Marie invites us into a deeper look at intimacy, not as something accidental, but as a form of self-leadership shaped by truth, courage, and creative expression. She reflects on her shift from a structured, achievement-driven life to one grounded in embodiment and pleasure, showing how desire becomes a guide rather than something to doubt.

In this open and thoughtful conversation, she unpacks the link between pleasure and wellness, the beauty of menstrual intimacy, the science behind libido at every age, and the myths that still shape how women think about orgasm. She blends research, experience, and humor, reminding us that sexuality isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s meant to be lived.

Marie imagines a world where women read their bodies with confidence, embrace pleasure without apology, and age without fear. Her insights offer grounded, practical ways to reconnect with desire, listen to the body, and build a more honest, expansive relationship with pleasure

Intimacy and Self-Leadership

At The Pleasure Atelier, your work frames intimacy as an expression of creative self-leadership. How do you personally interpret this, and in what ways has your own journey influenced this perspective?

Marie:  To me, intimacy begins with truth, and truth takes courage. When I speak of self-leadership, I mean the willingness to meet yourself honestly: your needs, your desires, and your contradictions. That’s where intimacy with others becomes possible.

My own journey from a structured, achievement-driven life to a deeply embodied and pleasure-centered one taught me that reclaiming intimacy isn’t passive. It’s creative. You build it. You nurture it. You lead it. That’s the ethos behind The Pleasure Atelier®: helping women become the authors of their own sensuality, not just characters in someone else’s story.

To me, intimacy begins with truth, and truth takes courage. When I speak of self-leadership, I mean the willingness to meet yourself honestly: your needs, your desires, and your contradictions. That’s where intimacy with others becomes possible.

And I’m thrilled that The Pleasure Atelier® is going digital in 2026, with new offerings designed to support more women worldwide alongside intimate, in-person gatherings held once a year for deeper connection and celebration. Because pleasure should be expansive, embodied, and available to every woman.

Pleasure as Part of Wellness

When you talk about pleasure as a “vital part of wellness,” what do you wish more people understood about the connection between sexual well-being and overall mental and emotional health?

Marie:  I wish more people realized that pleasure isn’t a luxury; it’s a form of regulation, restoration, and resilience. When we’re disconnected from our bodies or ashamed of our desire, it affects everything: our mood, our energy, and our self-worth, and vice versa. sexual well-being is profoundly linked to emotional safety and nervous system health.

It’s about feeling safe to receive, to express, and to feel. And for women especially, pleasure can be the missing piece in how we understand power, confidence, and even leadership. Wellness without pleasure is only doing half the job.

Period Sex and Menstrual Intimacy

People feel uncertain or even embarrassed about sex during menstruation. What are your thoughts on period sex, and how can women (and their partners) embrace intimacy during this natural part of the cycle?

Marie:  There’s nothing dirty or shameful about menstruation; it’s powerful, elemental, and deeply sensual. For many women, arousal can actually increase during their period, and orgasms may relieve cramps and improve mood. But intimacy during this time doesn’t have to be penetrative or performative. It’s an invitation to slow down, tune in, and explore what feels good in a more intuitive way. Communication and care are key.

Towels, warm water, soft lighting… turn it into a ritual instead of rushing to hide it. The more we normalize it, the more permission we give ourselves  and our partners  to embrace the body as it is.

Understanding White Discharge

White discharge can be a natural part of the cycle, but it can also signal other issues. What should women know about distinguishing between normal and concerning changes?

Marie:  White vaginal discharge is often completely normal, especially around ovulation, when it tends to become more stretchy or creamy. It’s a sign of healthy cervical mucus and hormonal balance. But if there’s a sudden change in color, smell, or texture, or if it comes with itching, irritation, or discomfort, that’s when it’s worth speaking to a healthcare professional. The bigger issue is that many women aren’t taught to understand their own cycles.

At The Pleasure Atelier®, we frame this as body literacy:  getting fluent in the signals your body sends so you can respond with care, not fear.

