59: Nicole Mazzeo (Pleasure Pie) & DIY Sex Positivity

WELCOME TO THE EDUPUNX PODCAST

Nicole Mazzeo runs the DIY sex-positive organization, Pleasure Pie. While Nicole was once located in Boston, she now resides oversees - in the Netherlands - which makes this our second international conversation of the year! We actually had this conversation at the beginning of October - before the podcast was corrupted, and before I was hit by a car last week. So it’s good to know that a lot has changed between then and now. But the conversation is full of fun reflection and perspectives on sex education, destigmatizing sexual health, and what it takes to be incredibly neurotic and keep up with so many projects.

​Pleasure Pie is a small activist organization based in Boston, MA. Its efforts center around sex positivity, body positivity, and positivity about other good things. It makes alternative sexuality education materials (including zines, illustrations, and publications) and experiences (events, conversations, and workshops).​ Make sure to dig around pleasurepie.org to learn more about the fantastic work that Nicole and her crew do. And visit the Pleasure Pie Etsy shop as well and get yourself, or your students, a bunch of goodies!

MUSICAL NOTE:
- This week we shared tunes from the new Typesetter LP, “Nothing Blues,” which came out in October! You can get a digital copy of the album through 6131 Records!
- Typesetter is a vibrant indie emo act with the energy and sardonicism of bands like Tiny Moving Parts and Mom Jeans, to more elegant moments reminiscent of Foxing or Crash of Rhinos.
- In this episode, we played the songs,
- Also, all of the band’s music is already available FOR DOWNLOAD on their bandcamp site, so you have no reason to not download this album right now!

As always, you can CHECK OUT OUR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

ADVERTISING NOTES:
- This week, you got to learn about the ConnectEDU Network, of which this podcast is now a contributing member!
- ConnectEDU Network connects the unique perspectives and expert insight of higher education through podcasting. If you’re affiliated with higher education – from professor to director of marketing – you’ll be able to find a podcast that fits your style. Our podcasts are produced and hosted by passionate and innovative members of the field, all fueled by the excitement of the future of higher education.
- You should check out all of the Network’s content creators and podcasts right now if you’re looking for some new education-based pods!

And you can now join our Facebook community by CLICKING HERE!

FOLLOW, RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!
- Any love on the iTunes app helps! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ITUNES STORE!
- Don't forget, Android users - we are now on the Google Play Store!!
- We're also FINALLY on Stitcher, so head over there if that's your preferred platform!
- Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @eduPUNXpod!

Thanks so much for tuning in and we will be back soon with a special extra episode!

Up the punx!
Let's get to work.

45: Aria Carpenter & Trans Sex-Positive Education

WELCOME TO THE EDUPUNX PODCAST!

Aria Carpenter loves sex. Aria also loves educating folks about sex! So it's a great thing that she works for a sex toy shop called Good Vibrations here in Massachusetts. Aria is not only highly informed on understanding different sex toys, lubes, and condoms, she is also adept at leading workshops and educational opportunities for colleges and other work spaces. So this is going to be our most sexually explicit conversation to date - and that's a good thing because frank conversations on sex need to happen more often.

Since Craig and Aria are both sexual health educators, this conversations dives into a lot of their work and their differing perspectives as Craig is a cis-man and Aria is a Trans woman. Ultimately, it's a conversation that explores sex positivity, pronoun use, and the reality that we're always going to offend people and that's okay - but how we follow up matters. Aria is a very outspoken activist and is actually one of Katy's former students, and in the fall, she was featured in this Boston Globe piece about the trans student experience at Lesley University.

This is truly an expansive conversation that will even branch into an extra episode this weekend, so stick around for more!

ADVERTISING NOTE:
- This week, since it's PRIDE MONTH, we shared information on the Trevor Project.
- Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
- Visit theTrevorProject.org to learn more about their services, and make sure to share their 24/7 lifeline, 1-866-488-7386.
- You can also donate to support the folks that work for the Trevor Project so they can continue to provide all of the services they provide as well!

MUSIC NOTES:
- This week we shared tunes from the new Cosmic Johnny album, "Good Grief," which came out on April 28. Cosmic Johnny is a fantastic queer emo pop band from Massachusetts that we love -  so please give them some support!
- We shared the songs, "To Get out of Bed and Never Starve," and "Hell is a Basement."
- The album is currently available FOR DOWNLOAD on their bandcamp site, so you have no reason to not download this album right now!

As always, you can CHECK OUT THE NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

FOLLOW, RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!
- Any love on the iTunes app helps! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ITUNES STORE!
- Don't forget, Android users - we are now on the Google Play Store!!
- We're also FINALLY on Stitcher, so head over there if that's your preferred platform!
- Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @eduPUNXpod!

As noted in this episode, there will be no episode next week, as In Between Spins will be going on hiatus for a while - and we could use a monthly break, as you probably could, too.

Thanks so much for tuning in and we will be back this weekend with an extra episode!

Up the punx!
Let's get to work.

- CRAIG.