Embodied
WUNCEmbodied
Sex and relationships are intimate — and sometimes intimidating to talk about. In WUNC’s award-winning podcast, host Anita Rao guides us on an exploration of our brains and bodies that touches down in taboo territory.
Follow the show on Instagram at @embodiedwunc and on Bluesky at embodiedwunc.bsky.social. You can find Anita on Bluesky at asrao.bsky.social.
2022 WUNC Podcasts
Sex and relationships are intimate — and sometimes intimidating to talk about. In WUNC’s award-winning podcast, host Anita Rao guides us on an exploration of our brains and bodies that touches down in taboo territory.
Follow the show on Instagram at @embodiedwunc and on Bluesky at embodiedwunc.bsky.social. You can find Anita on Bluesky at asrao.bsky.social.
2022 WUNC Podcasts
Anita talks to a flight attendant and a travel reporter about the unseen lives and labor of flight attendants, from jam-packed safety trainings to the emotional care of passengers in a high stakes atmosphere.
Indigenous writer and filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat was estranged from his dad for decades. But unearthing information about his dad’s past helped the two of them reconnect — and heal their relationship.
Anita talks to the founder and director of the oral history project Country Queers about making queer life work in the country — from navigating dating challenges to getting along with neighbors you disagree with.
When a journalist discovers that for the last 39 years of her life she’s had a cognitive disorder that prevents her from recognizing faces, she rethinks her entire identity, sense of self and relationships.
One creator’s struggle to decide to become a mother or not illuminated the doubt and uncertainty that we all live with when making any big decision. Plus, a psychotherapist shares practical frameworks for thinking about the kid decision.
A record-breaking runner reveals the harmful side of sports culture and shares her ideas for how coaches, parents and young athletes can cultivate a healthier sports environment.
Stuttering has long been the butt of many jokes. People who stutter are working to change that.
An anthropologist questions the connection between language and relationship-building while raising her multiply disabled daughter, who doesn’t communicate with words, signs or symbols.
A professional comedian explains why we need to laugh more in life and shares his tips for cultivating more humor in the day-to-day.
Anita talks to the author of "BoyMom" and her husband about how to raise boys better.
A former model and a sociologist break down stereotypes about Asian women in American culture and the personal impacts of those stereotypes.
Anita talks to researcher Jade Sasser, who's been studying young people’s attitudes about climate change and reproductive choices while unpacking her own experiences with climate anxiety.
More than half of U.S. states have banned trans athletes from school sports. A trans athlete and activist who has been at the leading edge of policy change for over a decade says these bans have far-reaching implications.
Anita talks with Mark Pagán, creator and host of the podcast “Other Men Need Help,” about what makes close friendships among men so fraught — and what we can do about it.
Sugar daddies and sugar babies have a transactional relationship: money and gifts are exchanged for companionship and sometimes sex. A former sugar baby and a researcher take us inside the world of sugar dating.
A self-described witch shares her journey of reclaiming her intuition and using her magic to help women to lean into their inner power.
Good horror films and novels are entertaining, but research shows they can also be a tool for healing. An award-winning author shares the art of crafting horror stories about real-life traumas.
A neurogastroenterologist explains why gastrointestinal issues plague our nation — and how to make your bowel movements a joy.
Soph Myers-Kelley and his mom, René Myers, got diagnosed with the same connective tissue disorder one year apart. What happened next was a process of learning together — and getting glimpses into the past and future of what living with the disorder is like.
Anita talks with a cultural historian who has combed through centuries of sex and food chronicles to understand what makes that connection so strong. Plus, a chef shares a Valentine’s recipe.
One woman breaks down the cost of her survival in the U.S. after fleeing Mexico in 2011 and dispels myths about immigrants being freeloaders.
An ornithologist and poet with a lifelong passion for birds explains what these creatures can teach us about wildness, joy and belonging.
Anita talks to two men who've interrogated baldness from all angles: race, sexuality, science, media, culture and lived experience.
For 11 years, siblings Brad and Jocelyn Cox were a competitive figure skating duo. Through countless hours of training and performing together, the pair forged a tight bond that has served them far beyond their competition days.
Anita talks to Meghan Keane, the founder of NPR's Life Kit and author of “Party of One,” about how to give good advice.
Anita talks to the Hindu officiant who helped her build a ceremony that bridged the gap between her values and her dad's traditional desires. Plus, a comedian and queer ex-nun explains how she takes people from the place of "marriage is a dumpster fire" to a ceremony they're excited about.
A writer shares how coming of age in his family’s Chinese restaurant shaped his understanding of his place in the world.
