How To Make Money and Run a Business as a Sex Educator with Cameron Glover | Transcript
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Hannah Witton
Welcome to Doing It with me, Hannah Witton, where we talk all things sex, relationships, dating, and our bodies. Hi everyone, welcome back to Doing It. I am giddy with excitement introducing you to my guest this week. Cameron Glover is a sex ed business coach, and she embodies my two favourite taboo topics, sex, and money. Cameron is a sex educator, and we talk in this episode about how she noticed there was a lack of a business support for sex educators and other business programmes didn't cater to the unique experiences and needs of sex educators, and so she went and created an entirely new job. And now she fills that gap of business support and coaching for sex educators. How many times am I going to say sex educators in this intro? In this episode, we talk about Cameron's journey in sex education and what actually a sex ed business coach is, and does. We talk about identity, and how money, and especially earning money if you're in a good cause field, is a bit taboo. And Cameron, it gives her advice on how to get started in sex education, and whether or not you need any certification or qualifications. I hope you enjoyed this episode. As usual, links to everything we mentioned are in the show notes over on DoingItPodcast.co.uk. And please let us know what you think of the episode over on our social media @DoingItPodcast. Thanks for listening, here's Cameron.
So hey, Cameron, I'm so excited to chat with you. I feel like my two passions are like sex and like business and organisation. So this is a dream.
Cameron Glover
Yes, I'm so so excited to be here too, thank you so much.
Hannah Witton
So I feel like the first thing I want to know is what does being a business coach for sexuality professionals mean? Like, what is a sex ed business coach? Is this a thing that you invented? What's what's going on here?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, it's totally a thing that I invented.
Hannah Witton
Amazing.
Cameron Glover
So a bit about my background so it kind of makes sense, right, so I started off actually thinking I was going to be like an English professor, just like a literature professor. That didn't happen.
Hannah Witton
Did you study English at university?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, I studied literature and creative writing. So I always knew I was going to be a writer and I thought that I would just like, go the academic route. But things didn't quite go that way. So I ended up freelance writing for about five years after undergrad and through that I kind of started writing more, and exploring, about the connection between sex and culture. So that's kind of what jump started this interest in just like sex education. And I think one night I was researching for a story that I was doing and I ended up googling, how do you become a sex educator?, and just seeing, like, all these cool folks that I was interviewing and just be like, dang, I want to do that. So from there, I think I, that night, started looking up different programmes, and I found a certification programme, and joined within the next month, and then was -
Hannah Witton
Oh, wow.
Cameron Glover
I was a sex educator in training. Yeah, I'm a very fast like, action taker. So
Hannah Witton
I love that. It's like, oh, I found this thing that interests me. Little bit of research. Okay, decision made. We go.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, yeah, totally. And it was through my certification programme that I learned a lot, right, I learned so much about the field and all the things that I can contribute. But one one of the things I that really frustrating for me is like, there was no business support. And this isn't to just the programme I went through, this is an industry wide problem that there are no classes that are sitting down talking about like, hey, these are the payment processors that you can use when you're selling your stuff right or even like what how to create an offer. Just like things you need to know when you're selling services and like working with people, even like how to price your stuff. So -
Hannah Witton
And the business side of things, is that something that you learned along the way or you had a background in as a freelancer?
Cameron Glover
I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
Hannah Witton
I love this.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, no, no business degree, no MD, no MBA.
Hannah Witton
I just feel like you're an inspiration to everyone who has imposter syndrome out there.
Cameron Glover
Yeah.
Hannah Witton
You literally were just like, neither of these things are things that I'm doing right now. And then within two years, you are like, the sex ed business coach and invented a whole new career for yourself. I'm just like, yes.
