The 4 Intimacies

Zoë Malcolm

What if intimacy is not about sex? What if intimacy is about building trust? In this podcast, we explore the concepts of intimacy and attraction, emphasizing the importance of building trust, cultivating acceptance and listening to your body. Reframing the quality of intimacy as a reflection of the questions we ask, I introduce a framework that encourages listeners to focus on:"How do I need to be loved?" Started as a an idea to talk with my teenage god-daughter. Now I am inviting you to dive into the 4 attractions and the 4 intimacies with me: Intellectual, Emotional, Physical, and S*xual Let's be curious, honest & playful - together!

Episodes

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Self-Discovery: Sexual Attraction & Intimacy

    In this episode of the Four Intimacies podcast, Zoë Malcolm delves into the concept of sexual attraction and intimacy, including how it differs from intellectual, emotional and physical intimacies, even though all require curiosity, honesty and playfulness. She explores sexual attraction and intimacy as an awakening of self-discovery. The conversation explores gender roles and expression, as well as orientation as a birthright that gets to shine. The episode ends with Zoë emphasizing ownership of sexual expression, as well as consent and body-awareness as paths to healing. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Intimacy and Connection 01:50 Review of Previous Episodes and Intimacies 02:45 Sexual Attraction: Gender, Orientation, Expression 04:24 Sexual Attraction as An Awakening 07:29 Sexual Intimacy as Mutual and Self-Discovery 12:30 A Note on Asexuality 12:57 Sexual Intimacy and Body Awareness 15:50 Sexual Intimacy is Not The Same. Own It. 17:22 Sexual Intimacy as Healing 18:13 There Are No Hierarchies in Intimacy 18:39 Journal Prompts & Final Words Journal Prompts 1.        Of all the keywords - between curiosity, honesty and playfulness – which ones have been the easiest for you when it comes to sexual intimacy? How does it feel in your body – when it is easy? 2.        Which of the keywords have been the hardest? How does it feel in your body when it is “difficult”? What do you think you need for it to become easier? 3.        Do you have a memory of when either curiosity, honesty or playfulness first became easy during sexual intimacy? How did that feel in your body? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about them? 4.        Do you trust yourself when it comes to sexual intimacy? Where do you or don’t you trust yourself? Do you know why? 5.        Do you trust your partner, or yourself, to be curious, honest or playful during sex? Do you know why – for either of you? 6.        How does it feel to come up with a plan, or a date, around this idea of curiosity, honesty and playfulness? What would your ideal version of this be? ----Follow on Instagram: @the4intimaciesOr on YouTube: @the4intimaciesOr on Apple Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies or on Spotify Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies — Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/evening-nostalgy License code: 8BURJFKVT6IZSBQC —

    22 min
  2. 3 FEB

    Being Playful with Physical Attraction & Intimacy

    In this episode of The Four Intimacies podcast, Zoë Malcolm delves into the themes of trust, connection, and intimacy, emphasizing the importance of conflict and vulnerability in healthy relationships. She explores the nuances of physical attraction versus sexual attraction, the essence of physical intimacy, and the critical role of consent. The conversation highlights the significance of playfulness in fostering intimacy and concludes with a celebration of friendships that embody trust and acceptance. Takeaways Healthy intimacy requires conflict. Physical attraction is not sexual attraction. Physical intimacy is simply being near someone. Consent is crucial for healthy physical intimacy. Playfulness can diffuse tension in relationships. A yes is gorgeous, a no is powerful. Setting boundaries is integral to healthy intimacy. Playfulness is our birthright. Life can be hard, but being alive is a privilege. Best friendships teach us about trust, love, and acceptance. Chapters 00:00 Exploring Trust and Intimacy 02:55 Exploring Physical Attraction 06:36 Exploring Physical Intimacy 08:37 Consent & Intimacy 13:29 Playfulness as "Repair" in Intimacy 16:37 Playfulness as birthright 17:31 Journal Prompts 18:31 Celebrating Best Friends and Intimacy — Journal Prompts: Create a "Playfulness" journal around the relationships your cherish.Share it with them.Make a date to do more! ----Follow on Instagram: @the4intimaciesOr on YouTube: @the4intimaciesOr on Apple Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies or on Spotify Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies — Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/evening-nostalgy License code: 8BURJFKVT6IZSBQC —

