Is sex education really happening on Twitter? It definitely is, and Donna Jennings, Ph.D., who writes erotica as Dr. J., is at the forefront of that effort. Jennings has taken her career history as a sex educator, therapist and college professor of human sexuality and used it to enlighten the world about sexuality via Twitter Spaces. With her weekly #TheSexualitySpace Twitter Spaces chat on Wednesdays at noon ET, Jennings has profiled a wide range of sexuality professionals on topics ranging from aphrodisiacs to sex tech to LGBTQ+ healthcare to how to have magnificent sex, and far beyond. Interested readers can sign up for her #TheSexualitySpace newsletter.
In addition to her erotic stories, which have been published in The Big Book of Orgasms, Volume 2 and Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 3, among other publications, Jennings has also contributed to Purple Sex & Love —Beyond Your Dreams: A Women’s Guided Journal to Explore Your Sexual Self Volume 2, to be published in summer 2022 (Orange Blossom Publishing) and Writing Scenes with Sex: A Writer’s Sexuality Guide, to be published in fall 2022 (Passion Works Press LLC). Residence 11 spoke with Jennings about how she launched her sexuality career, the power of Twitter Spaces to foster open and informative discussions about sex, and expanding her reach around sex education using Twitter.
How did you get involved in the world of sexuality?
This year marks my 46th year of working in sexuality. How did I get involved in sexuality? Fate? Serendipity? I dropped out of college to figure out what I wanted to study and, without knowing, I took a job at the largest adult retailer in the U.S. The owner, Phil Harvey, had a MPH degree and, from his thesis research, determined people wanted to receive sexuality products in the privacy of their homes. Seeing science drive real world decisions. It hooked me. From there, I received three degrees, all focused on aspects of sexuality. I thought I ended that professional career when I closed my sex therapy practice and six years ago stepped away from the college classroom teaching human sexuality. But sexuality wasn’t finished with me. I found a new way to connect with people, through writing and conversation.
What made you decide to join Twitter Spaces and focus on sexuality? When did you join? What appealed to you about the platform?
I’ve been involved in Twitter Spaces for ten months. I learned about Twitter Spaces during a #BookMarketingChat with Bad Redhead Media (@BadRedheadMedia). In April 2021, the guest was Madalyn Sklar (@MadalynSklar), who is known for her Twitter expertise and runs a chat #TwitterSmarter. She was an original beta tester for Twitter Spaces, which started on December 16, 2020. I attended Madalyn’s Twitter Space the next day, and I was hooked. I heard people from all over the world talking. It was so easy to press the microphone button and join in. Twitter provided me early access at the end of April and I worked with these two marketers to create my hashtag #TheSexualitySpace.
Several things appealed to me about the platform.
- It’s audio. No one can see you. Audio strips away the exteriors that might have kept us apart—race, gender, economics, etc.
- With audio, a voice provides so much individual personality and information.
- Social audio literally gives anyone in the world a voice to take part in a discussion. Everyone can come on stage and talk. It provides the power of democratized podcasts.
- From a marketing perspective, it allows for people to know you, like you, and trust you. In spaces, you build relationships.
- Unlike a standalone social audio app, if you already have a following on Twitter, this added feature allows not only your followers but anyone from around the world the availability joining in.
- Twitter Spaces is a venue. From book launches to before or after parties, it is a place for your creativity to meet people.
Can you give our readers an overview of how Twitter Spaces works and how they can listen?
Because spaces are a feature of Twitter, it is available on your timeline. To run a space and participate with speaking in a space, you must be on your mobile. To start a space, you click the plus button like you would to tweet, but there you are also provided the opportunity to start a space. You name it. Add keyword topics and press the start button to go live. Once a space starts, you can send a tweet from inside of the space to your timeline. When people tap that link, they are prompted to join in the space. You can also send the link through DMs inviting people to join.
Each space has its own URL. This gives you time to advertise your spaces event. You can schedule one space every two weeks. But you can also randomly open one.
When in the room, there is one host, two slots for co-hosts and ten speakers for thirteen speakers at a time. The host adds the folks into these slots. The co-hosts have many of the same available tools to assist the host with running the space.
