The Penis Project Podcast: Breaking Taboos in Men’s Sexual Health

In this candid and surprising episode, Melissa is joined by guest host Kira and anonymous guests “George and Mildred” for a deep dive into their relationship story, how menopause and erectile dysfunction impacted their marriage, and how a journey into the swinging lifestyle ultimately strengthened communication, intimacy, and connection. 

This conversation explores the real relationship work behind non-monogamy, including boundaries, ground rules, consent culture at clubs, the importance of emotional safety, and how past breaches of consent can shape future intimacy. 

What You’ll Hear in This Episode 

How they met (army posting, friendship-first, and a hilariously blunt pickup line) 

 Menopause, libido changes, and the ripple effects inside a long-term relationship 

 What ED did to confidence, connection, and communication — and why many men withdraw silently 

 Their first visit to Restorative Health Clinic, and the moment treatment helped restore intimacy 

 The relationship rupture: online searching for connection, betrayal, and rebuilding trust 

 The turning point: honest conversations that revealed the issue wasn’t “just sex” — it was the relationship 

 How and why, they entered swinging (slowly), why it wasn’t instant confidence, and what helped 

 Attraction, compatibility, and why “the whole package” matters more than perfection 

 Sexual identity and exploration (bisexuality, comfort, and removing shame) 

 The “unicorn” dynamic: what it means, how it works, and why friendship matters as much as sex 

 Clubs explained for beginners: 

what swinging clubs are like 

what “play areas” are 

how different venues have different vibes (more social vs more kink-friendly) 

 The Dom/Sub dynamic: how it developed, how they practised safely, and why education matters 

Consent and confidentiality: what “yes” must look like, and why assumptions can be harmful 

 A powerful consent story: what happens when boundaries are crossed, and how recovery can take time 

 Jealousy (teased at the end): acknowledging it exists and setting up the next part of the conversation 

Key Takeaways 

ED and libido changes don’t just affect sex — they affect identity, confidence, and emotional connection 

Silence and embarrassment can create distance in long-term relationships 

Non-monogamy isn’t a “quick fix” — it often requires more communication, not less 

Healthy swinging relies on boundaries, consent, and emotional safety 

Consent isn’t a one-time checkbox — it’s ongoing, clear, and must be re-established 

Intimacy can be rebuilt, but breaches of trust (or consent) can take months to heal 

 

Listener Note 

This episode includes frank discussion of sex, non-monogamy, and consent experiences. Please listen with care. 

 

Resources & Links: 

Book a telehealth consult with our sexual health nurse practitioners at Restorative Health Clinic 

For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com 

https://breathworkforsurfers.com.au/ Mentioned in the podcast Ryan did this program with tom Carroll 

Listen & Subscribe 

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Your feedback helps us continue bringing important conversations to light. Search for The Penis Project Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. 

Connect With Us 

 We love hearing from real people, navigating penile health. If you’d like to share your journey or ask a question, get in touch. Email: [email protected] 
 

Websites: 

https://rshealth.com.au/  All genders 

https://makehardeasy.com.au  

https://melissahadleybarrett.com  

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/ 

https://www.instagram.com/restorativehealth.clinic/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett  

TikTok: @melissahadleybarrett 

Facebook: 

https://m.facebook.com/p/Melissa-Hadley-Barrett-100085237672685/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085146627814 

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hadley-barrett/ 

 TEDX: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHj1YTmLoA

Let’s talk bollocks — literally. In this candid and funny episode of The Penis Project Podcast, Melissa chats with Kurt Brookes and James McConnell, co-hosts of the bold new podcast Never Mind My Bollocks, produced by Made in Manchester. Together, they’re breaking the silence around vasectomy — a topic often buried in myths, awkwardness, and outdated notions of masculinity. 

Kurt, a comedy creator, and James, an NHS scientist and geneticist, bring their lived experience and friendship to the mic. What started as a casual post-comedy-night confession (“You’ve had one too?!”) became a mission to normalise the conversation about vasectomy — with honesty, humour, and zero shame. 

From misconceptions about “losing your manhood” to the truth about recovery, ejaculation, and “blue balls,” this episode goes where most won’t — cutting through the misinformation with science, storytelling, and a laugh or two. 

In This Episode, We Cover: 

How Never Mind My Bollocks began and why the world needs to talk about vasectomy 

Myths that persist: masculinity, testosterone, and “dry orgasms” 

What really happens before, during, and after the snip 

Why vasectomy doesn’t make you “less of a man” 

Lived experience vs. medical expertise — and why both matter 

Common misconceptions around reversibility, chronic pain, and recovery 

How humour helps break taboo around men’s sexual health 

Kurt Brookes is Deputy Creative Director at Made in Manchester. James McConnell is a geneticist and allied health professional working within the NHS. Together, they created Never Mind My Bollocks to make vasectomy conversations real, relatable, and stigma-free — sharing stories from men and experts alike to help others make informed choices about their reproductive health. 

