Interview with Natasha regarding Slut!

Published by Pride Source, Between the Lines on November 5, 2025

Written by: Sophia Valchine

For five years, Natasha Wilson thought about fonts. About the perfect "s" for "slut." About how a single letter could carry the weight of centuries of shame, and how the right curve might help dismantle it.

Self-publishing demands attention to every detail, but for Wilson, a Detroit-based licensed psychotherapist who uses ze/zir pronouns, the stakes went deeper than aesthetics. Wilson's book, "Slut!: Letting Go of Shame Surrounding Sex and Sexuality," wasn't just another self-help guide. It was a deliberate confrontation with one of the most loaded words in the English language.

The seeds of the project were planted long before Wilson began practicing at Integrated Wellness, back when ze was a teenager taking sociology courses at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

"I think it's such an important part of our humanity," Wilson said of sexuality, "and the fact that it is so taboo just makes it even more interesting and powerful."

As a Black, genderqueer, lesbian, pagan, kinky and polyamorous person, Wilson occupied what ze describes as a unique vantage point. Ze could see "the assumptions that people take for granted and the things that people accept without question" in ways that many couldn't. It was this outsider perspective that Wilson believed could offer something fresh to conversations about sexuality and shame across different communities.

But it wasn't until ze became a therapist and began hearing clients' stories that the full scope of the problem revealed itself. Regardless of sexuality, gender identity or cultural background, nearly everyone ze worked with carried some burden related to sex and sexuality.

"When you actually explore the history of sex and sexuality and culture and religion and the influences of power and power structures, you really understand how it's woven through all of those elements, yet nobody talks about it," Wilson said.

Through zir clinical work, Wilson witnessed how shame around sexuality manifested in depression, anxiety, relationship problems and disconnection from one's body. Clients shared stories of being hurt and alienated because of their desires, bodies and identities. The silence around sexuality, Wilson realized, wasn't just uncomfortable — it was causing real harm.

This understanding became the book's foundation, combining self-help workbook exercises with deeply personal interviews. To find people willing to share their experiences, Wilson posted advertisements on university campuses and Facebook. The response was surprising. A diverse group of people came forward, eager to talk about their struggles with sexual shame.

"Many people shared that a part of what motivated them to want to share their stories is because they want to also encourage others," Wilson said.

These interviews became Wilson's favorite part of the project. Hearing from people who wanted to help others come to terms with their sexuality made zir feel "grateful" for their enthusiasm and vulnerability. Their stories illustrate how shame operates differently across identities while revealing common threads of isolation and self-judgment.

The workbook portion uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help readers "challenge and reframe thoughts" about sexuality. Wilson also included exercises for relaxation and mindfulness, recognizing that examining sexual shame would inevitably bring up difficult emotions.

"There's the understanding that emotional things will occur," Wilson said.

Then came the title. "Slut!" wasn't chosen lightly or simply to shock. "Shame and sexuality are embedded in the word 'slut,' and it's a powerful word that has been used to negate autonomy and to promote whatever social paradigm serves those in power," Wilson said.

By centering the word that embodies so much of what the book addresses, Wilson hoped to begin the process of reclamation before readers even opened the cover. The goal was provocation, but "not just for the sake of being a provocateur."

When the manuscript was finally complete after countless readings and revisions, Wilson struggled to find a legitimate self-publishing company. But after doing so, the book made its way into readers' hands.

The feedback has been illuminating. Many people assumed the slim volume would be a quick read, Wilson said, "but actually, if you really do the work of reading and reflecting, it does take some consideration."

Wilson wanted readers to question not just their personal beliefs about sexuality, but the society that shaped those beliefs in the first place.

"I really wanted to provoke people to challenge their own thoughts and assumptions, and even the society that we live in, because part of being inculturated in the society is so salient and ubiquitous that you don't notice it, and that breeds a situation where you don't question it," Wilson said.

The book has begun reaching audiences beyond Wilson's practice. In May, Wilson appeared on the podcast "Tiffany, Turned On" to discuss the work and its themes of self-exploration, overcoming shame and embracing sexual empowerment. The conversation covered the book's exploration of topics including mindfulness, kink and fetish, queerness, intersectionality, the church's role in shaming sexuality and dismantling rape culture.

To further extend the book's reach, Wilson launched a YouTube channel called The Tenth Muse as a companion to the material. The channel offers another avenue for people who might not otherwise encounter these perspectives, particularly those in communities where discussions of sexuality remain deeply taboo.

"I wanted to inspire people who may not be able to hear these voices because there's so many places where people just don't have access to that," Wilson said.

"Slut!: Letting Go of Shame Surrounding Sex and Sexuality" is out now.