Free From Desire

Free From Desire

1 podcast, 2 versions: 🇺🇸 Aline, 34, has never been attracted to anyone - neither sexually nor romantically. They retrace their steps through the trials and tribulations of an adolescence steeped in supercharged pop culture messaging and explore how accepting their asexuality and aromantism allowed them to redefine what love, relationship and family mean to them. 🇫🇷 Pendant des années, Aline s'est dit « ça finira bien par arriver ». Elle s'est même mise dans des situations inconfortables pour forcer le destin. Ca n'a jamais fonctionné. Elle se sentait isolée, exclue et honteuse. Qu'est-ce que la vie sans l'expérience du désir sexuel ou romantique - de l'aventure d'un soir à la relation de couple ? ---- ✨ « En explorant sa propre absence de désir, elle pousse chacun et chacune à interroger le sien : pas besoin d’être asexuel pour apprécier de réinvestir l’amitié, désacraliser le couple, et s’écouter soi-même », Télérama ✨ “This compelling personal story has lessons and insights for anyone with a body”, Tribeca Festival ✨ "Though Free From Desire provides plenty of answers, its success isn’t rooted in being educational—accompanying Aline as they pursue agency and happiness, regardless of who understands it, fuels the show’s magic", The Atlantic ✨ Free from Desire is a podcast originally published in France, where it made the cover of magazines. It has been Tribeca Festival's best Audio Storytelling and Signal Awards' best Diversity, Equity & Inclusion podcast in 2023, and was one of the 25 best podcasts of 2023 for The Atlantic. ✨ --- Follow Aline on Instagram @YallahAline! --- Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Episodes

April 25, 2023 • 1 min

[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



For years, Aline thought “it will eventually come.” They'd even put themselves in uncomfortable situations to try and force it to happen. It never did. They felt isolated, excluded, and ashamed. What is life without experiencing sexual or romantic desire — from a one-night stand to a coupled relationship? At 20, they finally started to find answers.




✨

“This compelling pe...

Mark as Played

[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



Aline thinks back to their childhood and teenage years and remembers how their lack of interest in boys and sex made them an outcast. Aline reflects on “compulsory sexuality" and why it’s so prevalent in society.



With:

  • Megan Carroll, a sociology professor
  • Angela Chen, author of "Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex,”


---

👉 Fol...

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[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



Aline has sex, in an effort to be like everyone else and because they want to be “liberated." In this episode, Aline tries to understand why they forced themself into sexual encounters.



With:

  • Megan Carroll, a sociology professor
  • Kate Wood, Australian asexual activist


---

👉 Follow Aline on Instagram @YallahAline!




✨

“This compelling personal story has less...

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June 21, 2023 • 16 mins

[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



Aline is afraid of failing in a relationship, so they go to a therapist to make sure they’re not repressing any trauma that “blocks” their sexuality.

Aline explores the misconstruction of asexuality by medical and therapeutic communities and how it affects the mental and physical health of asexual people.



With:

  • Angela Chen, author of Ace
  • Kate Wood, Australian asexual activ...
Mark as Played

[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



When Aline discovers the concept of asexuality, they are relieved...and scared. They experience phases of doubt and denial before they can truly understand this term and make it their own.

In this episode, they look back on the birth of the concept and of the asexual community, thanks to the AVEN website created by David Jay.


---

👉 Follow Aline on Instagram @YallahAline!

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[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



In this episode, Aline talks to us about the sex life of asexual people (including their own!). Since accepting their asexuality, they have had to rethink their relationship with intimacy and sexual attraction.

Aline questions the way coupled relationships are normally perceived by talking to other asexual people and listening to their stories.


Special thanks to Fiona Conneely,...

Mark as Played
July 12, 2023 • 20 mins

[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



In this episode, Aline realizes they are aromantic, which brings another big revelation — they don’t want to wait for a romantic partner to start a family. Aline explores different kinds of families and co-parenting options, only to realize that romance plays a role in almost all of them. With this in mind, Aline decides they’ll become a parent on their own.



---

👉 Follow Al...

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[Retrouvez la version française en saison 2]



Aline always knew they wanted a child. As a teenager, they imagined adopting, having a child with friends, and being a single parent — as if their subconscious already knew that married life was not for them. But, getting a sperm donation in France as a single parent was illegal at the time. Aline had to get “creative” and find the right doctor.

