Thirsty: the Podcast The Thirst Trap

In the season four finale of Thirsty, we're talking to special guests Kelsey Banyan and Hollie Conroy about their experiences coming out late(r) in life. They're talking about their journey to self realization, including the changes they experienced in their lives, their marriages, and of course, dating and relationships. Becoming who you are is the privilege of a lifetime, and these stories show the beauty that can happen when we break free. If there's one thing we know for sure, life is best lived in full color.

ABOUT KELSEY AND HOLLIE

Kelsey is a Chicago-area writer and enthusiastic crier who can be found quilting, planning complicated hypothetical vacations on points, or publicly breaking out in song, much to the dismay of her two kids. Find her watching TikToks months after they go viral on IG @kaymeibee.

Hollie is a Chicago-area writer and content creator. You can connect with her on Instagram at @holliecats or TikTok at @stephandhollie. She also leads a MeetUp group for self-described Lesbian and Queer Late Bloomers.

Society tries to tell us that life is better when you're partnered up. Maybe that's true for some people, but not everyone. What if life is pretty great on your own, and you have no plans to change that fact? Meet Sarah R, who got a divorce, created a life as a single mom, and couldn't be happier. When it comes down to it, we all get to carve out the life of our dreams, and that looks like different things to different people. She's sharing the up's, the down's (and everything inbetween) about being single by choice.

Divorce pushes us to rethink everything we thought we knew about ourselves, including our sexuality. In this transformative conversation, Vanessa and Xander Marin share a deeper look at the decisions we make about sex; and, you may be surprised at the results. Whether you're in a longterm relationship, or fresh out on the dating scene, there's something here for everyone.

Discussed in this episode:


Walking away from the "f*cking fairy tale".
The one sentence that will change your entire sex life.
How to talk about sex with a partner.
The science behind libido, and what drives us.
Managing ED and other challenges.

About Vanessa and Xander Marin:

Meet New York Times Best Selling authors Vanessa and Xander Marin. She’s a sex therapist with 20 years of experience, he’s a regular dude, and together they wrote Sex Talks: The Five Conversations That Will Transform Your Love Life.

They’re the shockingly open, slightly nerdy, and seriously funny couple you’ll be calling your new besties in no time. They share the ups and downs in their relationship while giving you step-by-step techniques for improving yours.

Follow them on Instagram @vanessaandxander, and tune in to their podcast, Pillow Talks, for totally do-able sex tips, practical relationship advice, hilarious and honest stories of what really goes on behind closed bedroom doors, and so much more. It’s the sex education you WISH you’d had!

These days, self care has become synonymous with candles, bubble baths, and glasses of wine. What if it's about something deeper? Firstly, do you know where the term "self care" originated? Spoiler alert: it's not what you may think. Today, Heather and Laura are proposing a reframe on self care, and sharing lessons learned along the way. They're talking about habit stacking, nurturing self esteem, and what taking care of yourself can look like in real life.

FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Loveland Foundation is an organization committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. With the barriers affecting access to treatment by members of diverse ethnic and racial groups, the Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy nationally. Learn more HERE.

Today, Tracey Tee, founder of Moms on Mushrooms, is dropping by the Thirsty recording studio to chat all things microdosing, and, it's not what you may think. Tracey experienced her own spiritual awakening through microdosing, and she's here to share her journey, as well as the many lessons she learned along the way. The first thing to know? Tracey says it's all about waking up, not numbing out, and she's passionate about helping other moms create their happiest, healthiest selves.

ABOUT TRACEY TEE

Tracey is the creator and steward of Moms on Mushrooms, a community devoted to moms and microdosing. MOM seeks to destigmatize and promote the safe use of psychedelics, remain in humble service to others, and promote reciprocity, responsibility, and respect. Learn more at momsonmushrooms.com or on social platforms at @momsonmushroomsofficial.

Today, Heather and Laura are going solo, and they're talking about a subject that's near and dear to their hearts: communication. You may think you're a great communicator, but turns out that being a quick texter doesn't mean a thing. They're covering strategies for partnership, authenticity, and how to stop the passive aggressive cycle. They're also hitting what it means to grow up in fundamentalist evangelical culture, why "Cornhole" is the worst name for "Bags", and the hidden surprises that Omaha served up to Laura this summer.