Sexologist Dr. Jane Fleishman, sex therapist Dr. Rosara Torrisi, and psychotherapist Dr. Sabitha Pillai-Friedman break down the beauty of human sexuality in the second half of life -- also known as the better half.
Our Better Half
Claim This Podcastby Jane Fleishman
4.8(20 reviews)
199 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
60
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality87
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement85
Podcast Overview
Sexologist Dr. Jane Fleishman, sex therapist Dr. Rosara Torrisi, and psychotherapist Dr. Sabitha Pillai-Friedman break down the beauty of human sexuality in the second half of life -- also known as the better half.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/15/2016
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60
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality87
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement85
7
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10
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
22 minutes
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good
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3.0/5
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Every 18 days
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Recent Episodes
June 19, 2026
229: Dr. Sarah Girardi: A Urologist's Perspective on Sexual Pleasure
<p dir="ltr">On this episode of Our Better Half, we enjoy an in-depth conversation with Dr. Sarah Girardi, a trailblazing urologist and female sexual health specialist with over 25 years of experience.</p> <p dir="ltr">Together, we unpack the often-neglected world of older adults' sexual health. Dr. Girardi connects the physical and urological realities of aging to the broader relational and emotional aspects of intimacy, drawing on her extensive clinical background to bust long-standing myths and advocate for the well-being of her patients.</p> <p dir="ltr">A primary focus of the discussion revolves around the biological realities of aging and the critical importance of proper anatomical education. Dr. Girardi emphasizes that recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women—regardless of whether they are 20, 60, or 90 years old—are frequently tied to sexual activity, making sexual health history a vital component of standard urological care.</p> <p dir="ltr">Furthermore, she addresses the widespread misconception that painful sex or a compromised sex life is just an inevitable part of growing older that women must accept. Through her practice, Dr. Girardi uses direct, empathetic tools—like using a mirror during exams—to help women understand their own changing bodies and reclaim their sexual vitality. She notes that while physical intimacy changes over time, a lack of compliance from one's anatomy doesn't mean intimacy has to end; rather, partners can discover new ways to pleasure each other beyond standard penetration.</p> <p dir="ltr">The episode also highlights major medical milestones and clarifies the science behind female sexual health treatments. Dr. Girardi discusses the historic November 10, 2025, FDA announcement that officially removed the decades-old black box warning on topical vaginal estrogen, a decision rooted in safety data reviewed during an intensive hearing in September of that year.</p> <p dir="ltr">She explains that topical vaginal estrogen is not absorbed systemically, but instead safely restores a low pH and healthy lactobacillus to the vaginal ecosystem, serving as a powerful defense against life-threatening conditions like urosepsis in older women.</p> <p dir="ltr">Shifting the conversation to non-hormonal desire medications like flibanserin, Dr. Girardi clarifies the public discourse surrounding the "Female Viagra" misnomer. She notes that while Viagra works on a purely physical level by maintaining blood flow to an erection, female arousal and desire operate through complex neural pathways in the brain.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ultimately, Dr. Girardi urges both patients and practitioners to reject a compromised quality of life, navigate past historical fears like the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study, and embrace the healthcare solutions women rightfully deserve.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our <a href="http://www.ourbetterhalf.net/">website</a> and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/OurBetterHalf">Facebook</a> and <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/theourbetterhalfpodcast/">Instagram</a>. It really helps support our show!</p> <p dir="ltr">As always, thanks for listening!</p> <p> </p>
June 1, 2026
228: Lesbians: Aging on Their Own Terms in a Southern Cooperative
<p dir="ltr">In this episode of Our Better Half, hosts Dr. Jane Fleishman, Dr. Sabitha Pillai-Friedman, and Dr. Rosara Torrisi welcome Jennifer "JJ" Firestone, a seasoned geriatric social worker and community organizer with a rich history of LGBTQ+ advocacy. JJ shares her journey from coordinating artificial insemination programs in Boston to pioneering a unique family structure where she co-parented her daughter through a landmark 35-page co-parenting legal decision with two fathers. Her extensive career in hospice and her personal experience caring for her own aging parents for six years have culminated in her latest and most ambitious mission: redefining the quality of life as we age.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now based in Weaverville, North Carolina, JJ is developing a 3.5-acre "mini-farm" model for what she calls Cooperatives for Vigorous Aging (CVA). This self-governing residential arrangement aims to house four to six individuals who wish to age in place with a focus on vibrant, meaningful companionship from "vigorous old age to death." By moving away from traditional senior living residences where rules are often dictated by others, the CVA model empowers residents to maintain autonomy and set their own standards. JJ highlights that while the concept is still in its pioneering stages, it offers a radical alternative for those who want to maintain self-determination in their later years.