Cameron Glover
Yes. And I mean, it's, it's so important too for, and I'm glad that you brought that up, because there is this idea that you need to like, study it, and you need to like, toil away, like in a cave somewhere to like, become an expert before you can, like, do the damn thing. And I feel the exact opposite, I think it's more important to take action, and then adjust along the way, because through action, you're going to get the experience, which I think is more important than learning about the theory. And then, also you're going to get that hands on, like knowledge of understanding what works and what doesn't. And that's going to get you a lot farther than I think just studying in a book. And I think that like knowledge is important, and there are some things that, you know, you aren't going to want to like sit down and like learn kind of where things come from, why they apply in the way that they do, but I don't think that you need to have a certain like, level of expertise in order to like, just get started with something.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, I, I completely hear you there. I've, I feel like that was exactly where I was at when I first started making, like sex ed videos on YouTube, because I was very much like, oh, this is something that interests me and I, like, know more about it than my friends but I'm not a professional by any means. But I just didn't have, I don't think I had any imposter syndrome back then whereas I do now, which is ridiculous because I know so much more now. Like I was just like, I'm just gonna make these videos and did not think twice. And now I think I overthink.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, and I feel like there's there's has, there has been like a study about that of just like, once you gain more knowledge, it's actually more common for people to get quote unquote, imposter syndrome. Because it's -
Hannah Witton
Because you realise how much you don't know.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, exactly, and you're more like aware of it versus when you're just getting started something it's like the I don't know, like, the pressure isn't like that high because it's like, yeah, you can try this out, but you're not like attached to it in the same way as when you're like, in the field, and like really committed to it.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, what, um, work have you done as a sex educator, like after your course? Or was it during your course you were also working as a sex educator? Or did you have the goal, fairly soon into your course of like, oh, there needs to be a business component here and then went kind of down that route?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, that's a really good question. So it took me a while to figure out that I wanted to be a sex ed business coach and like invent it. So I want to say, actually, I just celebrated my first full year of business doing this.
Hannah Witton
Happy birthday, anniversary.
Cameron Glover
Thank you. Yeah, so it took me a really long time to figure it out, and I was kind of a sex educator already for three years. So -
Hannah Witton
Okay.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, it took me a while, but I knew that I was kind of on the right path and I was just like, trying stuff out and seeing how I felt about it. But my hands on experience, I don't know, I think it took me a while because there were so much. And like a lot of people, I had a really hard time narrowing down what I wanted my, like, expertise or like what I wanted to be known for, really, and there was a lot of, like, I don't know how to word this. Like, I felt like there was a lot of other people telling me what I should focus on. But then I was like, I don't really want to do that. And like particularly, with like, being someone who's black, and being a queer person, like there was just a lot of, you should teach about social justice, which I feel very strongly about. And particularly when I say that, I think that there's a difference between someone who carries multiple marginalised identities saying that they want to specialise in that, and having the agency and making that decision versus folks just assuming just because of their lived experience, that's the only thing that they can like teach on.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, your specialty is your identity and nothing else.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, it's just it's it's bizarre. So there was so much within like sexuality that I was interested in beyond just like social justice stuff, but I found that I was really getting only tapped on for, for that really, and nothing else. And it was really frustrating and I think that frustration added to me eventually figuring out I wanted to focus on business support, because it's just something I feel really passionate about. And yes, I bring in my own, like identity and expertise and experience into that, but it's just, there's so much else there. So now, I feel like a lot more confident with navigating that, and I feel like I have a much wider appreciation, which I'll say for like, allowing space for other folks to do the same. So even with my own podcast, when I have folks on, I always make sure to leave space at the very beginning of like me, for them to say how they identify, and what their expertise is in, because I know what that's like to be confined to this box of what other people think that you can have range on, versus what your actual experience and expertise is in, and I think that more folks should be doing that, especially as we're moving into, you know, folks with privilege being more aware of their privilege. Yeah, all that.
Hannah Witton
Yeah. So how do you identify them? Obviously, I have to ask you this now.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, so um, first of all, Pisces sun. Virgo moon, Leo rising.
Hannah Witton
Wait, what?
Cameron Glover
Yes.
Hannah Witton
Okay. I don't know anything about astrology. All I do know is that I'm a Pisces sun and Virgo moon. But I'm what am i rising? Cancer rising? I think I don't know what any of that means.
Cameron Glover
Okay.
Hannah Witton
But I think because we have two have the same I feel that that means something. I don't know.
Cameron Glover
But I love that. Oh my gosh. Are you a March Pisces or February Pisces?
Hannah Witton
I'm February. I'm like cusp on Aquarius.
Cameron Glover
Ooo interesting. Okay. Yeah, I feel like that goes also really well with your Hufflepuff-sness. Just saying,
Hannah Witton
Oh, it's all coming together.
