Trip the Station, Change the Channel: Sex on the Radio!
By Judi B. • Jul 11th, 2007 • Category: Behind the Vibes: Staff Profiles, Personality Plus, Sex and CultureAn Interview with Good Vibrations’ own, Jo-El!
It’s actually not true that video killed the radio star, because Sirius Radio has become quite a phenomenon, with its 200 channels and superstars such as Howard Stern. In fact, our friend Diana Cage hosts a show on Sirius’ Out Q, the gay channel. On her show, “Diana gets down and dirty with talk about relationships, gender politics and all things personal. Diana blasts stereotypes with an irreverent and smart look at GLBT lives and culture.”
GV Staffer Jo-El is now working with Diana Cage as a guest “sexpert.” Jo-El has been sex educating the masses since 2001, traveling all over north California, Jo-El’s passion lies in the sex positivity that Good Vibrations promotes. Whether it is working with youth, med students or post-menopausal women, nothing is more satisfying than getting accurate sex information out there. (source)
Recently, Jo-El and I sat down via cyberspace and talked about spreading sex positivity via satellite….
Hey Jo-El, how did you get involved with Diana Cage’s Sirius radio show?
I met Diana a couple of years ago in the subcultural world of San Francisco queer “celebrities” via my drag king alter-ego, Rusty Hips. I knew she moved to NY last year, but wasn’t aware it was because of her Sirius radio show. I divulged to my co-worker, Coyote (GV’s toy buyer), that I secretly wanted to do a radio talk show when we were brainstorming marketing ideas. That’s when Coyote told me that Diana was doing her show on Sirius, and suggested I get in touch with her to get in on it. So I did.
What’s your role on the show?
I am the guest “sexpert” every other Friday from 11:15-midnightish Eastern time. Diana knows me and the many hats I wear…one as a performer, which is great for radio…the other as a sex educator, which is great for content. I have been working as a sex educator for almost 6 years…teaching workshops, training all in-coming sex educator sales associates for Good Vibes, and directing the off-site sex education programs of the Center for Sex and Culture. I’ve been ready to take it to the next level for a while now. Diana’s show is a great opportunity to do so.
What kind of questions do people call in with?
You name it! The call-ins have been pretty random. I think what has surprised me most about the show, both listening and when I’m a guest, is how many heterosexual callers are listening to the Out Q Gay Radio station! Yay for the straight but not narrow, right??
Has there ever been a topic brought up that stumped you?
Stumped…not really. The only time I had to really put on my sex educator thinking cap on was in reference to someone inquiring about anal fisting. In my many years teaching about sexuality, I have never had anyone inquire about anal fisting—can you believe it??! Luckily, I know the physiology and anatomy of all-things anal related, in addition to vaginal fisting techniques, so I did pretty good.
What’s the most common kind of question people have about sex? Are there “themes” that pop up regularly?
I’ve been doing the show for only a couple of months every other week, so I haven’t noticed a “theme” yet. Diana always prompts me with questions at the beginning of the show, and those seem to revolve around sex toys and vaginal fisting…so far. Female ejaculation has come up a couple of times, too.
What’s the most unusual question you’ve ever had?
“Unusual,” huh?? Now I’m stumped. So far, I haven’t really gotten a caller with an unusual question. Working as a sex educator, however, I’ve pretty much heard it all…”Can you use shit as lube?”, “Can you get pregnant from having anal sex?”, “Does having anal sex mean that you’re gay??” I love these types of questions the best…they are usually preceded with “I have a really dumb question…” I truly believe that there is no such thing as a dumb question in regards to human sexuality. The truth is that most people have been given misinformation or complete lack of information about sex. Diana’s show is great because it gives us as educators the ability to reach people all over the world, really, and give them accurate, sex-positive information that is so needed.
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Make sure to check out Jo-El and Diana Cage on Sirius Channel 109 Out Q! You’ll be amazed at what you can learn from the radio waves (all while keeping both hands free)!
Judi B. >> a cake eater and the ex-editor of GV Magazine. Her idea of a perfect day would involve: mimosas in bed, Huevos Rancheros with real red chili, a phone call from her mom, a trip to the dog beach, and cocktails with friends while watching America’s Next Top Model. She shares her life with her hot librarian girlfriend and their two brilliant pit bulls. She has over 80 neck-ties.
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That’s so great that folks in Texas, Georgia, and other places where there is so much censorship around sexuality and sex toys can get accurate information about fisting, anal sex, and stuff. Go Jo-El!!