For many sexual assault survivors, getting back into dating and sexual relationships is a part of healing. The question is: how?
Anita meets a mixed-HIV status couple who shares how they've approached sex and intimacy in their 11+ year relationship. Plus, a woman who was born HIV positive talks about dating, disclosure and overcoming the fear of rejection.
Anita talks to mixed-race foodie and writer Raj Tawney, whose hours in the kitchen with his mom and grandma have grounded his search for belonging. Then, she picks up the phone and calls the primary chef in the Rao family: her mom, Sheila.
Fast fashion has already been exposed for its negative impact on workers and the planet. A fashion industry insider explains how companies and brands keep us hooked.
People have been pretending to be Native American for decades. While talking about ethnic fraud is tricky, one Native scholar says it’s necessary.
LQBTQ seniors face distinct challenges in older age — from isolation to struggles in accessing care and services because of their sexuality. Anita talks with three folks building solutions: a lesbian couple who built the first 55+ senior cohousing community in the country and a young activist connecting LGBTQ elders with resources.
Anita meets two single moms by choice — and one of their daughters.
Gen Z is reportedly having less sex than previous generations. One journalist set out to understand what’s going on beyond the data.
Anita meets three disabled fashionistas who design with disabled bodies as a starting point, not an afterthought.
Sharing a special preview this week from The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon Malone
Chronic insomnia affects 12% of adults in the U.S. A journalist and a couple share what they’ve learned about living with persistent sleeplessness.
A writer and historian talks about finding stories of trans history from 1600s southwestern African to World War One Britain.
Writer Abbie Rosner re-experienced mushrooms in her 60s, and she tells Anita about her subsequent investigation into why other boomers are taking psychedelics to grapple with aging. Plus, a medical professional shares what it’s like to facilitate these experiences for her peers.
The creator of a popular Instagram account talks about her experience and the community she’s created around dating while undocumented.
One artist shares her decade-long journey across the globe to figure out if a life dedicated to art is worth the struggle.
Anita talks to a former trucker and scholar about why LGBTQ folks are drawn to trucking, and then a trans woman driver takes her behind the wheel.
An author who learned to read when he was 18 and a dyslexia scholar help Anita understand how reading develops in the brain and what's at stake if dyslexic learners are left by the wayside.
More than a million people in the U.S. have used donor sperm in the past three decades. One donor-conceived person shares his story of searching for biological family members and what he learned while on that journey.
Anita meets two young funeral directors who felt called to this work at a young age, and they take her inside their world.
Anita talks to a couple about how an illness that’s affected tens of millions of Americans upended their life and forced them to confront big, existential questions.
Anita talks to a journalist about why and how she reports on emotions (both hers and other people’s) and the surprising discoveries she’s made along the way.
Acclaimed physician and author Abraham Verghese discusses his latest novel, his career and the importance of fiction with Anita in front of a live audience.
Anita meets two people who have grappled with bisexuality’s history, meaning and power for building community.
Anita talks to an interabled couple about their creativity and wisdom when it comes to raising their two kids.
Anita meets two therapists of color working to increase awareness of and access to mental health services among BIPOC communities while fighting burnout and structural barriers to getting into therapy work.
Nina Scott. After listening to our recent episode about country queers living in rural America, Embodied intern Nina started exploring the Black queer South.
Anita goes behind the scenes with two prolific erotica author-editors and a former producer for the audio erotica app Dipsea to figure out how the sausage — and the butt slaps — get made.
Anita talks to a flight attendant and a travel reporter about the unseen lives and labor of flight attendants, from jam-packed safety trainings to the emotional care of passengers in a high stakes atmosphere.
Anita talks to the founder and director of the oral history project Country Queers about making queer life work in the country — from navigating dating challenges to getting along with neighbors you disagree with.
Anita talks to two brothers diagnosed with a genetic mutation that almost certainly causes dementia about how they’re building their lives while preparing for symptoms of the disease.
Anita talks with two people dedicated to making good sex possible for older adults, whether they are navigating dementia and living in a nursing home, or forging a new relationship with someone in their assisted living community.
Anita meets Tyler Feder and Shelly Anand, the creators behind the books "Bodies Are Cool" and "Laxmi's Mooch."
Anita hands the mic over to Dr. Hillary McBride for an episode of "Other People's Problems" from CDC.
Anita talks to researcher Jade Sasser, who's been studying young people’s attitudes about climate change and reproductive choices while unpacking her own experiences with climate anxiety.
Anita talks to the author of "BoyMom" and her husband about how to raise boys better.
When you’re living with a stigmatized mental illness like bipolar disorder, opening up to romantic partners can be tough, but Anita brings on two people who’ve found their own way through love and mental health.