Cameron Glover
Yes. Astrology is fun.
Hannah Witton
What house are you?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, so I'm definitely Slytherin
Hannah Witton
Oh, see, I identify as a Slyther-puff.
Cameron Glover
Hmm. Okay. Yeah.
Hannah Witton
But mostly the puff side.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, yeah, I can see it. I can see it. Yeah, I'm a black femme, and I think that that, more than anything else, like colours, my experience and the way that I navigate the world. Yeah, I feel like, it's so hard to narrow down, like, how I identify, because I'm like, there's so much I want to say, and then there's also things that I know, like, people expect me to say like, my pronouns, are she/her, and like, I'm in America, if you can't tell from the accent, I'm from America. But then there's also other things where I'm like, I'm a plant mom, and really like anime. And I'm like, is this relevant? I don't know.
Hannah Witton
I think it's all relevant. I love getting a bit more of like a broader picture on people as well of just like, hey, what do you, what are your interests? You know?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, yeah. And I think that, especially as I move into taking ownership of my role in the sex ed space, and the sexuality space, I feel like all this potential for me to help shape that to the forefront. So instead of having things kind of be dictated by expectation, and a lot of that through, like, privilege and perception, right, I think that I have a lot of power to shift that narrative and say, like, hey, like, we can identify in other ways, but also, all that stuff that we think is irrelevant, it can be relevant. So like, even on like social media, I think that it is like, important to show different sides of ourselves if we want to, right. So I think it's just as relevant that like, I'm sharing business tips than it is with like, oh, I'm cooking this thing with my partner tonight for dinner, this is how it turned out. Or, I don't know, just like silly stuff like that. Because I think that it reminds folks as well that like we're people, and not just educators or folks that are put on a pedestal.
Hannah Witton
Yeah. And I think what you said about like, if you want to, it's so important, because is this an expression of your identity that you, you know, you're comfortable and happy sharing, or is there like a pressure to, to share it as well. But yeah, yeah, totally. You talks about how, you know, there was like, no support out there for business and money for sex educators. And I was wondering, do you think this is because like, sex education is seen as, you know, a good cause, and within social justice, and so is there this expectation that we shouldn't be talking about money if we're doing like, cause related work?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, yeah, definitely. And this is like a big thing that comes up for my clients too. This idea that if you're doing something that you're really passionate about, that you care deeply about, and you're helping people, especially, then like, you can't ask for money. And that's incredibly false. Because it's like, how are you supposed to, well, let's start even, let's just take money off the table for a minute, right? If your cup isn't filled, how can you possibly fill other people's cups? So if you are not taken care of, if you do not have everything you need to show up as your best self, how can you show up for other people, and hold space for them to process their traumas, their grief, their shame and their guilt? Which is what sex educators do. I think that it's important that we talk about money, because money allows us to have access to do healing, and to do that helpful work that has inspired us to get into the field in the first place, on a bigger scale. So we're able to help more people, we're able to do all the ideas that we have, right, we can actually execute on them, when we have the monetary resources to do that. And then, also, taking it a step further, when we claim that ownership of like, we're also business owners, right, which also scares a lot of sex educators. It's like, yeah, we're able to also do so much more too. So like the space that I'm in, I feel like I'm almost at the stage where I'm gonna start hiring folks and that feels so exciting for me.
Hannah Witton
Oh, that's so exciting.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, it's really, really exciting. But it's also like this really cool reminder that I can pay it forward too, because how much change can I like instil, with hiring folks in the field as well, and like creating different revenue streams for other folks and like supporting and mentoring, and showing folks like what's possible, right. So there's all these like different things that money allows us to do, that isn't just like, all the terrible shit that's happening in the world, I hope I can curse.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, absolutely, curse away.
Cameron Glover
And then there's also, I think too, the component of, like, expecting folks that work in service based like industries to just like, be selfless and to not have any needs. So even beyond money, as well, there's also like, what other resources do we need to be able to do the work that we do, as well. And I think it's important that educators are getting more comfortable with saying that, and stating, like, hey, I need, yes, I need to get paid for this work. But also, like, I need community support in this way, I need, like, whatever those needs are to help you show up and to hold space and to do the work that you want to do. It's more than okay for you to ask for that, and that's part of the exchange of, you know, just like being a leader and like being in this space and teaching others.
Hannah Witton
Yeah. And I think it's also partly a value thing as well. And we have to recognise what are the things, and what what kind of work do we value in our society? And if we value it, we should be paying for it?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, yeah, definitely. And yeah, and it's so interesting, because over the years, money has come from being this thing that I myself, like, very much shied away from, to something that I'm like, I love talking about money with my clients, and like talking about pricing.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, it's my two favourite taboos, I think, sex and money.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, totally. And it's, once we're able to overcome that into just like, recognise the ways that they're intertwined and also realise that it's not, neither one of them are scary, they're really only scary because of the emotions that we put behind them right. And once we're able to process that, and to hold space for that, and then recognise a way that it can serve us, both sex and money, then we can get a lot more comfortable with it, start playing around with it and it just, it feels really good to have a better relationship with these things and with ourselves.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, absolutely. I was wondering, well, and I think this might be something that listeners are wondering as well. What exactly is a sexuality professional? And I know that that is lots of things and I'd love to hear like, what are all the different types? And then also, do you work with specific, like, types of sexuality professionals, sex educators? Yeah. So what is what is what is the landscape we're looking at here?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, oh, my gosh, it's such a wide landscape. So I, I tend to think of sexuality professionals as anyone that's in the sexuality space. So most people tend to think of sex educators first and foremost, right? And those are mostly, if not a majority, of my clients identify as sex educators. But you can also be other titles in the field as well. So you have a lot of folks who are content creators, who are influencers. There's also folks who are coaches, who are therapists, who are sex workers as well. And I think that's also really important to recognise that sex workers plays such a, like significant role in the shaping of the sexuality space, and have done so much in terms of like activism, and continue to do so much activism for all of us. And that, like sexuality professionals who are not sex workers have an obligation to show up, and to like, start dismantling our own like whorephobia and the ways that we push those workers out. So always want to make a note of that, because it's super important.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I was wondering are most of the people that you work with, like, independent or freelance, because I guess there's also sexuality professionals who might work for a charity, or a non-profit, or they might work for, like in the UK, they might work for the NHS, they might be a medical professional, or, you know, a youth worker or a teacher. And so they're like, employed, but are the people that you work with most of the time, freelancers, I guess?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, yeah. So I specialise in helping independent sexuality professionals. So folks who kind of operate their own business, they may have clients, they may have folks that they work with on a regular basis, but for the most part, they are the ones that are in charge of and bringing in that revenue for themselves. And a lot of the things that I teach is from that perspective, because I think it is important to understand that like, if we're going to bet on anything, we need to bet on ourselves. And once like folks are independently empowered to understand like, this is how much money you can make, like in helping to walk through that process of what that looks like for you, what kind of business you want to have, and understanding the different revenue streams that you can create to generate that and make that a reality, then, you know, it's a lot easier because you're not relying on someone else to give you that permission. You can do it yourself. Yeah.
Hannah Witton
Yeah. Oh, permission is such a huge one.
Cameron Glover
Permission could be a whole other podcast episode, honestly.
Hannah Witton
Yeah. There was another episode I did recently where permission just kept on coming up and we were like, what is happening this is it's all about like, giving yourself that permission and not waiting on any external factors to say, okay, you can do this now. That kind of also ties into what you were saying before about people waiting until they have like, a certain amount of knowledge before they feel like they can embark on doing the work.
Cameron Glover
Oh, my gosh, yeah, like that, and that comes up so much like, especially on my social media, like, I did a live stream on certification and like what folks need to know about it. And that question kept coming up, like there was one question in particular, someone asked, what was, what is the best degree or like, major to study in to be a sex educator? I'm like, it doesn't exist. You don't need a degree to do this work
Hannah Witton
That's interesting you bring that up because when I asked for questions on Instagram, from our followers for you, that also came up a lot of like, do I need to get certified? Or like, what degree do I need? Or what A levels? Which are qualifications you do before you go to university in the UK. Because you you, you're certified.
Cameron Glover
Yeah.
Hannah Witton
You got a certification. And I feel like you should probably know this. So I bought your sexuality professional ebook. And because of that, and you mentioning ISEE in there, I have now enrolled.
