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Founder of Beducated, the world's largest online platform for sex education that offers a vast library of resources for inclusive, comprehensive, medically accurate and pleasure-based sex education for adults.

🔗 MARIAH LINKS |  @beducatedcom / @mariahfreya / youtube / TedXTalk

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00:00:00:12 - 00:00:19:21

Luna

And our guest today is contributing to that effort to improve sex lives everywhere, and has created something I really wish that I had had growing up. She is the founder of Bed Educated, the World's largest online platform for sex education that offers a vast library of resources for inclusive, comprehensive, medically accurate and pleasure based sex education for adults.

00:00:20:03 - 00:00:22:18

Luna

Welcome, Mariah Freya.

00:00:22:19 - 00:00:27:00

Mariah

Thank you so much. Beautiful introduction. I couldn't do better.

00:00:27:05 - 00:00:43:18

Luna

I'm literally so excited to talk to you. So excited to have you here. Can you please start off by telling us if you had to rate yourself on a sexual shame, a meter from one being shameless to ten being so full of shame. Where would you say you fall right now? And does it ever change?

00:00:43:20 - 00:01:08:17

Mariah

Wow, I think starting really hot already. I'd say I'd be at a five because I don't think I'm completely 100% there yet. I think I've done like half of, you know, the shame that's due to my upbringing, due to societal shame, but also due to any negative sexual experiences that I had to go through. And yeah, I think I'm all right.

00:01:08:21 - 00:01:11:06

Mariah

But I could be better.

00:01:11:08 - 00:01:15:04

Luna

I mean, isn't that true for all of us, I guess. We're all works in progress.

00:01:15:06 - 00:01:22:18

Mariah

Yeah, exactly. But yeah, I guess compared to others who haven't been jumping into the work, I say I'm. I'm all right. Yeah.

00:01:22:19 - 00:01:30:03

Luna

Okay, okay. Do you notice if it ever goes up and down, like, are you more full of shame at work or less in your personal life or anything like that?

00:01:30:05 - 00:01:59:13

Mariah

I mean, it's so interesting, like working in the field of sexual wellness and sexual education, you have the topic constantly on your radar, but at the same time, like having family life and after work, like sometimes, you know, that's for me becomes like like another dimension, like with kids and, you know, action and just live. And so I'd say it's really depending on the life that I'm living or the circumstances that I'm in.

00:01:59:13 - 00:02:25:16

Mariah

You know, I call this sort of the sexual life cycle where, you know, in my 20s, I've been very sexually active, very explorative, very trying out a lot. And since kids are there, it's just a completely different chapter of my life where, yeah, I need to be very mindful with my time and finding different intentions and, and ways of, you know, feeling sexy as a mom, as a lover, as a boss and all of that.

00:02:25:16 - 00:02:38:07

Mariah

So it's a very interesting time as well. And I'm not shaming dads, it's just different wherever I'm at. So I would definitely would say it fluctuates. And yeah, it fluctuates definitely. Also with my menstrual cycle.

00:02:38:07 - 00:02:45:13

Luna

So oh my god. Yeah, I feel that. I totally feel that. Would you tell us what your favorite thing about sex is?

00:02:45:15 - 00:03:00:19

Mariah

I think it's that opportunity. I mean, I'm not a dancer. I love free dancing, but I'm not the type of dancer that does like steps and, you know, choreography. So I'm the. Like, I couldn't do a TikTok dancing queen.

00:03:00:23 - 00:03:01:05

Luna

Either.

00:03:01:05 - 00:03:32:21

Mariah

Influencer thing just because I'm. I'm the worst at this. But what I love about sex, it gives you the opportunity to improvise with your body and have this, like, movement and like, nodding and like, touch all over and wrestling and then dancing like it's it's just in empty space where you suddenly start to dance. And I feel like that's just a really special experience that I haven't seen other parts in, in my life.

00:03:32:21 - 00:03:44:08

Mariah

So it gives us an opportunity to really, yeah, become that full sensualist that like embodying our senses and really feeling it all? Yeah.

00:03:44:10 - 00:03:52:07

Luna

That is a beautiful way of putting it that I had not heard before, I love that. What counts as sex for you?

00:03:53:08 - 00:04:19:01

Mariah

Definitely not just the penetration I think it's a whole pleasure cake. It's a full plate and there's like little cupcakes and little pieces of let's say there's a potluck party of your friends and everyone brings a cake. And then you like mixing it up on one big plate and then you, you can sort of like taste that one thing and, you know, later on you taste something else and maybe something you don't like, something you like.

00:04:19:01 - 00:04:36:18

Mariah

So it's this opportunity to, yeah, try out different things. And sex is so diverse and so full of various colors. So for sure, something that, yeah, I wouldn't want to miss and I wouldn't put into one tiny box for sure.

00:04:36:20 - 00:05:02:06

Luna

I love that one of my personal go to fantasies is, you know, in my future is creating a retreat space where people can come and learn. And then at the end, if they want to, there will be like a play portion. And I love the idea of having like a pleasure party or that being like the mixer. You know, I'm always thinking about how to create the best play spaces that are inclusive of everyone's kind of like needs, basically sensory need and a hypersensitive person.

00:05:02:06 - 00:05:15:08

Luna

So I love the idea of lots of different cakes and like a sexy potluck like that. Can you give us your personal definition of sexy? Like, what is sexy to Mariah?

00:05:15:10 - 00:05:37:01

Mariah

Yeah, I think it's a mix of that like soft and hard and everything in between. Like like the polarity when someone pulls your on your hair, but then you in the same time, like feel a feather on your skin or like it's, it's that pulling from side to side and you know, like you want that, but you also want that.

00:05:37:01 - 00:05:45:06

Mariah

And you're like, there's this tension. And I think that makes me quite hot. Like from one contrast to another. Yeah.

00:05:45:06 - 00:05:47:18

Luna

Such a great answer. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The contrast.

00:05:47:19 - 00:05:51:20

Mariah

Just something spontaneous I think. I haven't really thought about it, to be honest.

00:05:51:22 - 00:06:00:13

Luna

I know. Well that's why I love like I love when you haven't thought about it. Just because what comes out of my brain first. And I noticed for myself that my answers change constantly, you know? So here I am.

00:06:00:13 - 00:06:02:20

Mariah

Asking kind of questions. Questions are great.

00:06:02:23 - 00:06:13:20

Luna

Yeah, I agree with it. Well, okay, so tell us then what sort of, if any, sex talk did you get? Did you ever get like sex ed lessons or consent education growing up?

00:06:13:22 - 00:06:37:21

Mariah

Yeah I remember that they gave us in like even primary school a little bit of consent education. But it was more about rapists being like coming down the road and like entering a car and that you're not allowed to do that. And you know that you always should be together with your kids. So very like like it felt very violent, like how they would like that's a no no, right.

00:06:37:21 - 00:07:08:23

Mariah

Like a very strong fear boundary that they showed us there. And then later on it was mainly biology, anatomy that took us up to kind of STDs protection. But I think it all happened within 60 minutes of squeezing it all in. So there was definitely no pleasure in that 60 minutes or where your clitoris is or where your t spot is or you know how you really talk with your boyfriend about things or your partner about things.

00:07:09:01 - 00:07:13:01

Mariah

I wasn't a nun school. So yeah, not the right place for sex education.

00:07:13:01 - 00:07:16:14

Luna

Really, which. So nuns taught you these.

00:07:16:14 - 00:07:37:01

Mariah

Biological lesson for, like the year I came in, there was one nun left, and then she left a couple of years in. But, yeah, it was still kind of the concept was very holy and very like pure. And everyone is like basically Mariah. Right? Like Holy Mary, like kind of like that concept of like cleanliness. And you know, like proper girl thing and.