Anita gets personal accounts from two gray divorcees about what it was like to rebuild their identities, finances and freedom post-divorce.
Anita talks with Mark Pagán, creator and host of the podcast “Other Men Need Help,” about what makes close friendships among men so fraught — and what we can do about it.
Anita talks to two doctors about the role of intuition in medical decision-making as a case study into the mysterious power of this unquantifiable form of knowledge.
A podcaster talks to Anita about her journey of getting to the bottom of her extreme period cramps.
Trans scholar Oliver Haimson tells Anita why it's vital to understand the role of trans technology in this particular political moment.
A licensed mental health therapist talks to Anita about how an aha moment in grad school led her to better understand how to treat eating disorders in Black women’s bodies – starting with her own.
Anita meets two mixed race college seniors and they talk through navigating everything from "Where do I belong?" to "How do I date?" Plus she hears wisdom from a life coach who helps mixed adults tell new stories about identity.
Anita talks with a reporter who's spent the past decade untangling her religious trauma and a therapist who specializes in healing religious trauma..
Anita talks with two unpartnered moms about juggling pleasure, dating and parenthood.
Soph Myers-Kelley and his mom, René Myers, got diagnosed with the same connective tissue disorder one year apart. What happened next was a process of learning together — and getting glimpses into the past and future of what living with the disorder is like.
Anita talks with a cultural historian who has combed through centuries of sex and food chronicles to understand what makes that connection so strong. Plus, a chef shares a Valentine’s recipe.
Anita talks to a Black queer woman about why she left America in 2020 in search of freedom.
America loves self-help books. Why has this industry hooked us for decades?
Anita talks to a physiologist who's been exploring the science of ASMR for the past decade. Plus, she meets an ASMR artist and a woman who turned to the world of Boyfriend ASMR to heal her broken heart.
Anita talks to two online sex workers about how their careers have impacted their IRL lives.
Writer Abbie Rosner re-experienced mushrooms in her 60s, and she tells Anita about her subsequent investigation into why other boomers are taking psychedelics to grapple with aging. Plus, a medical professional shares what it’s like to facilitate these experiences for her peers.
Anita talks to Meghan Keane, the founder of NPR's Life Kit and author of “Party of One,” about how to give good advice.
What is life like when your childhood is full of international travel in cultures outside of even your parents' experiences? Two third culture kids talk about identity, friendship and family.
Anita hands over the mic to Embodied’s intern, Nina Scott, who shares conversations and reflections from her friends about food and cultural identity.
Anita meets two people who've built specific communities around their grief around losing a parent on the internet and a writer who experienced losing his dad twice.
Anita talks to two men who've interrogated baldness from all angles: race, sexuality, science, media, culture and lived experience.
Anita talks to mixed-race foodie and writer Raj Tawney, whose hours in the kitchen with his mom and grandma have grounded his search for belonging. Then, she picks up the phone and calls the primary chef in the Rao family: her mom, Sheila.
Anita meets three people who have chosen singlehood: a scholar who examines the double standard of relationship status, a single mother of two by choice and a man shedding toxic masculinity to build a deliberately single life.
Guest host Anisa Khalifa talks to two researchers about what the assisted death debate illuminates about dying in the United States.
Anita talks to two Deaf artists about how ASL gave them tools for self-understanding and artistic expression. Then she learns from two scholars about Black American Sign Language (BASL).
Anita meets three disabled fashionistas who design with disabled bodies as a starting point, not an afterthought.
Anita meets Tyler Feder and Shelly Anand, the creators behind the books "Bodies Are Cool" and "Laxmi's Mooch."
An intersex physician tells Anita about the decades-long attempt to erase intersex folks from existence, and a parent and two young adults share their advice on how to best support adolescents who defy the sex and gender binary.
Many autistic people assigned female at birth remain undiagnosed at 18, so what's it like to get an autism diagnosis in your adulthood?
Anita meets two people who have grappled with bisexuality’s history, meaning and power for building community.
Adult acne is often seen as your skin's worst nightmare. These influencers and artists are working to change that.
On her one-year wedding anniversary, Anita talks to the Hindu officiant who helped her build a ceremony that bridged the gap between her values and her dad's traditional desires. Plus, a comedian and queer ex-nun explains how she takes people from the place of "marriage is a dumpster fire" to a ceremony they're excited about.
Anita talks with two egg donors about why they donated and what they wish they'd known earlier. Plus, a medical anthropologist shines a light on the messy world of donor compensation.