Libido and Age

If someone told you women “lose their libido after 50,” what would your response be?

Marie:  I’d say, let’s retire that tired old myth once and for all and look at the science instead. I’ve just spent the day at a powerful symposium on sex and aging organized by the Kinsey Institute, with Womanizer and brilliant researchers like Dr. Cynthia Graham. The findings were as affirming as they were exciting: Dr.

❌ Menopause doesn’t mean the end of pleasure.
❌ It doesn’t shut down desire. Dr.
❌ And no, orgasm doesn’t fade with age for some women; it even improves.

Many women in midlife and beyond report more confidence, more freedom, and more capacity to explore on their own terms. Libido isn’t just about hormones; it’s about context, confidence, and curiosity. And when women are finally done with people-pleasing and performance, that’s when real desire often begins. Pleasure is ageless, and we need to start acting like it. And nothing that a little testosterone boost can’t help with.

Misconceptions About Orgasm

What are the biggest misconceptions about orgasm that hold women back from fully enjoying their sexuality, and how can they overcome them?

Marie:  The biggest one? That orgasm is the goal. We’ve been taught a linear, often male-centered script: arousal, penetration, climax, done. But for most women, orgasm isn’t linear. It’s contextual, emotional, and often begins outside the bedroom.

Another misconception is that everyone should climax the same way. In reality, clitoral stimulation is essential for most women, yet it’s still so often overlooked both by partners and in the way we’ve been taught to think about sex. It’s about rewriting our sexual scripts.

And perhaps most importantly, we forget that our brains are our biggest sexual organs. Stress, shame, and distraction can all block arousal and orgasm more than any physical factor. That’s why sexual well-being is as much about mindset, safety, and self-connection as it is about technique.

To move past these myths, we need to give ourselves less pressure, more permission, and a lot more curiosity. I tell my clients: focus on what feels good,  not what “should” happen. The journey is the pleasure.

Funny or Awkward Sexual Moments

What’s the funniest or most awkward sexual moment you’ve experienced or been told about in coaching sessions?

Marie:  Oh, I have plenty, some of which I’ve shared in my book Manhunting in Manhattan, which chronicles my post-divorce adventures with younger men in New York. Let’s just say it was a very educational era. Manhunting in Manhattan – Available NOW!

One favorite?  A wildly enthusiastic lover who stripped off so quickly he managed to knock over a bottle of wine, trip on my handbag, and headbutt the bed frame all before I’d even taken my boots off. He looked up, dazed, and asked, “Still sexy, though… right? ”

Sex is rarely seamless, and that’s part of it, right? Magical. When we stop striving for performance and perfection, we open the door to real connection, joy, and often, hilarity. Awkwardness is part of intimacy. Own it.

Wish You Knew Then 

If you could offer one piece of advice to a woman standing where you once stood, questioning who she is and what she desires, what would you tell her?

Marie:  I’d tell her, “You’re not broken. You’re just becoming. Desire is not a problem to solve;  it’s a compass to follow. Trust it. Let yourself explore, evolve, and experiment. And know this: your pleasure is not selfish.

It’s sacred. It’s a source of strength, truth, and healing. The moment you stop asking for permission, your real life begins.

Editor Note

Marie’s story reminds us that intimacy and pleasure aren’t just experiences; they’re invitations to know and care for ourselves more deeply. Listening to your body, honoring your desires, and embracing pleasure with curiosity and kindness isn’t indulgence; it’s a way to nurture confidence, joy, and well-being. True empowerment comes from giving yourself permission to explore, to trust your instincts, and to move at your own pace, even when the world sends mixed messages about what’s “normal.”

What feels most inspiring is the gentle courage it takes to show up for yourself, to celebrate your body’s wisdom, and to lead your own sensual journey. Marie’s insights encourage all of us to rewrite old scripts and approach pleasure, intimacy, and self-care with warmth, honesty, and love.

“When you stop asking for permission to feel, you open the door to joy, connection, and self-leadership.”