Episodes

  • Couple’s Therapist Reveals Secret to Healthy Conflict | Sleeping Around with Michelle Becker

    Couple’s Therapist Reveals Secret to Healthy Conflict | Sleeping Around with Michelle Becker
    May 20 2025
    Why do even the best relationships get stuck in cycles of conflict? FOR THE EXTENDED EPISODE join the Patreon community here ✨: https://www.patreon.com/AlaynaJoy In this episode, Alayna is joined by compassion-focused therapist and educator Michelle Becker to explore what really happens when we're triggered in relationships—and how we can bring more mindfulness, kindness, and connection into the moments that test us most. From the science of the threat-defense system (a.k.a. fight, flight, freeze) to the emotional skills we wish we learned in school, Michelle shares clear, compassionate tools to help you move from reaction to repair. Whether you're struggling to set boundaries, communicate clearly, or just want to argue better, this conversation is for you. And don’t miss Michelle’s unexpected answer to how much conflict is too much—it might just change how you think about your relationship. Buy her book Compassion for Couples: Building the Skills of Loving Connection here: https://wisecompassion.com/compassion-for-couples/ Her Well Connected Relationships podcast explores compassion in various relational contexts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/well-connected-relationships-podcast/id1521963731 Website: https://wisecompassion.com/ Don’t forget to follow the podcast on social media: https://www.instagram.com/sleepingaroundpod and subscribe for more episodes. If you found this episode helpful, please leave a comment and share it with someone who might benefit from our discussion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Dating with Insecure Attachment: From Anxious to Avoidant with Heidi Priebe

    Dating with Insecure Attachment: From Anxious to Avoidant with Heidi Priebe
    May 13 2025
    Ever wonder why you get super anxious—or totally shut down—in relationships? FOR THE EXTENDED EPISODE join the Patreon community here ✨: https://www.patreon.com/AlaynaJoy In this episode, Alayna is joined by writer, speaker, and attachment theory expert Heidi Priebe for a deep dive into the world of attachment styles: what they are, where they come from, and how they quietly (or not so quietly) shape the way we show up in relationship. Together, they break down the basics of attachment theory in a way that’s actually relatable, and explore how to use this knowledge to build more secure, flexible, and connected relationships. Connect with Heidi here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeidiPriebe1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Therapy in the Age of TikTok with Gabriel Ray-Contreras

    Therapy in the Age of TikTok with Gabriel Ray-Contreras
    May 6 2025
    FOR THE EXTENDED EPISODE join the Patreon community here ✨: https://www.patreon.com/AlaynaJoy In this episode, we’re unpacking how therapy has changed in the age of TikTok, and what all the online advice is really doing to our understanding of mental health. Alayna is joined by Gabriel Ray-Contreras, who is a former medical doctor turned counsellor, educator, and podcaster. Together they explore how trauma is talked about, the rise of “Insta-therapy,” and how to know when it’s time to question the advice you’re seeing on your feed. Some questions covered: Is TikTok helping or hurting our understanding of mental health? What’s the difference between a trauma response and a trauma disorder? How do we know if a therapist is the right fit, or potentially doing harm? What does it mean to be a trauma informed counsellor? Listen to Therapy After Hours here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wEjGRb96j4PIfOXBmAcms?si=ecc371cbbf32481c&nd=1&dlsi=d01b73ef81714b01 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • The Masc Shortage Is a Myth—and Other Queer Sexuality Lies with Eva Bloom

    The Masc Shortage Is a Myth—and Other Queer Sexuality Lies with Eva Bloom
    Apr 29 2025
    This week on Sleeping Around Alayna is joined by Eva Bloom, an award-winning non-binary sex educator and queer joy enthusiast. Whether you're just coming into your queerness or exploring intimacy for the first time, this episode is for everyone who’s ever wondered: Where do I even begin? Some Questions Covered: What does it mean to be a “late bloomer”? What often gets missed about pleasure anatomy? How do I build confidence to have real conversations about desire and pleasure? What’s missing from traditional sex education and how do we do it better for queer and trans folks? Why do dating apps fail queer users, and how can we actually find queer community offline? 👀 Extended cut available now on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MissFenderr Eva Bloom (they/them) is an award-winning non-binary, queer sexuality educator and community facilitator. They help late bloomers foster confidence, queer joy, and have amazing sex. They facilitate a virtual club for Late Bloomers called the F*ck Comphet Support Club, which meets monthly to connect on all things sapphic and late bloomer experiences, and a Discord. You can find them at @whatmsybodydoing on Instagram and Tik Tok. Links for folks! https://www.patreon.com/FckComphetSupportClub https://www.instagram.com/whatsmybodydoing/ evabloom.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • Why Sex Hurts (and What to Do About It) with Sara Reardon

