SXY Radiance: The Podcast · Angelica, Sexual Radiance Coach

Ep. 23: 'Sexuality & Grief'... A timely and necessary conversation with Nathalia Mazzonetto, JD, Mediator and Sexologist.

·1 hr 25 min·8 clips

Nathalia reveals how becoming a mom felt like a death, sparking her research on grief and sexuality.

This episode of SXY Radiance: The Podcast explores the intersection of sexuality and grief with guest Nathalia Mazzonetto, a lawyer, mediator, and sexologist. Host Angelica Gutierrez introduces Mazzonetto, who conducted a two-year master's research project on this topic. Mazzonetto defines grief broadly as a process triggered by various losses, not just physical death, including divorce, career changes, or shifts in identity like becoming a parent. She references the traditional five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—but emphasizes that people coexist with grief rather than "overcome" it. Her research included interviews with elderly individuals, transgender people, and those navigating changes like menopause or shifts in libido. A poignant case involved a transgender youth whose mother struggled to accept their identity, simulating support by offering money for new clothes but then canceling the shopping trips. Mazzonetto shares the story of a Brazilian actress who, after accidentally causing her child's death, focused on small daily rituals to rebuild her life. She connects grief to bodily changes, citing men's anxieties about aging and sexual performance and women adjusting to hormone replacement therapy. The conversation references philosopher Byung-Chul Han's concept of the "death of Eros," linking modern performance anxiety and screen-based isolation to a decline in intimate human connection. A symbolic example discussed is the tomb of Victor Noir in France, a statue with a permanent erection that has become a fertility symbol. The guest argues that society's focus on sexual performance and orgasm as a target can create its own form of loss and grief. She suggests that knowledge, support groups, and symbolic rituals can help people navigate these transitions. The dialogue positions sexuality as an art to be experienced rather than a production with a fixed goal. The tone is conversational, educational, and deeply personal, with both host and guest sharing from professional and lived experiences. The style is exploratory and reflective, aiming to destigmatize both grief and sexuality. Listeners interested in psychology, personal development, or unconventional perspectives on relationships and loss would find this episode compelling. Those seeking light entertainment or concrete, actionable advice on sexuality might find the philosophical and grief-focused discussion less engaging.

As heard by us

A humane conversation about sexuality, loss, and the value of support.

Sexuality and grief are handled together with care, and the piece is strongest when it leaves room for support rather than pretending either subject is simple.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if grief, sex, and the uneasy space between them are in the room.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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