Pleasure Mechanics

The Pleasures Of Play

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Play is an essential part of the human experience – yet many of us adults have lost touch with how to play, in and out of the bedroom.

In this episode, we explore how and why humans play, and how we can all get more playful with ourselves, each other and the world around us.

We explore the many ways humans play – from the simple yet essential attunement play of eye gazing to creating elaborate realms of fantasy with our boundless imaginations. We talk about object play, body and movement play, and storytelling and how we can engage with The Practices of Play in every realm of our life.

Join our free online course to get started with our foundational practices of pleasure, joy and connection.

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Ready to Play?

More Resources To Inspire Play

“Play is the infinite testing ground for creativity.” ~ Esther Perel

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.” ~ Neil Gaiman

“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” ~ Alan Watts

“Rest until you feel like playing, then play until you feel like resting, period. Never do anything else.” ~ Martha Beck

Play, Stress, and the Learning Brain

Play Science – The Patterns of Play

In Graphic Detail: Interview with Meg-John Barker

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“How free are we to determine how we experience and express our sexuality?

How much is this determined by the structures around us?”

These are just two of the very big questions and ideas we encounter as part of the adventure in Meg-John Barker and illustrator Jules Scheer’s Sexuality: A Graphic Guide

All images are from Sexuality: A Graphic Guide used by permission.

In this episode we are in conversation with author Meg-John Barker about their new book Sexuality: A Graphic Guide. The latest in the Introducing Series from Icon books, Sexuality offers an illustrated adventure through the cultural ideas and frameworks that shape how we experience sexuality – and offers visionary ideas for a future where we are all more free.

As you explore these resources, be in touch with us and let us know what you want to hear more about on future episodes of Speaking Of Sex with The Pleasure Mechanics

Ready to explore more pleasure, joy and connection? Get started for free now at PleasureMechanics.com/free

Explore our online courses and dive deeper with us at PleasureMechanics.com/love

You can submit a question to be answered on the show by clicking here and leaving a voice message!

More from Meg-John Barker:

Porn

Since the earliest of cave paintings, humans have used the creative technologies available to us to depict erotic acts, turn one another on and document this part of our lives.

Yet we are the first humans to be living in a culture with easy, 24/7 access to porn of all kinds, for free, with just a few clicks away. How does this abundant, easy access to visual stimulation and fantasy impact our everyday erotic lives? That story is still being written!

Porn can be a fun, stimulating, creative part of our erotic lives. Or, it can be a draining distraction or compulsive form of self-harm. How do we navigate towards a pleasurable, healthy relationship with porn?

Here are a few resources to explore. If you have questions, join our newsletter so we can be in direct email touch and then let us know what is on your mind. Cheers

Jiz Lee‘s book: Ethical Porn Starts When We Pay For It

Bellesa.com – our HIGHEST recommendation for a membership that unlocks beautiful, intelligent, joyful videos and more (affiliate link)

Crash Pad Series – queer, reverent, inclusive indie porn

Squirm Magazine

SQUIRM magazine is the campus magazine Chris (founder of PleasureMechanics.com) started with friends and lovers their freshman year at Vassar in 1999.

Squirm was Chris’ primary project for four years and became more than a publication – it became a communal experiment in culture making. A year-round calendar of events and fundraisers funded the first editions of the magazine and established the group as a fully funded campus organization. As a group of students from across campus cultures, we asked ourselves: how could we co-create a realm where we were all free to express, to grow, to explore?

Squirm received national media attention in the early years, especially when Harvard students announced a new magazine, H-Bomb, based on the SQUIRM model. SQUIRM went on to inspire magazines at dozens of other colleges, and now 20 years later Vassar students continue to generate a more pleasure-positive campus through community, events and publications.

Here is a collection of Squirm memorabilia from Chris’ archives:

My first week of college I enjoyed my first dose of smut. The source? Squirm: The Art of Campus Sex, Vassar’s erotic magazine, which is replete with salacious prose, poetry, and photography created by and for the student body.

Squirm started four years ago when a group of Vassar students decided to create “a project that would start dialogue [and] act as a forum for queer/sex-positive ideas,” says editor Chrys Fawley. In These Times article about Squirm Magazine

How To Uplevel Your Solo Sex Life

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Bored of masturbation? Stuck in a rut? Uninspired? Here’s how to uplevel your solo sex life and become a better lover for yourself! This episode explores everything from unpacking your attitudes and beliefs about masturbation to getting out of childhood patterns, from exploring new positions and toys to how to bring more intention and emotion to your solo sex life.

For more on solo sex and getting more creative with your masturbation, check out our curated resources here: PleasureMechanics.com/masturbation

Get equipped with all the pleasure tools and toys you need from our friends at SheVibe (affiliate link)

Explore Mindful Solo Sex, including erotic breathwork, by joining our Mindful Sex online course (discount included, email for further financial support if needed!)