    Why Sex Hurts (and What to Do About It) with Sara Reardon
    Apr 8 2025
    In this episode of Sleeping Around, Alayna is joined by pelvic floor therapist Sara Reardon to talk all things pelvic health—and it’s way more than just kegels. They unpack common (but often unspoken) issues like pain during sex, painful periods, and how to know if your pelvic floor is actually functioning normally. Whether you're experiencing any of these concerns, pregnant, postpartum, or just curious about how your body works, this episode is packed with everyday tips and empowering advice to help you take charge of your pelvic health and advocate for yourself along the way. Since 2007, Dr. Sara Reardon has been caring for people’s pelvic floors as a board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist. She is the Founder of The V-Hive, an online pelvic floor workout platform for pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, painful sex, and pelvic floor strengthening. As The Vagina Whisperer on Instagram and TikTok, she has hundreds of thousands of followers. Sara lives in New Orleans, La. with her husband and two sons. FLOORED: A Woman’s Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage, available for pre-order and releasing June 10 2025, is her first book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Discover This Sexual Superpower with Lori Brotto

    Discover This Sexual Superpower with Lori Brotto
    Apr 1 2025
    What is the key to unlocking your best sexual experiences? In this episode of Sleeping Around, Alayna and guest Dr. Lori Brotto explore the role of mindfulness in intimacy, its connection to pleasure and body awareness, and its uses for problematic low sexual desire. Plus, do both partners need to practice mindfulness for it to work? Tune in to learn the secrets of applying these tools to your own life and relationships. Connect with Dr. Brotto: Research lab: @ubcshr @drloribrotto loribrotto.com Books: Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Sex-Through-Mindfulness-Cultivate/dp/1771642351/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2INN16VBUD0L7&keywords=better%20sex%20through%20mindfulness&qid=1646782566&sprefix=better%20sex%20through%20mindfulness%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-1 The Better Sex Through Mindfulness Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Sex-Through-Mindfulness-Workbook/dp/1771648376/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=better+sex+through+mindfulness+lori+brotto&qid=1646783034&sprefix=better+sex+th%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The Ultimate Guide to Kink with Tina Horn

    The Ultimate Guide to Kink with Tina Horn
    Mar 25 2025
    Use the code SLEEPINGAROUND to try CHEEX for free for 7 days, click here 👉 https://bit.ly/CHEEXFreeTrial-SleepingAround The code applies when you select the yearly plan, but you can cancel or switch to the monthly plan anytime during the trial period! After that, your CHEEX subscription starts from just $9.90 USD per month ✨ This week, we’re diving deep into all things kink with guest Tina Horn! What exactly is kink? Where do these desires come from, and why do we have them? More importantly, how can we explore and share them—whether with ourselves or a partner? Curious about kink parties? Join the patreon for the extended episode where we talk all about them: https://www.patreon.com/MissFenderr Tina Horn is a writer, educatrix, and media-maker. She is the author of Why Are People Into That?: A Cultural Investigation of Kink, a book based on her long-running indie fetish podcast of the same name. Tina is the creator & writer of the sci-fi sex-rebel comic book series Safe Sex, and the cult detective thriller Deprog; she was also the host & cowriter of the phone sex podcast Operator. Her reporting on sexual subcultures has appeared in Rolling Stone, Playboy, Hazlitt, Glamour, Jezebel and elsewhere; she has contributed to numerous anthologies including We Too: Essays on Sex Work and Survival, which she also coedited. She is a LAMBDA Literary Fellow, an AVN nominee, and the recipient of two Feminist Porn Awards. Find her on IG @TinaHornsAss and at her website TinaHorn.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • The Most Common ADHD Relationship Struggles (and How to Fix Them) with Jak Levine- Pritzker

    The Most Common ADHD Relationship Struggles (and How to Fix Them) with Jak Levine- Pritzker
    Mar 11 2025
    Download Love & Pies here - https://pixly.go2cloud.org/SH4iP Thanks to Love & Pies for sponsoring! In this week's episode of Sleeping Around, Alayna sits down with Jak Levine-Pritzker to discuss the unique challenges and dynamics of dating with ADHD. They dive into the impact of ADHD on communication, household responsibilities, and new vs longterm connection, while offering practical strategies to create more understanding and balance in relationships. They also discuss important topics like: - Misconceptions about ADHD - Different types of ADHD - How ADHD affects daily tasks and how to manage them - Tips for non-ADHD partners Connect with Jak: https://www.instagram.com/authenticallyadhd/?hl=en https://authenticallyadhd.com/ https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthjaklin/ Don’t forget to follow the podcast on social media: https://www.instagram.com/sleepingaroundpod and subscribe for more episodes. If you found this episode helpful, please leave a comment and share it with someone who might benefit from our discussion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins