283 - Your Pleasure Era Starts Now with Ashley Cobb

In this episode of The Boonie Breakdown , Boonie welcomes back friend of the podcast Ashley Cobb , who returns not just as a guest—but as a newly published author . The two dive into Ashley's debut book, Pleasure Please: The Black Woman's Guide to Unapologetic Pleasure and Confidence , and the journey that took her from podcast host to author.

The book's creative structure is built around the alphabet , with each letter representing a theme that invites readers to explore pleasure, confidence, relationships, and self-discovery in a way that allows them to jump around and engage with the content at their own pace. A major part of the conversation centers around reclaiming pleasure and redefining the often-misunderstood concept of a "hoe phase." Ashley reframes it not as reckless behavior, but as a period of intentional self-exploration—one where women can learn their desires, establish boundaries, and build confidence in their sexuality.

Later in the episode, the conversation turns to sex, relationships, and responsibility . Ashley discusses her experiences with PrEP as a preventative measure for HIV and highlights the importance of having honest conversations about sexual health—particularly in cities with higher HIV rates like Atlanta.

The two also explore ethical non-monogamy, communication in relationships, and how setting clear boundaries is essential for healthy partnerships. This episode is an honest, empowering, and thought-provoking conversation about pleasure, confidence, sexual autonomy, and embracing your desires without apology .

We get into: 📚 Ashley Cobb's journey from podcast host to published author 🔥 Redefining the "hoe phase" as intentional self-exploration 💋 Pleasure, confidence, and sexual autonomy for Black women 🩺 Sexual health, PrEP , and responsible sexual freedom 💬 Ethical non-monogamy, boundaries, and communication in relationships Learn More About Ashley Cobb 📲 Instagram: (@sexwithashley) Support The Boonie Breakdown ✨ Patreon (exclusive content & live show access): Patreon.com/TheBoonieBreakdown 🛍️ Merch: Stay Connected 📲 Instagram: @TheBoonieBreakdown 📩 Email: thebooniebreakdown@ 💬 Use #TheBoonieBreakdown and #PodIn to join the conversation and share what resonated with you. Chapters 0:13 Welcome Back, Ashley Cobb 5:24 Boonie's Pick of the Week 5:24 Housekeeping Updates 5:38 Transition to Author Life 7:37 Writing Process Insights 11:40 The Whole Phase Explained 14:21 Navigating Dating Apps 17:27 Understanding Non-Traditional Relationships 20:22 The Complexity of Polyamory 23:30 Trust and Boundaries 28:25 The Importance of Safe Sex 35:53 The Power of Masturbation 41:35 Quickfire Breakdown 42:18 Book Promotion and Socials