Tag Archives: limitations

COL644: LoR: Intimacy & Arousal

In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys are joined once again by Dr. Edward Angelini-Cooke to continue our Landscape of Relationships series. In this episode we discuss Intimacy and Arousal. We let you in on the secret of the types and levels of intimacy and work the runway of arousal.

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Landscape of Relationships: Intimacy & Arousal

Intimacy 

David Shnarch – “Intimacy is knowing who you are and letting someone in on the secret.”

Types of Intimacy 

  • Sexual
  • Emotional
  • Intellectual 
  • Aesthetic
  • Creative
  • Recreational
  • Work
  • Crisis
  • Commitment 
  • Conflict 
  • Communication
  • Spiritual 
  • Celebration
  • Physical 

Good Intimacy Tool 

Levels of Intimacy 

  • Safe communication
  • Other’s opinions and beliefs
  • Personal opinions and beliefs
  • Me feelings and experiences 
  • My needs, emotions, and desires

Example: Farting stage of a relationship 

Arousal 

  • Physical response to stimuli 

Problem 

  • Experiential avoidance

The Arousal Runway 

  • Psychological arousal 
  • Face-to-face arousal (role place a sexy scene)
  • Side-by-side (listening to a erotic story, watching ethical porn)

Himeros.tv

“Our fantasies are our allies”

“Fantasies are fantasies”

People have sex within the limits of their sexual development. We stick to having sex in familiar ways that keep us comfortable. Having sex beyond your sexual development creates anxiety and makes you nervous. Mastering this anxiety is how you become a sexually mature adult.” – David Shnarch

Wrap Up

  • Intimacy is important for arousal in relationships
  • Shame and guilt can negatively impact intimacy and arousal 
  • Take baby steps
  • Explore your fantasies….they might be the doorway to some great experiences 
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COL550: The Blood Ban

In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys are joined by guest Michael Q to discuss recent changes to the donation of blood. With COVID-19 affecting almost all avenues of life, the FDA removed its previous limitations; shortening the amount of time men who have sex with men are eligible to give blood. Listen as the cubs discuss and share their opinions on these restrictions and what it means for the gay male community.

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The Blood Ban – the US FDA made news on April 2nd when updating their policy to allow MSM to donate blood if they have not been with another male for 3 months vs the previous 12 month limitation.

Statistics Provided by CDC
Statistics provided by CDC

 

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COL514: Trans Bear Listener

In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys review some recent feedback from one of their newest audience members. This trans bear listener addresses some concerns after reviewing some of our past episodes and the comments we made. As Pride Month comes to a close, listen as the guys discuss these concerns and discuss their growth as they try to become allies to the transgender community.

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Trans Bear Listener – we talk about an email we received earlier this summer, how we feel when it comes to being an ally to trans individuals, and owning where we are today.

Hello,

New listener here, and I’d like to start off by saying sorry if this message is kinda long and rambling, I’m sure I’m mostly gonna stream of consciousness write it.

I listened to all your most recent episodes that are accessable via Google Podcasts; then I thought I should Google your podcast + Transgender, because I’ve had a couple experiences of enjoying a Thing ™️, only to find out that the people that produce it have said some really offensive stuff about trans folks. So I happy to discover that you had some episodes tagged as transgender on your site, so I could listen and get the tea. I listened to a few of them, but then for some reason your website stopped playing them, unclear if it was my phone or your site, or what, but I think I heard all the important bits.

I don’t want this to come across as a dressing down or anything like that, I really just want to educate. Mostly I wanna call back to some stuff I heard in COL388: Entourage Feedback, and COL474/475: Bear World Weekend, as well as share some of my own stories.

Most of what you guys said in 388 was on the better side of things I’ve heard, but one of the things that stood out to me was the use of the term “female genitalia”, obviously I don’t speak for all of the trans community, but one thing that holds true for me, and most trans people I know would prefer if you didn’t say things like that. To put it in the slogan-y terms, “it’s not female genitalia, I’m a man and it’s mine”, a better way to talk about it would be someone who has not had surgery, or someone with their original parts. And like tips and hints for guys who are interested in trans guys, even though you guys basically said you aren’t, just ask what he wants his junk called; obviously there’s like the most famous trans man  porn star who calls himself “a man with a pussy” but I know if you use that term with me it’s gonna be an instant turn off, I don’t want feminine terms for myself, it instantly makes me feel unsexy, but some trans guys will be totally fine with it, so best just to all whoever you’re with.

