Flex Your Feelings Podcast

About Flex Your Feelings Podcast

James Penney is a qualified therapist and trainer. Flex Your Feelings shares inspiring interviews from wonderful people - who are committed to helping others in their own ways, and they share their insights, experience and wisdom with you - to inspire YOU to tap into your own potential and live a happier life. So, pull up a chair, settle in, and 'flex your feelings'.

Publisher

James Penney

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

30 Mar 2024

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

43 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Getting Kinky: Exploring BDSM, Fetish and Desire | Shelby Devlin

   What if what turns you on is considered kinky, taboo or outside the norm? And what happens when we stop hiding our desires and start exploring them with curiosity, openness and free of shame? And what if the desires we’re taught to hide could actually tell us something important about ourselves? In this open, thought-provoking conversation, sex and intimacy coach Shelby Devlin talks about the world of kink, BDSM, sexuality and the desires that often sit outside what society considers “normal.” Shelby brings a wealth of experience to a conversation that goes far beyond stereotypes, asking why certain desires become taboo—and what happens when we give ourselves permission to understand them rather than judge them. The conversation begins by unpacking why kink and BDSM can become part of our “shadow selves”—the parts of our sexuality we may hide because of cultural expectations, shame or fear of judgement. Shelby explores how our environment, experiences and culture can influence what we find pleasurable, and why there may be far more diversity in human sexuality than we're comfortable talking about. But this episode goes deeper than simply understanding kink. Shelby explores the complex relationship between trauma, agency, power and pleasure, including how consensual kink can sometimes provide a space to explore control, surrender and experiences in a way that can feel empowering. She also makes an important distinction between fantasy and reality—and why understanding that difference matters. At the heart of the conversation is communication and consent. From negotiating boundaries in BDSM to navigating non-monogamy and talking openly about fantasies, Shelby explains why healthy sexual exploration isn't about getting everything right—it’s about being curious, communicating honestly and continually checking in with yourself and your partner. The conversation also challenges some of the biggest misconceptions around kink: that BDSM is always about pain, that particular fantasies must have a single psychological cause, or that having a kink means something is “wrong” with you. Instead, Shelby encourages a more curious approach to sexuality—one that embraces self-knowledge, pleasure and the enormous diversity of human desire. With Shelby's upcoming book The Pleasure Protocol ,(out December 2026) this episode asks a bigger question: What could change if we stopped asking whether our desires are normal—and started asking whether they are understood, consensual, healthy and right for us? In this episode you will: Explore why kink and BDSM are often pushed into the shadows of sexuality Discover why almost anything can become a kink or fetish Learn the difference between fantasy and reality—and why it matters Understand the foundations of consent, boundaries and negotiation in BDSM and kink Explore the relationship between trauma, agency, control, surrender and pleasure Understand why BDSM isn't necessarily about pain Explore how self-knowledge and masturbation can help us understand our own pleasure Consider how gender stereotypes can influence the way we experience and express desire Learn why curiosity can be a powerful way to reduce shame around sexuality Explore the role of kink-aware therapists, coaches and sex educators Explore how honest communication can strengthen sexual and romantic relationships Consider the challenges of talking openly about fantasies, kink and non-monogamy Discover why owning your desires doesn't mean you have to act on every fantasy More from Shelby: Pre-order The Pleasure Protocol: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pleasure-Protocol-Contemporary-Guide-BDSM-ebook/dp/B0GRSS4YN5 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pleasure-Protocol-Contemporary-Guide-BDSM-ebook/dp/B0GRSS4YN5) Website: shelbydevlin.com (shelbydevlin.com) Instagram: @coachshelbydevlin YouTube: https://youtu.be/fDhEcOThiuM?si=LPLRz_IBBpc8Tna6 (https://youtu.be/fDhEcOThiuM?si=LPLRz_IBBpc8Tna6) Keywords: BDSM, kink, sex education, trauma, communication, shadow selves, sexual health, relationships, fetish, societal taboos, sexuality, shame, consent, pleasure, therapy, education, non-monogamy, fantasies

2. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Traumality: The Documentary | What We Get Wrong About Trauma — Explained | Ton Mazzone

