In This Body

Understanding the Barriers to Desire and Reconnecting with Pleasure with Dr. Kate Balestrieri

• Ailey Jolie • Season 2 • Episode 34

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Join Ailey Jolie and Dr. Kate Balestrieri, a clinical psychologist, certified sex therapist, and author, on this episode of In This Body. The conversation explores how systemic oppression—particularly patriarchy—shapes our relationships with gender, sexuality, and embodiment. Dr. Balestrieri unpacks the misconceptions around patriarchy, the impact of gender essentialism, and how masculinity can become a prison, disconnecting men from their emotional world. Ailey and Dr. Balestrieri discuss how trauma influences sexuality, why pleasure is a form of power, and the barriers that prevent individuals from viewing sex as a practice of play rather than a currency of worth. The episode also highlights the importance of reclaiming agency within cultural narratives that shape our desires, bodies, and relationships. We hope you enjoy the episode.

In this episode:

  • 00:00 Introduction to Embodiment and Connection
  • 01:00 Exploring Trauma, Sexuality, and Relational Healing
  • 06:18 The Impact of Patriarchy on Relationships
  • 11:04 The Suppression of Emotions in Men
  • 18:44 Gender-Based Violence and Masculinity
  • 23:06 Sexuality as a Playground for Healing
  • 26:27 Unlearning Shame and Embracing Play
  • 30:16 The Madonna-Whore Complex and Its Impact
  • 36:06 Insights from What Happened to My Sex Life?
  • 41:30 Sexuality as Currency and Power

You can read the show transcript here.

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