112. Herpes, Honey! HSV, STIs, and Sexual Health with Tricia Wise

Coming up on this episode of Flirtations, we’re getting real, raw, and radically open with the incredible Tricia Wise.

You may know Tricia as the @safe.slut across social media, Tricia is a master aesthetician, reiki practitioner, sexual health advocate, herpes stigma breaker, and meme queen—and today, she’s joining us to talk about something that, depending on the type, affects over 3 billion people around the world. It’s Herpes!

In this episode, we’re diving into Tricia’s personal journey with HSV (that’s herpes), the work she’s doing to destigmatize sexual health, and how we can create more empowered, shame-free conversations around sex, our bodies, and dating.

From navigating disclosure and diagnosis, to reclaiming confidence, pleasure, and power, Tricia shares the truth behind the stigma—and why it’s time we start normalizing the conversation around herps and STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

We’ll also talk about the different types of herpes, how you may contract it, treatment options, how to get tested, how and when to disclose status, how to practice safe sex, and why herpes isn’t the end of world.

So, whether you’re navigating a diagnosis, are dating someone who is, or simply want to learn how to be a more informed and safe out there dating, this episode is for you!

Let’s drop the shame, turn up the self-love, and welcome the one and only Tricia Wise to the show.

Let’s do this, Flirties!

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About our guest: Safe Slut is a writer, sex worker, content creator, and reiki master. Safe Slut was diagnosed with genital herpes in November 2019. After noticing the stigma and shame surrounding being herpes positive, she created her Instagram account @safe.slut to help people take their power back while promoting sex positivity, helping to destigmatize STIs and slut shaming, and promoting safer sex practices. She also is smashing stigma and being a slut on OF as @safeslvt and on Patreon as Safe Slut.

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About your host: Benjamin is a flirt and dating coach sharing his love of flirting and BFE - big flirt energy - with the world! A lifelong introvert and socially anxious member of society, Benjamin now helps singles and daters alike flirt with more confidence, clarity, and fun!

As the flirt is all about connection, Benjamin helps the flirt community (the Flirties!) date from a place that allows the value of connection in all forms - platonic, romantic, and with the self - to take center stage.

Ultimately, this practice of connection helps flirters and daters alike create stronger relationships, transcend limiting beliefs, and develop an unwavering love for the self.

His work has been featured in Fortune, NBC News, The Huffington Post, and Yoga Journal.

You can connect with Benjamin on Instagram, TikTok, stream the Flirtations Flirtcast everywhere you listen to podcasts (like right here!), and find out more about working together 1:1 here.