The Sex Ed Series Susanna Fordi

CW: Sexual assault, vivid sexual imagery
In this differently formatted episode, I've recorded a roundtable conversation hosted with my roommates Staicy, Ruth, and Lexi as we reflect on our sex education experiences outside of the classroom.

The fourth episode of the Sex Ed Series explores what sex education can sometimes be like in religiously affiliated schools and spaces like after school programs and youth groups.
Thank you to Brianna, Lydia, Ellen* for their participation in this episode.,
*This name has been changed for the participant’s protection. Last names are not used for the same reason, as this podcast is intended to be a space for fluid and unfiltered conversation — which some people may prefer anonymity for.

CW: Sexual assault, traumatic sexual health education experiences. gender dysphoria, dissociation.
This episode (one of Susie’s favorites) explores the realities of the experiences of queer folks throughout their traditionally cisgendered, heterosexually taught sex education. We also touch on kink, pleasure, safe sexual health practices for everyone, and how to have difficult conversations about sex with children. Is school the most conducive and safe location to have these intimate and potentially scary conversations?

Thank you to Will Leonard, Noah Waxman, Heather Corinna, and Jonathan Zimmerman for their participation in this episode. A spacial thank you to Noah and Will for sharing their personal knowledge and experience in sex education classes as queer individuals operating in overwhelmingly heterosexual and cisgender spaces.

CW: Conversations about sexual assault.
In the second episode of the series, Susie reflects on her own sex education experience as a model for how sex education is experienced by different people in incredibly different ways — even if those people are sitting in the same classroom. She speaks with someone who also went to her high school, and quotes others who also went to her school and reflects on her experience in conjunction with a conversation with Jonathan Zimmerman, who was introduced in Episode 1.
Thank you to Nick Kellogg for his participation in this episode.

In this introduction to the Sex Ed Series, you will hear from the host Susie speak on why she began this project in the first place, and a history of sex education around the world starting with its founding in the early 20th century. While hearing clips from guests who will be introduced later in the series, Susie also has conversations with Heather Corinna, the founder of the online sex education platform called Scarleteen. Susie also speaks with Jonathan Zimmerman, the author of “Too Hot To Handel: A Global History of Sex Education.”
Heather Corinna: https://heathercorinna.com/
Scarleteen: scarleteen.com

Jonathan Zimmerman: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/faculty-directory/zimmerman

“Too Hot To Handel: A Global History of Sex Education.”