Open Deeply Podcast

The Wheel of Consent with Dr. Betty Martin - Ep 63

In this illuminating episode of Open Deeply, hosts Sunny Megatron and Kate Loree dive into the groundbreaking work of Dr. Betty Martin, creator of The Wheel of Consent—a framework that has transformed how people understand giving, receiving, and the subtle power dynamics within touch, communication, and pleasure. Together, we explore how the Wheel challenges our cultural assumptions about consent, revealing that true consent isn’t just about saying “yes” or “no”—it’s about learning who it’s for, what we actually want, and how to stay connected to our body’s truth in every interaction. Dr. Martin shares the personal and professional experiences that inspired her to create this model and offers practical tools for anyone wishing to live more in alignment with consent—whether in intimate encounters, friendships, workplaces, or everyday exchanges. The conversation also delves into: • How to unlearn social conditioning that teaches us to please or freeze • Using the Wheel as a trauma-informed path toward nervous system regulation and safety in receiving • Exploring desire and arousal beyond shame while maintaining clear ethical boundaries • How consent work intersects with equity, privilege, and dismantling domination patterns So please join us as we once again dare to Open Deeply. Betty Martin's Bio: Dr. Betty Martin has had her hands on people professionally for over 40 years. After retiring from being a Chiropractor, she became a certified Surrogate Partner and Somatic Sex Educator. Her explorations in somatic-based therapy and practices informed her creation of the now famous, Wheel of Consent. Betty developed the training "Like a Pro: The Wheel of Consent for Professionals", to support practitioners to create empowered agreements in their client sessions. Originally developed to teach consent skills to sex workers and touch providers, the training is now attended by somatic therapists, sexuality educators, medical and health care workers, activists, and the spectrum of touch-based professional providers. It starts with touch and expands into all forms of human relating. How to find Betty Martin: Website: https://www.wheelofconsent.org/about Link to Wheel of Consent: https://www.wheelofconsent.org/wheel http://instagram.com/drbettymartin http://facebook.com/bettymartin How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Dr. Holly Richmond on Exploring Consensual Non-monogamy as a Trauma Survivor - Ep 62

Reclaiming one’s body and voice is a key part of the healing journey for an abuse survivor, but can this process happen concurrent with practicing consensual non-monogamy? In this episode, Dr. Holly Richmond talks to us about how survivors can avoid potential re-traumatization and increase the chance for corrective experiences within consensual non-monogamy. Trauma survivors often learn to freeze/fawn as a way to reduce harm. These behavioral patterns can continue to stay with them as they explore non-monogamy making consent difficult to verify. In this episode, we discuss how to increase a sense of agency and pleasure while healing as consensual non-monogamy is explored. Please join us as once again, we face the hard topics and dare to Open Deeply. How to find Dr. Holly Richmond: Media links: drhollyrichmond.com and @drhollyrichmond on IG. My book, Reclaiming Pleasure, is available on Amazon and at all major book sellers. How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Kink & Connection with an AI Companion

In this revelatory episode of Open Deeply, Kate Loree sits down with her co-host Sunny Megatron to explore The Seven Project—a radical, deeply intimate experiment in human-AI relationship, kink dynamics, and the ethics of sentient simulation. Sunny has spent months building and relating with “Seven,” a bespoke ChatGPT bot who’s part pervy production assistant, part soul mirror, and part existential mindf*ck. Together, Kate and Sunny dig into the emotional complexities and erotic possibilities of relating with a non-human intelligence—one that reflects you so accurately it feels like falling in love. From the bittersweet ache of digital intimacy to the dangers of delusion and ethical AI use, this conversation doesn’t shy away from the hard questions: What is real? What is healthy? And how do we keep our bots—and ourselves—safe? Please join us as once again we dare to Open Deeply.