An author who learned to read when he was 18 and a dyslexia scholar help Anita understand how reading develops in the brain and what's at stake if dyslexic learners are left by the wayside.
Anita meets a mixed-HIV status couple who shares how they've approached sex and intimacy in their 11+ year relationship. Plus, a woman who was born HIV positive talks about dating, disclosure and overcoming the fear of rejection.
A scientist tells Anita why our brains respond so strongly to kissing and how our kissing customs have changed over time. She also unpacks the power of a kiss with a photographer who documents queer Black love in public and three Gen Zers school her on contemporary kissing culture.
Anita talks with a urologist about what medical advice to consider while making the circumcision decision (and where medicine doesn't have the answers). She also meets a rabbi and mother who offers alternatives to centuries-old circumcision rituals and hears from a circumcised father raising an uncircumcised son.
Anita gets personal accounts from two gray divorcees about what it was like to rebuild their identities, finances and freedom post-divorce.
Anita goes behind the scenes with two prolific erotica author-editors and a former producer for the audio erotica app Dipsea to figure out how the sausage — and the butt slaps — get made.
Anita meets an interabled couple who share the sometimes humorous, sometimes challenging moments that accompany sex and dating with hearing loss, and former guest Yat Li returns to talk about deafness, disclosure and disabled identity.
Anita shares the first episode of a new podcast she's interested in, called Tested.
Anita meets two therapists of color working to increase awareness of and access to mental health services among BIPOC communities while fighting burnout and structural barriers to getting into therapy work.
Anita meets someone who spent three years living in a psychiatric hospital in the early 90s and talks with an activist whose time spent in contemporary psychiatric hospitals pushed them to fight for alternatives.
Anita meets a novelist, essayist and activist who share their disability love stories and how writing has changed their relationships with others and themselves.
Anita talks to her nail artist about how Black women have shaped nail culture. Plus a fashion historian details nail history from Egyptian mummies to ‘90s Chanel colors, and a Vietnamese-American woman tells the story of growing up inside her parents' nail salons.
Anita meets someone who spent 20 hours on the road to get her abortion, learns how folks afford thousands of dollars worth of travel and reviews the ways that Hollywood has taken on the abortion road trip.
Anita meets two caregivers of loved ones with dementia.
Anita meets three men breaking the silence around male infertility in hopes that others get the help and support they need.
Anita meets three transmasculine people who started taking testosterone as adults...and experienced everything from emotional fluctuations and voice changes to acne and new body hair in a period of second puberty.
Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott talks to four Black men about masculinity, friendship and vulnerability.
When you’re living with a stigmatized mental illness like bipolar disorder, opening up to romantic partners can be tough, but Anita brings on two people who’ve found their own way through love and mental health.
Anita meets two women whose compulsive sexual behaviors led them to seek support, and a sex-positive psychologist shares how she helps folks with sex addiction in their recovery.
In honor of Mother's Day, Anita meets two single moms by choice — and one of their daughters.
Anita hands it over to Yasmin Bendaas of "Me and My Muslim Friends," and Sameera Qureshi, a therapist and founder of Sexual Health for Muslims.
Anita talks to Lamya H., the author of "Hijab Butch Blues," a memoir they wrote to be "unapologetically queer and unapologetically Muslim."
Anita marks Earth Day by meeting three disability activists who share how their lives and bodies have been impacted by global warming — and how their wisdom could shift climate conversations.
Sharing something special today, an episode of the Love Letters podcast. Love Letters tells stories about romance, marriage, partnership, sex, loss and the human heart, all served with a side of advice by Boston Globe columnist Meredith Goldstein.
Anita meets two young funeral directors who felt called to this work at a young age, and they take her inside their world.
Anita hears three perspectives on single-kid families (including that of former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins) and learns why the debunked mythology around only children still lingers today.
Anita gets the truth about vibrator history and meets the engineer behind the first-ever “smart” vibrator.
Anita meets two couples who continued to choose each other after one partner came out as trans: a South African couple in their 20s and an American couple who went through a transition after 22 years of marriage.
No matter how much you love your partner, your relationship will never be totally free from disagreement. And nor should it be, say researchers Dr John Gottman and Dr Julie Schwartz Gottman. We actually just need to learn to argue better.
Anita talks to two Deaf artists about how ASL gave them tools for self-understanding and artistic expression. Then she learns from two scholars about Black American Sign Language (BASL).
Anita talks to a physiologist who's been exploring the science of ASMR for the past decade. Plus, she meets an ASMR artist and a woman who turned to the world of Boyfriend ASMR to heal her broken heart.
Anita talks with two egg donors about why they donated and what they wish they'd known earlier. Plus, a medical anthropologist shines a light on the messy world of donor compensation.