Cameron Glover
Oh, my gosh, yay that is so exciting.
Hannah Witton
And certification is something that I've been thinking about for so long and trying to figure out, is this coming from a place of fear and imposter syndrome? Or is this coming from a place of like, personal development, and curiosity, and professional development as well, I guess, and I decided it was the latter. Maybe a little sprinkling of imposter syndrome in there. What are your thoughts then on on certification and degrees? All of that?
Cameron Glover
Well, I have a lot of thoughts. First and foremost, I'm really happy that you brought up that thought process, because I think that that is the most important thing. So it's not the strict like yes or no answer. But it's more of like, what are you going to do with this? So like, if a client is asking this question, the very first thing that I say is what is getting certified going to do for you. And so in my case, for my particular goals and the things that I want to do, it does make sense for me to get certified because I do want to have a more active role with like supervisions and certification, and helping other folks through that process. So in order to be able to do that, I myself need to be certified, right. So that makes sense. But in terms of feeling like, I need to get certified just to be a sex educator, I don't think so. In the thing that a lot of folks don't realise as well is that a lot of certification programmes, they keep a lot of sex educators out, as much as they let folks in. So first and foremost is a financial barrier, right. A lot of sex educators just don't have the cash lying around to like just, you know, pay in full for a lot of programmes. So that's number one, right. And then there's also just the requirement of who can even apply, and how almost all the certification programmes, and I'm speaking almost strictly for the US, because that's where my expertise is in, but all of the programmes that I'm thinking of, right, that folks can apply to you can't even apply unless you have a bachelor's degree, at least. And most of these programmes prefer that you have a master or doctorate too. So thinking about -
Hannah Witton
Especially for like the therapist ones.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, exactly. So just thinking about like, who that keeps out, right, that keeps out so many, like sex educators who may just have like a high school degree. And like, also brings in the question of, how much like, can experience be quantified as well. So if someone has said worked in, I don't know, like a sex toy shop for years and years, right, and has over a decade worth of experience. Are they any less -
Hannah Witton
And they almost act like a counsellor for customers.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, like, Are they any less of a sex educator because they didn't formally study? But they have like years of on the ground experience working directly with people.
Hannah Witton
But we don't like to measure that.
Cameron Glover
Yeah. And I think that it's really important to kind of ask these questions, because, you know, for a field that is supposed to be so expansive, and you know, progressive, and all these great things, there's still a lot of issues that come up with that. So bringing it back to the question of like, should you get certified or not, it's up to you and what your personal goals are. I think that you have to ask yourself that question but if you feel like it's going to lead you to a specific goal, then I think certification can be great. But if not, if you're thinking about just getting started, I mean, you can just take a SAR, right, you can just take a class, that's going to give you the information that you need, and then take action, and that's something that I really, like, urge my clients to do as well. Don't focus so much on like how much you need to study and kind of compare it to like, another field where you need to, like, I don't know, have a bunch of advanced degrees and be in school for a certain amount of time. The beauty of this field is you can kind of create your own path. So kind of, like you need to be able to work with people, but other than that, you're gonna get the most experience just actually doing it. So what is the fastest way that you can get that experience?
Hannah Witton
Yeah, it's so true that there's so many different paths that you can take in this field, that there is no one size fits all. There's no like, specific route to becoming a sex educator. There's just so many different ways to do it. Could you clarify what SAR is for our listeners?
Cameron Glover
Oh yeah, sorry. A SAR is a sexual reassessment. What is it? Sexual Attitude Reassessment, yeah.
Hannah Witton
Yeah.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, it's a lot of words. So it's basically like a seminar, I guess, that you take over the course of two or three days with a group of sexuality professionals. So I've been in some that are just sex educators and therapists, I've also been in some where there are medical professionals like doctors and physical therapists, as well who kind of operate in the sexuality field. So it can vary depending on who's hosting it. But it's basically like a multi day seminar where you look at different kinds of sexually explicit media, different kinds of things related to sexuality, and you kind of assess your own personal like attitudes and biases that come up. And the idea is to explore that, and to be able to navigate when these things come up, when you're working with clients.
