Sex Talk with Sue Johanson

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

No one wants to picture their grandmother discussing the latest innovations in vibrators, but Sue Johanson has made a living out of doing just that. As the host of “The Sunday Night Sex Show” and “Talk Sex with Sue Johanson,” Sue has helped to educate and entertain legions of loyal viewers about how to safely explore and enjoy their sex lives. Today she sits down with Suzanne to chat about her show and how you can enjoy your sexuality, regardless of age.

Sue initially got involved with helping young people when, in the late 1960s, a friend of her daughter came to her pregnant and scared. Because abortion was illegal in Canada at the time, Sue took the girl across the border into the United States. Upon her return, Sue felt the urge to do more. This eventually led her to open a birth-control clinic in a local high school. By providing students with the necessary education and equipment to properly protect themselves, Sue worked toward her goal of making abortion obsolete.

Several years later, Sue made her first foray into the public eye, or ear, as she became host of a sex call-in show for a Toronto radio station. The show began innocently enough, and it soon became a cult hit. It seems honest, unassuming answers to (occasionally) unexpected sexual problems was just what the doctor ordered. Sue’s no-nonsense responses worked to entertain as well as assist those in need, and the show eventually expanded to television. Now she hosts two weekly shows in Canada and the US, sharing sex advice with hordes of loyal viewers.

Some may think it odd to hear such in-your-face sex talk coming from such a demure and innocent-looking grandmother, but that’s just part of her appeal. Sue feels that because of her age, she’s “safe” and “harmless,” but also that she is “an experienced mother, grandmother, and [she] knows what [she’s] talking about.” Her answers are honest and informative, and she never shies away from a topic. Her website discusses topics from STDs and drugs to fetishes and kegel exercises; no topic is too taboo. Her show takes calls from people all over, and addresses even the strangest of questions.

Another popular part of her show is the Hot Stuff Bag. During each episode, Sue pulls an interesting new sex toy out of a flame-adorned bag to discuss its merits or drawbacks. These toys can include new takes on old standards or completely new inventions intended for enhanced sexual pleasure. Whatever the gadget, Sue examines and explains each fully in order to inform and educate her viewers about what is out there. Sue has always been a promoter of fun and safe sexual experiences, and urges that however you choose to enjoy yourself, be smart about it. According to Sue, “We’re the only ones that really are able to enjoy sex, so we have an obligation to learn about it and enjoy it.”