Stigma Shakers
Ally Hensley
Stigma Shakers: A podcast that is all about shaking and breaking up taboo into digestible chunks, which we like to call our social smoothie!
Welcome to Stigma Shakers podcast. I am your host, Ally Hensley, author, speaker, and stigma shaker of the best kind. This podcast is all about shaking and breaking up taboo into digestible chunks, which we like to call our social smoothie. In this podcast, I ask the difficult questions that can be hard to digest - because everyone deserves a little balance in their mental health diet.
And let’s face it folks, the only thing normal in this world is difference.
My question to you: can we make truth the next biggest trend?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Top 10 Stigma Shakers Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Stigma Shakers episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Stigma Shakers for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Stigma Shakers episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
04/30/24 • 33 min
Samuel Hunter, from Sydney Australia, has been working as a sex worker for the last four years. While admitting he's held dozens of different jobs, including working as a chef, working for a sex shop and writing blogs for a brothel, his interest in sex work began when he heard about a charity called Touching Base, that put people with disability in touch with sex workers. Now one of Australia’s most high-profile male sex workers, Samuel sees women from all walks of life, generally aged 50+, with some in their thirties and twenties on occasion. As a mature gent, both charming and cheeky in equal measure, Sam is generally booked out for three months, but with some dates booked out twice as long as that. He is passionate in all facets of his life, including creative outlets such as writing, volunteer work and of course, in the arms of his clients. Surviving a near fatal motorcycle accident to lead him into this work, Samuel has been interviewed for SBS, Body & Soul magazine, the Kyle and Jackie O Show, among others, to talk about the ins and outs of his profession.
Description:
In this honest and provocative episode, Stigma Shakers speaks to Samuel Hunter, a male sex worker, who shares his experiences and insights into the sex industry. In this candid chat, Ally and Samuel discuss the stigma surrounding male sex work and how it differs from the stigma faced by female sex workers. Samuel also opens up about his personal journey into sex work, including the impact of a life-changing bike accident that triggered the desire for change! Throughout this conversation, Samuel highlights the importance of creating a safe and trusting environment for his clients, where not only are the needs and boundaries of his clients respected, but his in the process, too ! In addition to being one of Australia’s most high profile male escorts, Samuel is a passionate Author on a mission to debunk the taboos around sexual pleasure and disability. This episode digs deep, and flips sex work on it’s head... in all the best ways possible!
Topics:
In this episode, Ally and Samuel discuss:
- The three C's of sex work: conversation, cuddles and cunnilingus... or is it?
- How to access equal rights for pleasure and disability
- Do male sex workers face different stigmas compared to female sex workers?
- The reasons behind a career change, to offer sexual pleasure, intimacy and connection for a fee
- The importance of boundaries both in and outside of the bedroom
- The myths behind the life of a male escort
- The stigma (and dilemma!) about paying for sex
Follow:
You can find Samuel via IG: @samuel_hunter_sydney , Samuel's Only Fans account here, Samuel’s website here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04/01/24 • 50 min
Kate Moyle is a Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist, Certified Psycho-Sexologist, host of The Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast and author of The Science Of Sex. In her psychotherapy practice she works with people to help them understand the challenges and difficulties that they are having in their sex lives and relationships, what's maintaining them and how they can get to a place of improved sexual wellbeing. She is a regular media contributor and expert on the topic of sexual wellbeing, and has been a guest on podcasts such as Diary Of A CEO hosted by Simon Barlett, Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum, Happy Baby, Grace Beverley's Working Hard, Hardly working and A Millennial Mind. She also consults for brands in the sexual wellness space and has worked with brands such as Headspace, This Works and Boots to launch products and ranges, and is UK expert for world-leading luxury pleasure brand Lelo.
Description:
Oh yes... sex and life is a complex duo! In this candid conversation, Ally and Kate discuss the importance of taking “sex talk” outside of the bedroom, leading to happier and healthier relationships. In this stigma shaking exposé, Ally and Kate Moyle discuss various aspects of sexual stigmas and how, when it comes to sex, society continues to raise its eyebrows in less than helpful ways. To normalise sex means to talk about sex, and the impact that sexual well-being has on our mental health. The topic of sex remains hugely taboo, with societal judgements sustaining unnecessary shame. Together, Ally and Kate tackle online censorship, the orgasm gap (including faking faux pas), the knock-on effect of stigma on women’s health, sex and disability, how sex is a skill that can be learned, and how everyone can be part of the hard conversations. This liberating episode exposes the sex topics unturned and most importantly, why sex is not a dirty word.
