Host has zero judgment. I’ll never forget tuning in to WUNC, at noon on a Friday, and the first words I heard were “sex toys” and “penises.” You shouldn’t have to worry about turning on NPR with little ones in the car.

So good!

Anita, listening to your show is like having a meaningful conversation with a good friend. I grew up in the US, India, and Germany; my parents are from Hyderabad, like your dad, and while they’re both Indian, they’re from different religious backgrounds, so your conversations about navigating multiple identities and third-culture kids resonate deeply.

I discovered Embodied by chance on the radio, and I’m so glad I did - truly one of the most thought provoking podcasts out there! Anita consistently facilitates unique and engaging conversations on the topics no one else is taking on. It’s such an empowering listen… highly recommend!

I just love this podcast so, so much. Anita, you’re great, would listen to anything you do. Even episodes that cover topics I don’t relate to directly are thoughtfully curated for a wide audience. I’ve listened to every single episode and can’t wait for more! Thank you!

Thanks to Anita Rao & crew for taking on these taboo topics that can have a huge impact on our lives, but are rarely discussed in the open. Really appreciate the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences; queer, racial, ethnic, ability, class, etc.

Topics are not covered in other podcasts. Very thoughtful and well researched

Every episode I learn something new. Thank you!

Thank you x 1000

I just found this show recently and I’m binging old episodes. I love the mix of professional knowledge and personal testimony in a lot of the episodes, and the curious and open minded way Anita explores the topics.

I’ve found so many of the topics relevant and interesting to my life, and I love the integration of psychology and culture. The fact that it’s based in NC makes it extra special.

Thank you, Anita for bringing this content to us. I really appreciated the recent episode about abortion.

I have been listening for awhile now and the topics always seem to resonate with me. Anita has a way on drawing me in and keeping my attention. Thank you to WUNC for promoting this great podcast.

This is literally the best podcast out there right now. I can’t tell you how many episodes I’ve shared with my partner, friends, groups I’m a part of, and more. It does such an amazing job of balancing facts with the emotional and relational parts of being a human and relating with others. Every episode is fantastic.

Embodied succeeds at offering new ways to have conversations about a diverse range of topics. I love the structure of the show and Anita’s storytelling skills are impeccable.

I always come away from listening to an Embodied episode with a fresh perspective on a topic I had not considered properly before. This show makes me question reality in the most delightful way. I particularly love the in-depth, pragmatic coverage of taboo topics. All the guests on the program are interesting and compassionate. The host is also superb, honest and open.

I first heard embodied on WUNC, my local NPR station. I'm so glad this has become a regular show and podcast. It's not only about sex and relationships; it's more generally about our varying experiences with our bodies. They cover a lot of interesting topics and perspectives.

This is a great, thoughtful podcast! Really well-produced and the perfect length. Highly recommend. It’s entertaining and “not your average sex podcast”

I just stumbled upon this podcast 2 days ago and I'm already a super fan of Anita and her work! "I've never thought about that before!" is the reaction I have after every episode. I really appreciate Anita's thought-provoking content of topics we all want to talk about but are too embarassed to get into. Do yourself a favor and listen!

This podcast dives into taboo topics, while offering a personal perspective that makes listeners feel seen and heard. Anita is phenomenal!

Anita Rao delivers a perfect podcast! Always my favorite each week. Emobodied always covers topics of interest to me!!❤️

I learn something fascinating about my body every time I listen to this pod. And I love Anita as it’s host!

This podcast is fun to listen to because you get a lot of information about the body delivered in an engaging, easily digestible way. Anita Rao brings really interesting content from very knowledgeable experts in an approachable format that gives the listener food for thought!

Anita deftly explores a range of "taboo" topics that immediately feel less so as you listen to her interviews with experts, artists, and -- my personal favorite -- her parents. I love how they are incorporated into episodes to give a familial and lay perspective into the discussion while also providing lots of humor. They add additional humanity to a show already devoted to considering it from all angles.

I love how this podcast boldly approaches taboo concepts and brings them to light in a fun, light hearted and important way. I’m so excited to see more topics unearthed as each new episode premieres! I’ve recommended this to all my friends!

