The BDSM Test w/ Midori & Joe Zarate-Sanderlin - Ep 192

“The BDSM Test” is infamous in the kink community and beyond. Since 2014, thousands have proudly posted results like a badge of honor on FetLife profiles. We use it as a roadmap, educational tool, and kink negotiation starter. It’s even gone vanilla as the focus of social media challenges and pop magazine writeups.

But is this kink subculture phenomenon all it's cracked up to be? While some find it helpful & validating, many say it’s othering, stigmatizing, and normalizes red-flag behavior disguised as “kink.”

Midori & kinky therapist Joe Zarate-Sanderlin join us on ep 192 to deconstruct the BDSM test question by question + explore its wider impact. Why don't we scrutinize it the same way vet other educational sources? Who wrote this kink test, why, and what are they using the massive amount of data they’re collecting about our deviant desires for? Turns out, it’s a bit of a mystery...

Midori Bio

“Your Fairy God-Auntie of Kink. Exploding Expectations. Challenging Conventions.”

Trailblazing educator, sexologist, artist, and irritant to banality, Midori founded Rope Dojo and ForteFemme: Women’s Dominance Intensive. She penned the first English instruction book on Shibari, “Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” in 2001, paving the way for the popularity of rope. Dan Savage calls her the “Super Nova of Kink,” while others affectionately call her Auntie Midori for her cool, tell-it-like-it-is, funny, reality-based teaching. She is also the author of “Wild Side Sex,” “Master Han’s Daughter,” and “Silk Threads.”

Education, Coaching, Private Learning & Art: https://planetmidori.com. Special membership perks! Learn, laugh, and enjoy her special online classes, events, and art at www.patreon.com/PlanetMidori where she is working on her next shibari book!

Joe Zarate-Sanderlin Bio

"Joe Zarate-Sanderlin, an Assigned Male at Birth non-binary person (pronouns: they/them/theirs), came of age in the New York City kink scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s and they have connections in the Boston and San Francisco kink communities. They are a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in San Francisco where they specialize in working with gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity. They teach several courses at Golden Gate University and were recognized as an Outstanding Adjunct Professor for 2022. They provide training and consultation regarding Talking to Clients about Sex, Gender in Psychotherapy, Open Relationships, BDSM Relationships, and other topics. In addition to private practice, their clinical experience includes being supervised by Dossie Easton for two and half years plus volunteering at a Catholic school for three years, a continuation high school for one year, and at a low-fee clinic for four years. They worked for the Burning Man Emergency Services Department for ten years, both in the Nevada desert and in the streets of San Francisco. In their spare time, they ski, coach and referee soccer, brew kombucha, dance to 80s music, and parent elementary-aged old twins."

Episode 192 Links

• Midori Twitter https://twitter.com/PlanetMidori
• Midori Instagram https://www.instagram.com/planetmidori/
• Midori Newsletter https://www.fhp-inc.com/newsletter
• Midori class/event calendar http://www.FHP-Inc.com/classes
• Midori’s Patreon https://www.patreon.com/PlanetMidori/
• Joe Zarate-Sanderlin Twitter https://twitter.com/jzsmft
• Joe Zarate-Sanderlin Website http://www.jzsmft.com/
• Joe Zarate-Sanderlin Email: [email protected]
• Joe Zarate-Sanderlin GGU Presents: Empathic Communication https://tinyurl.com/GGU-Empathy
• Joe Zarate-Sanderlin Gender Inclusive Language https://tinyurl.com/GGU-Gender
• Joe Zarate-Sanderlin Rebel Therapist: Express Yourself https://rebeltherapist.me/podcast/93
• The BDSM Test http://BDSMTest.org
• @FocusedOnInfinity “Welcome to America” https://www.tiktok.com/@focusedoninfinity/video/7113012283181190442?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=6901962179530294789
• @MargaretCho “Don’t Be Scared”