00:07:37:01 - 00:07:38:00

Mariah

Yeah, that so.

00:07:38:00 - 00:07:50:20

Luna

Oh my God. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, any time we're trying to just squeeze it in, there's not a whole lot of room for pleasure, is there? Damn. What about in your family life? Did your parents ever talk about sex with you or what was that like at home?

00:07:51:01 - 00:08:15:10

Mariah

Yeah, the cool thing is, both of my parents are like hippie kids. I'd say. So their generation was like, my dad was definitely political. He was also into emancipation and women's rights. My mom, not so much. But she would also definitely be like, you know, the 60s born. So there's a little bit of that. Not too conservative, but I'd say my lack was my grandpa.

00:08:15:10 - 00:08:35:00

Mariah

He was for some reason very open. He was kind of like a James Bond type of person who would have other women next to my grandma, and he would have, like, this fire kit in the back of his car in case he would meet women, and then he could make fire for her and like, really like crazy stuff to, you know, date women.

00:08:35:00 - 00:08:58:17

Mariah

And he was a nudist. So we would actually go in summer with them together to lake and be nude and, you know, having a very normal behavior around each other while being nude. And this was not something bad or necessarily sexual. And that was, I think, definitely had an impact on me in terms of like, okay, my body's natural, like, it's all right.

00:08:58:17 - 00:09:18:15

Mariah

Like that was actually a good basis without even talking about sex or about body positivity. Just that family habitus was sort of like a good thing, I'd say. Yeah, it's quite big in nudism. So. So I'm glad I grew up in Germany, so that's definitely helpful. But of course not everyone in Germany is running around nude.

00:09:18:17 - 00:09:22:21

Luna

I know, and I wish there was more nakedness in the whole wide world personally.

00:09:22:22 - 00:09:25:12

Mariah

And in Berlin. You definitely find more of that.

00:09:25:12 - 00:09:27:03

Mariah

But yeah.

00:09:27:05 - 00:09:34:00

Luna

I need I need to go there. As an adult. I haven't been since I was 16 and I'm like, I hear that there are some scenes I might like to get in to.

00:09:34:02 - 00:09:37:22

Mariah

Everyone get sex positive ones. Moving to Berlin for sure.

00:09:38:00 - 00:09:47:10

Luna

Yes. Oh, there's so many things to do. Okay, so tell us now, how does sex meet your personal social intimacy or connection needs?

00:09:47:12 - 00:10:11:08

Mariah

Yeah, I think there are different phases in a relationship where, like in the beginning, it's a lot about like the raw desire and the like red classes or pink glasses that you just have. That's very strong attraction. And then I've been in a relationship with my husband, who is also my partner in crime, my father of my kids and also my business partner.

00:10:11:08 - 00:10:36:21

Mariah

So we're spending a lot, a lot together, right? And we've been together for 15 years. So it's like sex went through very different stages. And I'd say it's there's like lubrication. You somehow have to make sure it's always staying lubricated. Right. Like it always stays wet, like it doesn't dry out. Yeah. I feel like it's the question was more about my needs and my desires.

00:10:36:21 - 00:11:05:11

Mariah

Right. Like, what does it really give to me? What can I draw from it? And I think it's that place of intimacy which doesn't have to be necessarily penetrative sex, but more like a playground to just feel connected to myself, to my partner. And it sounds very normal somehow, but I feel it's it's as simple as that. And I definitely would say creativity and like an extra energy that fuels me.

00:11:05:11 - 00:11:27:03

Mariah

Like, yeah, whenever I want to have an intimate moment or a pleasure session or just bare hard fact, you know, like, that's exactly what I need in that moment then. And I definitely feel like afterwards, most of the time, like I'm radiating much more. I'm like much more in my body that like, there's just I'm there, I'm grounded.

00:11:27:05 - 00:11:30:00

Mariah

Like it's just like, easeful everything.

00:11:30:02 - 00:11:46:10

Luna

Oh, same, same. This is a newer question for me, and I just love presents for us. It's not just sex, it's not just getting laid. It feeds us in all of these ways. And I love those specifics. Okay, tell us now, what would you say are your best qualities as a lover?

00:11:46:12 - 00:11:50:07

Mariah

I think I'm pretty good at blowjob life.

00:11:50:09 - 00:11:53:04

Mariah

I mean.

00:11:53:06 - 00:12:12:08

Mariah

And I gave in the past also vulva massages, which the receivers shared with me, that I was pretty good at that as well. Like I love pleasuring evolve of vagina outside, inside, all around. I think it's just a gorgeous organ, so.

00:12:12:10 - 00:12:13:06

Luna

Oh, I love that.

00:12:13:06 - 00:12:23:12

Mariah

But with my hands more like my tongue is not so long. So that's why cunnilingus is not really working so well for me. But with my hands, I'm pretty good there.

00:12:23:14 - 00:12:45:13

Luna

I mean, there's all different types to it's like. And how often do I ever give a blowjob where I'm not using my hands to, you know, maybe if I need to push myself up somewhere, but like, it's always a mixture. Okay. Now I would love it if you could take us through, you know, kind of the highlights of your personal sexy timeline, the parts that are most formative for you and would love to hear how it's interwoven with your professional origin story.

00:12:45:15 - 00:13:18:03

Mariah

Yeah, I definitely had a huge moment after years and years of very volatile up and down roller coaster, low libido. So I realized only much later that was due to multiple sexual assaults that I experienced, and it was something that I didn't really put a name to, that I just kind of know that I experienced it, but it was something that I always thought it wouldn't affect me, but it actually did affect me in terms of my libido and in terms of my desires.

00:13:18:05 - 00:13:36:22

Mariah

So when I was working in India as a social worker back then, in my 20s, beginning 20s, I got that recommendation for a tantra workshop where you could learn the vulva massage, or in the tantra scene that's called a yoni massage. So my partner was traveling at that time in India as well, and we were like, kind of.

00:13:36:22 - 00:13:59:22

Mariah

Anyways, wanting to meet up. And I told him about that. And that's kind of what for us, the journey started within the more sex positive space, like learning together, like we traveled to that place and we learned more. In theory, it wasn't really like a nude party thing. It was really like just theory. They showed you how to do it, and then you would practice it at home.

00:14:00:00 - 00:14:10:14

Mariah

And so we did that. And the first time in my life I experienced immediately a G-spot orgasm and squirting in the same time. And it was just like, what the fuck?

00:14:10:14 - 00:14:10:22

Mariah

Why?

00:14:10:22 - 00:14:30:09

Mariah

I'm nuts. Don't I have any idea what's happening here? Why do I am finding out about this only now? I mean, I was beginning in my 20s. Some people discovered only way later. But yeah, still, I felt like I missed out on so much already and it was sort of like the big eye opener. Okay, like I need to learn more about my body.

00:14:30:09 - 00:14:34:12

Mariah

This is not possible that I haven't known about this before, and I have to.

00:14:34:12 - 00:14:35:18

Mariah

Investigate and.

00:14:35:20 - 00:15:19:01

Mariah

Find out more. And so like along that journey with my partner, together we went to open relationships, swinging various like more spiritual experiences, but also just sex parties and yeah, like kind of more Western sex positivity. And I realized that this was really such an empowering effect on me. And that was where my social worker identity came in, thinking, okay, like, this is such an empowering tool, like, this is the best tool I could spread as a social worker, you know, like because a social worker is always thinking how how they could help people that are powerless, that are in need of help and, you know, marginalized folks.

