Category: Stuff We Like

S.A.A. Salutes: Betty Dodson

SAAgraphic04212014(4/21/14)  One of the wonderful bennies of Sex Across America as an ongoing project is having the opportunity to meet some truly great people who have dedicated themselves to positively impacting sex lives–and are succeeding brilliantly through straight talk and rational approaches.  In a climate of perpetual hypocrisy and cultural mystification, that’s often a tall order, but some manage to break through anyway.  Recently, we had the chance to meet one such pioneer who has been a bastion of irreverent style, delightful inspiration and unequivocal commitment for almost half a century:  Dr. Betty Dodson.  If you haven’t followed her work before, you’re really missing out on a genuine treasure.

Dr. Dodson first gained attention in the 1960s by holding the very first one-woman erotic art show at New York’s Wickersham Gallery.  Later, dismayed by some of the more mainstream feminist strategies emerging at the time, she leveraged her artistic skills into educational pursuits that ultimately pioneered an era of sexual liberation for women.  A dynamic speaker and best-selling author, her first book, Sex for One, sold over a million copies and set the stage for practical workshops for over 40 years.

Now closing in on her mid-80s, Dr. Betty still approaches the science of sexology with the soul of an artist and the energy of a super-athlete.  She leads the field as a sex-positive feminist by applying her no-nonsense feistiness in a philosophy that emphasizes what works instead of what’s popular.  It’s as simple as that in principle, but applying it on today’s uber-politicized landscape is rarely so straightforward.  Even in that environment, she leaves no room for excuses and instead, with an iron will, makes it work.  Such is the nature of unconventional stars.

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She remains highly engaged today in sex education and activism through her private practice and various internet resources that are administered along with her partner, Carlin Ross.  In addition to their exceptionally comprehensive website, Dodsonandross.com, they maintain a lively, informative and entertaining presence through their YouTube channel, which we highly recommend.  Just make sure you leave yourself plenty of uninterrupted time to enjoy and we strongly suggest keeping any drinks a safe distance away from your keyboard.

Though creeping up on the eventual closing chapter of her brilliant career, Dr. Betty shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.  If anything, she seems to be facing it with confident defiance and unbridled optimism, stating in a recent interview, “We need to face and embrace death like it’s the final orgasm! I’m going to design my death like I designed my life. Besides, I’m leaving all of my information and art images behind in the cloud. And I’m not going to exit for quite a while, either. I’m going for a hundred or more because I’m having so much fun!”

Indeed, Dr. Betty–here’s to much more fun for many years to come!

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S.A.A. Salutes: Dave the Raw Food Trucker

SAAdaverft(3/24/14)  An active, healthy sex life is the result of many things coming together in a balanced way.  Some things might be beyond our control at any given point (for example, the mood of your partner) but there are plenty of aspects we can manage if given a little thought and planning.  The thing is, that takes effort, discipline and know-how, the latter of which could be problematic if you don’t know what you don’t know.

So, here’s a simple question:  How would you like to be pushing 60 and have a better sex life than when you were in your 20s?  If that sounds good–and more to the point, if that sounds too good to be possible–then get ready for the feel-good story of the year.

Dave Conrardy is probably a name that most are unfamiliar with, but his inspirational story is one that deserves more widespread attention.  In 2006, the over-the-road trucker was in his early 50s and closing in on the end of the road–literally.  He weighed over 400 pounds, had diabetes and arthritis and was suffering from the early phases of kidney failure along with stage 2 colon cancer.  Needless to say, his sex life was almost non-existent.

At a point like that, it probably would have been very easy to just blame the multitude of circumstances and ride it out downhill.  Instead, Dave went a different way and took direct charge of his fate in a small, simple way that produced huge, remarkable results:  He started eating raw, organic foods.

Now, maybe that doesn’t sound overly sexy or even productive given the situation, but let’s cut to the chase and see what happened:  Within three months, he lost 100 pounds.  Within six months, he was down 170 pounds and his cancer had vanished.  Within that same year, his kidneys stopped leaking proteins into his blood and within 18 months, he had lost over 230 pounds.  And his sex drive?  Dave very candidly notes that it’s better now than when he was in his 20s and all without the use of any performance enhancing drugs.  Take THAT, A-Rod!

The truly remarkable part of Dave’s story isn’t just about how he literally turned his own life around for the better, but how he’s using that experience and knowledge to help others.  In addition to being a sought-after inspirational speaker around the world these days, “Dave, the Raw Food Trucker” as he’s known in front of audiences just published a concise book designed as a beginner’s guide to improving sexual health and well being though raw organics.  It candidly provides more details about his personal journey along with simple tips and advice for people who want to gain a better understanding of the potential benefits involved.  His down-to-Earth style not only provides an inspiring read, but also serves to make the information and philosophies both accessible and interesting.  In short, it’s a wonderful way of going beyond his personal success and reaching out to anyone who might also benefit.

To celebrate Dave’s achievements and in his spirit of doing for others, Sex Across America will make a PDF version of the booklet available for free to anyone who would like one.  Simply email us at admin@sexacrossamerica.com and please note “Request for Dave’s Book” in the subject line.

To learn more about and to connect with Dave, the Raw Food Trucker, here’s a link to his Facebook page. 

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Happy Birthday, Bunny! Playboy at 60

SAAgraphic010614hef(1/6/14)  Of all the things that significantly helped change sexual mores in America for the better, Playboy stands out as an enduring icon that combines beauty, style, class and intelligence.  Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, you can say what you want about its relevance today in the mosh-pit of adult-oriented media, but the fact remains that it is of one of the most recognized brands globally.  It’s not just because they were one of the first.  It’s because they did it right and built it to last.

Born on a Chicago apartment kitchen table for about $8,000, Hugh M. Hefner’s first edition featured Marilyn Monroe and was an instant sensation.  While Playboy quickly became noted for its elegant photography and strict attention to detail, ‘Hef’ insisted that the magazine carve out a  sophisticated niche by including literary works by some of the world’s most renown writers.  Eventually, this also included covering the political, cultural and entertainment shifts of the turbulent times through “The Playboy Interview” which became a celebrated feature rivaling the centerfold as an edition’s most notable component.

SAAgraphic010614jsCourageously persisting in the face of constant pushback throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s, Hef continued to build the Playboy brand by expanding into nightclubs, fashion and electronic media, even hosting his own syndicated television program, “Playboy After Dark.”  In the early 80s, he launched Playboy TV (originally, The Playboy Channel), a visionary move that was well ahead of the proliferation of specialty cable/satellite channels.  As the network grew and progressed with original programming, our personal connection to the Playboy saga emerged.  In 1998, they launched what would become the hit series, “Sex Court,” starring the amazing Julie Strain and our very own Alexandra Silk.  Okay, perhaps it’s an itty bitty part of a much more substantial tale, but it’s a very special one here.  Getting to know the legendary and incredibly generous Hef was remarkable in every way and he remains very dear to both of us.

Sixty years have passed since Marilyn graced its first pages and the Chicago apartment has given way to the famous Mansion, but the Playboy phenomenon continues strong into the 21st Century.  Entrenched as a cornerstone in America’s sexual revolution, Playboy’s history of innovation and pushing boundaries is an enduring legacy that we celebrate and hope will be built further upon.  Yes, keeping up with the times presents many challenges, but that’s just part of any business–and likely the basis for many other great discussions.  For now, we just offer a hearty “Happy Anniversary” to the whole Playboy family along with our wishes for many more great years to come.