboy TV.
You'll recognize her as the onewearing clothes.
Her work in aphrodisiacs isquoted in publications including
National Geographic, The NewYork Times, Epicurious, Wine
Enthusiast, Health, and ofcourse, Playboy magazine.
(03:49):
Her endeavors show thatintention matters just as much
as ingredients, and that dinnercan be both nourishing and
quietly transformative.
Let's just say this conversationmay change the way you think
about what's on your plate.
I am so happy to welcome AmyRiley to Assorted Conversations.
(04:10):
Hi, Amy.
SPEAKER_07 (04:11):
Well, hi, thank you so much for having me.
SPEAKER_05 (04:14):
Oh, thanks for being here.
So I would love to know theinitial reaction that people
give you when you tell themyou're an aphrodisiac food
specialist.
SPEAKER_07 (04:25):
You know, I got a lot of people step back a couple
paces.
A few go, what exactly is anaphrodisiac?
Which I think is a prettyreasonable reaction, but most
are pretty excited.
You know, it's sort of like whenyou meet that doctor who you
think can answer all of yourproblems.
(04:46):
Uh, I start getting those kindof questions.
SPEAKER_05 (04:48):
Right, right.
Oh, that's funny.
Was there any moment, you know,based on people's reactions or
questions that have been askedof you, that you thought, wait,
this is actually my job?
SPEAKER_07 (05:01):
Oh, I think that every day.
SPEAKER_05 (05:04):
How did this, you know, all begin?
What first sparked your interestin the connection between food,
pleasure, and intimacy?
SPEAKER_07 (05:14):
So I I have two stories.
One is a little weird and one isa little boring, but they both
kind of came together.
It was the confidence of thetwo.
So it started with I I got very,very sick in my early 20s, and I
kept losing weight, and no onecould figure out what was wrong
with me.
I am quite tall and I was lessthan 90 pounds.
(05:34):
And wow.
When I was finally, I went to adoctor who really was both a
naturopath and you know, and uhprimary care physician, and and
that doctor figured out that itwas a combination of a mold
allergy and a systemic yeastinfection.
Oh wow, which is something I'dnever heard of.
(05:56):
But luckily the treatment wasvery simple.
It was just horrible.
I had to modify my diet and onlytemporarily, but I had I was on
about the most restrictive dietyou could ever imagine.
I couldn't have anythingfermented, anything that could
potentially contain mold andanything with any kind of sugar
whatsoever.
unknown (06:15):
Wow.
SPEAKER_07 (06:16):
So I could eat like four vegetables and some meat.
SPEAKER_05 (06:19):
Wow.
That kind of sounds like myrenal diet.
SPEAKER_07 (06:23):
I'm sorry.
That being said, within a coupleof weeks, I felt different.
I felt remarkably better.
And it just was this light bulbfor me of whoa, like what you
put in your body, the food youput in your body has this
tremendous of an effect on likeit can make you feel fantastic.
(06:46):
And I just wanted to show thisto other people.
I wanted to teach other peoplethat that, you know, we maybe
want to think a little bit moreabout what we're putting in our
bodies.
That eighth grade health classdid not prepare us for survival
in the modern world with all thetemptations, you know.
(07:08):
Um, the the you know, down thecandy aisle and the fast food
and everything else that istasty, but not maybe not
rewarding to our bodies.
SPEAKER_05 (07:17):
Right.
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (07:18):
So I sort of I went, I decided, well, I I wanted to
be a writer and I wanted towrite about food and wine.
And at the time I was followingthat path.
Food, wine, and travel wasreally my thing.
SPEAKER_05 (07:28):
And my three favorite things in life.
SPEAKER_07 (07:31):
Exactly, exactly.
It was quite indulgent, I admitit.
And I was working primarily as awine writer at the time, just
because that was how I found themost work and it was very
enjoyable, which was because Iwas a bit of a novelty being in
my early 20s and writing aboutwine.
SPEAKER_05 (07:45):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_07 (07:47):
And once I stopped being a novelty, you know, at
the ripe old age of 26 orwhatever it was, I needed to
find more topics to write on.
And and I still had this goalthat I wanted to show people
about how they could make greatfood choices and feel amazing.
And so I stumbled upon the topicof aphrodisiacs and I was like,
(08:08):
whoa, well, this is it.
Like this still combines mywine, my passion for wine,
right?
Right.
Um, potentially travel with thiswhole idea of eating, to how
eating can if impact you knowyour life.
And and if I sell it to peopleas impacting your romantic life,
they're probably more apt tolisten than my just telling them
(08:30):
if you cut down on the fastfood, you're gonna feel better,
right?
If I take that for you, if youmake some great food choices,
you're gonna have a better sexlife, probably more successful.
Right.
So that's there it is.
That's how it all happened.
SPEAKER_05 (08:41):
Oh, that's funny.
So this really wasn't a personalcuriosity prior to it becoming a
professional endeavor.
It really was just an offshootof the direction you were
already moving in.
SPEAKER_07 (08:53):
Yes, completely.
SPEAKER_05 (08:54):
Interesting.
How did how did your culinaryand nutrition education kind of
shape the way you approachedaphrodisiac foods?