00:15:19:01 - 00:15:35:11

Mariah

And so that was, for me, like the solution for so many issues in the world. And that's how I started together with my husband medicated, which is today, I think, the world's biggest online library for sex education for adults. And here we are.

00:15:35:16 - 00:15:55:07

Luna

Okay, that's so fucking cool. I want a few more details, like, can you tell us how long ago you started it and what those initial conversations leading up to it like, was there like a clear moment, or was it like something that kind of like, you know, clearly it grew out of all those experiences, but like, what was the actual, like seed planting and flourishing like.

00:15:55:09 - 00:16:19:13

Mariah

So back then I started blogging. I was really, like so impressed by the sex positive tools. Like, there is even, you know, sexology at university and no one knows about like it was just like so many moments that there are professionals knowing their stuff and teaching people and coaching people. And I started blogging about it, about my own experiences.

00:16:19:13 - 00:16:43:16

Mariah

And kind of similar to your journey, like through that knowledge and that reading and trying out and just be walking around in that sex positive world, I would learn so much that I became a nerd as well in it. So my sex blog was nine years ago or something, and back then I actually even had a podcast called Orgasmic Discourses.

00:16:43:16 - 00:17:10:12

Mariah

But it never head off just because back then only nerds would listen to that and they would only listen to, I don't know, marketing podcasts or things like that, but I remember that there were a couple of podcasts already around, but really few. And yeah, so I think we had this moment and I and Costa Rica, we were on this conference and somehow something made us think about, okay, how can we make this bigger?

00:17:10:12 - 00:17:40:22

Mariah

And then I realized, okay, like just being this one person blogger, like it's not really leading anywhere. And when I did mine different interviews on my podcast, I realized there's so many amazing experts. What if I, like, put all of that knowledge onto one platform? You know, bringing it all together? People wouldn't have to kind of search throughout the internet, scattered from one person to another, like they would all find all the teachings in one place.

00:17:40:22 - 00:18:05:22

Mariah

And that was kind of the idea when we started educated. And it was now five years ago, we're a startup. We collected fundings for the startup we raised funds in like a couple of years, over €1 million. And yeah, I could really kind of invest into this idea of becoming a global player for sex education. And yeah, I think at the moment we still are.

00:18:05:22 - 00:18:34:23

Mariah

And it's a really exciting journey, especially the community that we've built around with amazing instructors. I think we have over 40 different instructors from around the world, different backgrounds, you know, from she borrows specialists, kinky specialists to blowjob artists and anal specialists. So it's all in there. And I think our folks just appreciate the diversity and variety that we offer.

00:18:35:00 - 00:18:48:15

Luna

That is amazing. Okay, a couple questions. How did you come up with the name? I love it so much. Like it's my perfect sort of like I love to make up words and put things together. Where did it come from? When was there an moment there?

00:18:48:17 - 00:19:11:16

Mariah

We have a friend. She's an amazing journalist and also by now actually sex coach in Germany is a Latina and she was on a call with us and we were like, sex school and, you know, like brainstorming different ideas. And we had somehow the term like bed and bedroom and kind of like education. And somehow we realized, hang on, there is this word, isn't it?

00:19:11:22 - 00:19:16:20

Mariah

If you Google it, but you can literally means you're very good at.

00:19:16:22 - 00:19:18:10

Mariah

It and mean sort.

00:19:18:10 - 00:19:24:06

Mariah

Of like the end result of, you know, what we're trying to achieve. So the perfect name.

00:19:24:06 - 00:19:28:21

Luna

Yeah, I think it's perfect. And when I saw it, I was like, I would be friends with whoever is behind this.

00:19:28:21 - 00:19:30:07

Mariah

I was like, this is like just that.

00:19:30:07 - 00:19:39:03

Luna

Language, just dumb. What about when it came to selecting your first teachers? And now when you're kind of like choosing partners to work with, what's the process like for that?

00:19:39:05 - 00:20:08:01

Mariah

So back then, I mean, we were sort of diving through like Southeast Asia. There was more like the hippie community, right, with their like spiritual, ecstatic sexuality. And in Germany, we were learning more about the Western sex positive scene there, and also kink scene and swinger scene. So like very like diverse people that we started to get to know and more like a private setting.

00:20:08:01 - 00:20:29:17

Mariah

Right. So for example, with one expert, we just hang out together in Thailand and we're just together studying a couple of tantra workshops. And she decided to become a teacher in that. And then we said, okay, let's, let's shoot a online course on that together. And so we went to Bali with a nice set up and shot like a beautiful course with her.

00:20:29:17 - 00:20:45:22

Mariah

And that was kind of like just sort of what was already there. And then we got approached in Bali from another teacher who somehow learned about us that we were shooting an online course, and she was in the same time shooting an online course as well on the island and was asking us, do you want to publish mine too?

00:20:46:01 - 00:20:48:23

Mariah

Like she was so relieved that, you know, we were.

00:20:49:01 - 00:20:49:05

Luna

Just.

00:20:49:06 - 00:21:09:11

Mariah

Publishing the stuff. So we sort of attracted people just I don't know if it's faith or just because it was in the same, same kind of scene. Yeah. And then from there it sort of rippled into I think, you know, there was this time a lot of people were living in Asia trying to make a living with being a digital nomad.

00:21:09:11 - 00:21:33:22

Mariah

And like, I mean, today is still that's happening. But I'd say it's like already started eight, nine years ago. So there were a lot of people, like trying to make money and reach a bigger audience as a coach. And I think often the struggle is for instructors to really find their community, find the users that could benefit from the teachings because they are great at coaching, but they're not great at marketing, right?

00:21:33:22 - 00:21:36:17

Luna

Oh my gosh, I feel that's so hard.

00:21:36:19 - 00:21:59:19

Mariah

Yeah. And that's I think where yeah, there's just a really great match in terms of need because Phil's background is a designer and interactive designer and we've kind of in the past done together also some marketing projects. So like we always were into marketing more and that was such a great match in terms of the needs of the instructors.

00:21:59:19 - 00:22:21:21

Mariah

And I think over time, like the brand developed and now it's really our current instructors are like, like checking in with us. Hey, I'm planning a new course. Like, is this something that you would want to have, and do you still need some like specific teachings and it's like naturally evolving and there are still instructors applying to become a better skater.

00:22:21:23 - 00:22:47:04

Mariah

Yeah. But we also still like reaching out actively because sometimes there are certain teachings, for example, LGBTQ plus teachings that are more rare and like more inclusive teachings, Bipoc community sex coaches, so that needs more fostering. And so we're trying to kind of like reach out to different experts. They're trying to motivate them to shoot content. And also in the like, disabled community.

00:22:47:04 - 00:22:59:04

Mariah

There's definitely more content required too. So yeah, trying to sort of motivate and see that this can work really well and nicely for coach in collaboration with us.

00:22:59:06 - 00:23:11:08

Luna

I love that so much, and most of the motivation behind my personal choices to like, start exploring sex work myself is to like create more resources to like give to those people, you know, like I'm so in line with that.

00:23:11:13 - 00:23:36:01

Mariah

Also, you know, I think sex sex workers would be also amazing instructors. Like like because they, they know so much about it all. And like if you're collaborating with someone like us, you can sort of learn a little bit about the learning course and you know, how to set up a great online course that works for the audience and that, you know, brings joy to everyone.

00:23:36:01 - 00:23:38:09

Mariah

I think that's that's always a great match then.

00:23:38:09 - 00:23:57:07

Luna

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're also living out one of my personal dreams that so many people have been like, that's a stupid idea to give up on that dream you can't control. And I'm like, no, but I can't help it. It's my dream. You're working with your partner on a sex related thing. What is that like? I mean, it sounds like there's a lot of compatibility between you and Phil.

