What this episode is about
Amy St. Germain shares her journey from 25 years in corporate to starting Oboo, a sexual wellness company at age 50, guided by her own perimenopause wake-up call and a deep desire to help women stay connected to pleasure, curiosity, and confidence.
Key takeaways
- Gabriella says it's important to feel ready. Arousal can take five minutes for some women and 15 to 30 for others, and she says that time is worth taking.
- Amy St. Germain's pleasure reset is five pressure-free minutes of self-pleasure with no goal, no orgasm requirement and no performance.
- Amy St. Germain says responsive desire needs an invitation, like cooking together or a back rub. She says giving yourself more time to respond is normal.
Moments from this episode
Word for word from the recording. Tap a time to hear it.
I took a chance on me
“I'm not going to continue doing what I'm supposed to do or what I thought I was supposed to do, and I'm going to go ahead and take a chance on me.”
No more shame
“Screw the shame. Like no more shame, like so many things that we were taught to feel shame about. And if you really think about it, you're like, what's so wrong with that?”
Desire needs an invitation now
“Spontaneous desire is back in the day when we could just look at somebody and be totally turned on. Right. And responsive desire is more about having triggers to get you in the mood.”
Give yourself more time to respond
“Really it is like giving yourself more time to respond. You can't expect again, like it's gonna be like it used to be, and that's okay. It's okay and it's normal.”
“Letting women understand that midlife doesn't mean the end of pleasure. That's the biggest myth I try to bust on this podcast every single day.”
Gabriella Espinosaat 8:01
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Show notes
What if the most important love story you nurture this Valentine's Week isn't with a partner, but with yourself? In this conversation on Pleasure in the Pause, host Gabriella Espinosa sits down with Amy St. Germain, founder of Oboo, a pleasure-forward wellness brand creating tools designed specifically for midlife bodies. Amy shares her journey from 25 years in corporate to starting a sexual wellness company at age 50, guided by her own perimenopause wake-up call and a deep desire to help women stay connected to pleasure, curiosity, and confidence.
Read the full show notesShow less
This episode is a shame-free exploration of self-pleasure as self-care, the health benefits of vibrators for midlife women, and why desire doesn't disappear as our bodies change. Amy breaks down the science behind blood flow and tissue health, introduces the concept of the "Pleasure Reset," and offers practical guidance on choosing tools that actually work for changing bodies. Whether you're navigating dryness, decreased sensitivity, or simply want to reclaim pleasure on your own terms, this conversation reminds you that your body is amazing at every age.
About Amy St. Germain
Amy St. Germain is the founder of Oboo, a pleasure-forward wellness brand creating tools and products designed for midlife bodies. What started as her own wake-up call turned into a mission to make intimacy, desire, and self-pleasure feel accessible, practical, and shame-free. Through Oboo's thoughtfully designed products and open, honest conversations, Amy helps women feel more at home in their bodies, laugh a little more about the changes of midlife, and stay open to trying something new. Her approach blends curiosity, humor, and real-life usefulness. Her favorite reminder: desire doesn't disappear in midlife. It just needs better lighting, better language, and better tools.
Highlights from our discussion include:
- Perimenopause was Amy's wake-up call to leave her corporate career and start a sexual wellness company focused on midlife women.
- Vibrators aren't just for pleasure. They improve blood flow, reduce dryness, support pelvic floor health, and can even reduce hot flashes.
- The "Pleasure Reset" is five minutes of pressure-free self-pleasure with no goal, no performance, just reconnection with your body.
- Better lighting, better language, and better tools are what desire needs in midlife, not fixing something that's broken.
- Pregaming (warming yourself up before partner intimacy) takes the pressure off and allows you to arrive ready and connected.
- Using lubricant makes everything feel better, even if you don't think you need it.
- Responsive desire (needing triggers to get in the mood) is normal in midlife and requires invitation, not expectation.
- Oboo’s top pleasure tools for greater self-connection, and how to choose what works for your changing body
The most important love story you'll ever nurture is the one with yourself. Your pleasure is not a luxury, it's essential to your health and vitality. This Valentine's season, give yourself permission to prioritize pleasure not as something selfish, but as a radical act of self-love.
Learn more about Oboo:
Resources Mentioned:
Oboo Blog - The Pleasure Reset (5-minute pressure-free self-pleasure practice)
Kinsey Institute research on self-pleasure and symptom relief
Ep 80 Good Vibes
Ep 64 Communicating with a Partner about Pleasure
If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at pleasureinthepause.com for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.CONNECT WITH
GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:
About the guest
Amy St. GermainFounder of Oboo, a pleasure-forward wellness brand creating tools and products designed for midlife bodiesGuest on this episode of Pleasure in the Pause.More about them
