Slow Love

Amanda Goff (formerly known as Samantha X, Australia's most well-known high-end escort) provides us with the low-down on her dating-life post escorting. She might have commanded a $1500 fee an hour, but she's no stranger to ghosting, and the myriad of other curious dating app behaviours which go on online. From dating apps, to next steps - we talk to Amanda in a candid interview about what comes after high-end escorting.

Marilyn Leder, Jewish lecturer, musician and comedian, turned 50 left her husband, and dipped her toes in the world of intimacy and sex on dating apps, discovering that men 10-20 years her junior were the ideal kind of suitors. After a series of disastrous dates with age-appropriate but dull suitors, Marilyn decided to drop her dating demographic to 30-40 years olds, discovering a world of curious, optimistic and fun men. Marilyn Leder has performed stand-up comedy widely in Melbourne as well as in Los Angeles at The Improv and The Comedy Store, where she likes to brag that Chris Rock once supported her (he actually pushed in before her set to test some material), and interned for Jason Alexander at NBC Development at Twentienth Century Fox, working on 'Seinfeld', 'Frasier' and 'Friends'. Currently at the Melbourne Fringe Festival performing her solo comedy show, "The MILF Next Door,' this is a candid episode of female empowerment, sexuality and humour. Get out the popcorn!

Earlier this year MAFS participant Olivia, shared a photo from Domenica's OnlyFans account with other cast members. The photo was used to shame Domenica on the program, and exploded in a heated debate for the Australian public, sparking discussions around slut shaming, body ownership and revenge porn. We talk to Australia's most well-known and loved high-end escort, Samantha X, about her OnlyFans account, why she closed it and the price of a bum-print or boob-print. Is it too high? We also talk to her about how OnlyFans works, and whether subscribers are held accountable for their actions. And of course, does the infamous Ms X think a culture of slut shaming will ever end?

Ilaria is the poster girl for 'savage swiping' - that means she's doing dating apps, and doing them well. She's looking for a relationship, but she knows that 'numbers' are the way to get there. She's no stranger to the Bumble message, "There are no more bees in your hive," and has some serious dating KPIs. She's had a series of long term relationships and one pseudo soul mate, but last year during Covid she thought it might be time to start looking in earnest. We talk through her dating apps strategy, her experience on exclusive invite and celebrity only dating app Raya, and what her top tips are for dating app newbies.

We talk to semi-retired, military veteran and author Jennifer Wittwer. Wittwer has a forty year career in the Australian military, including working with international organisations, armed forces and police forces. We talk to Jen about her career in cultural reform, her strategic advisory roles on women’s issues, her position as gender advisor in Afghanistan, and her role with the UN in women, peace keeping and security. Wittwer was raped when she was 20 years old whilst on a navy base. There were no mechanisms available to her to report the rape, and the only thing she could do at the time was bury it deep. However, from that moment she focussed her career on ensuring that women were protected on a daily basis. Today, Wittwer has a celebrated military career, and has been a beacon for cultural reform. A powerful and insightful interview on gendered violence, sexual assault and change.

After a month's of intense focus on sexual assault, gendered violence and consent in Australia, and the March4Justice women's rallies which occurred across every Australian capital city and in regional areas, co-creators, Lisa and Ruth talk about why we need to keep this discussion going and how this has personally affected them and their networks. They also talk about our up-and-coming guests, Samantha McDonald and Jennifer Wittwer, two survivors, change-makers and leaders within their own domains.

Frankie is in her early twenties, and she is a dating app strategist. She has a tiered dating system, which ranks potential matches from casual to serious, and she applies this to her app and dating life. In an effort to meet a 'serious' contender, post Covid-19 lockdown she went to on dating app binge, and challenged herself to 10 dates in one month. During this period she met a number of hilarious characters, none of which reached the 'serious' contender bar - however, since then she has met her match, and they've made it exclusive. We talk to Frankie about what it's like dating in your early twenties in the digital world, what exclusive even means, and if you need to DTR every relationship.

In this episode we explore different types of love - and in particular, the love between a mother and daughter. Olivia's (Liv) mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in her final years of school. Liv had idolised her mother from a young age, and describes her as the Matriarch of her family, in her teenage years they had drifted apart but the diagnosis of breast cancer brought them close together. We talk to Liv about the final two years she had with her mother, and how she feels ten years after her mum's passing. We talk about love that lasts after death, memories and ghosts.

Kristin McIver is an Australian born, New York based artist. A new media artist she uses a variety of materials, to express ideas within the social and political landscape. Well known for her neon light, text based pieces, McIver examines love, and its relationship with  data, the digital domain, and consumerism. On the eve of her first solo exhibition in New York we talk to Kristin about love, life, data, Covid and art.

Have you ever been in a toxic relationship? How did it impact your beliefs in relation to intimacy? We speak to Marine, a French-woman, living in Australia. Marine moved to Australia five years ago, driven by the desire to cut a chord on a toxic relationship. We talk to her about the impact of a toxic relationship, the difference between French-men and Australian-men and dating in France and Australia. How did Marine get past her toxic relationship? And what has her experience been like in Australia on dating apps? Listen in, and take some notes - this is a provocative and interesting discussion on love, intimacy and relationships.

