Getting Close

Aidan Wharton

4.0 (1)
यौन संबंधी
सप्ताह में अपडेट होता है

Getting Close is an intimate exploration of how we connect, love, and build relationships in the modern world. Each week, host Aidan Wharton sits down with culture-shaping voices to give you practical insights from honest conversations about relationships, Queerness, sex, connection, and community. gettingclosepod.substack.com

1 दिन पहले

Gay Political Strategist: How to Talk Politics At Brunch

If you’ve turned off the news and feel guilty about it, this episode’s for you. In today’s episode, you and I are getting close with Brian Derrick. We discuss the complexities of political engagement, why we’re all politically burnt out, why liberals keep losing, and how to turn politics from a hobby to an actionable lifestyle. Brian Derrick is a political strategist, activist, and Founder and CEO of Oath – a civic tech platform transforming political giving. He has consulted on campaigns from city council to president – most notably for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marti Gould Cummings (NYC City Council). Derrick is also a leader in the nonprofit sector. In this episode, we explore: * Why you need to fight with your friends * When it’s okay to stop injesting the news. * Why your state senate donation matters more than your presidential one * How to tell if you’ve turned politics into a hobby * The real reason liberals keep losing. Before You Go * Please subscribe, rate, and review the show! * And share it with someone who you think might enjoy it. That’s the best way you can help us grow! Links! Follow Brian: https://www.instagram.com/brianderrick_ Check Out Oath: https://app.oath.vote/ Follow Aidan: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwharton Follow Getting Close: https://www.instagram.com/gettingclosepod Follow on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingclosepod Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Political Engagement (02:17) Understanding Political Burnout (06:03) The Role of Data in Politics (10:16) Taking Action Beyond Knowledge (14:10) Navigating News Consumption (19:54) Long-Term Political Planning (24:32) Building Coalitions Through Disagreement (27:23) Navigating Difficult Conversations (30:21) The Importance of Engaging in Disagreements (33:42) Deciding to Win: Taking Action in Politics (37:04) Leveraging Resources for Political Change (41:21) Finding Hope in Local Elections (45:36) Cultivating Positivity in Political Discourse (47:05) The Role of Voting in Civic Duty (49:24) Curiosity and Connection in Community (52:40) Empowerment and Enacting Change This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

54 मि॰
14 अप्रैल

Sexual Liberation Therapist (on Reconnecting with Your Body and Desire)

If you’re feeling overstimulated and disconnected, this episode’s for you. In it, we connect with Keanu Jackson, a sex therapist, to explore the complexities of desire, consent, and online sexuality in our modern world. Keanu Jackson is a Brooklyn, NY-based Sex Therapist, Content Creator, & Founder of Homebody Psychotherapy, a therapy practice that centers on supporting queer folks in building more nurturing relationships with their bodies. Keanu uses his experiences as a queer, Black man, sex worker, and survivor as a bridge to support others on their healing journeys. In this episode, we explore: * How to reconnect with your body through curiosity * Why sexual liberation might mean having less sex. * What you consent to by entering gay spaces. * How race impacts sexual dynamics and what we can do about it. * Keanu’s surprising recommendation for safer sex. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Connection and Self-Discovery (01:52) The Impact of Personal Loss on Relationships (06:06) Exploring Sexuality and Identity in 2026 (08:50) Understanding Consent in Modern Culture (12:08) Navigating Boundaries and Personal Safety (14:59) The Intersection of Digital Presence and Sexuality (20:59) Racism and Its Impact on Sexual Identity (26:24) Navigating Sexual Spaces: Race and Entitlement (30:12) The Importance of Acknowledging Racial Dynamics (33:54) Unspoken Assumptions in Queer Spaces (36:46) Building Self-Security and Curiosity (41:10) Exploring Sexual Compatibility and Connection (47:29) Curiosity in Black Diasporic Sexual Practices (50:40) Creating Community and Connection Before You Go! * Please subscribe, rate, and review the show! * And share it with someone who you think might enjoy it. That’s the best way you can help us grow! Follow Along! Follow Keanu: https://www.instagram.com/homebodypsychotherapy Follow Aidan: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwharton Follow Getting Close: https://www.instagram.com/gettingclosepod Follow on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingclosepod This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