 

 Listen to Never Mind My Bollocks on all major podcast platforms. 

 

Key Takeaway: 
Talking about vasectomy shouldn’t be taboo. Kurt and James remind us that openness — not silence — is the real sign of strength. 

Resources & Links: 

Book a telehealth consult with our sexual health nurse practitioners at Restorative Health Clinic 

For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com 

Listen & Subscribe 

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Your feedback helps us continue bringing important conversations to light. Search for The Penis Project Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. 

Connect With Us 

 We love hearing from real people, navigating penile health. If you’d like to share your journey or ask a question, get in touch. Email: [email protected] 
 

Websites: 

https://rshealth.com.au/  All genders 

https://makehardeasy.com.au  

https://melissahadleybarrett.com  

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/ 

https://www.instagram.com/restorativehealth.clinic/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett  

TikTok: @melissahadleybarrett 

Facebook: 

https://m.facebook.com/p/Melissa-Hadley-Barrett-100085237672685/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085146627814 

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hadley-barrett/ 

 TEDX: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHj1YTmLoA

In this special episode of The Penis Project Podcast, the tables are turned — and Melissa Hadley Barrett is the one being interviewed! 
Joining her is Sangeeth Sebastian, a journalist and sexuality writer from Kerala, India, and the founder of VVOX — a groundbreaking platform with a mission to make accurate, science-based sexual and mental health knowledge accessible to everyone and end sexual shame. 

With nearly two decades in journalism, Sangeeth brings empathy and investigative depth to the conversation as he and Melissa explore everything from erectile dysfunction and Peyronies disease to libido, body image, and the silence surrounding sexual pain. Together they unpack why shame remains one of the biggest barriers to intimacy, how open communication can transform relationships, and what it means to create a culture of curiosity over judgment. 

In This Episode, We Cover: 

Sangeeth’s journey from award-winning journalist in Kerala to sexuality educator and founder of VVOX 

Why he launched VVOX and how its helping people unlearn sexual shame 

Melissa’s insights into men’s sexual health — erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, Peyronie’s disease, and post-cancer recovery 

The social and cultural roots of shame around sex 

How misinformation affects both men’s and women’s confidence and pleasure 

The importance of empathy, language, and education in sexual healing 

What it takes to build a healthier, shame-free global conversation around sex 

Key Takeaways: 

Shame is cultural — but it can be unlearned through education and open dialogue. 

Science and compassion together heal more than medicine alone. 

Sexual health is human health: it affects confidence, connection, and quality of life. 

True intimacy grows from honesty, curiosity, and mutual respect. 

Access to accurate information is the foundation of sexual freedom. 

About Sangeeth Sebastian: 

Hailing from Kerala, India, Sangeeth Sebastian is the founder of VVOX (pronounced we-vox), a platform dedicated to ending sexual shame by making reliable, evidence-based education about sexuality and mental health available to everyone. 
With nearly 20 years of experience as a journalist, he has worked with major Indian media houses including The Hindu, Hindustan Times, and India Today Group. An award-winning sexuality writer and DAAD researcher, his work has been recognised internationally and featured in outlets such as BBC, The Guardian, AFP, Channel 4 UK, and The Daily Mail. 
Sangeeth also received the Likho Award for Excellence from the Humsafar Trust for fair and inclusive LGBTQ+ representation in media. 

Learn more about VVOX:  

https://www.youtube.com/@vvoxIndia 

www.vvox.in 

Resources & Links: 

Book a telehealth consult with our sexual health nurse practitioners at Restorative Health Clinic 

For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com 

Listen & Subscribe 

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Your feedback helps us continue bringing important conversations to light. Search for The Penis Project Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. 

Connect With Us 

 We love hearing from real people, navigating penile health. If you’d like to share your journey or ask a question, get in touch. Email: [email protected] 
 

Websites: 

https://rshealth.com.au/  All genders 

https://makehardeasy.com.au  

https://melissahadleybarrett.com  

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/ 

https://www.instagram.com/restorativehealth.clinic/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett  

TikTok: @melissahadleybarrett 

Facebook: 

https://m.facebook.com/p/Melissa-Hadley-Barrett-100085237672685/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085146627814 

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hadley-barrett/ 

 TEDX: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHj1YTmLoA

In this special Christmas edition of The Penis Project Podcast, Melissa is joined by members of the Restorative Health Clinic team for a candid, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt look back at the year that was. 

From awkward inbox messages and clinic mishaps to deeply meaningful patient moments, the team reflects on what it’s really like working in men’s sexual health — a space where humour, vulnerability, trust, and life-changing conversations collide every day. 