   Have we been lied to? What if some of the things we call“trauma” are simply human responses we were never taught to understand—and what if our healthcare systems aren’t equipped to recognise them? What if healing isn’t about fixing what’s wrong with us, but creating a more trauma-informed way of understanding ourselves, our bodies, and each other? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation, content creator and filmmaker, Ton Mazzone, shares the journey behind creating Traumality, an independent documentary exploring how trauma shapes individuals,relationships, and society—and why our understanding of mental health may need to evolve. The conversation begins with Ton’s own experience of social anxiety and gradually opens into a much bigger question: What happens when we stop seeing trauma purely as a diagnosis and start understanding it as part of the human experience? Ton explores the history and evolution of mental health treatment, the influence of the DSM, the limitations of existing systems, and the ways language can shape how we understand ourselves. He also reflects on the growing use—and sometimes overuse—of the word “trauma,” and why getting the terminology right matters. But Traumality is about more than challenging systems. It is also about looking inward. Ton shares what he learned through conversations with experts, the challenges of making a documentary independently, and the surprising lessons the process revealed about self awareness, self-trust, authenticity, and listening to your own body and inner voice. From navigating social anxiety to learning how to be more present in conversations, Ton reflects on the small, gradual changes that can create lasting personal growth—and why meaningful systemic change often begins with individual awareness Get Traumality here: ⁠https://traumality.com/⁠ (https://traumality.com/) More from Ton: Socials: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn: @tonmazzone X: @tonthecreator Keywords: trauma, mental health, documentary, healing, nervous system, therapy, DSM, trauma-informed care, self-trust, self-awareness, systemic change, social anxiety, personal growth

3. 

   3 Sept 2026

   Why Do We Suffer? And How Do We Become Free? | Asha Nayaswami

   What is the deeper reason behind our happiness, suffering, relationships, and life circumstances? And how much of what happens to us is actually within our power to change? In this episode spiritual seeker, Asha Nayaswami takes us deep into the teachings of self-realization, karma, reincarnation, consciousness, and the subtle energy that shapes our experience of life. Drawing on more than five decades of spiritual practice and her years of close association with Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda (author of Autobiography of a Yogi), Asha offers a perspective that is both deeply spiritual and surprisingly practical. Asha explains that karma is not simply as a system of reward and punishment, but as momentum — patterns of energy that continue until they are consciously transformed. Asha explains how consciousness and the energy body relate to karma, reincarnation, and the chakra system, and why changing our inner vibration can gradually change the way we experience the world around us. A central theme of the conversation is the importance of having a fixed spiritual reference point — a “pole star” — so that we aren't constantly defined by the changing circumstances, emotions, and opinions around us. Asha also shares why spiritual practice is something to cultivate before life becomes difficult, how a deeper relationship with the higher Self can build extraordinary inner strength, and how our own energy and magnetism influence the relationships and circumstances we attract. We discuss the evolution of human consciousness, planetary cycles, divine will, anxiety and emotional health, the role of the chakras, and the movement from identification with matter toward a deeper awareness of energy and consciousness. Perhaps most importantly, Asha brings these ideas back to everyday life. Spiritual growth doesn't require escaping the world. It can happen while riding a bicycle, washing dishes, meditating, navigating relationships, or simply becoming more aware of the vibration we're carrying from one moment to the next. This is a conversation about taking responsibility for our consciousness without blaming ourselves for our circumstances — and about discovering the freedom that comes when we begin to understand the deeper laws of life. In this episode you will: Learn why happiness and suffering may have deeper causes than we realize Explore Karma as momentum, energy, and recurring patterns Learn how reincarnation fits into the soul's continuing journey Discover the relationship between consciousness and the energy body Explore Chakras and their connection to emotional and mental patterns Understand why having a spiritual “pole star” can transform the way we navigate life Consider how our vibration influences our experience and relationships Learn why spiritual practice is easier to build when life is going well Develop a deeper relationship with the higher Self Recognise the role of magnetism and energy in relationships Understand how to distinguish authentic spiritual teachings from superficial ones Explore why lineage and connection to the original source matter Discover Practical ways to cultivate greater self-awareness and inner strength Think about the possibility of a broader evolution in human and collective consciousness More from Asha: YouTube: @ashanayaswami Facebook: @innerlifewithasha IG: @innerlifewith_asha Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6miA5FvNUmW1k75tZimgKh (https://open.spotify.com/show/6miA5FvNUmW1k75tZimgKh) Websites: https://www.ashajoy.org/ (https://www.ashajoy.org/) https://www.ananda.org/ (https://www.ananda.org/) keywords self-realization, karma, consciousness, spiritual awakening, inner peace, divine law, energy body, reincarnation, spiritual growth, spirituality, energy, anxiety, chakras, higher self, meditation, divine mother, mental health

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

39

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.