SPEAKER_07 (09:03):
Well, you know, I I first I approached it primarily
historically and looked at it,you know, from the
anthropological perspective.
And then I started realizingthat how much how much
nutrition, you know, thenutritional information
supported all of this, all theseor you know, the discoveries
(09:25):
throughout early history, likethese foods.
Let's face it, people were usingthese foods as aphrodisiacs in
cultures that were starving.
Right.
So they had to have really seensomething, something they had a
real effect.
And so when you start looking atthe nutrition, you realize, oh,
yeah, that that really supportsit, which inspired me then to
get nutrition and coachingcertification so I could kind of
(09:47):
better understand this idea andbetter support my knowledge.
SPEAKER_05 (09:50):
Right.
Yeah.
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (09:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (09:52):
Okay.
Now, what what are some of thethe I know some, you know,
oysters has always been pointedto as an aphrodisiac, but uh
with all of your research andknowledge, what name some
aphrodisiac foods that that are,I guess, powerful.
SPEAKER_07 (10:12):
So oysters are actually great.
My only problem with, and theydo, they have nutrition both
nutritionally and they arethey're kind of a sexy food and
they're kind of like luxuryfoods.
So they really fit the bill asan aphrodisiac for sure.
My problem with oysters, though,of course, is A, they're a
luxury food.
So you can't always, you know,it's not something you just
(10:32):
could run to the store and pickup every day, for most of us
anyway.
But also, yeah, kind of have tohave a little bit of an ick
threshold to enjoy an oyster.
Exactly.
Not everyone, not everyone hasthat.
So I do like to promote a lotmore food options that are
potentially more sexy to people.
(10:53):
Chili peppers are veryeffective.
That's another one where notthey're not for everyone, and
that's fine.
Because obviously, noteverything is for everyone.
And my recommendation if youwant to use chili peppers in a
romantic situation is to makesure the person that you're
trying to seduce actually likesheat.
Otherwise, for ginger.
(11:14):
Ginger has some of the sameproperties as chili in that it
helps warm your body, raise yourbody temperature.
Um, it can make your tonguetingle, but just kind of give
you that more, a little bit moreof an awareness of your of your
senses and of your mouth.
It can make your lips plump up alittle bit and maybe make you
look a little more kissable.
(11:35):
So I do like ginger.
And the other thing I like aboutginger is it aids digestion.
So, you know, it kind of helpshelps the meal go through while
you're trying to get in the moodfor something else.
So that's a great one.
Believe it or not, coffee,coffee is an aphrodisiac.
SPEAKER_05 (11:54):
Huh.
SPEAKER_07 (11:55):
And I I love coffee as an aphrodisiac.
I love the idea of like anespresso at the end of the meal
if you're trying to move fromthe kitchen to the bedroom.
Because coffee not only, youknow, gives you that little
burst of energy, obviously,coffee is also a mood enhancer.
And we all yeah, we all kind of,you know, you need you need to
(12:19):
be in a good mood to get intothe other mood.
SPEAKER_05 (12:21):
I'm I'm I'm in a much better mood after I've had
a cup of coffee.
SPEAKER_07 (12:24):
Yes.
And people think it's justbecause you're awake.
But you can be awake and grumpy,you know.
The next time you try coffee,pay attention.
Like, are you does it just makeyou awake, or does it make you
awake and like everything feelsa little better?
SPEAKER_05 (12:38):
Right.
unknown (12:39):
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (12:40):
What I mean, what makes an aphrodisiac food an
aphrodisiac food?
I know, you know, you hadmentioned chili peppers, and I
know capsaicin has it, you know,a really good effect on on your
system.
unknown (12:53):
Right.
SPEAKER_05 (12:54):
But I I can't see that that's in coffee or
oysters.
So is there is there kind of acommon denominator amongst the
aphrodisiac foods?
SPEAKER_07 (13:04):
No, and that is the tricky part of my job.
Yes, yes, and no.
I mean, obviously, they all insome way contribute to either
desire or sexual performance.
But the ways in which they do socan be so very different.
I mean, obviously, with coffee,you get a little burst of energy
(13:25):
and you get a little moodenhancement versus capsaicin,
where you can, you know, kind ofget can can get that endorphin
release, you can get the raisedbody temperature.
So these are very differentthings.
There are other foods, andoysters would would be among
them, although oysters aren't agood example because they have
kind of that that built-insensuality to them.
SPEAKER_05 (13:46):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (13:46):
So maybe salmon, another seafood.
So we'll take salmon, where it'slargely it's not necessarily so
much that it's considered a sexyfood, partially because it's so
ubiquitous.
Like it's just salmon is like ifyou're gonna have fish,
someone's always gonna servesalmon, and sometimes it's not
great salmon, you know.
(14:07):
The salmon was dry.
The salmon was dry, or fish.
Sometimes it can be fishy.
I mean, you there is greatsalmon, believe me, but
occasionally it's it's not.
So we don't maybe think of itnecessarily as quite as sexy of
a food, but salmon is a foodthat is great for sexual, has
many benefits to your sexualhealth.
(14:28):
So eating salmon regularly couldactually enhance your sexual
performance.
SPEAKER_05 (14:34):
So is are there is there a group of foods that just
plays into better health ingeneral, and then another subset
of those that take it one stepfurther to play into your your
your your sexual life?