Topics:
In this episode, Ally and Kate discuss:
- The struggles we have with sex and communication
- The word ‘Vagina’ and the ongoing “ick” factor?
- How to introduce sexual boundaries
- How to talk about sex outside of the bedroom
- Why sex is not a numbers game
- How to kick-start a stagnant sex life
- How to discover satisfaction, pleasure, and adaptability in a relationship
- Online censorship of sexual content
- The moral dilemmas when it comes to solo-play and porn
- The ordeals behind the orgasm gap
- Why sex is nothing like the movies!
Follow Kate:
Kate Moyle Image Credit: © copyright Matt Writtle
Instagram: @KateMoyleTherapy
Book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-science-of-sex/kate-moyle/9780241593295
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sexual-wellness-sessions/id1527311547
Website: www.katemoyle.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12/22/24 • 56 min
Nicky Elkington is a hairdresser, Kylie Minogue fan since she was 7 years old, cat enthusiast, cancer survivor, and a cold-cap ambassador. When Nicky was 15 years old, her world was turned upside down when her mum died suddenly. In March 2019 just a few short weeks after her 40th Birthday, Nicky was diagnosed with breast cancer and began aggressive treatment. Then, on the 27th December 2019 her husband unexpectedly and suddenly died. And most recently, she’s had to grieve her dad’s death. She has faced unimaginable loss but has come out stronger on the other side. Nicky has been cancer-free for five years. Refusing to be defined by grief, she’s carved out a new life for herself, unapologetically embracing hope and the possibility of love again. Nicky’s story is one of resilience, joy, and living life on her own terms.
Description
Talking about grief is one of the hardest topics to untangle. When you’ve lost someone you love, the festive holidays can seem far from the happiest time of the year. And grief at Christmas can feel particularly hard. From making new traditions to simply surviving in one piece, there is no wrong or right way to grieve. However, by learning a softer yet realistic way to tackle grief with a friend, relative, loved one or colleague, we can make this time of year less lonely, isolating and let's be honest... awkward. By understanding the less than helpful platitudes and learning what to text a person during the ‘happy holidays’, we can invite grief into the conversation lovingly versus leaving it outside in the cold. And if you find yourself holding onto so much love that has nowhere to go, let hope be your gift this Christmas. In this honest, uplifting, and to-the-point season finale, listen in as Nicky and Ally talk about grief, a different way.
In this episode, Nicky and Ally discuss:
- How to cope with grief at Christmas
- Why stigma around death and grief needs to end
- How to juggle a happy holiday with a broken heart
- The less than peaceful platitudes
- The differences between anticipatory and sudden loss
- How to lean into loneliness at Christmas
- When grief becomes a familiar feeling
- Widow, single or neither: What is the perfect label for the grievers?
If you love this episode, please share and leave a review — let’s smoke out stigma and make truth-telling the next biggest trend.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05/29/24 • 56 min
Kenny Ethan Jones is a writer and activist that is widely recognised for making history by being the first trans man to front a period campaign. Since then he's gone on to campaign about menstruation, body politics, mental health and intimacy. He engages in open, honest and respectful conversations about all things trans in hopes of tackling misinformation and creating allies. His debut novel Dear Cisgender People: A Guide to Trans Allyship and Empathy is due for release in June 2024.
Episode Description
In this profoundly important and moving episode, Kenny and Ally discuss the struggles and discrimination faced by the transgender community, including hate crimes and the trans community being used as “scapegoats” within media. Kenny shares his personal journey of realising he was transgender and the difficulties he faced in an all-girls school. Undoubtedly, the transgender community remains at the forefront of conversations, and yet, their experiences are often grossly misunderstood and discriminative. With his upcoming autobiography release, 'Dear Cisgender People’, hitting the bookshelves in June 2024, Kenny offers a brief and exclusive reading from the introduction of his literary masterpiece, leaving host Ally in “happy and proud” floods of tears.
In this episode, Kenny and Ally discuss:
- The role of a transgender activist
- What does transgender really mean?
- How the transgender community faces discrimination and hate daily
- Why transgender individuals should be believed and supported in their identity.
