Ep. 5 What's pleasure got to do with chronic pain, illness, and aging?

Contrary to popular opinion, pain and pleasure can co-exist in the body and this episode explores treating pleasure as a teammate when navigating chronic pain and illness. Emily Nagoski returns, now living with long COVID herself, to talk pleasure and chronic illness, aging, and disability, including research on people with serious health conditions who report some of the most fulfilling sex lives on record. Three participants share their experiences navigating illness, pain and aging in their own bodies. Mary Lou, diagnosed with lichen sclerosis, finds the Magic Wand does what her steroid prescription couldn't. Julie, in active treatment for multiple myeloma, describes the importance of pleasure even on her worst pain days. And Robbie explains how an orgasm can push arthritis pain to the background, at least for a little while. Pleasure People is hosted and produced by Danielle Bezalel Executive Producer: Sarah Tomchesson Lead producer: Kate Helen Downey Music supervision, sound design, and mixing: Kelly Kramarik at Maven Post Media Our theme music was composed by Julie McCarthy Pleasure People was made possible by the financial support of Vibratex, Inc. Thank you to sex educator and author Emily Nagoski, phD for appearing on this episode as our expert guest. And a huge thank you to the participants in the Magic Wand study who shared their experiences in this episode.