Love Yourself, Love Your Sex Life with Emily Wishall

Dr. Diane: Welcome to the Libido Lounge, where we focus on all things love, lust, and libido. We believe that fabulous sex is just as important to health as exercise and good food. Hey everybody, welcome back to another episode of the Libido Lounge! I’m your host, libido expert Dr. Diane, and I am so thrilled about my guest today. This is a very dear friend of mine—an embodiment expert, a radical embodiment expert, a fascia expert, a Rolfing expert—so many different areas of expertise in really owning, moving, and living in the depths of one’s feminine. I’m thrilled to introduce you to my dear friend Emily Wishall. Thank you so much for joining me today, Emily!

Emily Wishall: Thank you, Dr. Diane. It’s my pleasure!

What is Radical Embodiment?

Dr. Diane: Let’s start with the concept of radical embodiment, which is really at the core of your work—the workshops, coaching, and integration you offer women. Can you talk a little about what radical embodiment means to you?

Emily Wishall: Yes, absolutely. I’ll start by defining both “radical” and “embodiment.” Radical, to me, means making bold, courageous choices that may go against the norm or habitual patterns. Embodiment has many definitions, but for me, it’s the ability to drop down into your body and sense what’s present—to track sensations, emotions, and to continually choose to be here, in this vessel, in your body.

We live in a society that doesn’t invite us to be in our bodies. We’re constantly on screens, absorbing alerts, messages, and stress. It pulls us out of the present and our power. On top of that, especially in the U.S., women face an overwhelming pressure from a young age to look a certain way, and that breeds a disconnection from our bodies. We start seeing our bodies as a problem to fix—through diets, fads, and marketing traps.

So, radical embodiment is the daily, courageous, consistent choice to come back into your body. It’s not a one-time event or a weekend workshop—it’s a way of life.

Embodiment, Libido, and Experiencing Pleasure

Dr. Diane: I love that you brought in the concept of courage. When it comes to libido, pleasure, passion, and relationships, one thing I talk about a lot is that we can’t experience pleasure if we’re not actually inhabiting our bodies. What you’re describing is essential for feeling and experiencing pleasure.

Where I want to go with this conversation is how self-love intersects with pleasure and libido. Research shows that the more confidence and self-love we have, the more we can bring that into our relationships. So how does your work help people begin to open up the conversation around self-love, especially in a world full of comparison?

Emily Wishall: Self-love, to me, is deeply tied to inhabiting our physical body. When we’re present in our body, we’re grounded. We naturally calm our nervous system, moving toward a parasympathetic state, and quiet that inner critic.

Affirmations are great, but if they’re only in your mind, they fall flat. When we integrate those messages into our felt sense, that’s when we can deeply connect to self-love. And yes, we can still want to improve—gain muscle, improve mobility, reduce pain—while loving and accepting ourselves. That’s not a contradiction. The key is that those choices come from capital T truth, not from a place of shame or pressure.

The Paradox of Self-Acceptance and Growth

Dr. Diane: That’s such a powerful reminder—loving and accepting ourselves fully while still wanting to make changes. That paradox can feel difficult. Do you have advice on how people can embrace both?

Emily Wishall: I think of embodiment like a muscle. You have to practice it. If you’re doing regular embodiment practices, then when you’re triggered or overwhelmed, you’ll have access to more grounded responses rather than reactivity.

It also helps you tune into what your body truly needs—whether that’s protein, carbs, rest, or movement—rather than what your mind thinks you should do. It’s about making choices from a connected, centered place.

So if you’re adopting a new workout or food plan, ask: why am I doing this? Is it to look a certain way for external approval? Or is it because I want to feel strong, fluid, healthy, and vital? That motivation matters. Check in daily. Embodiment deepens when we consistently listen to ourselves.

Embodiment and Sexual Sovereignty

Dr. Diane: That’s a perfect segue into how this applies to sexuality. In moments of intimacy—foreplay, deeper connection, or sex—what I hear is that embodiment helps us stay tuned into whether something feels good. We’re more able to express what we like, what we don’t, and what we’re curious about. Would you agree?

Emily Wishall: Totally. The more in your body you are, the more sovereign you are in your experience. You can track what feels good, what doesn’t, when to slow down, and what you’re open to. You’re less in your head worrying about what your partner wants and more present with what YOU want.

I believe our bodies are full of inherent pleasure—it’s our birthright. That includes sexual and sensual pleasure, and even day-to-day joy like savoring food. For example, I rushed my breakfast today, but I still moaned because it was so good. Even in rushed moments, we can find pleasure if we’re connected to our body.

Radical Embodiment is a Daily Practice

Dr. Diane: I love the honesty there—and also the reminder that this is a practice. Not every moment will be perfect, but we come back to our body over and over. That’s what your work helps people do. So how can women get started with you?

Emily Wishall: Yes—and one word I want to emphasize is gentleness. The more gentle and playful we are, the more our healing accelerates.

People can find me at radicalembodiment.com. I have a free gift there—a practice called How to Stop the Body Hate. It includes a guided meditation and a step-by-step PDF to help quiet that inner critic and start reconnecting with your body.

It’s for anyone who finds it hard to love their body or is tired of that mental loop of dissatisfaction. You can find it by clicking on “Free Gift” at the top of the homepage.

Dr. Diane: That is such an incredible resource, and I highly recommend everyone check it out! Emily, thank you so much for this beautiful, powerful conversation and for the work you’re doing in the world.

You can find me on YouTube, on Instagram, and check out our Modern Libido Club for so much more!