I just listened to the episode on burnout and the stress threshold, and as a senior entering my final year of college, feeling the pressure of applying to jobs, grad school applications, thesis, and more, I found the reframing of wellness as a state of action over a state of being particularly powerful. Will definitely consider and share this podcast moving forward!

As a South Asian, this podcast made me feel so seen. It is innovative, different and thought-provoking. Only a couple episodes in and I’m already thinking of pleasure in a completely different yet healthy way. A must-listen.

This podcast is wonderfully fun and educational. Anita interviews with care and poise, and the show flows beautifully. Listen to reflect on important topics and enjoy the journey :)

If you own a vagina, or have been at all affected by the societal expectations put in place for women, you should give this a listen. Actually, no matter who you are, you’ll learn something from this series! Only a few episodes in and I’m already ordering books online and breathing a sigh of relief that I’m not alone feeling the way I do about female sex and sexuality. Thank you Anita for putting forth the effort to research, interview and piece together the critical information women were never taught but should obviously know about their bodies. I can’t wait to hear more!

Love hearing about these important issues from the fascinating part of the world that is North Carolina

I’ve follow Anita Rao when she hosts ‘The State of Things’ on WUNC. I am so impressed with her interview skills, ability to attract guests and make them feel welcome and comfortable sharing their knowledge and personal stories. She is so prepared and has knowledge to take interviews beyond the basics. Ann Patchett noticed this and commented when Ms. Rao interviewed her. I admire the willingness to explore subjects we tend to avoid, but would all benefit from having. Thank you!

Such important topics!!! Thank you so much for battling out dated social taboos and giving us all permission to talk about these things openly. SO needed!!!!

A fresh voice in podcasting Anita takes on nuanced topics with flair. Her keen interviewing skills pull you into the themes with unique guests including featuring her own parents. Deep and evocative themes that don’t shy away from helping all of us better understand our minds and bodies. Can’t wait to hear more!

I have followed this work on WUNC radio before it became its own podcast. Highly recommend! The topics are always fresh creative, and important; you won’t hear about some of these topics anywhere else. The host, Anita Rao, is also an expert interviewer. She is deeply researched, asks super thoughtful questions, but also keeps a light and inviting atmosphere. The podcast is expertly crafted, with a combination of the host’s takes, interviews, and even awkward conversations with the hosts charming parents.

Anita, you are a beautiful storyteller. Synthesizing and taking a deep dive into a complex, personal, somewhat tabooed yet intimate topic, and expressing it artistically and physiologically is quite an art. You did this masterfully. There is so much to learn for young and old, from teenagers to grandmas and grandpas and each individual can immensely benefit from the insights you have provided through your commentary and superb interviews with experts. You bring generational perspectives and handle it deftly. Outstanding podcast a must hear for anyone wishing to learn more about the science and art of sex, latest knowledge on its education and lucid portrayal. Brilliantly done.

I am thrilled to have listened to this first episode of Embodied. The subject of sex and pleasure is explained in a way that made me comfortable and not awkward at all. I encourage everyone to listen and learn and I appreciate the bravery of the host in discussing a difficult and taboo subject with grace and enthusiasm. Anita and Emily Were thoughtful, and I learned a lot. I very much like the part where they talked about dual - control mechanisms in sexual arousal and compared them to the gas pedal in a car. I am eagerly awaiting the next episode.

Informative, but also loved the humor and inclusion of your parents!

Normalizing what it’s like to have a body and how our bodies change across a lifetime is so important. I’ve been listening to the radio broadcast of this series from its inception, and so appreciate its holistic and inclusive approach to tackling topics that impact our lives in the most personal of ways. Thank you Anita for going “there” with topics that have been shunned/ignored/under-explored because they are culturally taboo. For every listener who may think this content is too personal for radio, I am certain there are more who think “I wish someone had talked with me about this when I was younger.” Bravo!

This show is a whirlwind, that’s for sure! Anita on WUNC always offers thoughtful dialogue on unexpected topics.