Hannah Witton
I'm doing my first SAR at the end of August and I'm very excited. I've heard like I've heard about them and like I kind of get what they are. And I'm always interested to hear that you've been in ones where medical professionals are there as well because I'm like, yeah, surely like anyone who's a medical professional and working with patients who might come like come across things with their patients to do with sexuality, or even teachers, like everyone should take a SAR.
Cameron Glover
Everyone should take a SAR like I, and it's a really good option as well because you're not committing to like a full programme, it's just like over the course of a weekend, which I think are really great. And I've been to a bunch of different SARs, no two are the same. And it really, you get the sense of what kind of SAR it's going to be depending on who's leading it. So as long as the instructors are, you know, mindful of who's in the room and allow you to kind of stretch versus just like jump you into like the deep end of the pool. So it's not like you're sitting around just watching porn for the entire day. You're watching like different kinds of media. So a SAR that I went to, we watched movie clips, we watched news clips, and had roundtable discussions about them.
Hannah Witton
Oh, I love that.
Cameron Glover
So there are different kinds of media that can pertain to sexuality. But the idea is to kind of give you the space to just explore like, how do I feel about that? Does that brush up against a boundary, or an edge for me? And how would I navigate talking about this, if it came up with a client or with a class, or with people that I was working with, right? Especially if it's something that gets you really charged up, or is potentially a boundary for you as well. So I think it's really, really good for everybody to go to a SAE at least once in their life. Yeah.
Hannah Witton
Yes, I'm very excited for mine. And agree, I feel like, it is a good starting place, if you want to become a sex educator. And if you're going to be talking about sex, then it's always good to reassess your own attitudes towards it. Because, you know, we're not blank slates when we come into doing sex education. Like we've, you know, we received our own version of sex education when we were younger, and also as adults as well. So there's always going to be a lot to unpack.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, and that's the one thing I want to add to that one more thing as well, I think that it's also really good, especially if you've been in the field a long time, or you feel like you're used to talking about sex, I think it's a really good space to be in to kind of like, freshen up on things, you know, learn more terminology be in spaces with other folks who may challenge those viewpoints. And like, you know, just allow you to grow as an individual. Yeah.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, it's a really good point. Before we move on to some more of our Instagram questions, I'd like to ask you, what's one thing that you wish independent sexuality professionals knew about business? The one thing.
Cameron Glover
Just one?
Hannah Witton
Okay, two if you must.
Cameron Glover
Okay, um, let's see, two things. So the first thing is that you need to, you need to operate like a business. I think that it's cute, well, no, let me not say it's cute because that that feels like diminishing. It's okay, you know, to get into this field and kind of feel like you're navigating stuff, you're still figuring out how things work. But eventually, whether you're doing it part time, as a side hustle, or doing a full time, you are running a business. And I think that it's really important to take ownership of that, and to recognise that, and also to operate like that, as well. So like, you know, what are the things that a business does, and just, like, take ownership of that. And that goes for the backend boring stuff, like taxes, and like, you know, setting up a website to sell your products and all that. But it's also like, in the way that you present yourself as well, and how you introduce yourself to different folks in the space, like so many folks will just be like, Oh, I'm just a sex educator, or I do this thing on the side or like, kind of uses language that diminishes the importance of the work that we do. And it's really fucking important. So like, don't shy away from taking ownership of that. Um, yeah.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, I love that.
Cameron Glover
Yeah.
Hannah Witton
It's important.
Cameron Glover
I think that's like the most important thing that I think I want to say on that.
Hannah Witton
There we go. It was one thing in the end.
Cameron Glover
I always do that.
Hannah Witton
Okay, so questions from people on Instagram, we kind of covered some of the ones that were on certification and, and education. Someone has just said, how the fuck do I get started in sex ed?
Cameron Glover
One of my favourite questions and a frequently asked question, and I'm going to be that person and says, you can start by purchasing my ebook. If you have a specific questions about like the tangible, how do I get started? How do I figure out what I want to focus on? My ebook becoming a sexuality professional is great for that
Hannah Witton
Can confirm.