To kick off Samantha X's saucy new monthly podcast for Slow Love, In bed with Samantha, the best-selling author and journalist interviews Mitch Larsson, a male escort who has recently joined her brand, 'Private Men.' In this tell all, Mitch reveals how he got into the business, what his first escorting experience was like, and what women want. This is the not to be missed launch of In bed with Samantha - and let's be real, who doesn't want to be in bed with Ms X?

Do you believe in ghosts? And what about intimate ghosts who act as guides? Therese was a free-spirited, traveller and actor. She's done everything from being on Neighbours, to running her own business in Spain, but when her closest confidante and friend, her mother, become seriously ill, she returned to Australia to be by her side in her final months. Her mum confided in her, that the one thing she would be sad about was never meeting the man that Therese would marry. Over a year after her mum's passing, Therese started to receive messages from her mum, and one message came when she was scrolling on a dating app. "Stop here!" Her mum said. Now, Therese considers this man her life partner. Listen to Therese in this special episode of "messages from the other side". Did Therese's mum send Therese her life partner from the other side?  This moving story is featured in this month's That's Life magazine.

Lisa and Ruth talk dating and intimacy trends in 2020, dating app Super Sunday, and forecast the dating year ahead. Dating app Super Sunday is the first Sunday of January each year - traditionally, the highest day of traffic for dating apps. This follows Lisa's article in The New Daily about Super Sunday, and appearance on Studio 10. We talk why, and if punters should join dating apps now. We also talk to podcast regular and traditionalist Bianca, about how her relationship ideology has changed, and if she has any irons in the fire for 2021. Let's kick off the love year that is 2021!

In this final podcast for Slow Love in 2020, co-creators, Lisa Portolan and Ruth Borgobello chat about the intimacy trends documented, their favourite episodes and stand-out podcast moments. It's been a complicated intimacy, relationship, sex and dating year - Covid-19 and physical distancing might of kept us apart but how did we otherwise find intimacy? In this episode Ruth and Lisa talk about phenomenons like: the return of the exes, embracing friendships, iso-partners, the sex industry, and other key topics, and reflect on the intimacy year to come - 2021. Get a sneak peak of what's to come on Slow Love in 2021 - from dating app Super Sunday (the busiest day for dating apps: the first Sunday of the new year); Samantha X's sealed section and much, much more.

Has sex and intimacy changed irrevocably as a result of Covid-19? More than half (52%) of single Aussies think our approach and attitudes to sexual intimacy will change as a result of Covid-19 according to recent research conducted by Bumble. We talk to Bumble PR APAC Associate Director Lucille McCart about how intimacy, sex and relationships have changed in 2020. Did you know more than 20 percent of people on Bumble are 'New dawn daters'? That's people who are newly single after going through a break-up during the pandemic. So, it might be time to update your Bumble profile for 2021 because things are looking a bit fresh! Take a listen to this insightful interview with Lucille and get the scoop on all the love, sex and relationship trends for 2020, and what's to come in 2021.

Did people have less sex in 2020? And do sex toys make for good Christmas stocking fillers? We talk to dynamic duo, Jacqueline Hellyer (popular sexologist) and the infamous Samantha X about the changing world of sex. In 2020 research from the Kinsey Institute indicated that Covid-stress and anxiety was taking a toll on peoples' sex lives. This isn't a new trend. Sex is changing, and our understanding of sex. We talk to Jacqueline about this taboo topic, and what her top three tips are on having great sex in 2020. We also talk to Samantha X about her recently launched and booming sex toy line. What are her best-sellers? And why is a sex toy the latest Christmas gift? Don't miss out - this is a cheeky, provocative and important conversation about all things sex in 2020.

They met on Grindr in Melbourne five years ago. Rob was on a holiday in Melbourne, and Marek had three weeks left on his student visa and was due to return to Slovakia in three weeks time - but they knew almost instantly that they were in love. A couple of weeks ago they got married. We talk to Rob and Marek about falling for each other fast, the ups and downs of their five-year relationship, planning (and cancelling!) their dream wedding in the UK, and then, their actual marriage here in Sydney. A feel good story, that will warm the soul, and convince even the greatest dating app sceptic, that it is possible to meet “the one” online.

Martin Heppell is a former AFL player, and teacher and now facilitator and partner of the Resilience Project. We chat to Martin about what being a good man looks like in 2020, and talk vulnerability, authenticity, shame and mental health. It's been a tough year for many and Martin's episode provides much needed understanding and advice.

Thomas Mayor is a Torres Strait Islander man born on Larrakia country in Darwin. He was first a wharf labourer, then union official for the Maritime Union of Australia, and most recently, an author and tireless campaigner for the Uluru Statement of the Heart. We talk to Thomas about how his concept of masculinity has changed over the years, and what it's like to be a Torres Strait Islander man in Australia in 2020. This is a powerful episode which traverses topics such as racism, intimacy, mental health and empathy.

We talk to acclaimed Australian actor Damian Walshe-Howling about topics around masculinity, intimacy, mental health - and much more in this unmissable episode. He has often played hyper-masc characters, but Damian discusses a deeper and more nuanced side to him. From his mentors, through to his struggles with anxiety and depression, we take a deep dive into the intimate world of Damian Walshe-Howling.