This episode is part thank-you, part behind-the-scenes, and part reminder that sexual health work is serious — but laughter matters too. 

 Key Takeaways 

Men’s sexual health is about much more than erections — it’s about confidence, connection, and quality of life 

Trust takes time, but once it’s built, men open up in powerful ways 

Porn has skewed expectations — most penises are completely normal 

You don’t need to have a penis to understand men’s sexual health — listening matters more 

A good clinic culture blends professionalism, compassion… and humour 

 Clinic Updates & Announcements 

New clinic location: Icon Cancer Centre, Midland 

Expanded support for men post-radiation (prostate, bladder, colorectal cancer) 

Telehealth services now supporting rural, remote, interstate, and overseas patients 

Upcoming training & conferences: 

International Society of Sexual Medicine (Porto, Portugal) 

Advanced Botox training for penile health applications 

Christmas closure: 

19th December- 12th January 

 

Resources & Links: 

Book a telehealth consult with our sexual health nurse practitioners at Restorative Health Clinic 

For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com 

Listen & Subscribe 

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Your feedback helps us continue bringing important conversations to light. Search for The Penis Project Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. 

Connect With Us 

We love hearing from real people, navigating penile health. If you’d like to share your journey or ask a question, get in touch. Email: [email protected] 
 

Websites: 

https://rshealth.com.au/  All genders 

https://makehardeasy.com.au  

https://melissahadleybarrett.com  

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/ 

https://www.instagram.com/restorativehealth.clinic/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett  

TikTok: @melissahadleybarrett 

Facebook: 

https://m.facebook.com/p/Melissa-Hadley-Barrett-100085237672685/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085146627814 

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hadley-barrett/ 

 TEDX: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHj1YTmLoA

In this deeply insightful episode of The Penis Project Podcast, Melissa Hadley Barrett sits down with Jeremy Lipkowitz — a former Buddhist monk turned mindfulness teacher and men’s recovery coach — to explore how compulsive behaviours like porn addiction can quietly undermine men’s sexual health, relationships, and sense of self. 

Jeremy shares his personal journey from genetics research at Duke University to living as a monk, and how mindfulness, neuroscience, and self-compassion became the tools that helped him (and now others) break free from addiction. Together, Melissa and Jeremy unpack the neuroscience of porn use, its impact on intimacy and erectile function, and how men can rewire their brains to rediscover genuine connection and confidence. 

In This Episode, We Cover: 

Jeremy’s unique path from scientist to monk to men’s recovery coach 

How porn addiction develops — and why it’s often hard to recognise early 

The neuroscience of addiction: dopamine, neuroplasticity, and “amygdala hijack” 

How compulsive porn use impacts erectile function, libido, and intimacy 

The truth about porn, body image, and unrealistic sexual expectations 

The role of mindfulness and meditation in rewiring the brain and regaining control 

How to “urge surf” — using 90 seconds of awareness instead of autopilot 

The power of community and accountability in creating lasting change 

How mindfulness helps men face emotions rather than escape them 

Key Takeaways: 

Addiction isn’t about weakness — it’s about avoiding uncomfortable emotions. 

Porn rewires the brain to crave novelty, dulling connection and satisfaction in real life. 

Mindfulness builds awareness and self-control, allowing men to choose consciously rather than react automatically. 

Healing comes through connection, compassion, and understanding — not shame. 

You don’t have to be perfect to make progress; awareness is the first step to change. 

About Jeremy Lipkowitz: 

Jeremy is a certified mindfulness and emotional intelligence teacher, former Buddhist monk, and founder of Unhooked Academy — a global community helping men break free from compulsive behaviours and build discipline, purpose, and fulfilling relationships. He also hosts the Unhooked Podcast, where he interviews experts and shares practical tools for self-mastery and recovery. 

Learn more: www.UnhookedAcademy.com 
Follow Jeremy: @jeremylipkowitz 
Listen to his podcast: Search “Unhooked” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz 

 
 Resources & Links: 

Book a telehealth consult with our sexual health nurse practitioners at Restorative Health Clinic 

For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com 

Listen & Subscribe 

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Your feedback helps us continue bringing important conversations to light. Search for The Penis Project Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. 

Connect With Us 

 We love hearing from real people, navigating penile health. If you’d like to share your journey or ask a question, get in touch. Email: [email protected] 
 

Websites: 

https://rshealth.com.au/  All genders 

https://makehardeasy.com.au  

https://melissahadleybarrett.com  

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/ 

https://www.instagram.com/restorativehealth.clinic/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett  

TikTok: @melissahadleybarrett 

Facebook: 

https://m.facebook.com/p/Melissa-Hadley-Barrett-100085237672685/ 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085146627814 

Linkedin: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hadley-barrett/ 

 TEDX: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHj1YTmLoA