Cameron Glover
It's over 30 pages of just like diving deep into the exact process and the questions that you need to ask, Google, journal about, whatever your process looks like. And it's really affordable. So you can purchase that on my website, CameronGlover.com. And yeah, the other thing too, that I would say, in addition to that, is to start surrounding yourself as well with sexuality professionals that you admire. So following folks like me and Hannah, especially on social media, listening to our podcasts, following our websites, subscribing to our email list, things like that are really helpful, because not only are you getting information, but it's also really great because you're subconsciously giving yourself um, you know, evidence that it's possible to be a sex educator, and to like, do this work and be happy and thriving and all the great things. So, yeah.
Hannah Witton
Yeah. And also just tuning in to kind of like, what's happening in the field. And I guess that's also more on like, once, you know, if someone buys your ebook, and then from that they figure out what niche that they maybe want to go into, then kind of like really understanding that niche, and like what, you know, is there, are there news stories on it, like, what are people saying? What, is there any research that you need to be aware of?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, yeah. And also making sure that you're, especially in following and getting information, make sure you're having a variety of folks that you do all that with? So not just all in just white educators? Okay, just like making sure you have like, are there black folks? Are there non black people of colour? Are there disabled folks? Are there queer folks? Just like, all these different ways that people can identify, we also exist as sex educators as well. So taking the time to like seek us out, which there are tonnes of resources and roundup lists and all kinds of stuff where you can find us. So I know on my Instagram, there is if you scroll through, there is a dedicated post that I have on black sex educators.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, I will link that in the show notes so people can find it.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, that is a great place to start if you feel like I want to follow more black, sex educators not sure where to find them. There's a running list in the photo and also in all the comments as well.
Hannah Witton
Yes, the comments. And someone asked, what was your first role? I guess, as a sex educator.
Cameron Glover
Oh, my first role as a sex educator. Funny enough, just like doing what I'm doing now. So a colleague of mine, she runs a local, non local to me non-profit, she runs Masakhane Center, which is based in New York, New Jersey and they do really incredible work for black and non black people of colour in, in New York, New Jersey, which is fantastic, incredible of them. So she actually hired me to come in and teach on, oh, gosh, I forgot what I think a taught on pornography. But that was like my first paid gig in the field.
Hannah Witton
What age were the young people?
Cameron Glover
They were in undergrad. So they were like -
Hannah Witton
Oh, okay.
Cameron Glover
Yeah, so it was really great.
Hannah Witton
Like late teens, early twenties.
Cameron Glover
Really, they were just like, really, really awesome. Yeah,
Hannah Witton
Someone else has asked how to find volunteering opportunities as a student, because that's a great place to start.
Cameron Glover
That is a really great place to start. So definitely check out your school's Health Centre, if they have if you have one. If there is some sort of like women's centre or place where people can have access to sexual health information, or if there isn't, you know, you can also petition to like, lead that initiative and start creating one, that's also a really great way to like, get, get support and get that on the ground experience. As well as, you know, if you're following sex educators online as well, and if you find that they're looking for help, looking for kind of intern opportunities, apply. Definitely shoot your shot, right, respectfully in the emails, not, don't dm them.
Hannah Witton
Yeah.
Cameron Glover
Send an email, you know, ask, because you never know. And I think that that's also really great. A client of mine that I'm working with right now, she actually just started an internship with another colleague. And it was just like, really fantastic. She was super excited about it. So yeah.
Hannah Witton
I love that. I think I'll also add, if you're going to a university in the UK, there's a student led charity called Sexpression and various universities around the country have branches of Sexpression. If your university doesn't, maybe you could start it. And basically, it's a charity where university students will go into secondary schools and teach sex ed.
Cameron Glover
That's amazing.
Hannah Witton
And I did that in my second year of uni. I did a few sessions. So yeah, if you're a UK university, definitely check out Sexpression.
Cameron Glover
Um, something else I just thought of as well. And I don't know if this is a non US thing. But if there's a sex week that happened at your university, through a club or something that you're part of, you can also help with the organising committee with that as well. Yeah.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, check your universities societies. I know, in the UK, we have a sexual health week in September that's run by one of our biggest like sexual health charities in the UK, Brooke. So sometimes universities might do stuff around that. And I'm trying to think of SHAG Week.
Cameron Glover
That's a very British.
Hannah Witton
A UK thing, is that a UK thing?
Cameron Glover
Yeah, that's a very British thing, what does it?