52 मि॰
7 अप्रैल

Poly-Kink Therapist: Have this Conversation & Forever Change How You Communicate

Today’s episode will change how you communicate. How do I know? Because it changed how I did. In this episode, I sit down with Ruffus, affectionately known on socials as the Poly-Kink Therapist, to discuss communication, sexual agency, and the vital lessons we can learn from the kink community. If you’ve ever had scripts in your head that tell you what you can and can’t ask for, what is and is not allowed, get ready to finally claim your power and transform the way you communicate with me and Ruffus. We explore: * How to reclaim your agency through better communication * How to create a container conversation and why it will change your relationships forever. * The three things you must ask about when opening your relationship. * How the pup community can teach us to be more accepting. * How to navigate differences in sex or libido. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Vulnerability and Connection (02:24) Navigating Difficult Conversations (06:50) Understanding Kink and Agency (10:38) Finding Community and Safety (14:55) Unlearning Expectations in Relationships (19:12) Creating a Safe Container for Conversations (27:19) Navigating Communication in Relationships (29:44) Exploring Kink and Freedom (31:39) The Journey of Self-Discovery in Kink (36:23) Understanding Consent and Expectations (40:48) Navigating Sexual Incompatibilities (44:32) The Importance of Communication in Non-Monogamy (49:59) Common Kink Misunderstandings and Mistakes (52:48) Community and Acceptance in Kink Spaces Follow Along Follow Ruffus: https://www.instagram.com/thepolykink.therapist Follow Aidan: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwharton Follow Getting Close: https://www.instagram.com/gettingclosepod Follow on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingclosepod This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

54 मि॰
31 मार्च

My Husband & Broadway Star: How to Break the Patterns Holding You Back

If you have a little voice in the back of your mind saying, you should really break that habit, this episode is for you. We all have coping mechanisms that help us get through the day, but when do we know if those coping mechanisms have turned into unhealthy patterns, and if so, how can we break them? In this episode, my husband Casey (and y’all’s most requested return guest) sits back down with me for a deeply intimate and vulnerable conversation about his last year breaking patterns of addiction. We unpack: * How to let go of the patterns that no longer serve you * The differences between habits, coping mechanisms, and unhealthy patterns * Why your journey with substances doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. * How to support a partner who is dismantling their relationship with substances * How to find joy in sobriety through new rituals and experiences. * The most surprising things we’ve both learned as we stopped drinking. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Connection and Coping Mechanisms (02:54) Celebrating Six Months Alcohol-Free (05:40) Understanding Patterns vs. Habits (10:04) Exploring Early Coping Mechanisms (16:44) The Impact of Substances on Life (21:54) Navigating Social Drinking and Isolation (26:38) Navigating Loneliness and Community Needs (28:05) The Journey to Sobriety: A Personal Reflection (31:51) Breaking Patterns: The Role of Substances in Coping (36:01) Emotional Breakthroughs: The Impact of Isolation (39:46) Supporting Partners Through Change (43:02) Surprising Positives: Finding Joy in Sobriety (45:58) Messages of Hope: Embracing Change and Growth (50:17) Curiosity and Connection: Engaging with Community Follow Along! Follow Casey: https://bit.ly/3NY8jya Follow Aidan: https://bit.ly/4sRSpoX Follow Getting Close: https://bit.ly/4jW9Ro8 Send us a comment or question at: hellogettingclose@gmail.com! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

53 मि॰
24 मार्च

Gay Ass Podcast Host: The Gay Ass Art of A Good Question

If you’ve ever sat in an awkward silence, wondering what to ask next, or left a conversation wishing you’d known how to go deeper, this episode will change how you talk to people. In this episode, Eric Williams joins us to explore what separates a good question from a bad one, why our digital world is making us worse at curiosity, and how the way you ask questions shapes everything from your first date to your longest relationship. Eric Williams is the host of That’s A Gay Ass Podcast and has interviewed icons like Dan Savage, Lisa Rinna, and Kathy Griffin. He’s also a solo performer in the middle of touring his solo show, Why All The Drama? He also just happens to be one of the most gifted conversationalists I know. We unpack: 🟡 What actually makes a good question and why it matters 🟡 Why you think you’re asking enough questions, but you aren’t. 🟡 The surprising link between asking good questions and being good in bed. 🟡 What questions actually sustain a long term relationship. 🟡 The one question everyone in an open relationship needs to ask. If you’ve ever sat in that awkward silence wondering what to say next, this one’s for you. Follow Along Follow Eric on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwillz Follow Eric on Substack: Follow Aidan: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwharton Follow Getting Close: https://www.instagram.com/gettingclosepod This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

56 मि॰
17 मार्च

Trans Thought Leader: The Complex Politics of Being a Man

What can gay men learn from trans men? In this episode of Getting Close, I sit down with my friend Sandy for a very vulnerable conversation about how trans men and cis men exist within the gay community. We dive into masculinity, privilege, and what compassionate inclusion can look like in our spaces. Sandy Gooen is a published and produced writer. He’s currently developing a musical called Twink Piece. He also runs TEMPO (@theetempo), which is an organization for Trans music professionals. His professional and academic background is mostly music and theater, but in his free time, he focuses a lot on gender and LGBT topics. At the root of Sandy’s work is the desire to cultivate belonging and understanding! We get into * Which conversations about transness are oversaturated * Which conversations about transness still need to happen * What gay men don’t know about the trans experience * The different ways that masculinity affects us all * And why gay men only talk to people they’re attracted to, and how to start to change that. Follow Along! Follow Sandy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silentwhat Follow Sandy on Substack: Follow Aidan: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwharton Follow Getting Close: https://www.instagram.com/gettingclosepod Chapters (00:00) Introduction (05:20) Growing Up Masculine (10:40) The Early Signs of Difference (16:00) Exploring Gender (21:50) The Carving Out A Space in NYC (27:10) Navigating Gay Spaces as a Trans Man (32:40) The Unspoken Social Rules Inside Queer Spaces (38:00) Why We’re Afraid to Talk About Trans Experiences (43:30) Who Gets to Define Masculinity (49:30) What Connection Between Men Can Look Like This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