SPEAKER_07 (14:53):
Yes, you can definitely use aphrodisiacs that
way.
And in fact, in one of mycookbooks, Romancing the Stove,
I tried, I know, I tried toseparate each chapter into how
you might want to useaphrodisiacs.
So there was a whole chapter ofrecipes that would be simply
(15:15):
beneficial to your sexualhealth.
There was a chapter that waslike, if you want to have a long
romantic weekend, make recipesfrom this chapter because you
know you're gonna kind of feelmore amorous all weekend long.
There were others that werelike, just if you if you just
want to have that romanticdinner kind of effect.
SPEAKER_05 (15:34):
Right, like on Valentine's Day.
SPEAKER_07 (15:35):
Yes, this induced someone dinner foods.
And so, yes, you couldabsolutely sort of separate them
out.
I for me, I really like to lookat them as just making strong
choices that make your body likefeel more ready for that mood
all the time.
(15:56):
Like the foods that make youfeel more confident and feel
more sexy and have energy.
Um to me, that's a huge part ofit, especially as a parent of
two, you know, I've got I've gota 10 or 13 year old, and all I
want are foods that give meenergy.
Yeah, I'm never gonna like Idon't even want to face the
bedroom without like my energy.
(16:17):
So, you know, so that's where Ithat's really how I I mostly
other than trying to help peoplewalk people through that
romantic dinner situation.
I really like to just encouragethem, make the great choices for
you or for you and your partnerthat that just make you feel
like more, you know, the mostready you could be, right?
(16:41):
You know, both sexualhealth-wise and desire-wise.
And it's different for everyone.
And it's not like, and peopleget a little scared when I talk
this way.
I have worked with, I actuallyhave worked with a few
one-on-one clients, and peopleget a little scared, like, are
you going to like put me on adiet?
And it's not, it's not likethat.
It's really just becoming awareof the foods that affect you and
(17:05):
how they affect you and whichones affect you in a positive
way, where you could make smallshifts away from the ones that
don't.
And I actually have, I have thatwas perfect timing because I
have, I've just made, I justmade a little exercise, a little
worksheet.
I hate the word worksheet, alittle exercise for your
(17:26):
listeners.
It's a podcast exclusive.
Fantastic.
I've called it What Turns You Onat the Table.
And it really is just to helpyou like become aware for
yourself of like, how did I feelafter that food?
Like the thing I said about thecoffee after you have your cup
of coffee.
Did it give me a little bitbetter of a mood?
(17:46):
And it's it's just walks youthrough that through your day so
that you can, and then gives youa suggestion of when or where to
maybe make that shift to a onebetter choice and see how that
goes.
And it's repeatable if you likeit and it works for you.
Like you could do it once everyweek and make another shift
every week, you know, to helpyourself just feel fantastic.
SPEAKER_05 (18:08):
Oh, that's that is great.
SPEAKER_07 (18:11):
I'm excited.
So go to my website, eatsomething sexy.com/slash
podcast, and you can download itthere and go through this
exercise and really experiencelike how food makes you more
sexy.
SPEAKER_05 (18:24):
Right, right.
And be and because everybody'sdifferent.
Right, completely, and that'sthe thing.
Yeah.
Do you find as far asaphrodisiac foods are concerned,
that there are inherentdifferences between men and
women, or is everybody justcompletely different?
SPEAKER_07 (18:42):
Oh yeah.
I mean, yes, there are there arethere are I wouldn't say big
differences, but there aresignificant differences between
men and women.
And that just comes down tosimple nutrition.
Men and women need different,have different nutritional
needs.
We have different, you know, ourhormone balance is different.
(19:02):
Our muscle composition, our bodycomposition is different.
Men need more protein.
They need foods for testosteroneproduction.
So, yeah, so there are, in fact,on eat somethingsexy.com, I made
a list of 10 best foods for menif you're considering sexual
health, and the 10 best foodsfor women if you're considering
sexual health.
And I do want to say, becausepeople go there and like, oh, I
(19:24):
don't want to eat kale orwhatever it is they don't, you
know, that they find that youdon't have to eat all of them,
but here's a list of foods, youknow, 10 foods that are great
choices for you.
SPEAKER_05 (19:32):
Right.
And maybe pick up pick two orthree or four.
SPEAKER_07 (19:35):
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_05 (19:36):
That that you know you like or that it doesn't have
that ick factor for you.
Yes.
Oh, that's fantastic.
So as you got deeper intoresearching and and and
experimenting, what surprisedyou most about you know what you
were uncovering?
SPEAKER_07 (19:56):
Ooh, actually, what surprised me most was the
reluctance of the public,particularly of mainstream
media, to accept what I wastalking about.
And not because the ideas wereradical.
(20:17):
It was just the whole topic wasjust naughty.
SPEAKER_05 (20:21):
Taboo.
SPEAKER_07 (20:22):
Yes.
SPEAKER_05 (20:22):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (20:23):
I wouldn't I wouldn't quite go so far as
taboo, but it was like, oh, thisis uncomfortable.
unknown (20:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (20:29):
Actually, I won't even Yeah, I'm gonna say what it
was.
