
Sex and Disability: Pleasure Is for Everyone
From This Complex Life by Marie Vakakis
April 8, 2026 · 31 min · Episode 104
About this episode
The episode discusses the intersection of sex and disability, emphasizing that pleasure is for everyone and exploring ways to reclaim intimacy after changes in the body.
Sex and disability. Two words most people still find uncomfortable in the same sentence. I sat down with sexologist Casey Payne to talk about what we get wrong, why pleasure belongs to everyone regardless of how their body works, and what it actually looks like to reclaim intimacy after disability, illness, or a body that's changed. Things Discussed Why disability and sexuality are both taboo and what happens when you put them together Redefining sex beyond intercourse and why that matters for anyone whose body has changed The orgasm gap and why around 90 per cent of women can't orgasm through penetration alone How carers and parents can support sexual autonomy without having every conversation themselves Practical ways to start reclaiming pleasure after illness, injury, or chronic health conditions How to find a sexologist in Australia and what to expect Chapter Timestamps [00:00] Sex and disability: why this conversation matters [03:00] Redefining what sex actually is [06:30] Body image and who sex is for [09:00] The orgasm gap and sex toys as tools [13:00] Carers, parents and adult sexuality [18:30] How sex education lowers abuse risk [22:00] Reclaiming sexuality after…
People in this episode
Host: Marie Vakakis
Guest: Casey Payne
Topics covered
- sex and disability
- sexual autonomy
- intimacy after illness
- orgasm gap
- redefining sex
- pleasure and body image
Keywords
- disability
- sexuality
- pleasure
- intimacy
- orgasm gap
- sex education
- chronic health conditions
- body image
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Netflix
Books & works: The Body Is Not an Apology, The Orgasm Gap
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