Girl Boner Radio: True Sex and Relationship Stories

A Shocking Wakeup Call and Getting Intimate with Stress

·25 min·2 clips

Stress physiologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss reveals how a shocking phone call about a brain tumor diagnosis transformed her entire life.

The episode begins with host August McLaughlin introducing the theme of arousal and connection, then introduces guest Dr. Rebecca Heiss, a stress physiologist and author. Rebecca shares her childhood experiences with sex education in a liberal household and her sister coming out as a lesbian in the 1990s. She describes her early dating life with older men and her late discovery of self-pleasure, not experiencing orgasm with a partner until her late 20s. Rebecca discusses her marriage, which she felt was not compatible, and her close relationship with her sister-in-law Kim. The narrative shifts when Kim is diagnosed with a brain tumor and given a year to live, a moment Rebecca recalls receiving during a walk on a beautiful day. This event serves as a catalyst for Rebecca to reassess her life; she quits her job, sells her house, and divorces her husband within a month, describing her previous life as 'meh'. She then writes a book manuscript and, after a chance meeting with an Airbnb host's husband who is a Harvard medical director, receives free housing while she writes. Rebecca transitions into a career as a speaker and author, publishing books like 'Springboard: Transform stress to work for you'. She explains her stress management philosophy, including the metaphor of 'inviting the tiger in for tea' to transform stress energy. Rebecca shares research that stress correlates with a meaningful life and advises listeners to use stress as a barometer for care. The episode concludes with practical tips and a promotion of her book.

As heard by us

A family crisis turns a secure life into a candid conversation about stress, pleasure, and choosing what feels real.

A family illness pushes stress physiologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss to look again at the life she had carefully assembled: secure work, a home of her own, and a marriage that was not miserable so much as quietly settled.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if a diagnosis in the family could make your own stress feel newly useful.

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