Our Better Half

Sexologist Dr. Jane Fleishman and sex therapist Dr. Rosara Torrisi break down the beauty of human sexuality in the latter half of life -- also known as the better half.

207: Combatting Ageism Through Sexual Pleasure 05/05/2025

206: Trans and Queer Centered Therapy 04/21/2025

205: An Intergenerational Look at Teaching Sex Therapy 04/01/2025

205: An Intergenerational Look at Teaching Sex Therapy Our guests this time are the dynamic duo, mother/daughter team of The Buehler Institute, Dr. Stephanie Buehler and Anneka Buehler. Stephanie Buehler, MPW, PsyD, CST-S, IF, is a licensed psychologist, AASECT-certified sex Therapist and Supervisor, and Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. She is the President of The Buehler Institute and , which provides APA, AASECT, NBCC, and California BRN-approved inclusive continuing education in sex therapy and sexuality counseling. In addition to pelvic pain disorders and using the sexological ecosystemic approach she developed, Dr. Buehler has written about and lectured on the intersection of sexuality and sexual identity, thriving after breast and prostate cancer; neurodivergent sexuality and relationships; post-trauma recovery of sexual function and pleasure; counseling for couples; infertility, pregnancy, and post-partum issues; and menopause and other lifespan concerns affecting women. She provides AASECT individual and group supervision and case consultation to therapists. She is the author of several books, including the third edition of . Anneka Buehler, MEd, is a recent graduate of George Mason University with a master’s degree in counseling. She is the Vice President of The Buehler Institute and is a true multi-tasker responsible for directing day-to-day operations, marketing and social media, and content development. Ms. Buehler is an intern at a group practice that serves DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Her areas of concentration include working with neurodiverse clients, trauma, pelvic pain, and kink, and she has extensive experience with the LGBTQ+ population. If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on and . It really helps support our show! As always, thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/our-better-half/id/35956160

204: The Sex Bible for People Over 50 03/17/2025

203: Building Hope: Advocacy for Older Adults During Terrible Times 03/03/2025

202: Finding Your Way Back to Sex in Long-Term Relationships 02/18/2025

201: Developing a Liberatory Pleasure Practice 02/03/2025

201: Developing a Liberatory Pleasure Practice This episode explores the significance of intergenerational learning and social/racial justice within the sexual health field. We had the joy of interviewing Mariotta Gary-Smith about her experiences of mentorship from Black women/femme elders that also inspired the trajectory of her career as a social justice actionable agitator. Mariotta Gary-Smith (she/her/Queen [reserved]) is a 3rd generation social justice agitator & Oregonian. Her family history of civil rights seeded her interest in social justice - she found human sexuality on her own. After high school, Mariotta earned degrees from Agnes Scott College and the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. In Fall 2008, she was one of five nationally selected Fellowship Scholars for the Inaugural Class at the Center of Excellence for Sexual Health (CESH) housed at the Morehouse School of Medicine. In 2009, Mariotta co-founded the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WoCSHN; pronounced ‘wok-shyn’) – an online-based, collective organization for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) women/femme-identifying/gender-expansive sexuality professionals. In 2012, Mariotta joined with 6 other Oregon-based BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color/of the Global Majority) women and femmes that formed the Founding Advisory Committee of the We Are BRAVE! Project, a cohort policy project housed at Western States Center (Portland, OR.) This collective was a foundational part of the local political movement that resulted in Oregon passing the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) in 2017 – the singular most progressive reproductive health law in the United States to date. With a well-respected reputation for thoughtful, challenging and honest learning experiences centering racial justice, equity, sexuality and social critique, Mariotta continues to offer strategic thought partnership & collaborative consultation with various organizations about racial justice in sexuality education and the Sexuality profession. With over 20 years of experience, Mariotta remains committed to holding space that supports clear & accountable learning on the intersections of social justice, sexual health, equity and “actionable agitation.” She’s fully invested in her ‘passion work’ – focusing on Black folks and Black sexuality and moving their experience from the margins to the center. You can read Mariotta’s contribution about cultivating a liberatory care practice to the Sexuality Social Justice open access resource . If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on and . It really helps support our show! As always, thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/our-better-half/id/35094220

