Are You Healing from Purity Culture? Purity culture can leave deep emotional scars that impact our understanding of sexuality, relationships, and self-worth. In this powerful episode, sexuality educator Lauren Elise Rogers joins us to explore how individuals can reclaim their sexual identity and find healing through the transformative power of erotic imagination.

Lauren Elise Rogers is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator, Embodied Intimacy & Relationship Coach, and the founder of Sex Ed For You, where she provides clear, compassionate, and comprehensive guidance on intimacy, relationships, and sexual health.

Her holistic and embodied approach to education and coaching is deeply rooted in her own pain-to-purpose journey. She is known for creating shame-free spaces, where she invites individuals and couples to navigate complex topics like: Long-Term Partnerships, Purity Culture Obstacles, Consensual Non-Monogamy, Life Transitions, Mismatched Libido, & LGBTQIA+ issues. Despite growing up in "Purity Culture," where dating and physical intimacy were forbidden, Lauren now proudly centers agency and autonomy in her redemptive love story with her partner.

In this episode, we're discussing:

• Sexual fantasies are a normal and healthy way to explore your desires safely, with women typically placing themselves at the center of their erotic imagination.
• Purity culture creates harmful beliefs that tie personal worth to sexual purity, limiting individual sexual expression and self-understanding.
• Erotic literature can be a powerful tool for sexual healing, allowing individuals to explore fantasies and understand their core erotic themes without judgment.
• Communication with partners about sexual fantasies and desires can strengthen relationships and create deeper intimacy.
• Parents play a crucial role in sex education, and addressing personal sexual shame is essential to providing healthy guidance for children.
• Solo sexual exploration is a valuable journey of self-discovery that can help individuals understand their desires and build sexual confidence.
• The four core erotic themes (longing, prohibition, power dynamics, and overcoming ambivalence) can help people understand their unique sexual preferences.

Your sexual journey is uniquely yours. Start reclaiming your narrative today by exploring literature that speaks to your experiences, and remember: healing is a personal, powerful process of self-discovery and liberation.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN ELISE ROGERS:

Website

Instagram

BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:

Lauren on the Pleasure in the Pause Podcast

The Erotic Mind By Jack Morin (Amazon)

Ep 9 - Asexuality, Aromanticism, and the Spectrum of Identity with Margherita Scialla

Running list of books mentioned (Doc)

Thank you for listening to the We Read Smut Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag @WeReadSmut. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast.

Connect with Alesia:
Storygraph

This podcast was produced by Galati Media.
Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.

In the bookish space, readers tend to incorrectly categorize Black stories. It’s important that we understand the differences between genres and subgenres of Black literature. Join us for an great conversation with Aniya, known as the Well Read Pharmacist, as we break down the nuanced world of urban fiction, urban romance, Black contemporary romance, and urban erotica.

Aniya, also known as The Well Read Pharmacist, is a pharmacist and avid reader from New Orleans, Louisiana. She loves escaping into a good book, especially within the romance and thriller genres!

In this episode, we're discussing:

• Urban Fiction vs. Urban Romance: Learn the critical differences between these often-confused genres
• Discover why not all Black books are "urban" and why that matters
• Explore recommended authors across urban fiction, romance, and erotica subgenres
• Understand the importance of reading diverse Black literature
• Get insider recommendations from a passionate book lover and pharmacist

Expand your reading horizons by exploring these rich, diverse genres. Challenge your assumptions, support Black authors, and dive into stories that represent complex, multifaceted Black experiences.

CONNECT WITH ANIYA:

Instagram

BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:

Instagram Post from The Well Read Pharmacist

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah (Amazon)

Carl Weber (Amazon)

Nikki Clarke (Amazon)

Vickie M. Stringer (Amazon)

The Cartel Series by Ashley and Jaquavis (Amazon)

Murder Mamas by Ashley and Jaquavis (Amazon)

T’Lyn (Amazon)

Shvonne Latrice (Amazon)

To The Only Thug I’ll Ever Love by K.L. Hall (Amazon)

My Little Love by Charae Lewis (Amazon)

When a Gangsta Calls by Lex C. (Amazon)

Alexandria House (Episode | Amazon)

Alex Warren (Amazon)

Christina C. Jones (Amazon)

Marlee Rae (Amazon)

Bailey West (Amazon)

Tiye Love (Amazon)

Dria Andersen (Amazon | Episode)

Natavia (Amazon)

Jade Royal (Amazon)

Katrina Jackson (Amazon)

Running list of books mentioned (Doc)

Thank you for listening to the We Read Smut Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag @WeReadSmut. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast.

Connect with Alesia:
Storygraph

This podcast was produced by Galati Media.
Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.

Why Do We Need to Reclaim the Word "Fat"? In this powerful episode of the podcast, author Leigh Carron opens up about her journey of body positivity, challenging societal norms, and writing romance novels that celebrate bodies of all sizes. Through her personal experiences and literary work, Carron demonstrates how language can be transformed from a weapon of shame to a tool of empowerment.

Leigh Carron writes diverse, body-positive romance that brings the heat and the heart—because love and sexiness come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

In this episode, we're discussing:

• The evolution of body positivity in literature and media
• Challenging harmful stereotypes about body size
• Reframing the word "fat" as a neutral descriptor
• The importance of self-acceptance and challenging internalized negative thoughts
• Representation matters: Creating diverse characters in romance novels

Remember, your worth is not determined by your size – you are beautiful, powerful, and deserving of love exactly as you are.

CONNECT WITH LEIGH CARRON:

Website

Instagram

BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:

Ep 14 with Aimee - Celebrating Plus-Size Love Stories with Curvy Girls Read Romance

Fat Girl (Amazon)

My Curvy Rival (Amazon)

A Naked Beauty (Amazon)

A.H. Cunningham (Amazon)

An Imperfect Truth (Amazon)

Running list of books mentioned (Doc)

Thank you for listening to the We Read Smut Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag @WeReadSmut. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast.

Connect with Alesia:
Storygraph

This podcast was produced by Galati Media.
Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.