Cherryl Duncan's Podcast

Reclaiming life, relationships, work, and yoga through the female gaze—offering fresh perspectives for anyone ready to live with curiosity, connection, and meaning.

Redefining life, relationships, work, and even the world of yoga through the female gaze. The female gaze shifts the narrative—it’s about reclaiming the story, embracing joy, and finding meaning in the everyday. It’s not just for women; it’s for anyone ready to live with more awareness, curiosity, and connection cherrylannaduncan.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Love Love, not the man

    02/13/2025

    Love Love, not the man

    Ladies, we need to talk. What if the way we've been conditioned to experience love is all wrong? What if the intoxicating highs and devastating lows that so many of us chase in relationships are not love, but something else entirely? What if true erotic energy isn’t something that comes from a man, but from within ourselves? This week on the podcast, I sat down with the brilliant Phillip Cohen to unpack a concept that has been stirring up deep conversations across my social media and personal reflections: Love love, not the man, for you will forever be in his power. It's a line from Dangerous Beauty, a film about the political and personal power of courtesans in Renaissance Venice. But more than a historical reference, it’s a wake-up call to modern women. How often do we hand over our own power in relationships, mistaking the rush of emotions as proof of love? How often do we fall into the narrative that tells us we need a man to "wake us up"—just like the fairy tales taught us? Phillip and I dive deep into the roots of these beliefs, exploring everything from the fairy tale scripts we’ve all internalised (Sleeping Beauty, anyone?) to the ways patriarchal conditioning has shaped not just women’s expectations, but men’s roles in relationships, too. We discuss: * The difference between erotic energy and romantic love * Why women have historically married their sense of desire to a man, instead of cultivating it independently * The paradox of modern feminism and its impact on relationships * How both men and women are trapped in outdated relationship dynamics—and how to break free * Practical steps to reclaim your own erotic, creative energy without making your partner the centre of your universe If you’ve ever found yourself losing parts of who you are in a relationship, if you’ve felt the intoxicating pull of passion only to watch it fade into resentment and obligation, or if you’ve wondered why love stories always seem to follow the same frustrating patterns, this conversation is for you. This is not about abandoning love. It’s about understanding it differently. It's about loving love itself—as an experience, an energy, a force within you—rather than placing your power in the hands of another person. Intrigued? Listen to the full episode here and let’s continue this conversation. Drop a comment below—what does this phrase mean to you? Love love, not the man. How does it land? What parts of your own story does it stir up? With love Cherryl This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cherrylannaduncan.substack.com

    45 min

About

Redefining life, relationships, work, and even the world of yoga through the female gaze. The female gaze shifts the narrative—it’s about reclaiming the story, embracing joy, and finding meaning in the everyday. It’s not just for women; it’s for anyone ready to live with more awareness, curiosity, and connection cherrylannaduncan.substack.com