Please note the stage location of each session.
Nicole Leinbach Hoffman | STIMULATE Founder
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Whether a seasoned attendee of STIMULATE or attending for the first time, join this kick-off session to learn was to optimize the STIMULATE experience presented by show Founder Nicole Hoffman. Attendees can also look forward to a snapshot of the state of sexual wellness, what to look forward to in the days ahead and tips + tricks to truly make the best of your time while at STIMULATE. PLUS hear how to win a prize package valued at just under $10K only available if at STIMULATE.
Dr. Evan Goldstein Founder & CEO, Bespoke Surgical & Future Method and Author, Butt Seriously
ASK THE DOCTOR Stage presented by GAINSWave®, Exhibitor Floor
Dr. Goldstein will share his tested approach to achieve anal wellness while maximizing confidence and pleasure. Back for the third year at STIMULATE, attendee favorite Dr. Goldstein will also bust the myths around anal sex while sharing his firsthand insights on the future of anal care. This is a not to miss session! Don’t forget to bring your questions for Dr. Goldstein, as well.
Ashlin Hadden, Founder + CEO Essence Insurance
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
From lubes to latex, gummies to glass toys. If you’re selling it, you’re liable for it. Whether you’re a retailer, wholesaler, or running a DTC empire from your home. One slip (literally or legally) can take you from thriving to be sued faster than you can say “uninsured.” Join us for a no-BS breakdown of how to protect your pleasure brand, your assets (wink), and your peace of mind.
Valerie Martin, LCSW, CST | Founder + Clinical Director, The Gaia Center (Moderator)
Emma J. Smith, PhD, LPC-MHSP, CST, CCTP
Katie Beck Sutler | CEO of Julie
Jenna McClelland | Founder, E’Leurre Naturals
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Consent isn’t just for the bedroom—it can start at the first customer conversation. In this panel hosted by Certified Sex Therapist Valerie Martin, we’ll explore how sexual wellness retailers can play a key role in normalizing and supporting sexual consent and communication in a way that is appropriate to their setting. From recommending conversation games to framing products in ways that promote connection (rather than “fixing” sexual problems), panelists will share practical tools and inclusive language that empowers customers of all identities and relationship styles. Whether you’re helping a nervous first-time buyer or a couple looking to deepen their intimacy, this discussion will offer simple, actionable ways to champion healthy sexual communication on the retail floor.
Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn | Sex + Relationship Expert, Author, TV Host, Professor + Luv Bites Podcast Host
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Join Dr. Tara as she shares how she transformed taboo topics into a thriving social media empire rooted in honesty, education, and empowerment. In this dynamic keynote, Dr. Tara takes the audience behind the scenes —from launching her platform to becoming a leading voice in sexual wellness and education. With unfiltered insights, Dr. Tara reveals the highs and lows of building a personal brand, crafting impactful content, navigating controversies, and leveraging press opportunities. She also offers a candid look at her reality TV and various media experiences. This is a not to miss session that all attendees of STIMULATE can look forward to attending!
Dr. Melissa Gentry, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Tantra Educator, Hypnotherapist, and Relationship/Sex Therapy Expert | HealingTheLove.com
ASK THE DOCTOR Stage presented by GAINSWave®, Exhibitor Floor
Explore how Tantra Mindfulness Therapy (TMT®) integrates ancient tantric and meditative practices with modern psychology to revolutionize sexual wellness and mental well-being. Backed by groundbreaking QEEG research, this presentation reveals TMT®’s transformative potential to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression while fostering confidence, self-esteem, and a healthier, more fulfilling sex life. Discover the profound power of mindfulness in creating lasting emotional resilience and personal growth.
Jessica Drake | Marketing + Product Development, Wicked Sensual Care (Moderator)
Matthew Hennessey | Founder, Eversense Toys (Panelist)
Greta Herrin | Co-Founder, Toolbox Collective (Panelist)
Artemis Truini | Co-Founder, Toolbox Collective (Panelist)
Matt Stubbe | Co-Owner, (dis)obedience
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
If you want to better serve your store, begin by better servicing all your customers. This panel discussion will welcome a variety of perspectives to support consumers within the LGBTQ+ community, while also bringing visibility to the values, products and customer care. Expect to be educated, surprised, inspired and ultimately, prepared, to return to your stores with a heightened understanding of best practices when it comes to supporting this important consumer audience.