54 मि॰
10 मार्च

Gay Intimacy Researcher: The Hidden Rules of Hookup Culture

How has the internet changed gay s*x, consent, and intimacy? In this episode, Andrew Restieri joins me to discuss the complexities of digital intimacy within gay culture. We discuss how everyone has differing rules about consent, the economy of nude photos, who owns a nude once it’s sent, the rise of hookup apps, and how they affect our in-person experiences. Andrew Restieri is a PhD candidate at Cornell whose research broadly centers on the use of digital technology to facilitate online communities, especially for queer people. His dissertation examines the online sexual practices of gay men and how those practices challenge conventional understandings of intimacy and consent. He also holds a master’s from Johns Hopkins University and a BA from Northwestern. We unpack: 🟡 The “economy of nudes” that exists in gay culture. 🟡 Why consent online is almost impossible to define. 🟡 The uncomfortable question: who owns a nude once it’s sent? 🟡 Why digital intimacy and real-life intimacy may now be the same thing. 🟡 The surprising reason some men send unsolicited nudes. 🟡 The real question behind every app interaction: what do we owe each other? If you’ve ever taken a nude, this episode’s for you. Chapters (00:00) Introduction (02:40) Connection Questions and Personal Insights (04:40) Research Focus: Gay Men’s Digital Practices (07:52) Understanding Consent and Privacy in Digital Spaces (10:08) The Economy of Nudes: Value and Exchange (12:56) Digital vs. In-Person Intimacy: A Blurred Line (15:45) Impact of Hookup Apps on Gay Male Intimacy (18:36) Consent and Boundaries in Digital Interactions (21:12) The Politics of Ownership and Consent (24:32) Navigating Consent in a Diverse Landscape (26:57) Class Politics and Digital Intimacy (33:15) Navigating Boundaries in Gay Digital Spaces (39:24) The Role of Digital Tools in Gay Connections (44:40) Flirting and Intimacy in the Modern Age (47:10) Curiosities and Community Connections Follow Along! Follow Andrew: https://www.instagram.com/andrewrestieri Follow Aidan: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwharton Follow Getting Close: https://www.instagram.com/gettingclosepod This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

53 मि॰
3 मार्च

Poly-Queer Therapist: How Your Discomfort is Key to Happier Relationships

What if I told you discomfort was the secret to better relationships? In this episode, Rachel Wright joins me to talk about the fascinating way that discomfort can help you have better relationships of any structure. We explore the nuances of modern friendship, letting people down, secret patterns running our relationships, monogamy unlearnings, and the unique way gay couples are more likely to be open vs. poly. Rachel Wright is a distinguished psychotherapist and renowned speaker with expertise in modern relationships, mental health, and sex. With a Master’s Degree in clinical psychology, Rachel has worked with thousands of clients worldwide and has been featured in The New York Times, Women’s Health, Cosmo and more. Rachel currently lives in New York City with her wife and two kids. We unpack: * How to let people down healthily * What gay couples need to do to practice openness better * How ingrained patterns shape shapes the way we love * How non-monogamy can show up in our youth before we have language for it * Whether or not nonmonogamy is a orientation or a preference * And how expanding our distress tolerance can change the way we approach openness Chapters (00:00) Introduction (02:28) Exploring Healthy Communication in Relationships (14:37) The Journey to Becoming a Therapist (17:53) Reflections on Non-Monogamy and Youth Experiences (22:42) Core Beliefs About Relationships and Non-Monogamy (25:00) Unlearning Monogamy and Embracing Discomfort (27:19) Navigating Discomfort in Relationships (29:42) Understanding Non-Monogamy as an Orientation (32:27) Timing and Trust in Non-Monogamous Conversations (34:22) Unpacking Emotional Scripts in Non-Monogamy (37:45) Language and Representation in Non-Monogamous Relationships (42:45) Emotional Depth in Gay Relationships (45:11) Building Distress Tolerance in Non-Monogamy (48:52) Exploring Non-Monogamous Literature (51:39) Celebrating Diverse Relationships and Community Follow Along! Follow Rachel: https://www.instagram.com/thewright_rachel Follow Aidan: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwharton Follow Getting Close: https://www.instagram.com/gettingclosepod This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gettingclosepod.substack.com/subscribe

55 मि॰

सभी देखें (16)

Getting Close is an intimate exploration of how we connect, love, and build relationships in the modern world. Each week, host Aidan Wharton sits down with culture-shaping voices to give you practical insights from honest conversations about relationships, Queerness, sex, connection, and community. gettingclosepod.substack.com

निर्माता

Aidan Wharton
सक्रिय वर्ष

2 हज़ार
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16
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अश्लील
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© Aidan Wharton
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Getting Close

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