Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. J. | Donna Jennings. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dr. J. | Donna, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
At the heart of taking a risk is the idea that it’s okay to look like a fool. Whenever I start something new, something I’ve never done before, that’s what I think about. In April 2021, I attended a Book Marketing Chat on Twitter, now X, and met a digital marketer talking about the latest Twitter product, Spaces-Social Audio. She invited us to her live space the next day, and I attended. With my cell phone, I opened the app and found the location on her timeline feed to listen to the event. I hit the join button. Instantly, it transported me into my past, my experiences with live radio and crisis and sexuality hotline call work. This new platform was about hearing and being heard. When the host asked if there were questions, I pressed the request to speak button, and my subsequent risk started from there.
With that three-punch process, hearing about it, experiencing it, and participating in it, I jumped into the fire. I set up a weekly show of my own called #TheSexualitySpace. On the first Wednesday of May 2021, I started my first episode. It began at NOON because it was a global event (US West Coast to Europe), and anyone could join to listen. I am not a techno-wizard. Technology brings on anxiety, but the idea of talking about important sexuality topics in the daylight with a format that was just my voice intrigued and pushed me.
And from that initial risk, I began my third year with my space this past May. I have interviewed sexuality experts and authors and facilitated conversations on diverse sexual topics. I have also taught others how to use this platform for their benefit. Allowing myself to be a fool gave me a remarkable adventure.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I don’t think most folks grow up aspiring to be a sexuality expert or even know it is an option. I didn’t. It was a role I fell into after I dropped out of college. The job I accepted working for Population Planning Associates/Adam and Eve was to pay the bills. Still, it set me on a course that included three degrees, academic teaching, and private practice and has lasted 47 years. Over nearly five decades, my work focus has evolved in stages. With my job experience on my resume, I found the degree to which it matched. Health Education specialized in sexuality. My first professional job after my BS degree landed me in a reproductive health facility where I learned the function of an interdisciplinary team and a holistic perspective of applying sexuality. I got my Master’s degree in counseling while working at this facility. I was trained in-house by world-renowned sexuality experts like Wardell Pomeroy, Masters & Johnson, Lonnie Barbach, and Bernie Zielbergeld.
With more experience and those two degrees, I set out to create a path for my business. I attended Florida State University, receiving a Ph.D. in Marriage & Family. I taught at two colleges before I set up my private practice. There, I worked in the community with the patients of the local hospital, OB-GYNs, and Urologists while I consulted with health professionals. With family life stage changes, I returned to teaching before I set a retirement date.
The consistent theme of all my work has been to help folks feel comfortable with sexuality topics, provide facts while dispelling misinformation, and give specific suggestions as needed. Without comprehensive sex education, you cannot learn about your sexual self with integrity.
Now that I am in my last phase of sexuality work, this occurred because of my students. They didn’t want me to retire and told me I needed to keep teaching my style of sex education. When I asked how they said writing sexy stories. So, when I moved to my retirement location, I threw myself into learning about creative fiction writing. What is retirement, anyway?
I am included in nine published erotic anthologies, many online magazines, and on the sexual wellness platform Rosy. Two years ago, Rosy asked me to be their erotica editor because I was uniquely qualified, with my professional sexuality experience that dovetailed my writing experience.
This year, my journal, Purple Sex & Love Beyond Your Dreams: A Women’s Guided Journal to Explore Your Sexual Self released. It has a companion affirmation card deck, The Purple Sex Reflection Deck for Women. As I give this interview, a Tarot Deck (Purple Passion Tarot: A Woman’s Holistic Journey of Sexual Exploration) is underway. Ten romance authors are joining me in creating a romance book series, Cards of Passion, based on the affirmation cards topics. These latest creative endeavors, which I call the Purple Sex Journey, have made me the happiest.
Sometimes, one real-world choice and experience sets you on your course. In my current writing world, that is described as “action” and “reaction.” My action: I dropped out of school. My reaction: I accepted employment with Adam & Eve. That set of choices changed the trajectory of my life. And what did I learn? If I was going to work, it was going to be fun.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I’m a believer that life gives us what we need to grow. For me, I think that sexuality strengthened my life. I learned so many outstanding lessons about standing up for myself and standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves about sexuality concerns. I would change nothing about my choice.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I experienced a problematic perimenopause that moved me into menopause early. Working through the physical and mental limitations of the process took me out of the work world for a bit. As I have said, sexuality was about me learning to grow. Through this process, I discovered how overlooked and under-informed doctors and patients were about the concerns of this specific transition. By being in the field, I had resources available that the average person wouldn’t have had. I think this situation caused me to double down on the teaching of sexuality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drjauthor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjauthor_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJAuthor/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnajenningsphd/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorJAuthor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJAuthor
- Other: I am a featured sexuality content provider on The MŌN app on iOS and Android.