- How gender dysphoria is a deep-felt knowing
- Why we need to address transgender people in sport, sooner rather than later
- The misconceptions about puberty-blockers
- How mainstream media portrays the transgender community
Follow:
You can find Kenny Ethan Jones via IG: @kennyethanjones
Order your copy of Kenny's Autobiography, 'Dear Cisgender People', here.
If you love this episode, please share and leave a review — let’s smoke out stigma and make truth-telling the next biggest trend.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05/22/24 • 52 min
Lauren Josephine is long-time dater, turned dating and relationships author. After going on over 200 dates throughout her 20s and 30s, she felt called to write about and normalise all of the struggles modern daters deal with today, especially when using dating apps. She recently published her first book called ‘Looking for Something Serious', in which she uses her 10-year dating journey to discuss the many pitfalls of dating today, like ghosting, situationships, repeated rejection, and losing hope in dating altogether. Lauren is passionate about sharing practical, optimistic dating advice to help single people build the confidence, patience, and hope they need to not give up on finding love. She is 34 and lives in San Francisco with her fiancé (who she met on Reddit in 2022!) and her dog Winnie.
Episode Description:
In this “rom-com meets reality-check convo", Lauren and Ally discuss various aspects of dating, including online dating, the romantic personas people take on, and the challenges of modern dating. Let’s be honest, navigating dating apps is no easy feat! In this candid and light-hearted chat, Lauren shares the importance of taking responsibility for dating patterns, and the liminal timeline of grief, post breakup. Importantly, Lauren emphasises the need to give yourself permission to feel and normalise the emotions that come with dating dilemmas and relationships, and how there is no ‘one-size-fits-all' method when it comes to matters of the heart In our modern day world, we have access to “instant everything”, however a scarcity mindset and impulsive swiping is not a “fix” for the faint-hearted. So, most importantly, Lauren and Ally question, “can love be found beyond the digital landscape?”
We’ll let you decide!
In this episode, Lauren and Ally discuss:
- Why situationships rarely end well and... how to avoid them!
- Singledom: Dating app fails or liberation at last?
- The “guy” who forgot he dated you... #truestory
- Dating app sagas; the good, the bad, and the down-right cringe!
- Swipe right, swipe left; the “easy come-easy go” mindset, that is taking the dating world by storm!
- How to tackle past insecurities in present day dating, and the communication techniques to make the shift
- Why normalising emotional experiences in dating is a game-changer in love
- Red flags, boundaries and “BS” bravado: How to detoxify the dating game
Follow Lauren:
You can find Lauren Josephine via IG: @lookingforsomethingserious
Purchase Lauren Josephine’s book, ‘Looking for Something Serious: Stories, Laughs, and Lessons from a Decade of Online Dating’ here!
If you love this episode, please share and leave a review — let’s smoke out stigma and make truth-telling the next biggest trend.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08/29/23 • 43 min
Nikki Parkinson is a separation strategist, family law expert, mother of three, and unmarried. Once upon a time, Nikki spent her 9-5 working in the corporate world of Family Law, ticking boxes and filing court orders. Then her marriage ended, and she found herself standing in the shoes of her clients — anxious, alone and lost despite all of her experience. She's lived through the difficulties of separation — both her own and her clients. Now, her goal is to take the fear-factor out of divorce and separation, reduce the shame, start important conversations around the practicalities of ending a relationship and take the mess out of messy.
Description:
After a decade working in the Family Law System — and experiencing her own divorce from the father of her daughter – she saw a gap in the system: divorce no longer has a stigma, but we are telling women to ‘be brave and seize the day’ without the holistic support they need to have an empowered separation. In this informed and heartfelt episode, Nikki shares what she has learnt from supporting women through divorce and separation, how stigma continues to riddle two broken hearts, and why single shaming (even from your dearest Nan) can be replaced with “Congratulations on your divorce!”
Topics:
In this episode, Ally and Nikki discuss:
- How we marry as a community but divorce alone
- Why marriage isn’t a failure but proof of love, lessons, and learnings
- Divorcing and dinner parties, and why divorcees are mistaken as a threat between main course and dessert
- The damage of divorce and why couples feel the shame of an ending
- The ways and days to healthy separation, away from the courts
- Single-shaming and what “not” to say to a happy singleton!
Follow:
You can find Nikki on Instagram @thedivorcehub, via her website www.divorceandseparationhub.com and The Divorce and Separation Podcast.