00:23:57:12 - 00:24:31:04

Mariah

Yeah, I think I think we're definitely a great team. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to do it. But that doesn't mean it's always working well. Like, there's definitely moments where I'm feeling like he's overstepping certain boundaries, but I'm feeling like professionally I need to make a boundary there. And so we realize, for example, that I'm much better with the team and kind of like being more in the operative world, where he's more like the nerd geeking out on, you know, the project we just released, or looking out for a new innovative tech solution for us.

00:24:31:04 - 00:25:09:15

Mariah

And that's a really, really great match for us because that way he doesn't need to, you know, get frustrated with more team related stuff. I love to, you know, have a great team and we have amazing team events and work remotely together. So so that works really, really well and also organically for our family. That's a great thing because yeah, we can sort of like split up, but in the same time organically walk around with family of the kids that, you know, there's like an equality that's only possible because we in the same company, if one of us would be in another company, that would be sort of other interests.

00:25:09:15 - 00:25:35:01

Mariah

And then we have sort of, you know, the difficulty to whose interest is more important, like who, you know, gets to work longer and like this way we're just kind of aligned. And if the kids are sick or, you know, something else happening, it's natural to just kind of both take care of our family life and that, you know, company B and our team is anyway very independent.

00:25:35:01 - 00:25:35:10

Mariah

Great.

00:25:35:10 - 00:25:51:10

Luna

So I love that. And I also think just like emotionally, maybe this is not even a logical thing. And I'm normally so logical. I like the idea that behind a platform of sex education is this like power couple that's like, you know, doing life together. Like, I think that's pretty cool.

00:25:51:12 - 00:25:52:00

Mariah

Yeah.

00:25:52:00 - 00:25:54:09

Mariah

Thank you. Not a lot about that.

00:25:54:11 - 00:26:07:10

Luna

But it also for me, like for me to the the deeper I go into my own research, the more I'm like, oh no, I'm weird. Oh no, I'm on an island. Oh no, I'm going to have to find a professional because now I'm in this weird bit, you know, and so just seeing real life examples of like, oh, right, people are just people.

00:26:07:10 - 00:26:26:16

Luna

And you can like, live a life and still help other people figure out sex to and still engage in it and still have a family. Like, I love hearing that. So cool example. Can you tell us what is it? Work day or week or month? I know it's probably not the same or consistent, but give us a little snapshot of like day in the life, week in the life month in the life.

00:26:26:18 - 00:26:53:16

Mariah

Yeah, there's definitely a lot of room and flexibility because with two young kids, my daughter's one and a half, my son's four and a half. You always have to stay very flexible, right? So when we were fundraising, like sitting with investors in meetings, like my son was like sucking on my breasts, I was like sweating due to the hormones, trying to convince investors to, you know, give us money and believe in our vision.

00:26:53:16 - 00:27:23:20

Mariah

So it's like an organic, natural thing somehow have our companies set up. We have this thing that Wednesdays, we have a meeting Friday. So that means everyone gets to kind of just be creative, go in their zone, whatever they need, like get some tasks done or go hiking or have sex in the morning just because I have both time to do that or, you know, I think it's really appreciated in our team.

00:27:23:20 - 00:27:49:05

Mariah

And we also love it very much to have that like flexible day midweek. But yeah, definitely in the rest of the week is more around like kindergarten schedules. So from 9 to 3 or 9 to 4 and, you know, work and then it's kids time. It's very much like split and a half day. But I'm definitely not the type of mother, you know, that works until evening and the same fulfill.

00:27:49:07 - 00:28:21:21

Mariah

And you know, that doesn't get to spend time with family. I think. Yeah, that just fuels us with energy and makes us last longer and sprint longer than like trying to squeeze it all out, you know, work 70 hours per week and just be completely depleted after one and a half years or two. I think that's a super source secret, I guess, especially in this startup world, because when you're getting investments on board, like there's this certain expectations and I got to hustle hard.

00:28:21:21 - 00:28:52:08

Mariah

And of course you do, but you can do it very efficiently, you know, with your health and your mental health and mind and also, of course, your sexual life and mine. Yeah. Because if you're hustling 70 hours per week, you definitely don't have a sex life. There's no libido left for that usually, or very, very poor sex. So yeah, I think that's something I didn't even had to learn the hard way because we kind of did it naturally like that, because our kids kind of made us do that.

00:28:52:08 - 00:28:54:17

Mariah

And yeah, I'm quite grateful for that.

00:28:54:19 - 00:29:06:07

Luna

That's a beautiful. So in the day to day at work, are you primarily like organizing and managing projects and people do you ever review any of the lessons, like how much of it do you actually get to watch?

00:29:06:09 - 00:29:33:18

Mariah

Oh, I love those watching sessions that like that's often on a Wednesday night. It's like I'm still quite deep in the content part of it. So I'm approving certain courses that we're about to license, and I don't spend like every minute watching it. But I'm like skimming through let myself inspire myself by watching some of the classes and our team itself, reviews and all of the details and the courses itself.

00:29:33:18 - 00:29:46:22

Mariah

So yeah, but I definitely love to review, new content. And yeah, I feel like there's this, like, sex nerd coach in me as well that wants to make sure, like what we're putting out there is good and safe and high quality.

00:29:46:22 - 00:29:54:23

Luna

Totally, totally feel that. Have you ever received any interesting reactions from people when you tell them what you do? I think I.

00:29:54:23 - 00:30:34:04

Mariah

Never had someone who was like not interested in it. Like I found that quite astonishing. That was like me. You give them an opportunity. Yeah, to talk about sex and everyone grabs it like there's such a like neediness for that, but there's nowhere to find that space. And yeah, that makes me so hopeful that, you know, spreading this type of work, your work, our work, it's just spreading over the world because people are so badly needed and yeah, I think, no, I never had like a weird experience or like nothing comes to mind in terms of special something fun.

00:30:34:10 - 00:30:43:00

Mariah

But definitely that realization like, okay, like people are definitely interested in it and it's something they really want to want to talk further.

00:30:43:00 - 00:30:59:08

Luna

I totally get that. It's true. Like sex affects all of our lives no matter what, whether we're having it, whether we're not having a whether we feel like we should be having it, whether it's we're having too much of it. And so, you know, when, when people are oh, that's a taboo topic. I'm like a taboo topic that everyone needs to learn about.

00:30:59:08 - 00:31:17:14

Luna

Okay. Like, yeah, you know, I don't I don't really understand the idea of taboo, or rather I'm learning to understand it through other people. So have people ever been inspired to like, overshare or kind of how do you understand the concept of oversharing? Or have you ever had to, like, put a boundary to be like, wait, I'm not the container for that just because I do sex stuff?

00:31:17:14 - 00:31:21:22

Luna

Or it sounds like there's interest, but has it manifested in any sort of ways like that?

00:31:22:13 - 00:31:29:13

Mariah

Good point. I guess that's the like help. Oh pardon me, that just laughs to listen to people's needs and.

00:31:29:13 - 00:31:30:06

Luna

Favorite.

00:31:30:07 - 00:31:32:15

Mariah

You know just like I definitely can't.

00:31:32:15 - 00:31:34:04

Mariah

Help but.

00:31:34:06 - 00:31:59:16

Mariah

Yeah. No no I, I, I love to listen to every single story. So there's not really a boundary there where I could say no, stop. Like I guess there are certain stories within me that I'm like only in certain places or moments able to share and, you know, like say so I allow myself like to give it that extra buffer and thinking, okay, does this make sense to share that now in this place or not?

00:31:59:16 - 00:32:12:18

Mariah

And I guess that's like my own and shaming journey, you know, overcoming that and still deciding which is like a public story or something that I know I share with friends and family and my partner.

