How to talk about your body without shame (w/ Anita Rao) | from How to Be a Better Human

TED Health

TED

Health & Fitness, Fitness, Shoshana Ungerleider, Medicine, How To Be Healthier, Ted Shoshana, Ted Talks Health

4.2 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 8 July 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why is having the sex talk, admitting you passed gas, or being open about your body hair so seemingly uncomfortable for all of us? Journalist and host of the podcast, Embodied, Anita Rao, joins Chris this week to discuss why having open conversations about taboo topics like sex, relationships, and our bodies can help us understand ourselves better and feel less shame.

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Transcript

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0:00.7	Hi, everyone. It's your host, Dr. Shoshana Ungerlider.
0:04.4	In lieu of a regular TED Health episode, we're sharing an episode of How to Be a Better Human,
0:09.6	another TED podcast. It's hosted by comedian Chris Duffy, and it's all about the big and small ways
0:16.2	we can all learn to be a little less harsh on ourselves.
0:19.7	In this episode, Chris is speaking with Anita Rao,
0:22.4	a journalist and host of the embodied podcast. They talk sex, relationships, and why talking about
0:29.0	our bodies doesn't have to feel so awkward. I hope you enjoy the episode, and if you want more,
0:35.1	follow how to be a better Human wherever you get your podcasts.
0:38.0	You are listening to How to Be a Better Human. I am your host, Chris Duffy. And today on
0:45.2	the show, we're going to be talking with journalist Anita Rao about how to break taboos when
0:50.1	discussing our bodies and our brains. What does it mean to have a relationship with your physical self?
0:56.2	And how does that change over time?
0:58.1	Here's a clip from Anita's fantastic podcast, Embodied.
1:02.2	Even though it's been mine for a couple of decades now,
1:05.6	on a lot of levels, I'm still getting to know my body.
1:08.9	I also know that my body is going to keep changing as I age,
1:12.9	inside and out, and probably in some ways that I never guess. As body and sex positive as I like
1:19.6	to think that I am, I'll admit that I'm worried. What will turning 50, 60, 70 due to my sexual
1:26.7	desire, my comfort with and confidence in my own appearance,
1:30.6	and my ability to welcome new relationships into my life.
1:36.2	Keep your body listening to this show because we're going to be right back with an amazing
1:40.0	conversation right after this break.
	...

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