Sex After with Amy Marcs

Podcast Synopsis:In this heartfelt and powerful conversation, Amy Marcs and Bess Hagans delve into Bess's personal journey through breast cancer, from her diagnosis at 31 and the emotional and physical challenges she faced along the way. Bess opens up about the deep connection between mental and physical health. She talks about sex and intimacy. We delve into the challenge of sexual dysfunction after a cancer diagnosis and how important it is to have open communication with your partner. She talks about the inspiration behind founding Thriving Beyond Breast Cancer, a nonprofit organization that supports young women, 21-40, battling breast cancer. We discuss the urgent need for education and empowerment around breast health for younger generations. The episode also touches on the complexities of breast reconstruction, the lasting impact of treatment, and the ongoing journey of healing and self-discovery after recovery. With compassion and insight, Bess highlights the temporary nature of life’s challenges, and the vital support systems that help individuals and their co-survivors navigate their journeys. This conversation is an enlightening, candid exploration of resilience, empowerment, and the necessity of continued dialogue around these crucial topics.

This week on Sex After, we continue our conversation on purity culture with Mattie Jo Cowsert and are joined by sex educator, Erica Smith. We talk more about the complexities of healing from religious repression and reclaiming sexual autonomy. Mattie Jo and Erica also discuss the importance of community support and finding healing spaces for those recovering from conversion therapy or faith-based trauma.They touch on the ongoing process of deconstructing faith, navigating queer identities, and finding spiritual fulfillment outside of traditional religious frameworks. With humor, empathy, and deep wisdom, Amy, Mattie Jo, and Erica provide hope and guidance for anyone looking to embrace their sexuality at any stage of life, free from shame and societal expectations.You can find Amy on Instagram @Amymarcs or www.amymarcs.comYou can find the show at @SexafterpodcastSex After is produced by @ironskirtproductionsYou can find Erica Smith @Ericasmith.educates or www.purityculturedropout.comYou can find Mattie Jo Cowsert @Mattiejocowsert or www.mattiejocowsert.comYou can find Mattie Jo's book God, Sex and Rich People here.You can also view the trailer for the pilot to God, Sex and Rich People here.

In this episode of Sex After, author and post-purity culture dating expert, Mattie Jo Cowsert shares her journey from growing up in a strict evangelical household in rural Missouri to navigating life in New York City. Mattie opens up about the challenges of purity culture, its impact on her mental health and relationships, and the transformative experiences that shaped her life.The conversation explores the emotional aftermath of early sexual experiences, the importance of self-love, and the need for accurate sexual education. Mattie also discusses how spirituality and faith have evolved for her beyond traditional religious frameworks, offering insights into how others can heal from the effects of purity culture and build healthier, more authentic relationships.Tune in for a candid and inspiring conversation about overcoming societal expectations and embracing personal growth.You can find Amy on Instagram @Amymarcs or www.amymarcs.comYou can find the show at @SexafterpodcastSex After is produced by @ironskirtproductionsYou can find Mattie Jo Cowsert @Mattiejocowsert or www.mattiejocowsert.comYou can find Mattie Jo's book God, Sex and Rich People here.You can also view the trailer for the pilot to God, Sex and Rich People here.

Eric Nikolaus Kwasnjuk is an actor, filmmaker, and stand-up comedienne. He has appeared in numerous theater productions, film and TV shows. Most recently he was a guest star on FBI on CBS and a co- star on New Amsterdam on NBC. Eric created “Who u Kiddin” the comedy sitcom on South Africa.In this episode we talk about breaking the cycle of shame and the power of standing up and speaking our truth. We talk about the freedom you feel by being open and vocal and saying,” I am a valuable person on this planet – and the conditions that led me to a certain lifestyle are not my fault.”We talk about our darkness and our light.We delve into addiction, numbing our pain by using drugs and alcohol to deal with our trauma.We talk about the pain body and how suppressed feelings can make us sick. We talk about the path to sobriety and rehab.We talk about hope and the power of community. How there are teachers all around us –to remain aware so we don’t miss a gift, because you never know who you are standing next to and how that one person can change your life.We talk about learning how to give and receive love.You can find Eric at @kwasnjuk.You can find Station House Reading Series @detroit_street_filmsYou can find Amy at@amymarcsYou can find the show at @sexafterpodcast

In part two of Sex After Infertility and Grief, we pick up where we left off with Mina talking about blocking trolls on social media. From there, we explore how trauma resides in the body and the body and brain connection. We discuss the importance of health and fitness and how working out is key to our mental state.We chat about the different love languages and attachment styles, and how communication is key.We talk about sex before and after having kids, how sex changes with our different life cycles, and how important it is in a relationship to continue these conversations around intimacy. We talk about loss and grief and the importance of sharing our stories.You can find Mina at @mina_starsiak_hawk and Steve at @hawk_fit_.You can find Amy at @amymarcs.You can find the show at @sexafterpodcast.Sex After is produced by @thechrisderosa.

