Shadeen Francis helps people get clear on what they actually want. In this episode, she shares how to reconnect with your desire, why play matters to our nervous system and capacity for pleasure, and what might be getting in the way of knowing what you want.
Shadeen Francis is a licensed psychotherapist, certified sex therapist, and cultural strategist who helps people understand their desires, deepen their relationships, and create more space for peace and pleasure. She’s also the president of AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists), and she brings a deeply embodied approach to the question at the heart of this episode: What do you actually want?
This week on Come Talk with Aimee, we’re getting into the science and psychology of desire, why “I don’t know what I want” may be more complicated than it sounds, and how play can help expand our capacity for pleasure. Shadeen also walks us through her Desire Style Quiz, a tool for exploring the different ways we experience and express desire.
We talk about:
What it means to say “desire is embodied wanting”
Why your relationship to desire affects every connection you have
Shadeen’s Desire Style Quiz and what it can reveal about how we experience desire in the current moment
The story arc of desire: who, what, where, when, why, and how
How AI is impacting our relational skills, connection, and desire
Why it can be especially difficult for moms and people of color to name their own desires
How play connects to our nervous system and our capacity for pleasure
The role of vulnerability in experiencing desire
Why orgasm is all about surrendering
If you've ever felt disconnected from your desires, wondered why "fun" feels so hard, or wanted to bring more play into your life and your pleasure, this episode is your invitation to start exploring.
Take Shadeen’s Desire Style Quiz: https://shadeenfrancis.com/quiz
Connect with Shadeen Francis:
https://shadeenfrancis.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadeenfrancis/
https://www.instagram.com/shadeenfrancis
Get Aimee’s Free Workbook: Reclaim Your Pleasure Power: https://cometalkwithaimee.myflodesk.com/claimyourpleasurepod
Join Aimee on Substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/cometalkwithaimee
Stay Connected with Come Talk with Aimee:
Website: https://www.cometalkwithaimee.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cometalkwithaimee
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cometalkwithaimee
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cometalkwithaimee