Hannah Witton
What does the G stand for? I'm trying to, Sexual Health Awareness...what is the G? I don't know. SHAG week, it's a thing.
Cameron Glover
Well also that, and then in April too, there's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sexual Violence Awareness Month. So different initiatives that maybe aren't explicitly about sex and like the teaching about anatomy and like safer sex materials way, but like, if you can connect it to bringing sexuality professionals on your campus, like, that's really great. October, in the US is also like LGBTQ history month. So like, these, like adjacent topics can also be really great to like, introduce, if you're part of a club or an organisation that isn't focused just on sex education, but you want to like bring it in, you know.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, that's so true. Because sexuality is featured in so many different disciplines, and, and topic areas. Maybe you're in the film club, and you watch a film that depicts sexuality or gender in a certain way and you're like, let's discuss.
Cameron Glover
There's so many different ways, it's just like getting creative.
Hannah Witton
Yeah. 100%. And someone asked, how did you feel with your first clients? I like this question.
Cameron Glover
It's a really good question. I felt super excited. Yeah, my first client, okay, so my first one on one client, I was ecstatic about it. I'm still excited. She's, she's a fantastic person. She didn't like disappear on the face of the planet or anything. But my first client, she actually found me through Masakhane, who I mentioned earlier, she was one of their interns. And my colleague, just like spoke really highly of me, so she started following me and then when I posted that I was taking on one on one clients, she jumped on and DM's me how she can apply. And I sent her the application. And then we went through the process. And yeah, and I was super excited, because it was the first time I had done like, a one on one package and I worked with her for three months. And it was super nerve wracking for me. But she said, yes, and signed up right on the phone. And we did really incredible work. And now she is just like, doing such incredible stuff in the field, does a lot of kink in body like education, and is doing coaching on her own now, which is fantastic.
Hannah Witton
Incredible. Yeah, I love that. So before we sign off, you recently announced at time of recording this, that you were discontinuing some of your webinar products and changing up your business model, which at the time that you're listening to this, will all be revealed. So can you tell us a little bit about that and that process?
Cameron Glover
Yes. So I feel like this is maybe a controversial decision to make, but it just feels right. I feel like I'm just doing way too much in my business, quite honestly. And so I'm taking everything off the table that is not like my ebooks, as far as one off digital products because I really love supporting folks through a longer term transformation. And what I focus on with my clients with helping them build sustainable online businesses, as sexuality professionals, a one off webinar, it does more harm than good, because it's like an answers one question or a few questions, right? Well, you can't have the transformation you really want with just 60 minutes or even 90 minutes, right. So yeah, I'm taking that off the table. And then I'm going to be launching the Sex Ed Business Academy, which I'm so excited. And it's going to mean -
Hannah Witton
Oh, that's a great name, I love it.
Cameron Glover
Thank you. And it's going to be a six month programme, group coaching and modules and just like a little bit of everything. It's just going to be a massive hybrid programme where I'm going to help teach you everything that you need to know about taking your skills, and building a sex ed business, and then supporting you through the process of having consistent four figure months. So really excited about that. I think it's so needed in the field and, like I said, like all the stuff that I'm going to be diving into, I'm like, this would be an injustice if I tried to like, break it down into like a 60 Minute Webinar honestly. So I'm really excited about that. If you want to know.
Hannah Witton
So when this comes out, will applications be open?
Cameron Glover
Yes. So at the time of this recording, either the waitlist will be available or if you're listening to this after, then applications are definitely open. You can check that out on my website, or on my social media and maybe in the show notes of this episode as well.
Hannah Witton
Yeah, I can absolutely put them there. Absolutely. Well, thank you so much. It has been an absolute pleasure chatting with you, and diving into sex and money. Love it.
Cameron Glover
Thank you so much for having me. This is so great.
Hannah Witton
Where can people find you online?
Cameron Glover
Yes. So you can find me mostly on Instagram @thecameronglover and you can also find me on my website, CameronGlover.com
Hannah Witton
Amazing. Well, thank you so much for listening. And we'll see you, hear you in the next episode. Bye. Thank you so much for listening to Doing It. If you enjoyed it, I would really appreciate it if you left a rating and a review. You can find show notes at DoingItPodcast.co.uk and do go follow us on social media and I'll catch you in the next episode. Bye.
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