While pregnant, Aline contemplate t...

Mark as Played
June 3, 2025 • 1 min

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Pendant des années, Aline s'est dit « ça finira bien par arriver ». Elle s'est même mise dans des situations inconfortables pour forcer le destin. Ca n'a jamais fonctionné.

Elle se sentait isolée, exclue et honteuse. Qu'est-ce que la vie sans l'expérience du désir sexuel ou romantique - de l'aventure d'un soir à la relation de couple ?

Ă€ 20 ans, elle a enfi...

Mark as Played
June 30, 2025 • 27 mins

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Aline est une ado qui n'a aucun intérêt pour les garçons et le sexe, ça l'exclue de beaucoup de discussions. Plus tard, en école de commerce, sa virginité et son absence d'envie suscitent carrément de la sidération ou des conseils déplacés.

Dans cet épisode, elle tente de comprendre pourquoi les histoires de sexe accaparent les discussions dès le collège e...

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[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



À 22 ans, Aline finit par avoir des rapports sexuels, à la fois pour être comme tout le monde et parce qu'elle veut être une “femme libérée”. Dans cet épisode, elle revient sur sa première fois, et toutes celles qui ont suivi, et décrypte les mécanismes de ces violences sexuelles auto-infligées.


Avec :

  • Aurore Vincenti, une linguiste formĂ©e en sexolo...
Mark as Played
July 1, 2025 • 18 mins

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Par peur de ne pas rĂ©ussir Ă  ĂŞtre en couple, Aline cherche Ă  se « rĂ©parer Â» en allant voir une psy. Elle se demande si elle n'a pas refoulĂ© un traumatisme qui la bloquerait. Dans cet Ă©pisode, Aline revient sur la pathologisation de l’asexualitĂ© et ses consĂ©quences sur la santĂ© mentale et physique.


Avec :

  • Angela Chen, autrice de Ace : What ...
Mark as Played
July 1, 2025 • 24 mins

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Quand Aline découvre le concept d'asexualité, elle se sent soulagée mais aussi effrayée. Elle passe par des phases de doutes et de déni avant de pouvoir véritablement se l’approprier. Dans cet épisode, elle revient sur la naissance de la communauté asexuelle grâce au site AVEN créé par David Jay et nous explique pourquoi les mots sont des outils important...

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July 1, 2025 • 22 mins

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Aline se fait plaquer par sa copine "parce qu'elles n'Ă©taient pas amoureuses". Mais ça veut dire quoi ĂŞtre amoureuse ? En Ă©coutant un podcast sur les Filles du Docteur March, Aline rĂ©alise qu'elle est “aromantique”.

Si elle a mis du temps à le comprendre, c'est que le sentiment amoureux (et son absence) sont difficiles à définir, mais aussi que ne pa...

Mark as Played
July 1, 2025 • 19 mins

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Dans cet épisode, Aline part à la rencontre d'autres asexuel·les pour parler de leur vie sexuelle (et de la sienne). En acceptant son asexualité, Aline a été amenée à repenser son rapport à l’intimité et à la sexualité. Ses découvertes ont bouleversé sa vision du couple et des relations.




---

👉 Suivez Aline sur Instagram @YallahAline

📚🎤 Découvr...

Mark as Played
July 1, 2025 • 25 mins

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Si l'amour romantique et le couple ne sont plus une option, comment organiser sa vie, ses vacances, ses sorties ? Est-ce qu'on peut ĂŞtre heureuse "seule" ?

Aline s'interroge sur la perception du cĂ©libat et son Ă©volution, elle dĂ©couvre aussi que l’amitiĂ© n’a pas toujours Ă©tĂ© aussi dĂ©valorisĂ©e et que sa place peut ĂŞtre repensĂ©e. 


Avec :

  • Anne Vinc...
Mark as Played
July 1, 2025 • 25 mins

[This season is in French. Check out season 1 for the English version]



Aline a toujours su qu'elle voulait un enfant. À l'adolescence, elle s'imaginait adopter, avoir un enfant avec des ami·es, être mère célibataire... comme si son inconscient savait déjà qu'elle n'aurait pas une vie de couple ordinaire.

Enceinte grâce à un don de sperme, Aline part à la rencontre d’autres parents cpour tenter d’imaginer des façons de faire ...

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