Hurts So Good: NPR on sex and BDSM (audio)

Kathryn Fink, Chris Remington (KPCC, 12/23/21); CC Liu, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Is BDSM real? Illustrated Guide - Types of Spankings (devianceanddesire.com)

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If you’ve ever burnt your hand on a stove and someone told you it’s “all in your head,” they’re technically not wrong. They’re right. Why?

Our sensory receptors communicate with the brain to create the sensation of “pain.” But if pain is… painful, why do some of us seek it out?

What a mistake! Stop the pain. Just one more.

To find out, journalist Leigh Cowart interviewed ultra-marathoners, chili aficionados, lovers (practitioners) of BDSM, and other pain-seekers about why they do what they do.

From their book Hurts So Good: The Science and Culture of Pain on Purpose: “At its core, masochism is about choosing pain on purpose, for a reason. And often, in my experience, that reason is to feel bad to feel better.

“I believe that this phenomenon — the engineering of situations in which one suffers in order to secure guaranteed relief — is worthy of a tender, hilarious, heartfelt-examination.

Painful yogic austerities (tapas) feel so good!

“I would know: I am an inveterate, high-sensation-seeking masochist. I am a science reporter. And I have some f***ing questions.”

We talk about the link between pain and pleasure — and hear stories and questions from listeners about pain on purpose. To see more, visit WAMU 88.5.

• AUDIO: "From chili-eating contests to ultramarathons, Why do we seek pain for pleasure? (rebroadcast) | KPCC 89.3 FM
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