</p> <p dir="ltr">The conversation also delves into the significant societal barriers to intentional aging, particularly the deep-seated denial and taboo surrounding the process, which JJ notes is second only to the taboo of sex. She discusses the chutzpah and passion required to be an early adopter of such a model and the difficulty of finding fellow pioneers willing to invest in an unestablished future. Despite these challenges, JJ has found unexpected support from younger generations and has forged deep connections with her new Southern neighbors, regardless of political or religious divides.</p> <p dir="ltr">Listeners interested in following her progress or joining the cooperative can subscribe to her Substack at <a href= "http://jenniferjfirestone.substack.com/">JenniferJFirestone.substack.com</a> or reach out via email at <a href= "mailto:jjfirestone@comcast.net">jjfirestone@comcast.net</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our <a href="http://www.ourbetterhalf.net/">website</a> and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OurBetterHalf">Facebook</a> and <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/theourbetterhalfpodcast/">Instagram</a>. It really helps support our show!</p> <p dir="ltr">As always, thanks for listening!</p> <p> </p>
May 19, 2026
227: Titans in Sexology: Teaching Sexual Health Providers How to Fish
<p dir="ltr">Our guests this week are two accomplished sexuality professionals – Ms. Sue Goldstein and Dr. Irwin Goldstein.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms. Sue Goldstein, a graduate of Brown University, is Sexuality Educator and Clinical Research Manager at San Diego Sexual Medicine (SDSM), responsible for sexual medicine educational programming and clinical research. She works with the SDSM team to develop clinical research projects, write protocols and oversee clinical trials. Ms. Goldstein co-authored <a href= "https://www.abebooks.com/9780595426461/When-Sex-Good-Stories-Solutions-0595426468/plp"> When Sex Isn't Good</a> to provide education and empowerment to women with sexual dysfunction. She is an associate editor of <a href= "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119266136">Textbook of Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction</a>, and <a href= "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119482598">Female Sexual Pain Disorders</a>, and author of multiple peer reviewed papers. Ms. Goldstein is past president of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH). She served on committees in the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) and Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA). She is also a member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and the International Society for Medical Shockwave Therapy. Ms. Goldstein, an ISSWSH Fellow, received the Distinguished Service Award from ISSWSH in 2017 as well as from SMSNA in 2017, and along with her husband, the Transformatory Team Award from ISSM in 2024.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr. Irwin Goldstein has been involved with sexual dysfunction research since the late 1970s. He has authored more than 380 publications as well as multiple book chapters and edited 7 textbooks in the field. His interests include surgery for dyspareunia, sexual health management post cancer treatment, persistent genital arousal disorder/genital dysesthesia, physiologic investigation of sexual function, and diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction in all genders. Dr. Goldstein is Director of Sexual Medicine at University of California San Diego East Campus, and sees patients in his private practice, <a href= "https://www.sdsm.info/">San Diego Sexual Medicine</a>. He is a Clinical Professor of Urology and Voluntary Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences at University of California San Diego. He is past Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Impotence Research, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, and Sexual Medicine Reviews. He is Past President of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA). He holds a degree in engineering from Brown University and received his medical degree from McGill University. The World Association for Sexual Health awarded the Gold Medal to Dr. Goldstein in 2009 in recognition of his lifelong contributions to the field, in 2012 he received the ISSWSH Award for Distinguished Service in Women's Sexual Health, in 2013 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the SMSNA, and in 2014 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM). He is happily married to his college sweetheart Sue, and together they have three children and five grandchildren. Sue and Irwin Goldstein have been titans in the field of sexology for some time now; they were there on May 14, 1998 when the first article on sildenafil (Viagra) was published with Irwin Goldstein as the first author.</p> <p dir="ltr">Listeners, if you would like to reach out to Ms. Sue Goldstein and/or Dr. Irwin Goldstein, check out the <a href= "https://www.sdsm.info/meet-the-staff">San Diego Sexual Medicine website!</a></p> <p dir="ltr">If you want to catch up on other shows, just visit our <a href="http://www.ourbetterhalf.net/">website</a> and please subscribe! We love our listeners and welcome your feedback, so if you love Our Better Half, please give us a 5-star rating and follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OurBetterHalf">Facebook</a> and <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/theourbetterhalfpodcast/">Instagram</a>. It really helps support our show!</p> <p dir="ltr">As always, thanks for listening!</p> <p> </p>
199 total episodes available
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This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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