168. Debuts
The Allusionist
Helen Zaltzman
4.7 • 3.8K Ratings
🗓️ 13 January 2023
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
There’s been a recurring theme on the show over the years, of filling gaps in language, removing stigma and bias, finding better ways to express ourselves and talk about our feelings and our bodies. Today Kalle Rocklinger, sex educator with RFSU, the National Association for Sexuality Education in Sweden, talks about how and why over the years, the RFSU has come up with and publicised new terms for body parts and sexual acts, and what they would still like to change. This is the first part of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming things.
Content note: this episode contains discussions of sex and the associated body parts. Towards the end, there’s discussion of consent which includes references to rape (there are no descriptions of acts or anybody’s experiences). I mention when we’re about to arrive at that part of the conversation, so anybody who needs to duck out during that section has some warning.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/debuts, where there's also a transcript.
Join me for the Allusionist's 8th birthday celebration livestream! 14 January 2023, 10-11pm UK time at youtube.com/allusionistshow. There'll be dictionary readings, live Tranquillusionist, and chitchat and camaraderie.
The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow, while it still stands. Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provided editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show in 2023, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase.
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This is the illusionist in which I, Helen Zaltsman, have to keep language going above 50 |
| 0:09.0 | miles per hour or it'll explode. |
| 0:12.3 | Thanks for joining me in 2023. |
| 0:14.2 | This episode is the first of several this year on the theme of renaming. |
| 0:18.6 | Products, streets, towns, buildings, mountains, concerts, occasions, all sorts of things. |
| 0:23.7 | If you've been involved in a renaming project of some kind, I'd love to hear about it, get |
| 0:27.4 | in touch. |
| 0:28.4 | Today's episode is about renaming certain body parts and activities to do with them, and |
| 0:33.2 | it's not getting rid of the old terms, it's expanding the range of ways to talk about things. |
| 0:38.0 | As my guest describes it, telling other stories. |
| 0:41.8 | Content note, this episode contains discussions of sex and the associated body parts. |
| 0:46.8 | In the second half, towards the end of the show, there is discussion of consent which includes |
| 0:50.8 | references to rape. |
| 0:52.1 | There are no descriptions of acts or of anyone's experiences, but I will mention when we're |
| 0:56.6 | about to arrive at that part of the conversation, so anybody who needs to duck out before that |
| 1:01.1 | will have some warning. |
| 1:02.6 | It is the show's eighth birthday, and you are all invited to a celebratory livestream, |
| 1:07.9 | 14th January 2023, 10 till 11pm UK time, other time zones are available. |
| 1:14.0 | We will gather at youtube.com slash aloosnistshow, and I'll be reading from a dictionary and doing |
| 1:19.9 | some live tranquiloosnist with Martin Orstrick playing the music, there'll be chat and |
| 1:23.7 | it'll be a lovely time. |
| 1:25.0 | I've been doing these live streams regularly with aloosnist patrons, this one is open to |
... |
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