1,000 people masturbated for science with Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons

1,000 people masturbated for science with Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons

Author: Danielle Bezalel, MPH: Sex Educator | Pleasure Expert June 18, 2025 Duration: 47:40

Season 12 is all about PLEASURE and we're kicking things off with a juicy one! This week, DB is joined by Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons—licensed psychologist, sex researcher, and pleasure activist—to talk about what happened when 1,000 people masturbate for science!

The Magic Wand Wellness Study is the first study of its kind to look at how daily masturbation impacts things like sleep, stress, focus, confidence, and body image, and the results were amazing. We talk about why solo pleasure is so often ignored in wellness culture, what DB learned from doing the study herself, and why taking time to get yourself off might actually make you feel better in your body, your brain, and your relationships.

If you've been feeling disconnected from your pleasure — especially solo pleasure — this is your gentle nudge (or loud, vibrating one) to come back to it!

GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Candice Nicole Hargons is an award-winning associate professor at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, where she studies sexual wellness and liberation. She has published over 80 academic articles and has been featured in popular media, including Cosmopolitan, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Essence, Ebony, and the Huffington Post. 

FIND DR. CANDICE NICOLE HARGON'S BOOK HERE

ABOUT SEASON 12
Season 12 of Sex Ed with DB is ALL ABOUT PLEASURE! Solo pleasure. Partnered pleasure. Orgasms. Porn. Queer joy. Kinks, sex toys, fantasies—you name it. We're here to help you feel more informed, more empowered, and a whole lot more turned on to help YOU have the best sex.

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ABOUT THE SHOW
Sex Ed with DB is your go-to podcast for smart, science-backed sex education—delivering trusted insights from top experts on sex, sexuality, and pleasure. Empowering, inclusive, and grounded in real science, it's the sex ed you've always wanted.

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SEASON 12 TEAM
Creator, Host & Executive Producer: Danielle Bezalel (DB) (she/her)
Producer: Sadie Lidji (she/her)
Communications Lead: Cathren Cohen (she/her)
Growth Marketing Manager: Wil Williams (they/them)

MUSIC
Intro theme music: Hook Sounds
Background music: Bright State by Ketsa
Ad music: Soul Sync by Ketsa and Soul Trap by Ketsa


You have questions about pleasure, intimacy, and your own body that feel too complex or awkward to ask out loud. Sex Ed with DB: smart, science-backed sex education is the space where those questions are not only welcomed but explored with depth and clarity. Hosted by Danielle Bezalel (DB), a sex educator with a Masters in Public Health, this podcast moves beyond basic biology to address the real, often unspoken, aspects of our sexual lives. Each episode is built on a foundation of credible research and compassionate insight, dismantling the myths and shame that so often accompany these topics. You’ll hear DB in conversation with leading experts, therapists, and researchers, translating their knowledge into practical advice you can actually use. Whether it’s navigating communication with a partner, understanding your own desires more fully, or simply seeking a more confident and joyful connection to your sexuality, this series provides a trustworthy guide. The tone is direct, inclusive, and refreshingly free of judgment, meeting you exactly where you are in your personal journey. Tune in for a re-education that focuses not on what’s wrong, but on what’s possible for a more fulfilling and informed intimate life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Sex Ed with DB: smart, science-backed sex education
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