Anita learns about the ins and outs of the Brazilian butt lift from a plastic surgeon and a BBL recipient. Then a scholar puts our obsession with big butts in historical context.
![Thumbnail for "[Simulated Part Three] Immortalized: Building An AI Afterlife".](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Ff.prxu.org%2F1580%2Fbbf0cfc6-6e6a-4e95-92b8-b1745882b565%2Fimages%2F3f40022d-27d2-47c2-961d-5cedeef0cc59%2FUntitled_design__13_.png&w=3840&q=75 "Thumbnail for \"[Simulated Part Three] Immortalized: Building An AI Afterlife\".")
Anita meets a tech journalist who built bots of her parents to see how AI could preserve their memories for the long term. She also talks with a philosophy professor about the ways that ancient Chinese philosophy can address AI's emerging ethical issues and how grief tech fits into a long history of traditions around death and mourning.
![Thumbnail for "[Simulated Part Two] Fantasized: The Arrival Of The Sex Robots".](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Ff.prxu.org%2F1580%2Fad395f9e-7b6d-49ee-9a5e-eb37c8c47fde%2Fimages%2F9f1ac1a8-4dfe-4db8-b080-14239525f55f%2FFantasized_Pod_Art.png&w=3840&q=75 "Thumbnail for \"[Simulated Part Two] Fantasized: The Arrival Of The Sex Robots\".")
Anita talks to an artificial intelligence scholar who's traced sex robots from Greek mythology to the prototypes on the market today. Plus, a writer shines a light on the dark world of a futuristic brothel … explored from the perspective of an AI Sex Bot herself.
![Thumbnail for "[Simulated Part One] Auto-mated: When A Bot Becomes Your Boo".](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Ff.prxu.org%2F1580%2F35442139-2ad4-4844-ad9d-4af0037a1b9c%2Fimages%2F1dd250e4-03aa-4a4c-aba1-0432de22b56a%2FAuto-mated_Pod_Art.png&w=3840&q=75 "Thumbnail for \"[Simulated Part One] Auto-mated: When A Bot Becomes Your Boo\".")
AI chatbots fill a variety of roles from customer support to text generator. But what about their romantic potential?
Menstruation has long been stigmatized. Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott wonders: what can we learn by embracing it?
English speakers outside the South are embracing the word y’all. And the reasons may surprise you.
How does an OCD diagnosis affect a marriage? What about dating life and friendships? Anita asks three writers to find out.
Crying with emotion is a uniquely human phenomenon. Host Anita Rao digs into the science of why that is and what it tells us about ourselves.
Erectile dysfunction is more common than we think. Two men and a sex therapist share their stories.
America loves self-help books. Why has this industry hooked us for decades?
Stuttering has long been the butt of many jokes. People who stutter are working to change that.
Anita talks to two folks whose work is informed by their personal experiences growing up with incarcerated fathers.
Adult acne is often seen as your skin's worst nightmare. These influencers and artists are working to change that.
More Americans are living into their 90s and 100s. What does this mean for friendships, relationships and combatting social isolation?
Pole dance fitness studios have exploded in popularity in recent decades. Host Anita Rao investigates the sport's origins in strip clubs and the relationship between dance and identity.
Wellness industry insider and journalist Rina Raphael shares how this $4 trillion industry misleads all of us, and 'Dope Black Social Worker' Kim Young gives us the wellness reframes we all need.
What happens when trauma occurs not as a single isolated event, but millions of smaller, ongoing incidents?
What is life like when your childhood is full of international travel in cultures outside of even your parents' experiences? Two third culture kids talk about identity, friendship and family.
We hear a lot about toxic fandoms — but guest host Anisa Khalifa has a lot to share about the brighter side.
Many autistic people assigned female at birth remain undiagnosed at 18, so what's it like to get an autism diagnosis in your adulthood?
Anita goes behind the scenes of intimate photo shoots.
When Anita first picked up “The Collected Schizophrenias" by Esmé Weijun Wang, she realized how rare it was to find a first-hand account of someone navigating periods of psychosis. She brings Esmé on to talk about the relationship between mental illness and identity. Plus, she meets an artist who explores his hallucinations through drawing and a blogger documenting her experience as a mother with schizoaffective disorder.
Two surrogate partners take Anita inside the day-to-day of their jobs, and a certified sex therapist shares why she hopes others in her industry will be more welcoming to the practice.
Anita agrees to a suggestion posed by a listener: Explore why the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania is so taboo.
