We had the good fortune of connecting with August McLaughlin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi August, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Prioritizing the work I feel most passionate about before other tasks, even before it’s turned a profit, has been hugely important for me. I also reserve my best brain time (what I consider the brain’s “golden hour”) for my most important tasks and protect my time and energy by setting needed boundaries outside of work. Evenings off, even from email, have helped everything from my creativity and business profitability to my emotional wellbeing and physical health. I sleep better, feel better and work better.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Some years ago, embracing my sexuality helped me heal from a life-threatening eating disorder. While that was happening, I realized that I’m far from alone in the negative repercussions limited sex education and damaging societal messaging. That set me on a mission that took me years to understand, and I’m so glad I trusted the path. I first launched Girl Boner as a blog series, with the intention of writing a book of the same name. It took six years for that book dream to come into fruition. While I’d hoped and imagined it would only take a year or two, looking back I’m really glad it took longer. During that time, Girl Boner became far more, including a podcast that’s now a central part of my business and mission. I don’t believe that any creative work is easy. I do think that when we find the work that fulfills us, though, it’s well-worth the challenges. Many of my difficulties have proven to me that I’m on the right track—being blocked from various advertising opportunities and having my book shadow-banned from a large seller, for example. There are so many barriers in the sexuality field, which is exactly why this kind of work is important.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When friends or family visit, I love taking them on hikes, in places like Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Forest. So many people associate LA with the film business and beaches—which are great. But the nature side of the region is probably my favorite. Hollywood bus tours are fun as well. My guests enjoy the sights, while I savor not having to drive and spotting exotic things like good parking areas – ha. One dining spot I’ve wanted to take visitors to is Perch, LA, for the food and the views.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m grateful to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks who do so much good in sex education and social justice and deserve far more credit, inclusion and opportunities than they receive.

Website: https://augustmclaughlin.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlbonermedia/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augustjmclaughlin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/augstmclaughlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mygirlboner
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AugustMcLaughlin/videos
Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/girl-boner-radio/id814715884

Image Credits
Horizontal headshot: Josefina Hunter

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