If there were ever an occasion to talk about Audre Lorde’s “Uses of the Erotic” it’s now. In a highly political episode, we address the recent leaked Supreme Court opinion that threatens to overturn Roe v. Wade. This moment in history reminds us that our access to pleasure is intimately linked to the way that the State regulates our bodies. Audre Lorde shows us that erotic power is a source for change, and at a time when we’re searching for the energy to fight for liberation, her wisdom is power. Resources Roe v. Wade explained: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-is-roe-v-wade Read Han ..read more

We continue our conversation on sex and talk about the foundation for our sexual selves: masturbation. We also discuss the first Amazon union, Elon Musk buying Twitter, and Tufts University’s new Black Maternal Health Research Center. Resources Interview with the organizers of the Amazon Union: https://jacobinmag.com/2022/04/amazon-union-staten-island-alu-chris-smalls-bernie-sanders-interview Tufts Black Maternal Health Research Center: https://now.tufts.edu/2022/04/08/tufts-launches-center-black-maternal-health-and-reproductive-justice Who to Follow: @kahlilgreene on TikTok Pleasure Center St ..read more

Over here we don’t bump uglies, we bump energies. We’re breaking down how our culture defines sex. What is it? How do we name it? And how do our articulations of sex affect the type of sex we have? We also talk about the infamous Oscar slap, Jerrod Carmichael’s “Rothaniel” special, and the newest season of Atlanta. Support Us Support our show with a one-time payment or a small monthly donation to help us continue making impactful, transformative content. https://linktr.ee/politicsofpleasurepod Support Desiree Jaha directly: https://linktr.ee/desireejaha Resources Watch the Chris Rock, Ricky Ge ..read more

It’s Spring Break! This mini-episode is a loving reminder to slow down. You are deserving of rest. Support Us Support our show with a one-time payment or a small monthly donation to help us continue making impactful, transformative content. https://linktr.ee/politicsofpleasurepod Support Desiree Jaha directly: https://linktr.ee/desireejaha --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/politicsofpleasure/message ..read more

We’re talking about non-monogamy and polyamory this week! It’s time to decolonize our relationships and start thinking outside the box of monogamy created by Western imperialism. We reference the brilliant work of Indigenous scholar Dr. Kim TallBear to guide our conversation. There’s also a lot going on in the political world this week sooo…*sucks teeth, rolls eyes* we have to address the crusty white men that run our planet or whatever, but don’t worry we still get some good laughs in. Pleasure Center Starts at 1:34:34 Support Us Support our show with a one-time payment or a small monthly don ..read more

We continue our conversation on misogynoir, this time delving into how it has impacted our sex and dating lives. May this episode be an offering of love and healing to each and every Black woman who has experienced misogyny and racism in their relationships. We deserve and will receive better. We also discuss the Super Bowl halftime show, Black capitalism, and Black futures as Black History Month comes to a close. Enjoy! Pleasure Center Starts at: 1:26:26 Support Us Support our show with a one-time payment or a small monthly donation to help us continue making impactful, transformative conten ..read more

If taking the red pill means waking up to a nightmare created by cishet Black men with podcasts, then we can stay sleep. Give us the blue pill. In a long-overdue conversation, we trace a throughline of misogynoir from past to present. This week’s episode is about naming and understanding America’s long-held violence for Black women so that we can release it, and make space inside ourselves for something new. Tune in to our most vulnerable and cathartic episode yet. Pleasure Center Starts at 1:42:26 Mental Health Hotlines: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 - 800 - 273 - TALK (8255) Crisi ..read more

We’re kicking off Aquarius szn with a conversation about compulsory heterosexuality and the chokehold it has on our society. We also discuss the limitations of comphet as a concept and how it excludes many Black, fat, trans, disabled folks in the queer community by centering those who occupy “default” womanhood. Pleasure Center starts at 1:28:54 Support Us Support our show with a one-time payment or a small monthly donation to help us continue making impactful, transformative content. https://linktr.ee/politicsofpleasurepod Support Desiree Jaha directly: https://linktr.ee/desireejaha Reference ..read more

We’re going on a historical journey as we learn about the evolution of prison lesbians, and how this has shaped our modern perceptions of womanhood, lesbianism, sexuality, and race today. Resources and Sources Estelle B. Freedman’s “The Prison Lesbian: Race, Class, and the Construction of the Aggressive Female Homosexual, 1915-1965” https://www.jstor.org/stable/3178421?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents WWII Call to Arms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DJWWKJ8tDM&t=56s Rosie the Riveter Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55NCElsbjeQ Cold War Propaganda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v ..read more

Why can’t we have friendships that blur the lines of sex, love, and romance? We’re talking about romantic friendships this week. We also chime in on the racial disputes within the lesbian community, with a much-needed conversation on problematic white queerness. Tune in for a juicy listen. Support Us Support our show with a one-time payment or a small monthly donation to help us continue making impactful, transformative content. https://linktr.ee/politicsofpleasurepod Support Desiree Jaha directly: https://linktr.ee/desireejaha References and Resources Listen to NPR’s Invisbilia podcast, find ..read more