I got banned from Martha StewartRadio because in an interview on
Martha Stewart weddings, I usedthe words erectile dysfunction.
SPEAKER_05 (20:42):
Oh, you're kidding.
SPEAKER_07 (20:43):
And it was just, I mean, it was out of like was a
it was a thoughtful answer outof real concern for, you know,
it like it wasn't like I wasjust trying to slip in some
erectile dysfunction.
SPEAKER_05 (20:55):
Yeah.
Well, nobody ever really triesto do that.
In fact, it's probablyimpossible, but yeah.
Was this before or after we hadpresidential candidates doing
commercials for erectiledysfunction medication?
SPEAKER_07 (21:11):
Yeah, this was this was to be fair, it was like 15
years ago.
That being said, I still I'mstill up against a lot of these
same challenges.
SPEAKER_05 (21:23):
Um yeah, yeah.
Wow.
What what what do you think thebiggest myth about aphrodisiac
foods is and that makes youlaugh because you've got the
information?
SPEAKER_07 (21:37):
Oh gosh, you know, the like the weird and taboo
aphrodisiacs that peopleactually think that they work.
It doesn't really make me laughbecause it's so terrible, but
it's just like how could anyonethink that powdering the horn of
a rhino, which by the way, isjust made of the same thing our
(21:57):
hair is, so you're basically,you know.
Ingesting powdered hair.
How?
How is that going to eliminateerectile dysfunction?
I said it.
SPEAKER_05 (22:07):
And I will not ban you.
As a matter of fact, I'll haveyou back.
So is that is that Spanish fly?
SPEAKER_07 (22:16):
What is Spanish fly?
Let's just rhythm a whole role.
So Spanish fly is not a fly,it's actually a beetle.
And it's, I mean, I think thatit may actually have an effect,
but it's also weird anddangerous, and half of what's
sold a Spanish fly isn't evenit's probably ground up.
Black flies, not the beetleanyway.
(22:38):
But that's one to very, yeah,very much stay away from.
And there, you know, there areothers too.
Like I I kind of like the ideaof snake whiskey, which is a
Thai thing.
I think it's Thai, Cambodia.
No, it's Thai.
I like kind of like the idea ofit just because I kind of I feel
bad for the snake, but I kind oflike the idea, the vision, the
visual of a snake in a bottle ofwhiskey.
(23:00):
I don't know why.
Just as like somethingfascinating to look at.
But why?
Why is putting it so why iskilling a snake and putting it
in a bottle of whiskey going tosuddenly make you more virile?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_05 (23:13):
And and that that is a that is considered an
aphrodisiac food in SoutheastAsia, yes.
SPEAKER_07 (23:21):
Whoa.
Yes, I don't know.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_05 (23:26):
I'm I'm thinking, no, I'll have a cup of coffee,
thanks.
SPEAKER_07 (23:29):
Right, exactly.
Much more practical anddelicious.
SPEAKER_05 (23:35):
Yeah, yeah.
What what other what other likeodd or unique things have you
found in other cultures as faras what they consider
aphrodisiacs?
SPEAKER_07 (23:48):
Well, you know, what's most fascinating to me is
historically cultures in Eastand West chose very often chose
the same food when when similarfoods were available, they held
the same foods in regard asaphrodisiac.
You know, and they were, I mean,they were living in very
separate worlds.
There wasn't communication,there wasn't a trade, it was
(24:11):
they all found the sameproperties were effective.
SPEAKER_05 (24:17):
Oh, wow.
unknown (24:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (24:19):
That's pretty interesting.
SPEAKER_07 (24:20):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (24:21):
That is really interesting.
If this this is this is just akind of a jokey thing, but if
aphrodisiac foods had a PR team,what rumor would you want them
to shut down?
SPEAKER_07 (24:36):
Oh man.
You know, I think we go back tothe dangerous and not dangerous
andor not actually effectivefoods.
Like stop with the shark fins,stop finning sharks in the name
of fertility.
SPEAKER_05 (24:52):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (24:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (24:57):
Doing nothing.
SPEAKER_07 (24:58):
It it does nothing for anyone.
So, but yet people think they'llhave a better sexual
performance, maybe morechildren, whatever it is, from
from eating shark fin.
And it's like, no, you all youdid was make a shark suffer.
SPEAKER_05 (25:16):
Wow.
SPEAKER_07 (25:17):
Yep.
SPEAKER_05 (25:18):
So has your expertise ever turned a normal
meal into something morememorable?
And I don't know, maybe we needyour husband for this.
unknown (25:30):
Okay.
SPEAKER_07 (25:31):
So got another story for you.
So when I was working on my veryfirst cookbook, Fork Me Spoon
Me.
I had this friend, this malefriend.
I didn't know him all that well,but I knew that he worked long
hours and he didn't cook.
Now, I don't know if you knowmuch about creating a cookbook,
(25:53):
but it involves a tremendousamount of recipe testing.
SPEAKER_05 (25:56):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (25:57):
And, you know, you're just making the same
recipe over and over, maybe witha little refinement, or maybe
just making it again to doublecheck it.
At any rate, you're eating thesame foods over and over and
over again.
And I really didn't want to eatmy food anymore.
