Theory of Change Podcast With Matthew Sheffield How a former porn star is helping straight men understand intimacy and themselves
We live in a world of unprecedented convenience. Many of us can do our jobs entirely remotely. We use our smartphones to do a million different things. Electric cars are commonplace. And you can pretty much get anything delivered in a matter of days, if not hours. There's no doubt that when it comes to commerce and communications, things have never been easier.
But outside of those areas, particularly when it comes to personal relationships, many people are finding modern day life to be anything but convenient. Some people have struggled with making friends or even realizing that they need them. And in many cases, the organizations that used to help us build relationships, like churches and community organizations, are no longer relevant to many [00:02:00] of us.
On the romantic side of things, modern day media, whether explicit or not, has enabled us to know what we find attractive in others, but there's absolutely no guarantee that we can get what we seek. Sure, dating websites and apps have made looking for that special someone easier than ever before, but actually finding relationships that are lasting and meaningful is often very difficult.
I hope you've enjoyed the previous two episodes in this miniseries, and I'm pleased to wrap it up with a conversation featuring Nyomi Banks, a woman who's seen firsthand many of these trends I've just described throughout a very multifaceted public life which began in adult entertainment but has since taken her into a new career as a life coach and personal advice podcaster through her new program, Ask Nyomi: Bridging the Gap.
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Audio Chapters (Full Episode)
02:57 — Ask Nyomi: Bridging the Gap's unusual audience
11:53 — Being spiritual while working in adult film
15:48 — Entering a new career to help her father
26:21 — A brief brush with racism in the porn business
34:29 — Why didn't she see as much racism as others have noted?
38:46 — On "gay for pay" in adult media
40:42 — Has porn made it any easier for regular people to be non-heterosexual?
43:25 — On being spiritual but not Christian or religious
44:31 — Starting and stopping an OnlyFans account
50:48 — Continuing her fan relationships as a lifestyle podcaster
57:33 — Why anti-porn attacks are about social control
01:00:17 — Why you have to love yourself before you can do anything else
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