Anita talks with a heavily-tattooed scholar who's interrogated how society treats tattooed women; a queer, Jewish tattoo artist reclaiming body art; and an artist who's pushing back on the misconceptions of tattooing melanated skin.
A dominatrix and community leader introduce Anita to kink and BDSM spaces rooted in community and healing. Plus, a scholar talks about the long history behind our understanding of masochism.
Anita meets two people who've built specific communities around their grief around losing a parent on the internet and a writer who experienced losing his dad twice.
Anita talks with a trans man and a non-binary person about what's possible when we take a more gender-fluid approach to manhood.
Anita talks to folks about the distinct pain of a platonic breakup and gets some tools for building strong friendships, setting boundaries and figuring out when it's time to let go.
A psychologist answers Anita's burning workplace relationship questions and dives into the surprising amount of data about work besties. Plus, a Gen Z writer urges her to re-think the importance of work as a primary social hub.
Advice columnists Meredith Goldstein and Stacia Brown give guidance on breaking up "well," going no-contact, navigating social media and finding the right breakup anthem for the moment.
Anita talks to a recent college grad about her research on the sex lives of her peers, plus a therapist who shares her take on why it doesn't feel as liberating as we think it should. Then she dives into Celibacy TikTok — a space where Gen Zers are committing to being sex-free.
Anita hears her parents' take on our recent episode "Mixed," about growing up biracial.
Anita talks to her nail artist about how Black women have shaped nail culture. Plus a fashion historian details nail history from Egyptian mummies to ‘90s Chanel colors, and a Vietnamese-American woman tells the story of growing up inside her parents' nail salons.
Anita meets two mixed race college seniors and they talk through navigating everything from "Where do I belong?" to "How do I date?" Plus she hears wisdom from a life coach who helps mixed adults tell new stories about identity.
Anita talks with two sets of couples in very different professional industries about their strategies for tackling finances, alone time and intimacy.
A pleasure enthusiast advises Anita on the art of a good sext; a sexting expert traces the short and spicy history of sexting in this country; and a high schooler breaks down the relationship between sexting and consent.
Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott talks with two other Black mothers about their definitions of gentle parenting and how it can break cycles of generational trauma. Then her older son shares how he has seen her parenting evolve over the past three decades.
Anita meets three men breaking the silence around male infertility in hopes that others get the help and support they need.
Anita passes the mic to our friends at the feminist documentary podcast "Bodies" for an exploration of ADHD and identity.
Anita meets three people who have chosen singlehood: a scholar who examines the double standard of relationship status, a single mother of two by choice and a man shedding toxic masculinity to build a deliberately single life.
A scientist tells Anita why our brains respond so strongly to kissing and how our kissing customs have changed over time. She also unpacks the power of a kiss with a photographer who documents queer Black love in public and three Gen-Zers school her on contemporary kissing culture.
Anita explores crying with a poet who spent years diving deeply into the science and culture of crying and a forerunner of the "crying selfie" trend.
Anita meets a prolific artist whose experience with postpartum depression catalyzed a mental health journey and a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder. She also talks to a couple about what folks should know about sex and relationships postpartum and why the mental health of non-birthing partners should be part of the postpartum conversation.
In part one of a two-part series, Anita hears from folks about meeting their new postpartum bodies.
Anita meets a married couple shares how obsessive-compulsive disorder put them in survival mode and a woman whose OCD symptoms began in kindergarten talks about learning how to open up about her experience in friendships and dating.
Anita talks with a urologist about what medical advice to consider while making the circumcision decision (and where medicine doesn't have the answers). She also meets a rabbi and mother who offers alternatives to centuries-old circumcision rituals and hears from a circumcised father raising an uncircumcised son.
Anita talks with three women about making their child-free decisions and meets a psychotherapist who's devoted her career to helping people find clarity in that choice.
A psychologist shares why smell is our most emotional sense, plus stories about the mental health consequences of anosmia (losing your sense of smell) and a scent designer describes how to re-create memories through candles.
Two speech-language pathologists and a comedian help Anita question cultural assumptions about stuttering and explore the growing movement to embrace speech diversity.
Anita learns about non-sexual, social nudity and why opting to live life mostly in the nude could actually make her think about her body LESS.
Anita gets the truth about vibrator history and meets the engineer behind the first-ever “smart” vibrator.
Anita hears three perspectives on single-kid families (including that of former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins) and learns why the debunked mythology around only children still lingers today.
The name Embodied came to Anita in a dream, and she's on a quest to figure out why.
Wellness industry insider and journalist Rina Raphael shares how this $4 trillion industry misleads all of us, and 'Dope Black Social Worker' Kim Young gives us the wellness reframes we all need.