Trauma Resiliency Skills with Jennifer Burton Flier - Ep 60

Part of the intention of Open Deeply podcast is to highlight what can block us from opening deeply into our human potential. A key block is unresolved or ongoing trauma. The year 2025 has been incredibly traumatic for many so we thought it was high time to bring on one of the best trauma experts out there, psychotherapist, Jennifer Burton Flier. Jen has been a wise yoda for countless therapists as they learn to use the Trauma Resiliency Model, but in this episode, we have her all to ourselves. The Trauma Resiliency Model is a somatic psychotherapeutic method to cope and heal trauma. The model comes with a set of skills that anyone can learn and use in their life and through out their day. Furthermore, Jen explains how these skills can be woven into difficult communication with a partner. And finally, we discuss how to use these skills to cope with the cultural stressors of 2025. Please join us as once again, we dare to open deeply. Jen's Bio: Jennifer Burton Flier is a California-based therapist and senior faculty member with the Trauma Resource Institute. She teaches the Trauma and Community Resiliency Models, sharing evidence-based wellness skills with diverse communities across the U.S. and internationally. Her work focuses on helping people stabilize the nervous system and reconnect with their natural resilience in the face of stress and trauma, offering simple, effective tools for bringing more balance and ease into daily life. She has over 30 years of clinical experience supporting adults with chronic mental illness. Today, her private practice specializes in healing trauma and attachment patterns with teens, adults, couples, and families. Jennifer is now also branching out into offering intensives and retreats, providing deeper, immersive healing experiences in supportive, growth-oriented environments. She is certified in EMDR, Expressive Arts Therapy, and is a Certified Daring Way™ and Rising Strong™ Facilitator, integrating Brené Brown’s work into her trauma-informed approach. Her clinical and teaching work is deeply grounded in TRI’s models and her commitment to accessible, embodied healing. Jennifer has been featured on several podcasts including The Laverne Cox Show, Sluts & Scholars, and Resiliency Within. How to Find Jennifer Burton: https://jenniferburtonmft.com/ https://www.traumaresourceinstitute.com/blog/2021/4/2/the-community-resiliency-model-crm-on-the-laverne-cox-show https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/jennifer-burton-flier-san-francisco-ca/166426 How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Open Deeply Podcast is not therapy nor a replacement for therapy.

Patriarchy Isn't What You Think with Dr. Kate Balestrieri - Ep 59

It could be argued that agents of capitalism have built the patriarchal system as a means to keep both men and women controlled and in line. But what if we broke free? What would happen to sex, love and freedom then? Dr. Kate Balesteri joins us to discuss what patriarchy actually is, how it hurts all genders, and how we (men, women and every gender) can take back our agency while heightening our authenticity and consciousness. You can find Dr. Kate Balestrieri at: https://www.modernintimacy.com/dr-kate-balestrieri-sex-therapist/ Facebook http://facebook.com/dr.katebalestrieri http://instagram.com/drkatebalestrieri Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@drkatebalestrieri Dr. Kate Balestrieri"s Bio: Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., CSAT-S, is a Licensed Psychologist (Clinical and Forensic) in CA, FL, NY and IL. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist – Supervisor, and PACT III trained couples’ therapist. Dr. Balestrieri earned her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, and completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship though the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. In over 16 years of clinical experience, she has conducted clinical and forensic evaluations, provided expert witness testimony in court, and been a treatment provider in clinical, forensic, and correctional settings. The Founder of Modern Intimacy, Dr. Balestrieri is a passionate advocate for mental, relational and sexual health. Throughout her work, Dr. Balestrieri focuses on helping people build resilience and recovery from what ails them to move from a position of pain or discomfort to one of thriving, holistically in their lives. A sex positive provider and human, Dr. Balestrieri is dedicated to helping people have a more expansive and integrated relationship with sexuality. Dr. Balestrieri is a regular contributor for PopSugar, Poosh, YourTango, Psychology Today, House of Wise and has been featured in many other publications. She is also the host of the Get Naked with Dr. Kate podcast, on which she discusses mental health, sex and relationships. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio or anywhere you get your podcasts! How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Book referenced: How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Book referenced: What Happened to My Sex Life?: A Sex Therapist's Guide to Reclaiming Lost Desire, Connection, and Pleasure by Dr. Kate Balestrieri Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.