In this powerful episode, relationship and sex therapist Shadeen Francis joins us to explore what it means to seek joy, thrive with purpose, and live our intimacy with authenticity, especially when our stories include illness, trauma, or difference. Healthy sexuality isn’t just about technique orperformance, it’s also about emotional intelligence: the self-awareness, empathy, communication, boundaries, and values alignment that allow our desire to be both honest and healing.

Together, we unpack how reframing our experiences can turnthe test into a testimony. Shadeen offers practical ways to move from shame to self-trust, from silence to language, and from survival to thriving. We discuss consent as a practice of care, boundaries as an expression of self-respect, and how pleasure can be a compass for holistic well-being.

Shadeen Francis is a licensed marriage and family therapist and recognized relationship and sex therapist, educator, and speaker. Her work focuses on intimacy, emotional wellness, and liberation, with a reputation for making conversations about sexuality accessible, compassionate, and stigma-free.

She teaches and consults with organizations, leads workshops and keynotes on healthy relationships and sexual wellness, and has been featured across national media for her expertise.

Shadeen is also a speaker, advocate, and author known for groundbreaking work at the intersection of social justice, sexuality, and optimal health. You’ve seen her on ABC, NBC, CBS, Jameela Jamil’s “Dear Shadeen,” and collaborating with NBA All-Stars, Playboy, Bumble, and more. To learn more about Shadeen and her amazing work, we encourage you to visit her website and follow her for more inspiration and powerful insights.

Website: https://www.shadeenfrancis.com

Socials: @shadeenfrancis