Catriona Boffard Asking For A Friend

Asking For A Friend

Ever had a question you felt too embarrassed to ask, and instead asked that question “for a friend”?

Hosted by Clinical Sexologist and Psychotherapist Catriona Boffard, Asking for a Friend brings you fascinating and interesting conversations about sex, intimacy, relationships, and mental and physical health. In each episode, Catriona will bring you evidence-based information and real-world advice on topics that are not often discussed but that we really need to normalise and talk more about. She’s joined by special guests who are all experts in their fields or have lived experiences of these topics. Follow Catriona on Instagram at @sexologywithcatriona
Weekly English South Africa Sexuality · Relationships
48 Episodes
12 – 32

Extraordinary sex, with Prof Peggy Kleinplatz, S3E11

Sadly, I think most people think that great sex equate to sex X times a week or when sex is novel and varied (perhaps by using multiple toys or positions)… but this could not be further from the truth. And don’t we all want to have extraordinary sex? Obviously yes!…
7 Oct 2021 47 min

Treating sexual pain, with Dr Elna Rudolph - S3E10

If you struggle with sexual pain, a major concern when seeking treatment is if you will have another experience with another healthcare professional where you feel broken, traumatised or shamed (this is so common and upsetting that I am conducting research on it in order to help health care professionals…
30 Sep 2021 48 min

Can mindfulness really improve your sex life, with Dr Lori Brotto - S3E9

It’s been scientifically proven that consistent mindfulness practice can actually improve your sex life (and most other areas of your life as well) – isn’t that just amazing! But the issue is that most people don’t really have a clear understanding of what mindfulness is, often get frustrated with the…
23 Sep 2021 44 min

Attachment styles, with Dr Stan Tatkin - S3E8

I call myself an attachment theory nerd all the time. I love this psychological theory and how it clearly helps us make sense of adult romantic relationships. Attachment theory relates to the type of attachments we have to our primary care givers growing up (usually our parents), which can predict…
16 Sep 2021 56 min

Making sense of menopause, with Prof Trudy Smith - S3E7

It almost feels cruel that women experience a ‘Benjamin Button’ effect as we age – from adolescence when our bodies develop and hormones kick into action, to the menopause mid-life when hormonal levels decrease and impact our body. But it’s not supposed to be the ‘end of your womanhood’ or…
9 Sep 2021 37 min

What to expect when you're expecting, with Clare Bourne - S3E6

This is one of the topics that I get asked about the most, and in this week’s episode I spoke to Clare Bourne about how to prepare for and manage sex pre and post-partum. Clare is a London-based pelvic health physiotherapist and mum of 2. Having pregnancy and postnatal experience…
2 Sep 2021 48 min

Recognising relationship patterns, with Dr Amani Zarroug - S3E5

"Self-reflection is the area [in the relationship] where the most change can happen." Ever realised that in a new relationship, you notice the same things happen from previous relationships? In this week’s episode, I’m chatting to Dr Amani Zarroug, a Clinical Psychologist and Relationship and Psychosexual Therapist. She specialises in…
26 Aug 2021 50 min

Fighting Period Poverty, with Siv Ngesi - S3E4

140 MILLION. That’s how many school days per year are missed by South African girls because they don’t have access to menstrual products. And what’s even more shocking is that it would only cost R130/ £6.50 PER YEAR to change that for a girl. Siv is not the person you’d…
19 Aug 2021 50 min

Sexual Compulsivity, with Silva Neves - S3E3

We need to name it by the correct term - sexual compulsivity... not sex addiction. We use the term addiction too freely – addicted to chocolate, to Netflix and so on. But if we struggle with compulsively wanting sex, we aren’t addicted to it, but rather that we compulsively need…
12 Aug 2021 56 min

Being a sex-positive parent, with Carly Rowena - S3E2

Talking to your kids about sex and ensuring it’s an ongoing, positive conversation is the one thing that almost all parents would prefer to avoid. But is it really as bad as we make it out to be? (Spoiler alert: it’s your discomfort that makes it a shameful topic for…
5 Aug 2021 43 min

From sexual response to stress response, with Dr Emily Nagoski - S3E1

Asking for a friend is finally back, and while I know you’ve been waiting so patiently, it has been worth it I promise! I’ve been speaking to the most incredible, knowledgeable, and interesting people to bring you the best season yet. And what a way to start - bringing you…
29 Jul 2021 1 hr 07 min

Season two finale Q&A - S2E12

It's the final episode of the season, and so I'm ending things off with your questions. In this episode, I am answering the following questions sent to me by listeners and followers (and one friend): 1. My orgasms are just not as intense as they used to be… what’s happening?…
15 Apr 2021 21 min

Closing the orgasm gap, with Dr Laurie Mintz - S2E11

It’s the final guest episode in season two, and I want to end with a bang (so to speak). I was so excited to chat to the extraordinary Dr Laurie Mintz and this conversation did not disappoint. Dr Mintz is a therapist with nearly 3 decades of experience, a professor…
8 Apr 2021 50 min

Challenging masculine norms, with Haydn Elliot - S2E10

In this week’s episode, I chatted to my friend Haydn Elliott, who also happens to be a brilliant businessman and podcaster based in London. Haydn co-owns and runs hugely popular F45 gyms in London and hosts the podcast The Inspiration Space. He has an unwavering passion for how to optimise…
1 Apr 2021 45 min

Making sense of herpes, with Rae Kennedy - S2E9

Kids can get it. Adults can get it. And did you know even elephants can get it… But there are two of the herpes simplex viruses (HSV) that hold immense shame and stigma – HSV 1 & 2, and these affect 80% of the global population. I’ve lost count of…
25 Mar 2021 52 min

Why your pelvic floor is so important, with Candice Langford - S2E8

I know you’ve been told that your butt are the most neglected group of muscles in the body, but I really believe that it’s the pelvic floor that’s paid the least attention! This muscle group plays such a crucial role in our day to day function- from peeing to pain…
18 Mar 2021 1 hr 08 min

What really happens in couples therapy, with Stephen Laverack - S2E7

I’m never surprised when consulting with a new couple that one partner is usually keen to be in couples therapy, and the other partner feels like they are being dragged there against their will. I’m also not surprised that people think couple’s therapists are there to ‘fix their partner’… which…
11 Mar 2021 52 min

What parents should know about sex ed, with Casey Blake - S2E5

We generally find it difficult to talk about sex with our partners. And when it comes to properly educating our kids about sex… It’s even more difficult! Most parents really aren’t prepared to have THE talk, and this can leave it up to others, such as schools, where we take…
25 Feb 2021 53 min

Navigating sex after a spinal cord injury with Dr Stanley Ducharme - S2E4

Two topics you rarely think of in the same sentence are spinal cord injury and sex… and that’s exactly why I wanted to have the conversation today with my guest, Stanley Ducharme. Stanley Ducharme, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and consultant specializing in the areas of sexual dysfunction, gender, physical…
18 Feb 2021 51 min
12 – 32