Sensual Self with Ev'Yan Whitney

A trip down a sensual memory lane. In this one, Ev'Yan talks about some of their favorite moments of sensuality in 2022—from things that gave them gender euphoria to experiences that inspired full-body pleasure. Also, a little birthday celebration for something special.

For transcripts, show notes, and links to previous episodes, click here.

Get the book that inspires this podcast, Sensual Self: Prompts and Practice...

Are you trying to be someone you're sexually not? In this one, Ev'Yan speaks with asexual storyteller and author of 'Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture' Sherronda J Brown about the ways compulsory sexuality has shaped and harmed our sexualities. Sherronda talks about how compulsory sexuality shows up in our world, its links to systemic oppression (like ableism, racism, and fatphobia), an...

Are you in a consensual relationship with your body? In this one, Ev'Yan speaks with Jonathan Mead, a body relationship and movement coach (and also Ev'Yan's partner) about what it means to be in a trusting, respectful relationship with your body. They discuss how fitness culture has helped create toxicity between ourselves and our body's messages, what it looks like to be kind to our nervous systems, and how we can start mending a...

How has your experience of your sexual self been shaped by what you grew up understanding (or not) about sex? In this one, Ev’Yan speaks with Melissa Carnagey (she/they) about what it means + how to raise sex positive kids. Melissa speaks about why “age appropriate” sex ed might not be as useful as you think and what to do instead, why this work is so controversial in culture right now, and where to actually start when approaching ...

Do you microdose your pleasure? In this one, Ev’Yan speaks to Euphemia Russell (they/them) about the practice of slow pleasure—which is also the title of their bestselling book. They talk about how to create sustainable pleasure practices, the inseparable link between pleasure and somatics, and what pleasure really means outside of narratives of shame and excess. Euphemia also shares some simple and accessible body-based practices ...

Join host Ev'Yan Whitney for a new season filled with thoughtful conversations about sexuality, embodiment, identity, and pleasure.

What does the word “wellness” even mean anymore? In this one, Ev'Yan speaks to poet, artist, and author, Fariha Roisin, about self-care, collective healing, wellness culture, and this question, "Who is wellness for?"—also the title of Fariha's soon-to-be-released book. Fariha shines light on the “wellness industrial complex” and how consumerism and capitalism have disconnected us from what it truly means for us to be well. They als...

What if you’d been taught about sensuality as a child? How different would your relationship to your body and sex be today? In this one, Ev’Yan speaks to sexologist and comprehensive sex educator, Goody Howard, about the importance of sex education, one that includes sensuality, body literacy, and human variance equity during a time when all of those things are being threatened. They also answer some listener questions about healin...

Sensuality is not just for women and femmes. Men and masc folks are sensual too. In this one, Ev'Yan speaks with artist, writer, and dancer Maceo Paisley about the many things that keep men from accessing and embracing their sensual selves. They also talk about using dance as a way to connect to the body; how Maceo defines sensuality for himself; the pain and pleasure binary; and how to encourage your partner/loved one to access hi...

A deeper dive into the ace experience with asexual activist + educator, Yasmin Benoit. In this one, Ev’Yan speaks to Yasmin about her work as an asexual educator and experience as a Black ace person. Yasmin talks about the racism she faces within majority white asexual spaces. She also unpacks what acephobia is and offers advice to those who are nervous about coming out as Ace because of the abuse they’ll face. And a sweet moment d...

How do feed your erotic imagination, especially when we’re living in such unsensual times? In this one, Ev’Yan’s in the studio solo to give some tips and tell some stories about how to nourish the sexual part of your sensuality. Ev’Yan talks about visual porn (and why they stopped watching it), their quest to "up their sexual context", and how she’s using audio erotica to help remind herself that she is a sexual being—even when the...

How do you balance your sensual self with being a parent? And what would you teach your kids about sensuality and sexual agency? In this one, Ev'Yan speaks with sexologist and educator, Shan Boodram, about what it's like for her to maintain her sensuality/sexuality as she is a parent for the first time. Shan talks about all the things she hopes to teach her kid from a sex education lens, what it looks like to dismantle old narrativ...

Ev'Yan's in a reflective mood as the year comes to a close and in this surprise bonus episode, she sits down to process some of the highs, the lows, the feelings, and the pleasures they experienced in 2021.

How do you reclaim your sensuality? Ev’Yan and a few special guests answer this and other body-minded questions during a live event that happened a few weeks back called “Reclaim Your Sensual Self”. During this event, Ev’Yan was in conversation with Brianne Patrice, Jimanekia Eborn, and Shadeen Francis, and they each speak about their unique and personal experiences of connecting to themselves, what sensuality means and looks like ...

It’s finally here! Ev’Yan’s guided journal, Sensual Self, is out in stores today and to celebrate, they get interviewed by their partner, Jonathan, about their sensuality. Ev’Yan talks about her journey of sensual awareness, the mundane chores she transforms into sensual practices, and how she stays in union with herself. Also in this episode: men's sensuality, creating intentions for your sensual self, and connecting to your pleas...

What assumptions do you make about your gender? In this one, Ev’Yan speaks to Dayna Lynn Nuckolls (The People’s Oracle) about what it looks like to decolonize gender and why we probably need to decolonize ours. They both speak about the binary and how harmful our gendered ideas of masculinity and femininity are, how language and labels flatten us, and the ways indigenous cultures have viewed gender and gender roles. Dayna also expl...

Are you breathing? What happens when you bring intention to your breathing? It becomes a tool of liberation and healing. In this episode, Ev’Yan speaks with Siedeh Foxie—breathwork facilitator and intuitive guide—about the simple power of the breath and how to breathe in ways to connect you to your sensual body. Siedeh goes into depth about what breathwork is, its roots in indigenous healing, and how you can use breathwork to conne...

Prioritizing our pleasure to heal and liberate our ancestors. In this one, Ev’Yan speaks with Juju Bae—a medium and Hoodoo practitioner—about intergenerational pleasure and what it looks like to honor the pleasure practices of our ancestors. Juju talks about the audacity of Black joy, ancestral reverence, sex magic, and cultivating your intuition as a sixth sense. Ev’Yan also shares a practice to help you tune into the ancestral wi...

Oh hi! Ev'Yan's in your feed today to drop some quick + exciting announcements—on the theme of sensuality, of course.