So I just kept inviting him overbecause I had I have all this
food.
I have all this food.
(26:17):
So let's see, that was almost 20years ago.
So 20 years later, we've got a10-year-old and a 13-year-old
child together.
unknown (26:25):
Oh damn it.
SPEAKER_07 (26:27):
And I had no romantic designs when this
started.
SPEAKER_05 (26:31):
Oh, that's funny.
That is funny.
SPEAKER_07 (26:34):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (26:34):
So we've we've got fork me, spoon me, we've got
romancing the stove.
SPEAKER_07 (26:40):
And I actually became pregnant while recipe
testing romancing the stove.
unknown (26:45):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (26:46):
So there's there's a lot of truth.
I I really need to pick theseup.
And then there's eat somethingsexy.
SPEAKER_07 (26:53):
No, so eat something sexy is my website.
SPEAKER_05 (26:56):
Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_07 (26:57):
Yes.
And you know, I've got types inif you're aphrynesiac curious.
I have tons of resources there.
I do have another book.
It's an all-desert book becauseI have an incurable sweet tooth.
I I was co-written by a womanwith a PhD in nutrition.
So we went deep and got veryserious, but it's called Eat
(27:18):
Cake Naked.
And it's all aphrodisiacdesserts.
And the idea was to reshape alot of desserts with ingredients
that would that had nutritionalbenefits and could potentially
improve your sexual health.
Oh.
Without tasting like dirt.
SPEAKER_05 (27:39):
Right, right.
SPEAKER_07 (27:41):
Give me a couple of example recipes that are so my
favorite example is that ourbrownie recipe, which is they
are so good.
It's dark chocolate, darkchocolate chunk brownies, which
we added nuts for protein,right?
But then we took out the whiteflour and put in chickpea flour.
Oh.
You will never know it when youtaste it.
(28:04):
But now suddenly our brownies,you know, we're we're white
flour free, we're gluten-free,but they also now have fiber and
more added protein.
SPEAKER_05 (28:13):
Oh, that's fantastic.
Yep.
Yep.
That's and those aresubstitutions.
I mean, I know, I mean, I cook,I bake.
I probably I don't cook as muchas I used to.
I when I was married and had afamily, I cooked a ton, but it's
just me now.
So you know, my kids are grownand gone.
I cooking for one's boring.
SPEAKER_07 (28:34):
Yeah, it's so boring.
SPEAKER_05 (28:35):
I guess it is very boring.
So, you know, just as an averagecook, chickpea flour is not a
substitution I would even dreamof making.
Yeah, yeah.
Oh, fantastic, fantastic.
Has when you've when you'vecooked for friends, do they read
(28:56):
way too much into the menu?
SPEAKER_07 (28:58):
Oh, totally.
Yes, yes.
It's like, and then sometimesit's embarrassing because
they'll come over with theirchildren.
Like our families will have ameal together.
I'm like, no, this is not, I'mnot sending you home to like get
it on.
This is just, we're just havinga meal together.
SPEAKER_05 (29:14):
It's not a key party.
Not fun.
I I I I have some friends inmind that if I did what you did,
I think would question everytime I'd say, oh, come on over
for the Super Bowl, you know, ormake an app or something.
unknown (29:34):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (29:35):
Remember, I had one friend over and we had coffee,
and I just politely said, Wouldyou like a cookie?
And they were like, oh, whatkind of cookie?
Just sometimes a cookie is justa cookie.
SPEAKER_05 (29:47):
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
I think I'm gonna put that on at-shirt.
Did you face, and and you talkeda little bit about it, but did
you face resistance orskepticism when you continued to
talk openly about aphrodisiacfoods?
I mean, are you still facing thesame challenges?
SPEAKER_07 (30:09):
Of course, yes.
I do think now it's changed alittle bit because there's more
talk about like the nutritionside.
SPEAKER_05 (30:16):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (30:17):
All of those, do you remember those Palm Wonderful
made those pomegranate ads withlike research about testosterone
and things?
I don't incorporated it intotheir pomegranate juice ads at
one point.
And things like that havehelped, like people are like,
oh, so it's just nutrition,right?
Or but yeah, of course, there'sstill there's still a lot of
skepticism around the topic asas a whole.
SPEAKER_05 (30:40):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, uh that's to me, I thinkthat's that's a short sight.
Yeah.
And keeping some goodinformation from from the masses
that may know how to take, youknow, may take advantage of it
and you know, have a betterquality of life.
SPEAKER_07 (30:57):
Well, I think I kind of feel in our society it it's a
little bit that way withanything that's inexpensive and
could benefit your health.
SPEAKER_05 (31:09):
Yeah.
Oh, that's true.
That's a really good point.
Yeah.
That's a really good point.
How you know, obviously, there'sthere's still no pun intended, a
hunger for what you do.
How did you learn to balanceyour credibility and
approachability on a topic thatyou know is still really awkward
(31:30):
for people to put out there inthe media?
SPEAKER_07 (31:34):
Credibility was a struggle at first.
It was it was tough.
And that's why the one of thefirst things I did was to get my
master's degree in gastronomyfrom Le Cordon Bleu.
SPEAKER_06 (31:50):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_07 (31:50):
And so people understood that at least I had
an academic background and I didhave a solid foundation in food
history.