If you love this episode, please share and leave a review — let’s smoke out stigma and make truth-telling the next biggest trend!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08/13/23 • 55 min
Sean Saifa Wall (he/him/his) is a Black queer intersex activist and rising scholar. Born and raised in the Bronx, Saifa attended Williams College and has since lived and worked in New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, he is a Marie Skolowdska-Curie fellow at the University of Huddersfield in England examining the erasure of intersex people from social policy in Ireland and England. As an activist, Saifa is committed to racial equity and a radical vision of bodily autonomy for people with intersex variations. He is co-founder of the Intersex Justice Project whose #EndIntersexSurgery campaign pressured Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago to become the first children’s hospital in the United States to denounce and further investigate genital surgeries on Intersex infants. Above all else, Saifa is determined to end harmful and invasive genital surgery on intersex children and advocate for affirming healthcare for all people with intersex variations.
About this episode:
Sean Saifa Wall was diagnosed with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, subjected to a gonadectomy at age 13, and necessitating lifelong hormone replacement therapy. As a teenager, Sean Saifa Wall was told that he was to live as a “girl”, however, conformity wasn’t something Saifa or his mother would allow. Now a thirty-year old man, Saifa explains the devastating surgeries performed on babies and young people to medically assign and “correct” people born with an intersex variation. With global recognition as an Intersex activist, Saifa explains why different bodies are beautiful bodies, how we can safely hold the conversations that matter, and why stigma needs to end with “assuming gender”.
In this episode, Ally and Saifa discuss:
- Understanding intersex physically, emotionally, mentally and societally?
- Breaking down body parts and the differences we know
- Is it OK to ask about a person’s genitalia?
- What is social etiquette when your body doesn’t have a drop-down menu?
- Tackling the taboo about bodies: fixed, broken, or perfect?
- Talking pronouns and how they’ve evolved
You can find Saifa on Instagram @saifaemerges @intersexjusticproject
If you love this episode, please share and leave a review — let’s smoke out stigma and make truth-telling the next biggest trend!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08/06/23 • 34 min
Amanda Goff is a bestselling author, journalist, and former escort under the alter ego name of Samantha X. Amanda started her career as a tabloid journalist in her hometown of London before moving to Sydney in 2000, where she worked in TV and magazines. Then at 37, after two kids and separation, Amanda completely changed her life.
After walking out of her nine-to-five job. Amanda became Australia’s most high-profile escort Samantha X. Since then, Amanda has written two best-selling books and was the focus of constant media attention, gaining fans and critics worldwide. Deciding to leave the escort business, Amanda now lives life unapologetically, despite facing global judgement and stigma. Now, Amanda continues to inspire women to lead the life they want without explanation. And most of all, Amanda encourages vulnerability, so that all people can be their unique and original stigma-free selves.
Description:
Amanda Goff was once Australia’s highest paid escort. Talking about the sex industry can be societally jarring. Those who opt for a career “selling sex” are often frowned upon, but why? In this episode, Amanda Goff shares the sides of the industry we rarely understand, how the sex industry is more intimate than we've been led to believe, and why as a society, we need to start talking about sex and shame.
Topics:
In this episode, Ally and Amanda discuss:
- How society views the sex work industry
- The art of sexual disconnection
- Is being an escort just about sex?
- The relationship between sex and shame
- Debunking the myths around selling sex for money
Follow:
You can find Amanda on Instagram @amandagoffofficial, via her website www.amandagoff.com.au and her podcast Xposed with Samantha X
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
At What Point Do You Question Your Own Mortality?: The Stigma of Too Young to Die with Lucy Younger
Stigma Shakers
04/16/24 • 45 min
Lucy Younger is a 23-year-old young women’s health advocate and writer. After finishing her second year of university, she was diagnosed with a rare low grade brain tumour which required a craniotomy to treat. Post surgery and recovery, Lucy went on to graduate with an English degree, phenomenally followed by a Master's Degree, however similarly to her undergraduate experience, she was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer at the end of her master’s, which led her to start her blog and page “Living low grade”. This traumatic experience inspired Lucy to create an uplifting blog to raise awareness about low grade tumours, and cancer for young people who have just started their lives and courageously, learning to live with low grade tumours and a cancer diagnosis. As an admired social media advocate and influencer, Lucy’s TikToks have been featured in the New York post. These posts exist so that other young people in a similar position to Lucy, can watch and follow her journey. Now, Lucy raises awareness and advocates for both the Brain Tumour Charity and The British Thyroid Foundation along with writing a blog that has featured in regional newspapers to raise awareness for misdiagnosis of low-grade tumours of young people.