00:32:12:20 - 00:32:23:12

Luna

Yeah, I really relate to that. I shared a bunch of stuff and then I was like, oh, I see, oh well, what would you say you love the most about your work right now?

00:32:23:13 - 00:32:48:22

Mariah

Yeah, I think at this moment, pretty cutting edge, like it felt at a certain point, like after a couple of years, like, okay, we're repeating the same thing and like marketing in the same way. And I think since the recent AI development and like, tech is just like exponentially growing, quadrupling and like just things go crazy in the marketing and tech world.

00:32:48:22 - 00:33:12:00

Mariah

So, so I feel like we're starting to adapt to that and like we still have it in us in terms of being flexible and in terms of coming up with new ideas. So I like that. But we're not just, you know, repeating the same, same, same thing, but testing out things, trying out new things and see how it goes and then try again like, yeah, yeah.

00:33:12:00 - 00:33:13:10

Mariah

Taking it from there.

00:33:13:12 - 00:33:19:23

Luna

Before we started recording, you were telling me a little bit about this. I will you tell us like just the overview and how people can interact with it.

00:33:20:00 - 00:33:58:01

Mariah

Yeah. So we just launched the that you created I sex coach. So it's basically an AI driven sex coach. And you can ask it any type of question and it will answer you in like practical tips and tricks and tools that you can apply. But depending on the question of course, like it can be also like which country has the most sex that it will answer is Greece for some reason, based on certain science, it also teaches you like six techniques or how many you are asking.

00:33:58:01 - 00:34:24:05

Mariah

It depends. It might not provide you endless hundreds of techniques, but a couple, you know, on how to give great cunnilingus. So I think that desire within educated to provide everyone with teaching is like now in this one tool because like you can literally ask it anything and how it works, it's based on multiple large language models.

00:34:24:05 - 00:34:53:08

Mariah

So ChatGPT but also other large language models which overcomes the censorship barrier. So we're basically a censorship free approach, which makes it possible to ask this question, because if you're trying to ask ChatGPT to give you ten cunnilingus techniques, it will try not to answer or give you a very vague answer. So we kind of overcome this by combining different tools and on top.

00:34:53:08 - 00:35:24:18

Mariah

And that's a very important aspect. Why it's an AI sex coach. It's taught by thousands of lessons from our library. So basically the teachings within our platform, it's trained based on their teaching. So it's like trained from all of these amazing instructors all around the world. And it's combined that one robot identity. And I mean, it's not really like an intimacy companion if you're following like sex tech.

00:35:24:18 - 00:35:59:13

Mariah

And then I like lots of people are talking about, you know, how I can become your lover or your intimacy companion. So the ASX coach is a bit more on, like providing you with tools and insights, things you can try out, and then even to go deeper, it connects you with courses and lessons from our platform. So a user using this can next tool learning from this sex coach dive deeper into the topic that you know it's answering.

00:35:59:13 - 00:36:26:10

Mariah

So that's a really great combination because it makes sure that the teaching is accurate. Because like you can dive deeper into our teaching which is reviewed whereas and they AI based model is always a little bit not 100% perfect because it's basically AI comes also up with fake things. So it's not always 100% perfect. But like matching that with our courses is just a really powerful tool.

00:36:26:10 - 00:36:48:15

Mariah

It gives you like a couple of options and you just walk through the door and get directed to exactly the type of teaching that you're looking for. That's very unique. And I'd say even like in person sex coach might not be able to do that, because what I know from our instructors, many have like specialties in one niche.

00:36:48:15 - 00:37:09:05

Mariah

So if you're working with one, you get like that specialty, right? But what if you are also interested in that other thing like chivalry and and then you know, you have that all in one tool. So that's pretty pretty amazing. And I'm very excited for it to be seen by the world and hopefully been used also.

00:37:09:07 - 00:37:28:06

Luna

I love that and I personally am a human that like, you know, my brain is a very like logical, explicit clear. I've always felt a large affinity toward robots. I'm here for the, you know, for the. And anyone who thinks that we're like, not already in the robot takeover. Like, how often do you go with your phone in another room like like how long, you know?

00:37:28:06 - 00:37:47:14

Luna

So I am super excited for it. And to your point about it not being 100% perfect like what human is, you know what, teacher, like anything that we're engaged with for education is always going. We're always going to receive the signals slightly differently than the sender intended, because we have different brains and different experiences in the world. So I think that's really cool.

00:37:47:14 - 00:37:58:22

Luna

Obviously every teaching tool comes with limitations, but I am so excited to go check it out. Also, it's a new moon today, which I don't know if you're astrological or not, but it's it's planting brand.

00:37:59:00 - 00:38:02:14

Mariah

I do know that. Yeah, I know that sounds auspicious.

00:38:02:14 - 00:38:09:14

Luna

That's really cool. Oh, I can't wait to go to what? Does it have a name or is it just like, educated? I like it's equated.

00:38:09:14 - 00:38:35:06

Mariah

Dot com slash ise. Yeah. It doesn't have a name. No. We decided against making it human because it's not like, ultimately I think it's still important for us humans to distinguish and know. And also like we are combining. Right. Like real human teachers with AI. So basically you can still like go deeper with human teaching next to the AI based teaching.

00:38:35:06 - 00:39:02:11

Mariah

And I think that's just a really great combination because you can verify ultimately. Okay, what did I say? What does a teacher say that actually experience real stuff in the real world, which is just a completely different story. Like no AI is going to experience physical pleasure. So so that will be a specialty for us humans. And I'm excited for this to also like discuss like what?

00:39:02:18 - 00:39:29:05

Mariah

You know, the provocative things about it. Can it really replace sex coaching like is this really something people in the future will use more than going to a real person? Not like probably it's both. Like people will only want the human experience, but others would never go to a human to talk about their sex life, but they would go to a chat bot and talk about their sex life because that just feels much more comfortable to them.

00:39:29:05 - 00:39:36:11

Mariah

And then they are still receiving that. And that's in like an inclusive way. I feel like is so needed in our world.

00:39:36:12 - 00:39:45:14

Luna

That's such a cool opportunity. What I would like to know is how explicit are your lessons? Like, how much do they show?

00:39:45:16 - 00:39:54:03

Mariah

Pretty much from charts and slideshows to full on educational porn. That's what I.

00:39:54:03 - 00:40:00:01

Luna

Want. Educational porn is my that's my, like, next large area of research. Cool.

00:40:00:05 - 00:40:36:14

Mariah

Yeah. So, for example, we license the latest season from sex school, which is a really great Berlin label. She actually stopped her project due to, finances. But yeah, it's something that we really love to support and I hope that she's able to continue producing because it's so professional, how she created it. And it's basically everything from slideshows where explicitness is not needed because it's more about relationship models or communication or studies and, you know, like things where you don't really need people having sex in front of the camera.

00:40:36:14 - 00:41:04:04

Mariah

But then, yeah, we have anal sex where there is real anal sex shown with different toys and different sex positions, and yeah, real people, body inclusive people as well. And yeah, educational porn like, well, erectile dysfunction is being discussed by two beautiful folks, and they are then interacting intimately and helping each other with erectile dysfunction in a sexual way.

00:41:04:04 - 00:41:25:13

Mariah

But it's so inspiring just to see, you know, how those penis owners are sort of like using their touch, using the breathing and their voice and stimulating each other and like learning through that stimulation and that inspiration. So it's like really the spectrum from dry to very hot.

00:41:25:15 - 00:41:38:05

Luna

That's so cool, I love that. What are stories or scenarios or information that you have encountered because of your work that you never would have stumbled upon otherwise?

