Hi everyone! Welcome back to our Pride Profile series! In this new series we will be sharing profiles of people in the LGBTQIA community – actors/organizers/fans/gamers – because REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
Today we are featuring August McLaughlin, host and creator of Girl Boner® and Girl Boner Radio.
August has also written health and sexuality articles and essays for a variety of publications, including Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, DAME Magazine, LIVESTRONG.com, HuffPost and more. August is also one of the NICEST people we’ve ever met – so be sure to check out all her links at the bottom!
We hope you enjoy this new series – AND getting to know August!
August McLaughlin – Host/Creator, Girl Boner® and Girl Boner Radio
Maverick Gamers (MG): What does ClexaCon mean to you?
August McLaughlin (AM): I don’t think I fully realized just how non-inclusive other conferences are until I stepped into ClexaCon last year. Within minutes, I decided it was my favorite conference. It still is.
MG: How did the idea for the Girl Boner podcast come about?
AM: Like many people, much (of) what I learned about sex and sexuality growing up was negative, at best. During that awkward sex ed class most of us experienced during puberty, “male pleasure” was acknowledged, but nothing positive was mentioned for girls or women. And, of course, everything was very cisgender and heteronormative.
Years later, embracing my sexuality helped me heal from a severe eating disorder. I quickly realized I wasn’t alone in that. A lack of sexual empowerment is linked with so many issues that are common among women and LGBTQIA folks, from eating disorders and depression, to anxiety and chronic stress.
All of that paired with a series of epiphanies and a life-changing sexual experience (detailed in my Girl Boner book—hi Mom!) inspired me to trademark the term and launch it into the world. That was just over six years ago. The podcast came about a year later… I’d started appearing on others’ radio shows and podcasts. After an interview on Dr. Lisa Masterson’s show, Health in Heels, a producer asked me why I didn’t have my own show. I thought, “Huh. Why don’t I?”
MG: If you could be on any TV series, what series and why?
AM: Does Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday count? Because I’m so ready! Oprah was like a second mother to me, growing up. Only, you know, she didn’t know I existed. (Well, I did write her letters daily for a while back then…)
MG: What LGBTQIA moment/event in your lifetime has had the most influence on you?
AM: Realizing that I didn’t have to label my sexuality at all was a pretty big moment for me. I respect how meaningful particular labels are to many people. For me, it’s been the opposite.
MG: What’s your favorite TV series?
AM: Orphan Black!!!
MG: What’s your favorite book?
AM: It’s tough to choose, but I really loved Brain on Fire, by Susannah Cahalan.
MG: As you look back on your career what was the most painful lesson you’ve learned?
AM: You can’t reason with unreasonable people. Sometimes the best closure you can have is the kind you give yourself.
MG: What’s the one thing about you few people know?
AM: I’m a water-phobe—well, deep water. (Fear not, I can shower.) I floated for the first time in my mid-twenties. I’ve since almost mastered the frantic doggy paddle.
MG: If they made a movie of your life story… what would it be called?
AM: Girl Boner. (Totally open to offers/co-producers.)