Mina Starsiak Hawk is the star of HGTV’s Good Bones which wrapped its eight-season run this October 2023. Mina has also been seen on HGTV’s Rock the Block and A Very Brady Renovation. She is the co-founder and owner of Two Chicks and a Hammer and hosts the podcast Mina AF. Stephen Hawk is a certified nutrition and fitness expert and the owner and founder of Hawkfit.In this episode, Mina and Steve open up about their struggles with infertility. We talk about listening to our gut and instincts and then taking action. After six months of trying to get pregnant with their second child, Mina knew something was not right. That is when they decided to begin their journey with IVF.Steve opens up about the loss of his mother, father, sister, and best friend – all of which occurred over a very short amount of time. We talk about grief and resilience and how to persevere despite huge personal losses. We talk about pain and how to sit in the discomfort of it all. We talk about how to hold space for others and how important that is. We delve into what to say and what not to say to someone who is grieving. We talk about people's discomfort with silence and how you don't always need to fill things with words. How powerful it can be to be able to sit in the silence and bear witness. This is an incredibly personal and intimate conversation that I feel honored to have been a part of.You can find Mina at @mina_starsiak_hawk and Steve at @hawk_fit_.You can find Mina's Podcast here.You can find Amy at @amymarcs.You can find the show at @sexafterpodcast.Sex After with Amy Marcs is produced by @thechrisderosa.

Rory Uphold is an actress, producer, writer, and comedienne. She is the host of Crimes of the Heart, a love and dating podcast with a true crime twist. Part storytelling and part advice column, Crimes of the Heart helps you navigate dating in the digital age and make you feel less alone in the process. Rory has over 14M+ views on digital shows she’s created and starred in. She has written songs that have played everywhere from Superbowl commercials to critically acclaimed shows like Girls. Rory was one of the inaugural fellows in the Sundance Institute's Episodic Labs and has sold television shows to many of your favorite networks. Rory has given tons of advice on her podcast Crimes of the Heart, and in this episode, we discuss how the plethora of questions she receives and all her interviews have impacted her own dating and love life. We delve into the landscape of dating, the different dating apps, and these apps are like slot machines. We talk about what gets in the way of us having the relationship we desire, and how to rewire the story we are playing in our heads. We delve into how dating and Sex are not the same thing. We chat about how to put yourself out there, how much time you need to invest, and how being a woman over a certain age is not a barrier to meeting someone. Rory truly believes that love is out there for anyone and everyone.You can find Rory at @icouldbeblonder. You can find her show Crimes of the Heart here.You can find Amy at @amymarcs.You can find the show at @sexafterpodcast.Sex After is produced by @thechrisderosa.

Erin Bagwell is a documentary filmmaker and maternal mental health advocate. In 2014 Erin raised over 100k on Kickstarter to fund and produce her first feature-length film Dream, Girl about women entrepreneurs. Dream, Girl premiered at Obama's White House and caught the eye of Oprah. Erin was one of Oprah's Super Soul 100. In 2018 Erin became a mother and started filming “Year One” a documentary that takes an intimate look at the everyday extraordinary moments of being a mom, while also healing from postpartum depression. Erin's story has been featured in Forbes, Ted, Vogue, and The Washington Post. In this episode we delve into postpartum depression, what the warning signs are, and the importance of seeking support and asking for help. How to acknowledge what we are going through so we can move through and heal. We talk about how Erin’s identity changed going from a career woman to a mom, and how identity is a complicated piece of being a mother. We talk about whether our society prepares people enough to become parents, and how American mothers feel like they are completely underwater and exhausted, and discuss how hard it can be to be honest with friends and family when you feel that you are failing at motherhood.We talk about sexual intimacy and how mothers are being touched out: how after holding a baby or having a baby sucking from your breasts how hard it can be to transition to the act of using the body for pleasure. We discuss the importance of giving ourselves Grace and chat about the lessons we learn from nature and the lessons Erin learns from her garden.You can find Erin at @erinbagwell, and you can find her films Dream, Girl here and Year One here.If you feel you may be experiencing Postpartum Depression or Suicidal Ideation, Erin has a list of resources here.You can find Amy at @amymarcs.You can find the show at @sexafterpodcast.Sex After is produced by @thechrisderosa.