00:41:38:07 - 00:42:02:16

Mariah

Yeah, we have this one very popular intimacy course, like it's basically a couple of both us sex therapists, and I think they are also working in the same practice and from the U.S and they, talking about how to rekindle your intimacy and how to build that intimacy. And they just have this amazing wisdom nuggets. I don't know, I haven't seen anywhere else this type of teaching.

00:42:02:16 - 00:42:32:11

Mariah

I have no idea how they came up with it. It's about this idea that you understand your own needs and using certain language to communicate that in a very simple way, and that your partner can understand it without feeling offended. And I mean, it sounds very simple as I'm saying this, but they just put it in such a great teaching that it's one of our most popular courses, just because the teaching is really, really powerful, it works.

00:42:32:11 - 00:42:53:03

Mariah

And so that's for me, like the best proof. They know that teachings can really transform love lives and relationships. And yeah, like we've got reviews that someone was almost getting a divorce and then they ended up doing a tantra massage on top of the communication tools. And then, yeah, they found their way back and they had five kids.

00:42:53:03 - 00:42:57:00

Mariah

And, you know, so that's like what makes my day every day for sure.

00:42:57:00 - 00:43:13:12

Luna

For sure, for sure. I really relate to that. Wow. Oh, that's so cool. On a larger zoomed out perspective, what have you noticed or learned about sex related shame, pleasure? Or like any other feelings that stand out to you because of your work?

00:43:13:14 - 00:43:21:05

Mariah

I think it's the curiosity that we sparked by simply offering you that pleasure cake. And then, like.

00:43:21:07 - 00:43:23:11

Mariah

Oh my God, I haven't realized there's so much.

00:43:23:11 - 00:43:44:07

Mariah

And I thought, there's only this. And now there's like so much more. And that feeling, we're getting that a lot. And I think that's something very unique. And, and I think if everyone realizes that there's so much more beyond our normal comfort zone and of course, like, don't make yourself step out of your comfort zone if you don't want to.

00:43:44:07 - 00:44:01:05

Mariah

But, you know, if you get yourself a little nudge and if you are in a safe space like that can be just the next amazing experience. Eye opening experience for you. And that's something that I feel is that empowering tool that I was talking before. And I think that you also believe in. Right?

00:44:01:07 - 00:44:17:07

Luna

Yeah, absolutely. And yeah. And I can't tell you how many people I hear from who are like, oh, I want my boundaries to be pushed, you know? And the unspoken part is in ways I can handle at the right amount of growth. And I think just exposing people, I'll speak for myself the more I am exposed to new ideas.

00:44:17:08 - 00:44:35:17

Luna

Maybe initially I'm like, oh, it. And then I'm like, oh, but actually, you know, and so, so being able to see kind of details too, of how it unfolds, those examples are my favorite ways to learn, you know, I mean, that's why I like this sort of primary research. I would love to hear how your work has influenced or informed your own sex life.

00:44:35:19 - 00:45:08:05

Mariah

I think sometimes I just love it the way I love it. You know, when you find your way how to pleasure yourself or you to pleasure Euclid, and you have your rhythm and, you know, just do the regular thing. But I think I definitely got a little bit more curious about kink with the work with it. Whereas I was like more vanilla kinky, you know, and I just discovered on the Christopher Street day in Munich where I'm living that there's a parents IT spirits group and they trying to set up something.

00:45:08:07 - 00:45:26:04

Mariah

I don't know how it's going to all work, but like it's just this curiosity that I have. I think also due to our kinky experts and the way they teaching and making it all sound so safe and just that curiosity that sparked me. So I'm very much looking forward to explore that space.

00:45:26:04 - 00:45:33:08

Luna

Yeah, that's so cool. Do you feel comfy sharing? Like what? You're kind of like go to turn ons and turn offs?

00:45:33:10 - 00:45:57:18

Mariah

Yeah, I think definitely like what I shared before. Like starting more vanilla, but kind of going back and forth between that more roughness. And I love it when there's like an ecstasy moment. And that's why we have sex without the kids in the house, because it, it would like, literally scared the shit out of them. I think they would think I would be like dying or something.

00:45:57:18 - 00:46:18:12

Mariah

But yeah, I think that's what turns me on. Like if I'm really allowing myself to scream as much as I can and to be noisiest as much as I can. And from the turn of. So it's more, I guess, like egotistic sex, you know, where it's more about, like the other person getting off and not including you into that.

00:46:18:12 - 00:46:20:13

Mariah

Like that's completely normal for me.

00:46:20:13 - 00:46:25:10

Luna

Yeah, yeah. Unless that's your specific kinky agreement. Yeah. That's like for me, like.

00:46:25:12 - 00:46:31:04

Mariah

Yeah, of course. Like that's just for me. The that I'm sure there's a kink on everything and. Yeah.

00:46:31:06 - 00:46:43:10

Luna

What physical sensations does your body enjoy the most and specifically outside of the like go to erogenous zones. You know, unless you have like very special nipples or something.

00:46:43:12 - 00:47:06:14

Mariah

Yeah I definitely like, like this throat part a lot. I think the throat is quite underrated. I definitely had like a throat orgasm before, I believe. Like it's sort of like this one that happened in my throat. I'm sure you can have orgasms in your pinky finger, but this was during a blowjob and I like, was definitely in a more deep throat state.

00:47:06:14 - 00:47:18:18

Mariah

And it would like just have a click and I it was like, yeah, like just this. Yeah, I don't know. I can't explain it, but I wasn't able to get there again. But since then I definitely got more curious with the throat.

00:47:18:18 - 00:47:20:09

Luna

So so cool.

00:47:20:15 - 00:47:22:17

Mariah

It's hard to try to achieve it again.

00:47:22:17 - 00:47:24:16

Mariah

Of course. Right, right.

00:47:24:17 - 00:47:28:15

Mariah

But I'm grateful that I experienced that once at this experiencing.

00:47:28:15 - 00:47:29:02

Luna

And it's just.

00:47:29:02 - 00:47:40:03

Mariah

Kind of like another proof that the body is just this incredible and seeing and able to experience pleasure in like, mysterious places.

00:47:40:06 - 00:47:59:01

Luna

Yeah, yeah. I think that's one thing that I'm so drawn to about dedicated because I am a high sensation seeker and I love variety, but I'm also incredibly consistent, and I love showing up regularly because my body is different every single day. When someone's like, what do you like? How when you come on like, I don't let's figure it out today together.

00:47:59:01 - 00:48:17:04

Luna

Like, don't ask me for a one, two, three move. And so just having those experiences where like, the surprise happens and who knows. We'll see. We'll see if it ever happens again. That's so cool. What are your future hopes, goals and dreams for your sex life? Like how do you hope your sex life unfolds going forward?

00:48:17:06 - 00:48:43:12

Mariah

I mean, I don't want to be that type of person that always needs like another next level. Like I just love to go along with my sexual life cycle, you know, whatever life brings and be able to show up for that specific moment. So I'm not like high maintenance. I need like always to be up top notch with my sex life, you know, like it's okay to be down and up again and down again and up again.

00:48:43:14 - 00:49:11:23

Mariah

So what I would love is definitely staying open for new experiences, staying open to getting pushed a little bit every now and then. And yeah, showing up in the moment when I need to show up and being able to do that and you know, with the help of also therapists or coaches, like it's always possible, but I think it's that like inner barrier to break through when you're stuck and like trying to get out of that stuckness.

00:49:11:23 - 00:49:24:22

Mariah

And I'm just hoping that I realize in those moments in the future as well, that I'm able to do that. And I think as long as I'm working on Better educated, it's probably naturally kicking my ass on that.