200: The Existential Penis 01/22/2025

200: The Existential Penis Our guest this time is Dr. Daniel N. Watter. Dan is an existential sex therapist and he has so much to say about appreciating sexuality as we age instead of extolling the virtues of youthful sexuality. He has a fresh approach to the connection between death anxiety and sexuality. Dan talks with us about the existential importance of the penis and the idea that the penis is speaking but sometimes in a whisper. Dr. Watter is the author of more than 30 professional articles and book chapters on topics such as sexual function and dysfunction, and ethics in healthcare practice. He most recently completed the new book, The Existential Importance of the Penis: A Guide to Understanding Male Sexuality and a new article about men, sex, and aging for the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Dan has been a practicing clinical and forensic psychologist and certified sex therapist for more than 35 years. He is licensed as both a psychologist and a marital and family therapist. In addition, he is Board Certified in Sex Therapy by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), and the American Board of Sexology (ACS), of which he also holds Fellowship status. Dr. Watter is an AASECT certified sex therapy supervisor and has been elected to Fellowship Status in the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH). In addition to his clinical practice, he is a faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Social Work’s Sexual Certification Program and the Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. He has taught at a number of colleges, universities, and medical schools in the past. Dr. Watter is a member of several professional organizations and has been elected to leadership positions in many including the New Jersey Psychological Association’s Ethics Committee, the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), and AASECT. He’s been the Chair of the AASECT Ethics Advisory Committee and President of SSTAR. You can reach Dan Watter . And you can check out his new book . If you’d like to read any of the other books we discussed, you can find Irvin Yalom’s work , and Peggy Kleinplatz’s book, Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on and . It really helps support our show! As always, thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/our-better-half/id/34913880

199: Embracing our Queer Elders in the Harlem Renaissance 01/06/2025

198: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: With Love From Dr. Lexx 12/23/2024

197: Care Planning for LGBTQ Elders 12/09/2024

196: Decolonizing Sex Therapy 11/25/2024

196: Decolonizing Sex Therapy Hey Listeners! This episode features an interview with Dr. Reece Malone and explores the significance of intersectionality and decolonization to the sex therapy process. Dr. Malone spoke about erotic racism and its impact on desirability of bodies, the internalization of these experiences, and impact on clients. Dr. Reece Malone is an award-winning certified sexologist with a Masters of Public Health and a Doctorate of Human Sexuality. He is a sex therapist and a Certified Sexuality Education Supervisor through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and acquired Diplomate status with the American Board of Sexologists. Complementing his private practice, he is an adjunct professor at Antioch University Seattle Couple and Family Therapy Department and an instructor at the California Institute for Integral Studies. Dr. Reece Malone is the CEO and founder of Sexuality Consultants and Support Services in Manitoba and his counterpart company, Diversity Essentials. As an advocate for sexual health and comprehensive human sexuality education and as an internationally respected sexologist, he has provided assistance to organizations such as The World Health Organization – Pan American Health Organization, The Canadian Human Rights Commission, and many others. As a popular culture commentator, he has appeared on Dan Savage’s Savage Love and many other media outlets. Collaborating with Mariotta Gary Smith, Marla Renee Stewart, and Dr. James Wadley, he is the co-editor of An Intersectional Approach to Sex Therapy: Centering the Lives of Indigenous, Racialized, and People of Color, published by Routledge Press. As a community-based researcher, Dr. Reece, along with his colleagues, is researching patient engagement and examining mental health outcomes experienced by gender diverse Manitobans. You can find out more information about Dr. Malone’s work ! If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on and . It really helps support our show! As always, thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/our-better-half/id/34116901

195: Reproductive Justice, Chronic Illness, and Flexing Your Self-Advocacy Muscles 11/11/2024

194: Support and Advocacy for Trans Elders 10/24/2024

194: Support and Advocacy for Trans Elders In this week’s episode we welcome Dr. Michele Angello, a leading expert in the field of gender diversity. Dr. Angello specializes in providing therapy for gender-variant and transgender individuals, including youth and adults, as well as those who identify as genderqueer. She offers both individual and group therapy, as well as family therapy. Dr. Angello’s expertise has been recognized at local, national, and international conferences, where she has shared her work and experience on transgender youth and children with transitioning parents. She also facilitates several monthly support groups for transgender adults, youth, and their families. As a sought-after speaker, Dr. Angello frequently presents on transgender youth issues to universities, corporations, and media outlets. Her appearances include notable shows like Larry King Live and the Tyra Banks Show, as well as various documentaries on transgender issues. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Angello is a trailblazer in academia, having developed the first graduate course in the U.S. focused on clinical issues within transgender communities. She holds a doctorate in human sexuality and a master’s degree in psychological services, and is a certified clinical sexologist. Dr. Angello serves on the board of directors for the Main Line Youth Alliance and the Renaissance Transgender Association, and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Sexology and the American Psychological Association. Go check out Dr. Michele Angello’s new book: , and if you would like to get in touch with her, you can contact her on her ! If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on and . It really helps support our show! As always, thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/our-better-half/id/33594447