Beyond the Orgasm: Rose Leopold on Pleasure That Actually Heals You

Author: Andrew Phipps
Published: Fri 29 Aug 2025
Episode Link: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-intimacy-inquiry/2145946

From Debilitating Anxiety to Holistic Healing: Embracing Authentic Self and Transformational Practices

Rose Leopold shares a deeply personal journey of overcoming severe emotional and physical illnesses that began abruptly at age 15. This journey included experiencing panic attacks, depression, and physical manifestations like migraines and jaw pain.

Through an eight-year struggle, the guest navigates through over four dozen medications, multiple diagnoses including OCD and PTSD, and psychiatric treatments. A turning point occurs with participation in a 12-step program which introduces a new wave of vulnerability and authentic connection.

The narrative delves into explorations of mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and eventually the intentional use of psychedelics for healing trauma. Reflecting on intergenerational and inherited trauma, the speaker notes the importance of an inside-out approach to life, focusing on inner authenticity rather than external validation.

Rose discusses a career transition from sex work to holistic coaching, emphasizing the power of presence and emotional release in relationships. Key topics include self-awareness, the re-parenting of the self, and cultivating an authentic inner self to experience genuine pleasure and fulfillment.

00:00 Introduction to Rose Leopold and Initial Resonance

02:23 The Onset of Debilitating Illness

03:23 Struggles with Mental Health

06:33 Journey Through Medication and Alternative Healing

06:53 Discovering Radical Vulnerability

07:31 Exploring Mindfulness and Psychedelics

13:43 Intergenerational Trauma and Healing

23:17 The Role of Presence in Healing

54:44 Living from the Inside Out

01:12:45 Exploring the Body's Surface and Presence

01:13:54 Understanding Somatic Nuances

01:17:04 The Role of Pleasure in Our Lives