Description:
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is possibly one of the hardest and most confronting realities a person can face. Cancer remains devastatingly unbiased of who it targets, disrupting the lives of those diagnosed and the people around them. Tragically, the conversations around cancer and mortality are heavily weighted in fear and palpable overwhelm, altering the trajectory of a person’s life in a single heartbeat. One of the most confronting topics we face as a society and individually, is death. Yet, there is a marker when it comes to mortality; illness, age, and well... illness and age. There is a confronting stigma surrounding young people and death and a reluctance in talking about it. While some may look upon death as a natural stage of life, others may find the prospect of dying too terrifying to contemplate. So perhaps, let’s soften into the hard conversations and do mortality, meaning, and death differently.
In this episode, Ally and Lucy discuss:
- How we can best listen, learn and support young people with cancer
- Why talking about the value of life, mortality and death are not mutually exclusive
- How life can change in an instant, at any age
- Why death is as relevant a conversation as life is
- How seeking a diagnosis for health issues can be challenging for young people.
- Navigating mortality and an uncertain future
Follow:
You can find Lucy via IG: @Lucy.younger, and livinglowgradee
If you love this episode, please share and leave a review — let’s smoke out stigma and make truth-telling the next biggest trend.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11/25/24 • 51 min
Jennie Girardo is an award-winning director and producer with hundreds of behind-the-scenes, social, and branded content efforts under her belt. She’s created content for Apple TV’s Masters of the Air, Amazon Prime's Mr. And Mrs. Smith, and HBO's Game of Thrones and more. In 2024, Jennie made her narrative directorial debut with short film The Fuscos, which touches on the subject of domestic violence. She hopes that this film will help encourage women to use their voices to rise above the taboo, share their stories, and ultimately put an end to this epidemic. In her free time, you can find Jennie hiking in the mountains of California with her beloved four-legged children, Monte Carlo and Hudson.
Episode Description:
Domestic abuse (sometimes called 'domestic violence' or 'intimate partner violence') is an incident or a pattern of behaviour that is used by someone to control or obtain power over their partner or ex-partner. It is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it, and it is a crime. An equal act of domestic abuse can also be known as emotional abuse, which includes non-physical behaviours that are meant to control, isolate, or frighten you. This may present in romantic relationships as threats, insults, constant monitoring, excessive jealousy, manipulation, humiliation, intimidation, and dismissiveness, among others. Alarmingly, the stats pointing to domestic abuse remine rife and incomprehensible. In this honest, insightful and sensitive chat, together, Jennie and Ally share their personal experiences of domestic abuse and the ways, stages, and courageous steps they took to escape and heal from it.
In this episode, Jennie and Ally discuss:
- The varying forms of domestic abuse
- The links between domestic violence and myths surrounding domestic violence leading to isolating stigmas
- How to spot the red flags of domestic abuse
- Finding the power to speak up and speak out
- Discovering the courage to walk away from domestic abuse
- How the public and judicial system perceive domestic abuse
- The impact of domestic abuse trauma and living a new life
Follow:
For more about Jennie and a portfolio of her work, visit: www.jenniecreates.co
Personal IG: @jenniecreatesco
Monte and Hudson's IG: @monteandhudson
The Fusco's IG: @thefuscosfilm
If you love this episode, please share and leave a review — let’s smoke out stigma and make truth-telling the next biggest trend.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Stigma Shakers have?
Stigma Shakers currently has 17 episodes available.
What topics does Stigma Shakers cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Writer, Society & Culture, Media, Women, Mental Health, Mentalhealth, Podcast, Podcasts and Activist.
What is the most popular episode on Stigma Shakers?
The episode title 'Grief Is Love That Has Nowhere To Go: The Stigma of Death at Christmas' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Stigma Shakers?
The average episode length on Stigma Shakers is 47 minutes.
How often are episodes of Stigma Shakers released?
Episodes of Stigma Shakers are typically released every 14 days, 1 hour.
When was the first episode of Stigma Shakers?
The first episode of Stigma Shakers was released on Jul 30, 2023.
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