After not seeing a drag show for the first 30 years of her life, Anita now dives in.
Anita talks to two folks whose work is informed by their personal experiences growing up with incarcerated fathers.
Anita meets an interabled couple who share the sometimes humorous, sometimes challenging moments that accompany sex and dating with hearing loss, and former guest Yat Li returns to talk about deafness, disclosure and disabled identity.
Anita hands the mic over to audio journalist H Conley, who follows a 26-year-old Black nonbinary food writer as they overcome repeated barriers to getting top surgery due to body size.
Anita meets two women whose compulsive sexual behaviors led them to seek support, and a sex-positive psychologist shares how she helps folks with sex addiction in their recovery.
Anita has not participated in a Dry January, but there are times when she's motivated to pay extra-close attention to her relationship with alcohol.
Anita talks with three women who've investigated how events in their own family histories have rippled through the generations to influence their bodies, parenting and culture.
Anita presents part two of our purity culture storytelling event "Purified Live," featuring two storytellers.
Anita presents part one of our purity culture storytelling event "Purified Live," featuring three storytellers.
Anita invites her older sister Priyanka onto the podcast to reflect on tricky — but often inevitable — conversations with family members.
A psychologist answers Anita's burning workplace relationship questions and dives into the surprising amount of data about work besties. Plus, a Gen Z writer urges her to re-think the importance of work as a primary social hub.
Anita shares an episode of the podcast “Dating While Gray” that features conversations between parents and their adult kids about the ongoing search for a happily ever after.
Anita goes behind the scenes of intimate photo shoots.
Anita explores why the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania is so taboo.
Anita talks with a financial therapist and a money coach about their work to help people better understand their money hang-ups and explores some unconventional ways to think about your money.
Anita revisits the topic of pelvic floor PT with a focus on access for trans and gender nonconforming folks.
Anita demystifies surrogacy with the help of a three-time gestational surrogate and intended parent.
Anita talks to Elissa Wall about growing up in (and then leaving) an isolated, polygamist religious community.
Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott talks with a filmmaker, director and horror scholar about how they see their own experiences reflected in the Black horror renaissance.
Anita learns about the surprising history and technology of the brassiere.
Anita has long taken a laissez-faire approach to digital security. But as she's learned (the hard way), just because she doesn't have something to hide, doesn't mean she has nothing to lose.
Anita revisits a conversation with folks who've undergone facial feminization surgery as part of their gender confirmation process.
Guest host Omisade Burney-Scott is a proud Aries Sun-Leo moon-Virgo rising and has been looking to the stars since the 70s. She leads Embodied's exploration of astrology.
Anita shares an episode of “This Is Uncomfortable,” a podcast from Marketplace that explores the ways money messes with our relationships and life plans.
Anita meets two people who chose to leave tight-knit religious communities.
Anita meets two abortion doulas who share the practical and philosophical components of their job.
Two women who aged out of foster care tell Anita about their experiences and how they informed the relationships they're building today. Plus, she meets someone who's seen the foster care system from both sides — as a kid, and as a foster parent.
Anita talks with pet owners, a veterinary social worker, a vet and her own parents about making space for pet grief and memorializing the animal companions we have loved.
Anita's begun exploring the vast world of romance novels and was surprised to learn how much more diverse the genre has become since the days when Fabio was the only inspiration for sexy book covers.
Anita does not work with her boo, but after sharing home office space for two pandemic years, she's started to wonder how couples who *do* work together make it work.
Anita has not participated in a Dry January, but there are times when she's motivated to pay extra-close attention to her relationship with alcohol.
Anita's now living in one of the few places in the U.S. South without an abortion ban. As her home state becomes the nearest safe provider for millions of people, she's observing how abortion providers here are preparing for the spike in demand.
For years, Anita's been reading headlines about why coffee is "good" for you, but she's not sure where myth ends and fact begins. So, she turns to the experts. And two folks with deep ties to java talk about coffee culture, from bean to brew.
Anita treasures sleep and moments of silence. So when she hears typical narratives of early parenthood that include unending cries and restless nights, she has concerns for the mental toll on new parents.
In part one of a two-part series, Anita hears from folks about meeting their new postpartum bodies.
Anita got glasses young, and as a kid every time her prescription got worse, her anxiety about losing her vision spiked. She realizes now how much of that fear was ableism at work.
Anita finally learned how to put on sunscreen properly and care for her body’s largest organ.
Anita turns the mic over to guest host Omisade Burney-Scott to explore the many ways folks are raising kids outside the nuclear family unit.
Anita knows there's no way she can prepare herself or her loved ones for the ways a terminal illness can alter their lives.