So that helped.
But then when I started talkingabout what it's, you know, it
could be, you know, it couldboost your testosterone or
anything else for the one,they're like, well, how do you
(32:11):
know you're not a doctor?
And of course, I can read,right?
SPEAKER_06 (32:15):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (32:17):
We can all, we all have the ability to figure these
things out for ourselves as longas we know where to look.
But that's why I then went,okay, let's get nutrition
coaching certification andreally get deeper into this and
then have those credentials aswell.
SPEAKER_05 (32:36):
Okay.
Oh, good.
Yeah, because you're, I mean,you talk freely about this,
you're not loose with it.
I think you're respectfulbecause you are aware of how
these things can land.
But at the same time, uh you'rehaving fun with it too.
(32:58):
And not in a disrespectful way,which which I really respect.
SPEAKER_07 (33:02):
Yes.
I mean, first of all, the topic,let's face it, if you're talking
about romance, the topic shouldbe fun, right?
It's yeah, if you're talkingabout making a romantic
connection and sensuality andall of those things, it should
be fun.
And then if you're talking aboutthe sexual health side, that's
more uncomfortable.
And it's important to feel atease about that as much as
(33:24):
possible.
Otherwise, people just shutdown.
SPEAKER_05 (33:30):
Where should a beginner start to look if
they're curious but cautiousabout kind of getting more into
understanding the science andthe nutrition behind good health
and good sexual health?
SPEAKER_07 (33:46):
So I'm gonna send you to my own website because
I've worked very hard to createexactly that materials for
people who are eitheraphrodisiac, curious, or have
realized they want to make apositive change in their sexual
health and need a startingpoint.
And I will say it is a startingpoint.
(34:06):
There are definitely wonderfuldirections you could go from
there.
But go to eat somethingsexy.com.
I have information there aboutspecifically about there's a
whole section that'sspecifically about sexual health
and you know that nutritionside.
But I also have a list of 88aphrodisiac foods.
(34:28):
And if there's a food thatyou're curious about, you can
find it there.
I provide some historicinformation as well as some of
the the science that canpotentially back it up when it's
available.
I also provide links to where,you know, the sources for that
information if you wanna if youwant to fall down the rabbit
hole with an ingredient, yeah,that will get you where you want
(34:50):
to go.
SPEAKER_05 (34:51):
Oh, that's fantastic.
So if there's a couple at homeand they want to explore
aphrodisiac foods at home,what's the most approachable way
to do it?
Like what would be the firststep?
What would be the second?
And you know, if you want to usethe information from your
website, you know, to kind ofreinforce the example, that'd be
(35:13):
great.
SPEAKER_07 (35:14):
So I think it's different for everyone.
We talked about how food affectsyou is different for everyone.
SPEAKER_05 (35:20):
Yep.
SPEAKER_07 (35:21):
What's gonna be the best romantic fit is different
for everyone, and maybe it'sjust opening up the right bottle
of wine together.
unknown (35:32):
Okay.
SPEAKER_07 (35:33):
Something that you would both enjoy just to be able
to sit down and have that momentof connection.
Could be as simple as that.
If you if you like fun, Iactually created, I sell an
aphrodisiac scavenger hunt on mywebsite.
Oh, cool.
You can go through and createthis whole scavenger hunt for
(35:54):
your partner with you, you andan aphrodisiac picnic as the as
the final reward.
When I walk you through thesetup and the picnic and
everything else.
So that if you just love fun,that is a way to go.
SPEAKER_05 (36:07):
Um that sounds like a great Valentine's Day.
SPEAKER_07 (36:11):
It's a really great Valentine's Day.
It's a really anniversary.
But you know what?
Yeah, it's but it's also like wehaven't had a night together in
a while.
So let's it could be a randomTuesday.
Then if you, you know, it can belike a it's it can be something
simple, as simple as a glass ofwine or a cocktail, or maybe
(36:34):
it's just a snack.
You know, and finding aningredient or two that are
supposedly aphrodisiac,incorporating them into a snack.
Like I said, I've got a list of88 ingredients.
You can find a couple you bothlike, right?
And have that snack and tellyour partner, these are
aphrodisiac ingredients, youknow.
It can be as simple as that.
(36:54):
Or it could be an elaboratecandlelit dinner if that, you
know, if that's it's it'swhatever works for you.
SPEAKER_05 (37:02):
Right, right.
What what what's one simpleshift that can change how a meal
feels and not just tastes?
SPEAKER_07 (37:13):
I the the easiest thing, it's not actually the
food.
It's create an atmosphere thatdoesn't feel like every day.
SPEAKER_05 (37:22):
Right.
SPEAKER_07 (37:23):
Whatever that means to you.
It doesn't have to be theclassic dim the lights and put
on some berry white or whatever.
Um it's whatever that is to you.
String some fairy lights in thebackyard, throw down a blanket,
or you know what, it's or itcould be it could be even more
simple.
(37:44):
Make a little make a little nestof pillows in front of the
coffee table and eat thereinstead of instead at the table.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (37:52):
Oh, that's awesome.
I um, yeah, it definitelyatmosphere, I think, plays plays
into that.
