In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I chat with Laura Zam on:
- Redefining Pleasure in MidlifeLaura shares how her personal journey with perimenopause and intimacy led to a deeper understanding of sensuality, eroticism, and pleasure. She introduces a four-part framework—sensuousness, sensuality, eroticism, and sexuality—to help women reconnect with their bodies and desires at every age.
- Creative Confidence and EvolutionFrom theatre to writing to public speaking, Laura discusses her lifelong commitment to creativity and how midlife has brought greater urgency and clarity. With growing confidence, she embraces her evolving voice and sheds expectations to stay true to her purpose.
- Everyday Rituals of Joy and Self-CareLaura's daily “pleasure thoughts” practice weaves together sensory experience, gratitude, pride, and intention. She shows how even small delights—a warm drink, a good lamp, a sweet memory—can become powerful sources of tranquility and resilience.
- Tranquility Through Proportional PleasureIn times of overwhelm, Laura turns to what she calls “proportional pleasure,” using beauty, nature, and simple rituals to balance emotional intensity. It’s a gentle invitation to anchor in joy, even amid chaos.
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Grab your journal, a cuppa tea, and settle in for this week’s inspiration.
Our Guest: Laura ZamLaura Zam is an award-winning writer, TEDx speaker, AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator, and Pleasure Empowerment Coach. Her work has been featured in many media outlets, including NBC-TV, The Washington Post,InStyle, and others. She’s the author of THE PLEASURE PLAN, a bestselling memoir--about healing in the aftermath of childhood trauma--currently being shopped around as a television series. Often mixing pathos and hilarity in refreshing ways, Laura’s writing has been featured in The New York Times, Salon, HuffPost and other publications. Her one-person play about finding pleasure after sexual violation was presented Off-Broadway. She’s toured other plays about trauma healing all over the world. As a speaker, through her company Pleasure Literacy, LLC, Laura has presented at universities, conferences, and fortune 500 companies across the U.S. Pleasure Literacy helps people build resilience, and avoid harm, by better understanding, navigating, and cultivating everyday pleasure. Laura is the host of a new podcast called Zam On Pleasure, and she also loves working directly with people through pleasure-oriented courses and coaching. She’s a graduate of the Institute for Sexuality Education & Enlightenment. She’s also a Certified Trauma Professional (CTP) and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). Laura has a Bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College and a Master’s from Brown University.
Find Our Guest- Freebie: Pleasure Thought Guide
- Author, THE PLEASURE PLAN
- Web: LauraZam.com
- Twitter/X: @LauraZam
- Instagram: @LauraZamPleasure
- Facebook: @LauraZamAuthor
- Previous Episodes: #167: Musings on Leaving Your Day Job, #489: The Pleasure Plan
- Digital Courses to Nourish the Midlife Soul
- Craving more beauty, balance, and intention in midlife? Join the Substack Private Collection for just $1.90/week ($99/year) and receive: 🧘♀️ Five exclusive tranquility tools each month—think journal prompts, meditations, private podcast episodes, veg recipes, and playlists 🗓️ My Month in Review packed with personal reflections and favorite resources 🎁 Occasional bonus treats crafted just for paid subscribers Your midlife journey deserves nourishment and support—come cozy up inside the private circle! 💗
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