Ple^sure Principles

In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Sana sits down with CEO, author and podcaster Judy Gaman to talk about what really keeps love alive in an age-gap marriage over decades.

They get specific about navigating different life stages, shifting energy levels, hormones, careers, blended families and grandkids, without pretending that love alone solves everything. Judy breaks down how couples can do a real "relationship audit" ar...

In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Cam Jennings, Director of Business Development at ToyChats.com, a user generated sex toy review platform built for safety, transparency and real talk about adult pleasure products. They unpack why most people still buy toys based on packaging and guesswork, how censorship on platforms like Meta, TikTok and Tumblr silences essential safety conversations, an...

In this powerful episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik sits down with Jeremy Nelson, founder of MarryingAmerica.com — a revolutionary dating platform designed for people who are serious about marriage and long-term partnership. Jeremy exposes why modern dating apps are failing us, how abundance of choice has killed intention, and why the rise of AI companions may make genuine human relationships...

Sex is one of the most natural things on the planet. Yet most of us were taught to fear it, hide it, or feel guilty for wanting it. In this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with dark romance author Bria Rose to unpack purity culture, shame, and the double standards that shape our desire.

Bria shares how writing dark romance and a kinky Beauty and the Beast retelling, Her Dark Promise, became a way to ...

On Pleasure Principles (a Healthy Mind By Avik™ show), Avik gets tactical about the loneliness epidemic with Gabor Kadas, CEO of Friending, Inc. We unpack why “always online” still feels empty, the health toll of isolation, and what it takes to engineer an app that pushes people off their phones and into real life—10-message caps, 30-day “meet IRL” windows, ID verification (Persona), proximity check-ins, and tap-3 safety ale...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik gets tactical about intimacy beyond sex when chronic illness enters the chat. Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Lisa Gray, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, lays out an actionable playbook: separate sex from intimacy, center attunement over performance, and rebuild connection through presence, curiosity, and clear communication. We unpack grief on both sides of the partnership, v...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Certified Financial Planner Jennifer Edwards to cut through myths about “money fights.” Jennifer explains why arguments are rarely about dollars and almost always about childhood narratives, nervous system activation, and mismatched values. You’ll learn a step-by-step way to start money conversations, recognize stress responses (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), and pract...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty speaks with Dr. Amy and Roy Clark about building durable relationships through the Four Intimacies—verbal, emotional, physical, and spiritual. We unpack what authentic verbal intimacy sounds like beyond logistics, how to read and match emotions without oversharing, and why security fuels pleasure in long-term partnerships. The Clarks share bite-size tools like the 5% con...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik explores why ease is not the opposite of achievement with intuitive movement and mindful awareness guide Veronique Ory. We unpack how slowing down becomes a portal to deeper sensation, kinder intimacy, and clearer leadership. Veronique shares tiny, tactical practices for busy lives, the difference between sensual aliveness and sexuality, how to set gentle boundaries so intimacy follows the nervous ...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, we cut through the confusion around intimate content in modern relationships: When you send nudes or explicit material, what happens to consent when the relationship ends? Certified sexologist Mandy Hart lays out a clear, non-judgmental framework for digital consent—how to set terms before sharing, what “for your eyes only” actually means, and why consent can be erotic instead of awkward. We ...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik and guest Christian W Schnepf unpack a deceptively simple idea: pleasure is a good time—and it can be intentionally designed, measured, and sustained. Christian introduces the Good Time Ratio (GTR) and a five-area framework (self, actions, outcomes, environment, social) to help you move from fleeting highs to long-term, life-affirming satisfaction. Expect direct, practical la...

Toxic relationships chip away at safety, power, and self-trust. In this direct conversation, licensed therapist and author Kate Mageau breaks down early red flags (mocking framed as “teasing,” coercive control, financial dependence), the role of power dynamics, and practical first steps to leave and rebuild. We cover emotional abuse, the cycle of violence, boundaries, and what thriving actually looks like after toxicity—choic...

In this episode of Pleasure Principles with host Avik Chakraborty, psychotherapist and addiction recovery expert Sherry Gaba unpacks the difficult but essential conversation around love addiction, toxic relationships, and codependency. Sherry explains the psychology and neurobiology of love addiction, how trauma shapes our relationship choices, and why so many people repeat cycles of unhealthy love....

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with boundaries coach Barb Nangle (Higher Power Coaching & Consulting; host of Fragmented to Whole: Life Lessons from 12-Step Recovery) to unpack why saying “no” feels threatening—and how to rebuild integrity, energy, and time with values-anchored limits. We talk acculturation (especially for eldest daughters), shifting from approval-seekin...

On Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Dr. Eleanor Haspel-Portner to unpack the Four Worlds framework—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—and how these layers interact to shape pleasure, purpose, and everyday choices. Drawing from clinical work, systems like Human Design and the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, and her Noble Energy Maps, Dr. Eleanor explains practical ways to r...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles with host Avik Chakraborty, licensed marriage & family therapist and certified sex therapist Keri Green unpacks dating in your 40s, the paradox of hookup apps, and how presence—not perfection—drives connection. We dig into consent-first communication, de-shaming desire, creating safety in the body, and why long-term relationships thrive when partners evolve...

On Pleasure Principles (Healthy Mind By Avik™), Avik and therapist–author Eric FitzMedrud unpack men’s sexuality through a practical lens: how consent becomes a skill, why shame blocks clarity, and how to move from performance to presence. Expect direct, science-based language suitable for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You’ll hear concrete ways to ask, attune, and co-create intimacy—wi...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles (hosted by Avik), certified sexuality educator and menopause coach Karen Bigman breaks down what really happens to libido, desire, and intimacy after 50—and how to keep sex joyful at any age. We cover menopause, hormone shifts, erectile dysfunction, responsive vs. spontaneous desire, communication, and practical tools (from HRT to mindset and skill-building) so...

On this episode of Pleasure Principles, host Avik Chakraborty speaks with Angel Howard—founder of Wild Heart Expressive, host of Upshift, and author of Issues in Your Tissues. We unpack a direct, practical approach to embodiment: why the body “stores the story,” how breath, sound, and movement unblock stuck emotions, and what this means for real-world leadership, communication, and retention. Angel ...