While being inside the space, you get the feel of being in your host’s living room. Your host sets the tone and the rules for behavior and engagement. Sometimes it might sound like a podcast interview, sometimes a conversation with speakers changing the entire time.
You can use Find Spaces to find spaces with topics of interest.
How do you decide which topics you will cover?
When I opened my Twitter Spaces, I began with topics of interest to me. Now, with a regular community attending my spaces, I get feedback from them on topics and interests. Since I taught human sexuality as a general course, I know the value of bringing in different topics. By being connected to the sexuality world, I have experts I can ask to join in.
CEOs of sexual wellness companies like Tickle.Life, Rosy Wellness, The MonApp, and Equality MD have graced my stage.
I have facilitated conversations about sexuality topics including the clitoral body, the meaning of sex, sexual pleasure, food and sex as examples.
I’ve interviewed authors August McLaughlin, Angelina M. Lopez, Angora Shade and sex educators Angel Russell, Marla Stewart, and Brian McNaught.
Since I’ve connected with folks across the world, I dedicate a monthly space to Global Sexuality. Educators from the US, Ireland, South Africa, Kenya, and India and gather to talk sex and we are creating a Global Sexuality Community on Twitter Spaces.
Approximately how many people join you each Wednesday? What are the conversations like?
Discovery of spaces has not been easy. Twitter has launched a spaces tab which shows you what is live and soon that will be out to all. When spaces first started, the only way you knew who was there was by the Twitter avatars you saw on your cell. But people can listen that you don’t see. They can now listen on desktop.
Since Twitter opened their API to the public, two different businesses emerged that enable you to track people listening. That capability has only been available since September. There are two measures I follow. The total number of people who were there and how long people stayed, or a stickiness measure.
For The Sexuality Space, the Top 5 Spaces by number of attendees are: Global Sexuality Panel, Interview with August McLaughlin, Sexuality & NFTs , Kay Brandt and Sexy Gifts.
The Top 5 Spaces based on how long people stayed are: Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Global Sexuality, Magnificent Sex, LGBTQ+ Healthcare and Rosy Erotica Book Club.
Which topics have proven most popular?
The most popular by each top category were the Global Sexuality Panel and hosting a book release event for Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 7.
What do you like best about hosting Twitter Spaces conversations?
For me, hosting a space is about creating positive energy and gets you up close to like-minded people. It reminds me of conversations with friends and colleagues. You can set a space for a particular mood, educational, conversational, celebratory, and fun. I like the collaboration between hosting and co-hosting. I appreciate that my virtual assistant and #TheSexualitySpace co-host, Mischa Eliot, took another leap with me and learned all the ins and outs of this new world. Teamwork in running a space is crucial.
How does your training as a sex therapist affect your role hosting Twitter Spaces chats?
Being a sex therapist allows for understanding group process and dynamics. By understanding sex education, I listen for unasked questions, which are a plus to creating a rich space.
With various social media companies cracking down on what people can discuss regarding sexuality, are any limits on what you can say during a Twitter Chat or whether anything goes?
First, all the rules of Twitter apply to Spaces and I have had no problems. I present myself and my work from a professional standpoint in the space. I treat it like a class and use the PLISSIT model (Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestion, Intensive Therapy) as the foundation of space. I create the element of permission to talk about sex, dispel myths and misinformation and replace with them with facts. Then provide specific details with resources, books, people, etc. I must do something right as I was granted a Twitter Community for Sexuality by Twitter’s @HiCommunities.
What advice would you give someone looking to start a Twitter Spaces series?
Jump in with both feet. The reach you have is the world. People can hear you and feel you, and you connect. It’s like meeting a person in real life, but with our voices. It is a mechanism to create an audience and community. I’m available as a guide to run spaces to show how to do it like a field trip. I did this for Inkers Con, where I provided a Zoom presentation and then moved everyone into the Twitter Space to see and hear it for themselves. I’ve teamed up with Bad Redhead Media to run a free webinar for authors on February 26, 2022 from 2-4 p.m. ET and open a Twitter Space and play. You can contact me for more info. Twitter Spaces have provided me with networking, collaboration and invitations for speaking engagements. It is there for all to use and create.