Because that was, you know, whenI when I was thinking about how
would I answer that question?
Not that I'm the expert, but itit really is atmosphere.
If you're just doing the sameold, same old, it doesn't matter
what's on the plate.
(38:12):
You've got to change everythingup.
Yeah, and it doesn't have to behumongous changes, just a change
of scenery.
SPEAKER_07 (38:19):
That ch that change in atmosphere, it's just makes a
whole shift in your mindset.
It's like I am present in adifferent situation than you
know, I'm not in my usual.
I'm here, I'm present, and thisis different.
And let's go.
SPEAKER_05 (38:35):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so and for some folks, it'sgetting all dressed up and
putting on a dress heels and asuit and a tie or a jacket, you
know, and a nice shirt.
So, okay.
All right, good.
So now moving on, kind ofswinging things back to you on a
personal level.
How has this journey changed theway you experience food
(38:58):
personally?
SPEAKER_07 (39:01):
Well, I now do the things I practice what I preach.
It has made me more aware ofwhat the foods that I put in my
body and how I feel afterward.
And I will still fully admitthat I will have things that I
know I'm not going to feel sogreat afterwards because I just
enjoy them on occasion.
(39:21):
A large slab of chocolate cake,I'm still going to have it.
Right.
Even though I will probably wantto go to sleep as soon as it's
over.
But it has really for me changedmy awareness and my relationship
with foods and overall, youknow, my food choice overall.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (39:40):
What do you hope people feel after they visited
your website or tried some ofyour recipes or really have
absorbed some of the informationthat you have to share with
them?
What's your hope that folks takeaway from it?
SPEAKER_07 (39:54):
I want them, I would like to see them make that
shift.
Have to just have that awarenessthat I can make these small
changes that make me feel great,or I now understand the things
that don't make me feel so good,or I've realized I'm not
drinking enough water every day.
Whatever it is, but that's thattiny, I'd love it if they walk
(40:16):
away with at least one tinyshift that can make their life
better.
SPEAKER_05 (40:22):
Nice.
Nice.
And you know, you how many yearshave you been been doing this?
You've you've been at this forquite a while.
SPEAKER_07 (40:30):
I don't want to admit that.
My children think I'm areconvinced I'm 29.
So, you know, the math doesn'tadd up.
SPEAKER_05 (40:40):
It never does.
SPEAKER_07 (40:41):
No, it never does.
So I have been doing this.
My first book came out 20 yearsago.
So 23 years?
23, 24?
Yeah.
A while.
SPEAKER_05 (40:56):
All those years.
What surprises you most abouthow people respond to your work?
SPEAKER_07 (41:07):
I just sometimes people just are all in from the
beginning.
They're like, Yes, I neverthought of it, but I'm gonna do
it.
I'm gonna try it.
It's gonna be great.
Like, it surprises me when thathappens.
Like they walk in a skeptic, butimmediately just grab it.
But I love that.
SPEAKER_05 (41:27):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_07 (41:27):
I think that's part of the reason I do it.
It just that's so exciting.
SPEAKER_05 (41:31):
Yeah.
Do you have do you have successstories or stories from folks
who have written to you orshared with you?
Hey, I tried this recipe andyou'll you'll never believe what
happened.
SPEAKER_07 (41:43):
I I do.
Some of them are X-rated.
One of my favorites, and thisoddly, this came through someone
else.
I the person didn't even tellme.
I so I got I got it third handor secondhand?
Second hand, I guess.
I became a new bakery opened inmy neighborhood about a year
(42:08):
after Fork Me Spoon Me, my firstbook came out.
And I quickly became friendswith the owner because, as I
mentioned, I have an incurablesweet tooth.
And a few months into thisfriendship, she realized who I
was in the book that I hadwritten.
And she said, No, that's yourbook.
(42:28):
I have this friend.
So no, it would have been alittle more than a year that's
after Fortney Spoon came.
It was a couple, it was a coupleof years.
But anyway, she had this friendwho said, who bought that book
because she was single, and herbig life goal was within a year
to find a husband and start afamily.
So why she bought my book?
(42:49):
I don't, but she bought FortneySpoon Me and said, This is gonna
be my guide.
And she used the book, she madethe recipes, she found the man,
she had the child.
Your kid and she swears it wasall because of my book, Fork Me
Spoon Me.
And I'm being told this by thiswoman who owns a bakery who's
like, I can't believe that'syou.
SPEAKER_05 (43:08):
This was oh, that's a riot.
Yeah, holy cow.
SPEAKER_07 (43:13):
That was really wild.
SPEAKER_05 (43:14):
And any that that is amazing.
It are there any other storiesthat you feel comfortable
sharing?
SPEAKER_07 (43:22):
Oh gosh.
Well, I mean, I think my ownstories that I mentioned earlier
are quite the testimonial.
SPEAKER_05 (43:27):
Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_07 (43:28):
I get I get lots of kind stories about how, you
know, someone made one of myrecipes and it really made their
Valentine, that Valentine's Daymore memorable.
That made that evening standout.
I just, you know, I get a lot ofkind kind messages that way that
I I really enjoy.
Enjoy hearing.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05 (43:46):
Nice.
Nice.
So I'm obviously not going toget an X rated story out of you.
