27: The Sex Ed You Should Have Gotten with Rachel Coler Mulholland

Today, we are covering an important topic today, but maybe not in the way you expect. I’m joined by Rachel Mulholland (aka Shug CM), a therapist whom I met on TikTok because of her incredible content around sex education for children. Today’s focus is on how our lives as adults are impacted if we don’t get comprehensive sex education as children. Join us for the conversation!
Show Highlights:

How KC’s story from her teenage years illustrates the gaps that most people have in their education about sex and the fact that sex ed is NOT a one-time conversation

How “purity culture” is impacting teenagers in certain places in the US in damaging ways

How even most comprehensive sex ed doesn’t address the pleasurable side of sex–and (for females) that the pleasure doesn’t have to come from another person

How sexual predators take advantage of the lack of information in sex ed from SAFE places

Why parents have real fear about talking to their kids about sex ed

The effects of NOT educating kids that sex and pleasure don’t always go together

Rachel’s Four Pillars of Safe Sex: confirmation, communication, lubrication, and enthusiastic participation

Why parents should be aware when their kids are ready to hear and learn–and begin at the most basic level appropriate for their age

How to answer those first little-kid questions around, “Where do babies come from?”

Why curiosity is a foundational part of body talk for kids–not just around sexuality

How parents can work through their own feelings around sex ed with their children

Why Rachel’s next project is a book about body talk


Resources:
Connect with Rachel: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Website (coming soon!)
Recommended by Rachel: How Do You Make A Baby by Anna Fiske
Connect with KC: TikTok, Instagram, and Website 
Get KC’s book, How to Keep House While Drowning