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Did you know there are herpes viruses that cause cancer? Or that HSV-2 has been linked to changes in the brain? This episode goes way beyond cold sores and awkward conversations.

Robert and Anna dive deep into the science of the herpesvirus family — including HSV-1, HSV-2, Epstein-Barr (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) — and explore the massive, underappreciated impact these viruses have on the human body.

This isn’t your typical “just wear a condom” STI talk. We’re talking latent infection, viral latency, neurological effects, herpes HIV, and why nearly everyone has some version of this virus… but no one is talking about it.

If you love science, hate stigma, and want to actually understand what’s going on in your body — this is the episode.

Topics Covered:
•The herpesvirus family: 8 members, lifelong impact
•HSV-1 vs HSV-2: brain, genitals, and beyond
•Why herpes testing isn’t recommended for most people
•Epstein-Barr, cancer, and chronic disease
•The virology of shame — and why it’s time to move on

Hashtags:
#HerpesIsMoreThanHSV #ShamelessCarePodcast #BrainOnHerpes #STITruth #HSV2 #EBV #SexPositiveScience #ColdSoresToCancer #NoShameJustScience
#HerpesTruth #HSV1 #HSV2 #SexPositiveHealth #ShamelessCarePodcast #STIAwareness #SexualHealthMyths #NoMoreShame

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Episode 3 – Keys, Bugs, and Boundaries: Swinger Parties, DoxyPEP, and Verbal Consent

Welcome back to the Shameless Care Podcast, where we talk about sexual health like it actually matters—because it does. In Episode 3, we bring you another unfiltered, honest, and slightly irreverent conversation about the things people should know when it comes to sex, safety, and human connection.

We kick things off with this week’s dirty joke, and it’s a good one: a swinger key party gone hilariously wrong. Or right? That probably depends on your definition of fun. Either way, we use it to springboard into a real discussion about what it means to explore sexuality in safe, consensual, and informed ways—because funny stories are even better when no one ends up at urgent care afterward.

Next up: breaking STI prevention news. We’re thrilled to talk about recent data showing that DoxyPEP—that’s doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis—might be effective in reducing Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen). Never heard of Mgen? That’s the point. Most people haven’t, which is why we’ve always included it in Shameless Care’s full STI panel, even though nearly no one asks for it. Mgen is one of the most common—and most overlooked—bacterial STIs in the U.S., and if DoxyPEP helps reduce its spread, we could see a meaningful shift in sexual health nationwide.

Then we shift gears into something people talk about a lot, but rarely understand well: explicit verbal consent. Not vague “are you sure?” vibes. Not body language guessing games. Real, enthusiastic, clear verbal consent—before, during, and even after sex. We break down why it matters, how to do it right, and how being upfront doesn’t have to be awkward or clinical. In fact, it might even make sex hotter. Because when two (or more) people are truly on the same page, everything gets better.

Throughout the episode, we share stories from the field, offer up some straight talk on communication (spoiler: it’s not just about asking, it’s about listening), and give you the tools to approach sex with more clarity, comfort, and connection.

Visit ShamelessCare.com for comprehensive STI testing, DoxyPEP, ED meds, and more—shipped discreetly, no subscription required.

🔑 Dirty jokes.
🦠 Game-changing STI prevention.
💬 Real talk about consent.
All in a single episode—because sex is complicated, but your sexual healthcare shouldn’t be.

Visit ShamelessCare.com for comprehensive STI testing, DoxyPEP, ED meds, and more—shipped discreetly, no subscription required.

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It started as a heart medication… and accidentally ended up giving the world a boner.

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Shameless Care Podcast, where hosts Robert and Anna unravel the stiff (and surprisingly funny) history of Viagra—a drug that didn’t just change men’s sex lives, but transformed public conversations about aging, masculinity, pharma, feminism, and, yes, insurance coverage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Viagra was accidentally discovered when men in a heart study refused to give the test drug back… for very obvious reasons.
• Why Pfizer ditched the “heart pill” dream and leaned all the way into erections—and coined the phrase “erectile dysfunction” to destigmatize impotence.
• The lightning-fast FDA approval in 1998, making Viagra the first oral ED medication—and the fastest-selling drug in history at the time.
• How late-night comedians, NASCAR sponsors, Bob Dole, and your grandpa all helped make Viagra a household name.
• The feminist backlash and insurance double standards (Viagra was covered, birth control often wasn’t), sparking what some called the “Viagra-Pill Wars.”
• Moral panic from religious groups, lawsuits from suddenly ignored girlfriends, and why some thought it would destroy monogamy as we know it.
• Why Viagra didn’t just raise the bar for men—it created an entire new industry, normalized ED treatment, and made older adults part of the national sex conversation.

But wait, there’s more:

• How Viagra helped bring sexual health out of the shadows.
• Why PDE5 inhibitors work (yup, we explain the blood flow science behind erections).
• And how, yes, ED meds can make sex safer—by helping condoms stay put and giving confidence where it counts.

Along the way, we laugh. A lot. Because how can you not? The puns practically write themselves.

This episode is about much more than a little blue pill—it’s about reframing desire, aging, and healthcare itself. Viagra was the spark that lit a fire under American medicine and media—and we’re here to walk you through the erection heard ‘round the world.

Perfect for:

• Anyone curious how Viagra became a cultural icon
• Lifestyle folks who’ve ever popped a pill before a party
• Anyone who’s wondered why ED meds are so popular—and why it’s okay if you take them too
• Health nerds, sex nerds, and people who appreciate a little history with their heat

Bonus segments:

• Shameless Care’s Dirty Joke of the Week (don’t worry—it’s semi-tasteful)
• “Foreplay”: Good news in sexual health, including the UK’s new gonorrhea vaccine rollout
• New product drops from Shameless Care: Oxytocin troches and combo Sildenafil + Tadalafil meds

So sit back, unbutton your brain, and tune in as we shamelessly explore one of the greatest accidents in medical history.

Hit play. Get aroused by history. Stay shameless.

Visit ShamelessCare.com to learn more, explore treatment options, and get your confidence back—without subscriptions or judgment.