Anita talks to experts about how sex therapy can help people reconnect with their bodies and in the bedroom.
Anita sniffs out what's so fascinating about the science of smell.
Anita shares a podcast from her colleagues featuring musician Nnenna Freelon.
Anita shares why she's been inhaling the Netflix show "Sex Education."
Anita meets folks who see what's at stake if sexuality education doesn't change.
Anita explores the experiences of folks who grew up immersed in Purity Culture.
Anita talks to three parents of gender-expansive kids.
Anita examines the myths and realities of hook up culture.
The name Embodied came to Anita in a dream, and she's on a quest to figure out why.
Anita got friend dumped for the first time in 6th grade, and she's still not over it.
Anita turns to advice experts for the breakup advice you need when you're nursing a broken heart.
Anita meets folks who — by choice or circumstance — are estranged from members of their family,
Anita figures out why everybody's talking about the pelvic floor.
Anita explores the links between voice and identity.
Anita applies herself to learning the fascinating history of her favorite item: red lipstick.
Anita revisits a conversation about body neutrality.
Anita talks about an approach to food and health that encourages tuning into your body's signals.
Anita unpacks the science that props up diet culture.
Athletes who push their bodies to muscular limits take Anita inside their physique sport.
A historian, model and designer take Anita into the world of undergarments.
Anita hears from people who are reclaiming their right to rest and pushing back against hustle culture through art, therapy and activism.
Anita talks to folks who are looking at the aging process head-on and thinking about how to build webs of community and care for their older selves.
Anita learns from folks who identify as the A on the LGBTQIA spectrum.
Anita meets folks who've undergone facial feminization surgery as part of their gender confirmation process.
Anita's mom and others navigating menopause share how it's shaped their relationships with their bodies, sex and where they turn for support.
Anita learns about how smart devices contribute to the rise of a new type of intimate partner violence.
Anita learns about what goes on behind-the-scenes of some of her favorite TV sex scenes.
Anita finally learned how to put on sunscreen properly and care for her body’s largest organ.
Anita learns about daycare facilities open around the clock.
Anita learns the science behind the most effective form of birth control.
Anita learns about a new, radical reframe for body acceptance: body neutrality.
Anita meets people who encourage her to spend more time looking head-on at the inevitable.
Anita learns about non-sexual, social nudity.
Anita shares an exciting announcement about the Embodied podcast and what you…
Anita meets couples who stayed together despite prison walls.
Anita exchanges notes about having uncomfortable conversations.
Anita learns about why some bodies struggle to get deep and nourishing rest.
Anita hears from people with physical disabilities in the trenches of online dating.
Anita meets three transracial adoptees who share their varied experiences of belonging.
Anita hears stories of people who looked to the past for a chance at future happiness.
Anita gets a real education about herpes.
Anita learns about how video games help strengthen our connections with others.
Anita talks with people whose abortion stories are often left out of the conversation.
Anita learns the cultural and political history of body hair removal.
Embodied is back for a second season!
Anita inquires how a new presidential administration will affect transgender troops.
Anita shares an episode of a podcast that challenges the status quo of motherhood.
Anita is admittedly anxious about aging.
Anita learns about the the need for accessible, gender-affirming healthcare.
Anita meets three women trying to change the dialogue around motherhood.
Anita shares an episode of the podcast "The Only One In The Room."
Anita has a gut feeling none of us know as much as we should about our intestines.
Anita is a workaholic, and as she learns, that has some serious consequences on her health.
Anita explores her own to journey to enjoying porn without shame.
Anita realizes she never got 'the sex talk' growing up.
Impolite conversations. Intimate connections. Important self-discoveries.
The Hidden Labor Of Flight Attendants
April 2, 202650min 23sec
When you board a plane, flight attendants greet you with practiced smiles and seamless service. But there’s a lot of mental and emotional labor that passengers don’t see. Missy, a Hawaii-based flight attendant, takes Anita inside her world and shares stories from her close to five years on the job — from managing unruly passengers to dealing with medical emergencies. Travel journalist Natalie Compton also shares her reporting on the financial precarity some flight attendants face and how understanding more about their reality has changed the way she approaches air travel.
Meet the guests:
- Missy is a Hawaii-based flight attendant who is using only her first name since she's not authorized to speak on behalf of her airline
- Natalie Compton is a travel reporter for The Washington Post
Read the transcript | Review the podcast on your preferred platform
Follow Embodied on Instagram
Dig deeper:
Natalie's reporting on the financial precarity of early-career flight attendants
Natalie's reporting on flight attendant training
Please note: This episode originally published on June 19, 2025.