You have lived in this body for decades and there is a fair chance you could not draw it accurately.
That is not ignorance. Hardly anybody was taught, and a surprising number of us were taught to look away.
Strip n Sip Podcast
In this episode, Melanie and co-host Natalia Suta take listeners on an intimate tour of the vulva and vagina, a part of the body that many women think they know well after decades of living with it, only to discover there is a whole world of anatomy, pleasure, and self-care they have never explored. Natalia opens with a relatable admission: "I've had my vagina for 37 years, so I know her really well", before quickly realising just how much she does not know. Melanie gently dismantles the myth that the vagina is "one thing," explaining the many different parts (outer lips, inner lips, clitoris, vaginal opening) and how each can produce distinct sensations and pleasure when given attention.
A key part of the conversation centres on body image and the alarming rise in cosmetic vaginal surgery driven by unrealistic portrayals in porn and media. Melanie shares an image showing around a hundred different vaginas, all different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures, emphasising that every single one is perfectly normal and beautiful. She draws a direct line between self-judgement and sexual disconnection: when we are in our heads worrying about how we look, we hold back from being playful, confident, and present with our partners.
The episode also covers practical ground, including yoni massage (a Sanskrit term from the tantric tradition meaning the vulva and internal area), the biology of arousal and how the vaginal area swells and prepares for penetration over time, the proper approach to pelvic floor exercises (relaxing is just as important as tightening), and how scarring from surgery can be treated with massage and castor oil. Paired with an Australian Chardonnay called "Tootin' the Bush", chosen for the name as much as for Chardonnay's reputation for being misunderstood, this episode is warm, empowering, and full of genuinely useful information.
Listen to the Episode
Key Topics Covered
- The many different parts of the vulva and vagina
- Yoni massage, a tantric practice for whole-area pleasure and arousal
- Names for the vagina, from "yoni" to "lady garden" and everything in between
- Body image, comparison, and the rise of cosmetic vaginal surgery
- The biology of arousal, how the area swells and prepares for penetration
- Pelvic floor exercises, why relaxation matters as much as tightening
- The fight-flight response and how stress creates tension in the pelvic area
- Treating scarring and numbness with massage techniques
A mirror and ten unhurried minutes is where most people start. Less dramatic than it sounds, and more useful.
About Strip n Sip
Strip n Sip is a podcast hosted by sex and intimacy coach Melanie Knight and wine communicator Natalia Suta. Over a glass of carefully chosen wine, Melanie and Natalia explore the nuances of desire, pleasure, and conscious intimacy with warmth, honesty, and a refreshing lack of pretence. Each episode pairs a topic in sexual exploration with a wine that reflects its character, making conversations about bodies, boundaries, and connection feel as natural and enjoyable as sharing a bottle with a good friend.
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