00:49:24:22 - 00:49:26:03

Mariah

So totally.

00:49:26:05 - 00:49:43:23

Luna

I love it. Yeah, just endless input of inspiration. I love that that's how I feel with sex stories. Every time I talk to someone new, I'm like, oh shit, I have five new bucket list items. Now what am I going to do? You know, I'd be curious to hear what sex related norms you've noticed that you would love to shift, and.

00:49:43:23 - 00:50:17:12

Mariah

How I think. Of course, the most obvious one is definitely that global shame that exists in every single country in this world. There's no country on this globe where there's no taboo around sex. So breaking through that barrier, like kind of I always feel like there's this big wall and you have either way to go underneath, dig a tunnel or climb above it, or somehow go around it like like I hope eventually we can bring it down, you know, like the Berlin Wall.

00:50:17:12 - 00:50:37:15

Mariah

I mean, we talked about Berlin, so why not use that example in, like, making it a symbol of, you know, history that hopefully in the future this is like history stuff where people like what, you were so proud in the past. Oh my gosh. Like like just envisioning that for my kids hopefully, but also for the coming generation.

00:50:37:15 - 00:51:03:02

Mariah

I think starting also with adults education who are upbringing the next generation, you know, better catered parents are great sex coaches for their kids because they got to know, you know, how to free themselves from shame. They can know how to work through their blocks and yeah, be great role models that teachers in the 60 minute lessons wouldn't be able to do, right?

00:51:03:02 - 00:51:04:05

Luna

Yes, absolutely.

00:51:04:06 - 00:51:30:14

Mariah

And then next to that, of course, there's definitely like more fine tuned things like sexual assaults, everything around and consensual sex, sexual trafficking, abuse around marginalized people, politics that are not inclusive enough. I mean, there's so much to do for sure. Like every day feels always like a little political work as well. Next to, you know, our little fluffy world.

00:51:30:14 - 00:51:57:02

Mariah

But I'm optimistic. Like, I'm seeing you studies that the sexual wellness industry will be much larger than they expected in the past. So there are definitely signs that there is a certain sex positivity ness in the future. And it's growing and it's spreading. And I think India has just begun with sex positivity as well. There's more and more sexual wellness companies there.

00:51:57:02 - 00:52:08:12

Mariah

And I mean, in India, such as the press space around that. So no much needed over there. And I'm seeing great signs. But of course, it's also hard to see outside of your bubble. Right?

00:52:08:12 - 00:52:13:12

Luna

So we can't that's why we have to talk to each other. I got to hear what it's like on that side of the world, you know?

00:52:13:13 - 00:52:14:17

Mariah

Yeah, yeah.

00:52:14:19 - 00:52:31:22

Luna

On the note of parents talking to their kids as a person who has created this platform for adult sex education, and as a parent of two small children, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on when and how were the good times to start those conversations? Because I get a lot of messages from people that are like, hey, guess what?

00:52:31:22 - 00:52:48:16

Luna

Good job I didn't. I talked to my kids and they're 17 and I'm like, that is great. And everyone I interview, you know, has learned about sex long before they're ten. And the ones who learn in a vacuum of information. And then you add a dash of shame. Okay, buddy. Kat, who's very inspirational and talkative.

00:52:48:16 - 00:52:50:11

Mariah

Love your kid. Thinks.

00:52:50:13 - 00:52:58:00

Luna

You know, I would be curious to hear kind of what your thoughts on that are. And does that have any guidance for parents talking to kids?

00:52:58:02 - 00:53:25:16

Mariah

Yeah. Good point. Is actually one of our very much needed courses that we don't have yet. And it's a shame. And we're really pressing hard to make it happen that we have very soon a great course on sex education for parents. I would definitely say it already starts in very early days, so my four and a half year old son already knows that I'm bleeding every month, and he knows how it looks like.

00:53:25:16 - 00:53:47:12

Mariah

I've shown him the blood because he came into the bathroom when I was just changing my pad and he was like, why are you bleeding there? And of course I'm going to tell him like, that's like, just no filter. He's asking. So he's getting the answer. And of course, like, I didn't tell him at this point, you know, penis and vagina like like that will come eventually.

00:53:47:12 - 00:54:09:03

Mariah

And I think probably the six seven he will already know because I know that I knew that. So I'm expecting him to have those questions or maybe a certain curiosity, and I will just address it with them. Yeah, but I'm not putting down any questions that come from them. And I think that's the best approach and sort of like just staying open for their needs.

00:54:09:03 - 00:54:30:12

Mariah

And yeah, definitely starting also to explain certain things like consent, like when he's just touching my breasts like that without asking, like I'm already now telling him like, hey, like I know your boob guy and I know you've loved my boobs for two years. Like I was still breastfeeding him in the evening, so he's still connected to that nipple.

00:54:30:12 - 00:54:55:03

Mariah

Like he sometimes just needs, like, a little, you know, thingy to kind of touch just because it's so ingrained in the system. But I'm not trying him to show, like, hey, like, if you want to touch someone else's body, like ask before that. Otherwise that can hurt someone. And it's not your body, it's mine. And like, there's these simple things that I feel like are already very valuable.

00:54:55:03 - 00:55:11:13

Mariah

And if he's with his friends, you know, like, I hope that he's going to ask, you know, because that is really an important question. And also, of course, preparing him to kind of like state their needs and their desires and what they want and what they don't want.

00:55:11:15 - 00:55:20:01

Luna

Yeah. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. What are you most excited to explore or grow in your work with educated going forward?

00:55:20:03 - 00:55:48:08

Mariah

I mean, I think there's so much more possible with it. I possibilities. I mean, eventually it will probably just be like something very normal that's integrated in our day to day lives. Yeah, but looking at like more of tech possibilities and ways of making teachings accessible through different mediums or virtual reality or, I don't know, just dreaming out loud.

00:55:48:10 - 00:56:21:23

Mariah

Yeah. And and definitely localization. Like making our teachings accessible in so many different languages. And you know, our instructors will be, I don't know, speaking 20 different languages coming from their mouth. Right. Because I is able to do that. So that's going to be so exciting to also see like the challenges with this, because if we are in different countries, accessible in different languages, some teachings might not work for certain cultures.

00:56:21:23 - 00:56:31:01

Mariah

And yeah, that's when we are definitely again challenged to look at how to navigate through that and find a different perspective on things. Yeah.

00:56:31:03 - 00:56:49:00

Luna

Absolutely. Yeah. My grandest fantasy in this realm is always around an online platform that is integrated with a social platform that I would engage with as a user, and then a real life space that has not just sex, but other creative elements, you know, on different levels and maybe there's a museum at the bottom for family, you know.

00:56:49:01 - 00:56:49:16

Mariah

Like that's.

00:56:49:18 - 00:56:51:14

Luna

That's kind of like my constant dream.

00:56:51:18 - 00:56:52:17

Mariah

Role for it.

00:56:52:19 - 00:57:06:06

Luna

I mean, I'm working on it. Well, it did look like if you had unlimited funding, unlimited resources, and it was, you know, tomorrow you have everything you want, you know, like, what kind of direction would you point it? And I know it's a big question, but since you like dreaming like me.

00:57:06:07 - 00:57:33:08

Mariah

Yeah. No, I think I would do exactly what we're doing now. But with, of course, finances available, we would be bringing in big Hollywood stars who would be bringing in new possibilities to advertise, to spread the word. Yeah, localize in so many different languages because that is quite expensive. So like, even though you can use I like, like you need a team to review that all to make sure it's all correct.