The other thing that stuck out to me in that episode was someone, sorry I don’t recall who, said they couldn’t even picture playing with a trans guy who had had bottom surgery, even if they were attracted to him, and that personally I don’t get. I haven’t had surgery, I don’t ever want to force anyone to have sex with me who doesn’t want to, and like as long as someone doesn’t go out of their way to be a fuck-stick, to call me disgusting or tell me that I’m not allowed in gay spaces or anything like that, it’s ok with me that someone may not be interested because if the equipment I’ve got. But if someone would have sex with the exact same cis dude but wouldn’t with that guys who has had bottom surgery I’m not understanding, since there are definitely trans guys that you can’t tell at all, at least until they cum.

In the episodes 474/475 it was neat to hear about the gender neutral contests, it sounded like it would also be acceptable for a trans man to compete in the Mr. Best contest, but I wanted to verify because having Cub be gender neutral is great, but the idea of mandating that trans men couldn’t compete in Mr. Bear or trans women couldn’t compete in Ms. Bear sounds bad. But also that’s not what it sounded like was happening, it just sounded like the trans man happened to be competing for Cub not that he wasn’t allowed to compete for Mr. Bear.

Anyhow, I was wondering if you’d ever thought about/sought out a trans bear to have as a guest on your show to talk about any of that?

Also in episode 388 it got brought up how important cock is to some of you. Again, that’s fine, so long as someone isn’t a total asshole to me I’m not gonna be upset over that being the case but I do have some interesting stories to tell over that. I’m a big big bear chub, or rather should probably say a big chubby pocket bear, pretty hairy, bearded, 5’7, over 300 pounds. So I know the types of guys I attract (and the types I’m into) but quite a few times I’ve had people who’ve thought they were like that and then realized when they met me, “oh having a cock isn’t nearly as important as I might have thought it was.” That’s happened many times on growlr, and Tumblr (R.I.P.) but more interestingly has happened in the midst of a hook up quite a few times. I would be playing with a hot bear who is definitely into me, but his husband/boyfriend/partner wouldn’t really be interested due to me being trans, but then in middle of fucking me he’d like shout to the other room “hon, you gotta come try this!” or boyfriend would lean in to check in on us and change his tune in being interested real quick. So again, no shade if it’s not your thing, but sometimes stuff can surprise people when they come face to face with a situation.

Cheers, 

Trans Bear

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COL Flashback COL215: Black Shirt Friday

Damon is singing his heart out with pride while Gary takes a roadtrip with his Dad. And Jeff… kinda gets the week off. But COL Flashback is here. Let’s rewind the clock to Sunday June 7th, 2013 – six years ago when Gary, myself, and retired co-hosts Ben and Eric answered some items from The Book of Questions. Plus we go over other stuff in our lives and that infamous Watermelon YouTube video.

On this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys gather together in the off-hours to talk about their lives and what we will and won’t do with our responses to The Book of Questions. Oh yeah. By the way, Ben’s back.

What the F Did We Do This Week

This Week On Heat Sinks: The introduction of Heat Sinks: Arcade

Topic: Book of Questions: Lookout, ’cause we’re going to get serious….maybe

This week’s poll: What type of questions are off limits from your partner, boyfriend, husband, lover etc.?

  • Religious / Spiritual
  • Sexual (could be kink in nature)
  • Related to Bodily Functions
  • Money / Finances
  • Politics / Government
  • Other

Last Week’s Poll: How do you prepare for a date?

  • Full Flush and Go (Enema included)
  • Three S’s (Shit, Shower & Shave only)
  • I don’t ‘prep’, I’m a dirty pig
  • Buy Condoms and Lube
  • Haircut and a button down shirt
  • Charge my phone so I can Growlr for someone better if it sucks

Love on Craigslist – Bringing the Best of Love and Lust to You

  • [Eric] Seminary Boy – Peoria – Dedicated to Regev
  • [Ben] $30 Socks?
  • [Gary] Intelligent and Masculine For Passable First Time

Links:

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COL508: What is… Self-Love?

In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys take a fan’s request and come up with a potential new ongoing segment. In this inaugural episode of “What is?”, the cubs discuss self-love. From describing the term to discussing applications in our lives, the guys give you some personal advice on how to love yourself. ‘Cus if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell can you love somebody else?

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New Series! What is… Self-Love?

Discussion of the term ‘self-love’. Do we agree as co-hosts on what all is involved with loving ourselves?

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