    20 min
  3. 27 JAN

    The Healing Power of Emotional Intimacy

    "When we are hurt, can we be honest?" ...I wasn't sure if I would publish this episode, because of a devastating week. But in this day, where so much of the news seems to say cruelty is the point - where the answer to that question is no - maybe this episode can add something to the conversation about how we can meet each other with empathy, how relationships and communities can build trust, and how the power of our love is built on the ability to answer yes to the emotional intimacy question: "When we are hurt, can we be honest?"... And now for the "official episode description":In this episode, Zoë Malcolm delves into the concepts of emotional attraction and emotional intimacy. She emphasizes the importance of acceptance and non-judgment in fostering intimacy, while also exploring the healing power of emotional honesty. The discussion highlights the thin line between emotional attraction and intimacy, and the necessity of vulnerability in relationships. Zoe also introduces the concept of 'repair' as a crucial element in maintaining healthy emotional connections, and provides journal prompts to encourage self-reflection on emotional experiences.---- Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Non-Judgment, Acceptance and Intimacy 03:04 Introducing Emotional Attraction & Intimacy 05:11 Defining Emotional Attraction 08:12 Defining Emotional Intimacy - Honesty 11:42 Why we are sometimes not emotionally honest? 13:08 Valuing Emotional Honesty 13:46 Unhealthy Emotional Intimacy as Manipulation 14:44 Apologize 16:28 The Importance of Repair in Relationships 17:35 Review: Emotional Attraction & Intimacy and Repair 18:20 Vulnerability in Intimacy 18:53 Journal Prompts 21:39 Last words Journal Prompts:1.        How does the concept of emotional honesty land with you? Does it feel dangerous? Or does it feel freeing? 2.        What emotions feel dangerous to you? Which emotions feel safe? Where do you feel them in your body? 3.        Is there an emotion you never feel? Or don’t let yourself feel? Or don’t even understand? Can you explain why not? 4.        Have you ever felt, or always felt, able to express a “dangerous” emotion? What does that feel like?! 5.        When was the first time you realized you could say a “dangerous” emotion and you would be okay? 6.        Who is a person you remember telling that you were hurt by them? How did they react? How did you react – do, think, feel - to their reaction? 7.        Has anyone told you they were hurt by you? How did you react? For more... Follow on Instagram: @the4intimaciesOr on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE: @the4intimaciesOr FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies or FOLLOW on Spotify Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies A review goes a long way. Thank you for listening! Be curious, honest and playful!-----

    24 min
  4. 20 JAN

    Intellectual Attraction & Intimacy

    We get curious about Intellectual Attraction and Intimacy in Episode One of the Four Intimacies podcast! For more... Follow on Instagram: @the4intimaciesOr on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE: @the4intimaciesOr FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies or FOLLOW on Spotify Podcasts: The 4 Intimacies A review goes a long way! Thank you!!----- First we define the concepts of Attraction & Intimacy, as a 'practice of one' and a 'practice of two', respectively. Then we explore how Intellectual Attraction shows up in our lives, especially during out formative years. As we go deeper and discuss Intellectual Intimacy, we explore the difference between healthy and unhealthy intimacy, and how that allows us to build trust within ourselves. At the end, I pose journal questions for listeners to reflect on regarding their own experiences with intellectual attraction and intimacy to encourage a deeper understanding of their relational dynamics. Keywords intellectual attraction, intimacy, trust, relationships, emotional intimacy, self-awareness, curiosity, personal growth, podcast Chapters 00:00 Intro00:37 Introduction to Attraction and Intimacy05:24 Understanding Intellectual Attraction 08:12 Intimacy: Healthy vs. Unhealthy 12:15 Intellectual Intimacy & Curiosity 13:31 Intimacy as Invitation 16:13 Intimacy & Awareness 18:41 Intimacy & Free Will 20:47 Final Thoughts & Journal Questions------ JOURNAL QUESTIONS Intellectual Attraction How many ways have you been intellectually attracted to someone? What did it feel like in your body? Did you get to act on it, or not?When you were able to act on an intellectual attraction, what came of it? Friendship, a fun moment, life-long bond, or… nothing? How did that make you feel?After this discussion, what are you are looking for in an intellectual attraction? How does it feel to know what intellectual attraction means to you?Intellectual Intimacy Moving to intimacy - have you had the experience of disagreeing, but still feeling heard?Have you disagreed with someone, but still felt curious about where they were coming from?Is there someone in your life you would like to do this better with? Why? What does it feel like now? What do you want it to feel like?Is there someone with whom curiosity feels impossible? For them? Or for you? What does that feel like?Is there someone in your life with whom you already have a practice of curiosity? What does that feel like?The 4 Attractions and The 4 Intimacies is a framework for exploring intimacy as a healing path to build trust in relationships and trust in yourself.

    25 min

About

What if intimacy is not about sex? What if intimacy is about building trust? In this podcast, we explore the concepts of intimacy and attraction, emphasizing the importance of building trust, cultivating acceptance and listening to your body. Reframing the quality of intimacy as a reflection of the questions we ask, I introduce a framework that encourages listeners to focus on:"How do I need to be loved?" Started as a an idea to talk with my teenage god-daughter. Now I am inviting you to dive into the 4 attractions and the 4 intimacies with me: Intellectual, Emotional, Physical, and S*xual Let's be curious, honest & playful - together!