SPEAKERS:
MODERATOR:
Cassie Brighter
FORMAT:
Each speaker will do a 15-20 minute presentation, followed by a quick break before we open it up for a lively Q&A session for the panel.
TOPICS:
¤ What Society Tells Us Women Want from Men – and Why It Is Confusing
¤ The Evolved Masculine Empowered Man
¤ Expressing Your True Intent
¤ Masculinity – Literal and Abstract
COST:
$10 at the door to defray costs. No one turned away for lack of funds.
For Tickets click here.
Sun, May 19, 2019
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
Aspen Social Lounge
136 S. Virgil Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90004
TOPICS BY SPEAKER:
Hercules Liotard:
*** Learning from the past masculinity and not being a slave to it ***
*** Expressing your true intent ***
Dr. Laurie Bennett-Cook
*** What Society Tells Us Women Want from Men – and Why It Is Confusing.***
Paul Shaw
***The Evolved Masculine Empowered Man ***
How to become a man balanced in both masculine and feminine energies and how those energies have nothing to do with gender identity. We as men fight against the extremes of masculinity. Sometimes it feels like we only have two choices. The toxic bad boy who leaves a trail of sexual devastation or the needy nice guy who is always in the friend zone. But there is a third way… a balanced way.
Ethan Shattuck
*** Rituals of Masculinity ***
Heather Brewer, MFT
*** Masculinity – Literal and Abstract ***
For some time, “masculine” has
referred to the seemingly innate traits of men, and ‘feminine” to the
seemingly innate traits of women.
As we grow aware of gender as a spectrum, it might make the most sense to allow these words to point not to anything gendered, but to a set of traits.
How we define them has changed without our conscious awareness, and we’re kind of scrambling to keep up. If we make it a mindful and embodied process, we may land in a really cool place in our
understanding that will bring forward movement.
Ken Cosby
The unspoken rules of what the general public defines as masculinity varies from person to person. What’s obviously considered a dominant masculine trait to one person can be perceived as toxic behavior to others. In a time where the specifics of what’s considered masculine appear to be in flux is there a way to create space for a new more fluid definition of masculinity?
Jallen Rix:
*** Gay men and stereotypes of masculinity ***
With our understanding of masculine and feminine in flux, is there anything uniquely masculine anymore? When working with gay men who not only want to feel masculine, but they are also aroused by “the masculine,” Dr. Rix gets an eyeful of stereotypes that can at times be damaging and at other times be celebrated. The big question often is which “masculine characteristics” do you want to draw close to and/or emulate?
Wry:
*** Triangulation: Who are we using to get ahead? Who are we trying to impress? How does this machismo harm everyone involved? ***
Toxic masculinity celebrates the psychological symptoms of The Dark Triad (Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy). In our relationships, these traits activate The Power Triad (Manipulator/sociopath, Accomplice/Apath, Manipulated/Empath). How do we recognize these traits in ourselves and avoid enabling these behaviors?
Let’s strive for a healthier triangle, by being Assertive (I have needs), Caring (I’m listening), and Vulnerable (I’m struggling).
Ethan Shattuck:
*** Rites of Passage, Ritual, and Identity ***
Toxic masculinity has wrought destruction at every turn for millennia. To heal and thrive as a society we need to figure out how to help young men become fully realized mature men. The lack of rites of passage, role models, and an ever-shifting social landscape has produced generations of males who never made the transition into manhood. This talk will explore the effect of the intersections of mythology, popular culture, ritual, and history on modern male identity and how to help young men become fully actualized.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Hercules a.k.a. The Pleasure Coach, is a Sex, Intimacy & Relationship Coach, Educator, Speaker, Bodyworker, Activist, Pro Dom and a Permission Giver. Hercules is a well-known presenter at various conferences, festivals and media. He is the Event Co-Ordinator for SPLA Sex Positive Los Angeles and a presenter for the Center for Positive Sexuality.
Dr. Laurie Bennett-Cook is a Clinical Sexologist and believes a large part of her job is to be a sex enabler. Through counseling, workshops, and experiential exercises, she assists others in achieving the level of sexual function they desire. She enjoys the study and research of not only what people are doing sexually, but how they feel about it.
Dr. Laurie divides her time between Los Angeles California, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
An IPSA certified Surrogate Partner Therapist, Laurie works with clients and therapists in a triadic model to assist in bringing clients comfortable with their sexual selves. To schedule an appointment she can be reached at DrLaurieBennettCook@gmail.com
Ken Cosby is a stand up comic and theater artist. He taught screenwriting at USC and has also taught a television writing class at NYU. His stand up style can be best described as sex positive intellectual kink for your ears and for the past few years he’s performed at CatalystCon as part of UrbanErotika. Last year he was on the opening keynote panel at CatalystCon moderated by Dr. Carol Queen.
Paul Shaw grew up in the southern U.S. as well as parts of the Middle East where religious repression and guilt helped to influence his mission to help people create a safe environment to explore shame free sexuality. As a former US Marine and former fundamentalist Christian, he also understands how masculinity can be warped in many different directions and how guilt and shame can be toxic emotions whether used by the right or the left.
He is Masculine Empowerment Coach, sex educator, Pro-Dom, and co-host of the Sex Safari Podcast.
Heather Brewer, L.M.F.T. is an authority on somatic psychology and its heavy overlap with gender and sexuality. She believes that the body offers the clearest insight into one’s internal world, and that mindful embodiment is the source of the most sustainable healing and connection. She is passionate about spreading this awareness as a balm for our current political climate, and she enjoys the unique challenge of
talking about things that are non-verbal.
Sex educator, author and activist Jallen Rix holds a Doctorate of Education in Sexology. He maintains a private practice in Palm Springs CA, which includes personal consulting, sacred intimacy work, and surrogate-style partner experiences. He has appeared on talk shows, like Our America with Lisa Ling on Oprah’s OWN Channel, and ABC’s News Magazine 20/20. He is a leading expert on the damaging effects of ex-gay ministries and so-call “reparative therapy.” His book, Ex-Gay No Way: Survival and Recovery from Religious Abuse, was nominated as best non-fiction books of 2010 by the Lambda Literary Foundation.
Wry
As a non-monogamy consultant, consent activist, workshop facilitator, and fetish performer, Wry hosts panel discussions in Los Angeles, NYC, and San Francisco. After numerous podcasts and community events, Wry has given talks at Berkeley, Harvey Mudd, Chapman, and UCLA. See footage at PolyTalks.com, featuring known authors, educators, and therapists.
Ethan Shattuck:
Ethan Shattuck is a conforming non-conformist, a Combat Veteran and Holistic Psychologist, an outdoorsman and academic, a former boy scout and alumnus of a sorority. He is passionate about protecting human rights in every form. Ethan went with Vets4 Standing Rock to aid the Lakota Water Protectors in their protest against DAPL, has worked with several organizations to become more inclusive of queer people, and has led panel discussions on queer issues.
thecuriouskencosby.wordpress.com 