00:57:33:08 - 00:57:52:06

Mariah

And yeah, it's still a long way to go. And I think we could definitely speed that up. That globalization and that accessibility in collaboration with I and our instructors as well, and hopefully instructors from different countries and cultures, backgrounds and yeah, creating something even more powerful.

00:57:52:06 - 00:58:00:06

Luna

And now if you could wave a magic wand and teach everyone in the world one thing about sex, what would you try to teach?

00:58:00:08 - 00:58:21:02

Mariah

I think it's simple take even more time for sex. Like I think the act itself. Like if you literally time it, it's like 4 to 7 minutes and like try to make it an hour, try to make it half an hour. But of course, like that is already so scary for most people because they have no idea what to do in this half an hour.

00:58:21:02 - 00:58:45:11

Mariah

And creating time around it will kind of make you think about this more. How to decode that current script of yours and, you know, find new ways of bringing variety into the occasion. And just more time, more time for the act and using that space to dance, you know, wildly or in your way.

00:58:45:13 - 00:58:54:12

Luna

Yeah, I love that image that is going to stay with me. If you could go back in time and give younger you a piece of sex advice, what age or ages would you pick and what would you say?

00:58:54:14 - 00:59:32:21

Mariah

Definitely around 11 years old when I started to yeah, go wild in terms of hormones, in terms of puberty and say, hey, that's totally okay. Like it's totally okay to feel that way and kind of having that reassurance that it's going to be all right. And also like reassuring that sexual desire of yours is normal and, you know, try, yeah, to find a partner that respects that and just that guidance like continuous guidance and having an open line on that, because I think there's so much traumatization.

00:59:32:21 - 00:59:51:18

Mariah

And for most teenagers that is happening during our first sexual experiences, just because we have no clue. Yep. And I think the shame that we're starting to collect there is due to that. And then we're just holding onto it because we're not like going to a therapist to unleash it.

00:59:51:20 - 00:59:59:03

Luna

I was literally just going to say, I'm unpacking mine right now in eMDR therapy, you know, like the just the early experience. So like, oh, that is thing great.

00:59:59:03 - 00:59:59:12

Mariah

Yeah.

00:59:59:12 - 01:00:00:07

Luna

Yeah, yeah I want.

01:00:00:07 - 01:00:06:02

Mariah

That for all. Amazing. Yeah. Thank you for that. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe already having that out therapy in that year.

01:00:06:02 - 01:00:07:09

Luna

Oh man that's a great I would.

01:00:07:09 - 01:00:10:03

Mariah

Love that going to you know drawing a nudist.

01:00:10:06 - 01:00:11:20

Luna

What's it called. Yeah. Figure drawing.

01:00:12:02 - 01:00:19:04

Mariah

Figure drawing. Yeah I think that would be, you know, exploring the body, exploring those different zones. Yeah, it could be cool.

01:00:19:09 - 01:00:41:14

Luna

And I love that. Earlier, you made a connection between our sexual wellness or our sexual selves. And our creativity. And that's a personal thesis of mine that has continued to strengthen the more I talk to people. So I love that you just like presence, that I love the idea of looking at sex not just as its own category, but as part of our larger creative wellness, you know, creating lives actively, that kind of feed all of us.

01:00:41:16 - 01:00:42:02

Mariah

01:00:42:05 - 01:01:02:17

Luna

Lastly, a fantasy brainstorm. So this is related to my future dream of having these in real life spaces. So say you were in charge of the music one. Perhaps if you had an unlimited budget to build a sexy playroom, house, castle, club, whatever, either for yourself or to represent your brand, what would it be like?

01:01:03:16 - 01:01:32:20

Mariah

Yeah. It's funny, because there was this agency that approached us who were brainstorming some ideas for us, and I think they pretty much nailed it with their suggestions. So it's this big open house with a big, beautiful, romantic garden and like, you know, like little hammocks and bohemian and kind of feathers, but in the same time, and not just like vanilla, also like ropes and things inside that you can do.

01:01:32:22 - 01:02:01:05

Mariah

And inviting, of course, our instructors to the event who are going to give workshops and all types of different explorations and experiences and anyone could sign up. Ideally, it's big enough that we could just welcome anyone who wants to come. Yeah, ideally everyone gets like a little workshop that they need to do beforehand because I feel like getting everyone on the same page would be a very important aspect of that.

01:02:01:05 - 01:02:23:03

Mariah

And then, yeah, having a big party, learning experience and safe space for experiential like bet you can add life experiences. That would definitely be an amazing, amazing dream. And something I've definitely dreamed about. My partner, not so much because he loves the online world, but okay, who knows in the future.

01:02:23:05 - 01:02:24:16

Mariah

I love it. Yeah.

01:02:24:18 - 01:02:33:22

Luna

What are the best places for people to interact with? Be educated on the internet. Obviously there is the main website dedicated.com. What else is in the virtual sphere?

01:02:34:00 - 01:02:58:08

Mariah

Yeah, so we're building a discord community. It's still very new. So it's not like the hottest place yet, but I think it's going to be in the future because in terms of, social platform policy wise, more allowed. So it's a much safer space for us because the thing is, with sexual wellness brands like yours, like mine, we're always like, endangered to get banned, deleted, loose.

01:02:58:09 - 01:03:06:19

Luna

I got deleted off Instagram two weeks ago. So sex stories Instagram does not exist, but I'm like, what am I to throw my life away? Creating another one? I don't know, you know?

01:03:06:21 - 01:03:38:16

Mariah

Yeah, I stopped complaining, but it is like still important for people to know. So we're trying to find spaces that's more or less on the safe side. Of course, you never know. There might be future investors of discord. They say, okay, that's not allowed anymore. But still, that's a way of doing it right now. And yeah, I definitely like to have more discussion points with our users within the community, having more conversations of what's happening inside their bedroom while using better catered, more and what what are the challenges.

01:03:38:16 - 01:03:56:03

Mariah

So really getting very good at that and close with them. I think we haven't succeeded at that yet. Perfectly. So we're really trying to build that community even more and get together and yeah, like learn from each other. I think that's the best way of learning. Yeah. Yes.

01:03:56:05 - 01:04:02:17

Luna

Any final thoughts on sex, sex education or just people following their passions in general?

01:04:02:19 - 01:04:26:09

Mariah

Yeah. My biggest realization I had last year a Ted talk, and it makes you kind of think about, you know, that one message like that's the maybe that one chance in a lifetime where you can just blast out your message and what is that message? And I realized for me, biggest insight on sex education was it's a lifelong journey of learning.

01:04:26:11 - 01:04:49:04

Mariah

And I will need at every step of the way a different type of sex education. So sex ed is not for people in school or teenager. It's a lifelong learning process. So even though it's not super sexy, that lesson, it means like I need to put in the work. And it's a lot of hard work, a lot of overcoming of your comfort zones.

01:04:49:04 - 01:05:09:00

Mariah

But it is how it is. And I think that that's why sex ed is here to stay, and ideally here to stay for a really long time, even up to older age where you know, there's still amazing insights and new things to learn and how to have more comfortable sex with, you know, help and sex chair and assistance.

01:05:09:00 - 01:05:14:12

Mariah

And, you know, so many things possible. So yeah, I think that's my last word.

01:05:15:00 - 01:05:15:12

Mariah

Yeah.

01:05:15:14 - 01:05:29:20

Luna

I love that humans are wired to seek struggle and learn and grow. And so doing that in the name of pleasure and connection seems like the best thing possible. And you are facilitating that. Mariah. Freya, thank you so much for being a guest on six stories.

01:05:29:22 - 01:05:43:05

Mariah

Thank you so much, wire for having me. Amazing questions. I'm feeling very like endless of your questions. Well, I hope everyone enjoyed our conversation and thanks so much for having me.