SPEAKER_06 (43:50):
Nope, nope.
SPEAKER_05 (43:53):
That's why I said if you feel comfortable sharing.
But you know, in in in thinkingabout where you're at now.
Where you've been, where do yousee yourself going forward from
here?
SPEAKER_07 (44:06):
Well, I really I took a bit of a pause on my
career, you know, to raise toraise kids.
And they're now getting to thepoint of being independent.
I had stopped, you know, touringand and speaking and all of
those things.
I also stopped.
(44:27):
I've only written one book sinceI had children.
And so I am working on a newbook.
I am working on a new bookconcept as well, which is
coming, it's coming out verysoon.
It's coming out for Valentine'sDay.
Um yeah, it's little quarterly,a quarterly, a quarterly
(44:49):
romantic dinner plan.
It's your recipes, it's yourwhole plan seasonally.
Northern hemisphere seasonally.
I do have, I actually have a lotof fans in Australia and New
Zealand.
So I have to sorry for them.
They'll have to flip-flop theguides.
SPEAKER_05 (45:08):
I was gonna say you're gonna just have to mix a
match.
SPEAKER_07 (45:10):
Yeah, they'll have to flip-flop the guides, but
seasonally a menu that that youknow you can experience a you
can just, it's just amade-to-order one night, one
romantic evening each time.
So I'm starting with winter 2026and I hope to continue every
quarter for years, as well as mynew book, which is actually two.
(45:30):
I had I just I split it into twobooks.
You asked me about thesignificance of men versus
women.
I'm calling it Passion Pantryfor him and Passion Pantry for
her, because that, you know, wemen and women have such
different, but they havedifferent needs, and we need to
respect that and promote that,particularly for women.
(45:53):
We do get kind of oh, absolutelyreflected.
SPEAKER_05 (45:57):
So especially uh peri and post-menopausal.
SPEAKER_07 (46:02):
Right, right, exactly.
And postpartum.
SPEAKER_05 (46:06):
Yes, yep, postpartum.
SPEAKER_07 (46:08):
Yeah, so and and these days for a lot of women,
fertility as well, because we'rewaiting till later to have
children, and then sometimes youneed to have a shift in
fertility as you know, for forfertility as well.
So for women, there's so muchmore than for men, although for
men, the problems are so muchmore pronounced.
(46:30):
So there's an interest for both.
And the whole I concept is thisis really where I'm going, is
this concept of how you stockyour kitchen is what matters.
Which is why they're passionatepantry.
It's all about focusing on howyou stock your kitchen, the
things to choose to stock yourkitchen, you know, so that it's
(46:52):
inspiring and delicious whereyou you want to cook and you
want to eat these foods, butyou're eating the foods that are
are very much the beneficialfoods.
SPEAKER_05 (47:02):
Right.
Oh, fantastic.
I love that concept.
Thank you.
So uh will those be availablethrough your website or can you
pre-order on Amazon?
SPEAKER_07 (47:13):
I I am debating whether I'm going to sell them
through my distributor or justsell them through my website.
I haven't made that decisionyet, but for sure they will be
available through eatsomethingsey.com.
Yes.
SPEAKER_05 (47:27):
Perfect.
Perfect.
Amy, I cannot thank you enoughfor all of your time today and
and for all the laughs and allthe information shared.
Uh I can't wait.
You know, I had gone throughyour website and I had I had had
kind of perused it and scannedit.
I am definitely going back for amuch deeper dive and anxiously
(47:49):
awaiting the Passion Pantry forwomen.
SPEAKER_07 (47:53):
Oh, that's so great.
I'm really excited now.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
And I do, I want to remind yourlisteners if you're now
aphrodisiac curious at all orjust curious about the concept
of how food affects you, likemakes you feel, go to eat
something sexy.com slashpodcast.
Get the exclusive guide I madefor you.
(48:16):
This try out the little exerciseand really discover how food
makes you feel.
SPEAKER_05 (48:22):
Awesome.
Amy, thank you so much.
I have had such a great timewith you today.
(48:42):
But never really considered theother connections she
researched.
What struck me about Amy and herwork throughout our conversation
on and off mic is that shereally wants to help people and
make a difference in how theyeat, how they feel, and how
those two things connect to ouremotional, physical, and sexual
(49:05):
well-being.
It really is all about makingthings better in one of the most
fun ways.
She has such a great attitudeabout the awkwardness this topic
can bring for some folks, yetstill is fun with it.
Just look at her cookbook titlesFork Me Spoon Me, Romancing the
(49:25):
Stove, and Eat Cake Naked.
Get over to her websiteeatsomethingsexy.com, complete
her podcast listener worksheet,and use your results to step up
the excitement in your diet andbeyond.
Keep an eye out for her passionpantry for men and women, which
should be out close to when thisepisode drops, and make sure
(49:49):
you're lined up to get herseasonal romantic meal plans.
Jump down to the show notes forall the links.
And while you're there, don'tforget to connect with me.
All my socials are linked thereas well.
I'd love to hear your thoughtson today's episode, so use the
Send Me a Text link in the shownotes to connect with me and
(50:12):
share your thoughts.
As always, thanks for listening,and I'll see you in two weeks.
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