Heather McPherson | M.A., LPC-S, LMFT-S, CST-S + Sexual Health Alliance Founder and CEO
Michelle Melville-Kashon, M.A. | Sexual Health Alliance Community and Content Director
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Want to turn curious shoppers into loyal customers? In this engaging session, you’ll discover how foundational sex education builds trust, boosts sales, and keeps customers coming back. You’ll leave with easy-to-use sex ed tips and conversation starters that create more informed—and empowered—buyers, whether you’re selling products, offering services, or building community. This session will help you build customer trust through education. Learn the sex ed insights your customers crave.
Dr. Alexandra Agar, PhD, LMFT, CST
ASK THE DOCTOR Stage presented by GAINSWave®, Exhibitor Floor
How can we bridge the gap between tradition and intimacy while opening the door to deeper connections? This seminar offers marketers a unique perspective on catering to couples who prioritize intimacy within the framework of traditional values. This session will explore how to position toys and accessories as meaningful tools for deepening connection while respecting these beliefs.
Attendees will gain insights into addressing the key concerns of a conservative audience, including trust building, the use of respectful and effective language, and the importance of privacy. The seminar will also emphasize the role of education in dismantling misconceptions about intimacy products, presenting these items as tools for enhancing relationships rather than threatening traditional ideals. Participants will learn targeted marketing strategies that emphasize open communication and the use of channels suited to this audience’s needs and preferences. The session will conclude with tailored product recommendations, highlighting items that best align with the values of this community. This seminar promises to be a valuable resource for navigating these sensitive, and meaningful conversations.
Dee Bertino | Attorney + Co-Owner, Fantasy Gifts + Co-Founder of SheEO Marketing
Alex Decker | General Manager, Fantasy Gifts
Brianna McKnight | Sexuality Educator, Social Media Coordinator + Community Events Consultant, Fantasy Gifts
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
As brick and mortar stores evolve to become more competitive with online shopping, one of our most important assets are our frontline staff. The sales staff are not only the face of our company, they are a direct conduit to our customers. No longer can sales staff simply ring up sales behind a counter. If you require more from your sales staff, they will feel like a more valued member of your team, regardless of their pay and whether they are full-time or part-time. This panel will explore how to best utilize your employees time so they are productive throughout their shift, set standards for your employees, how to train to make sure these standards are implemented, and how to make sure your employees are accountable and the standards are upheld. Don’t forget to bring your own questions, as well, for our retail panel
David Dancer | President of Future Method
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
With over 30 years of marketing experience across a variety of service, product and retail businesses, David will share actionable insights to help you move core categories. Additionally, David will share recommendations that you will be able to take back to your store to educate shoppers and customers on anal sexual wellness to drive product sampling, sales and repeat purchases to improve your “bottom” line.
Dr. Brian Steixner, Board Certified Urologist + Co-Founder of Popstar
ASK THE DOCTOR Stage presented by GAINSWave®, Exhibitor Floor
Want to help your customers and / or patients? Hear from Board Certified Urologist Dr. Brian Steixner as he reveals the top 5 sexual dysfunctions for men and over the counter solutions. Dr. Steixner will focus on supplements, delay spray and other product suggestions that will help your customers and / or patients gain more confidence – and satisfaction – thanks to these OTC solutions. Don’t forget to bring your questions! Dr. Steixner is happy to answer your most pressing questions that support men’s sexual health.
Nicoletta Heidegger | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist + Sexologist (Moderator)
Natalie Johnson Annis | Co-Founder of Like A Kitten
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
In this interview style session (hosted by Nicoletta von Heidegger, MA, MEd, CST), Natalie Johnson Annis, founder of Like a Kitten, shares her personal journey of trauma and healing that has profoundly shaped her career in pleasure retail. The session highlights essential insights on working compassionately with and alongside survivors, navigating the complexities of healing, and addressing the challenges faced by professionals who themselves continue to heal. By understanding these experiences, retailers and health care providers alike can better meet the needs of diverse consumers with sensitivity and respect, creating more inclusive and supportive products and purchasing environments. Attendees will also hear about powerful ways to combat shame and cultivate joy—recognizing pleasure as a necessary part of healing—and learn how we can collectively bridge gaps to integrate more trauma-informed practices into our work, ultimately driving deeper customer loyalty, enhanced brand reputation, and sustainable growth.
Trigger/Content Warning: This session includes discussions of trauma, healing, and survivor experiences.
Georganne Bender | Consumer Anthropologist | KIZER + BENDER (Moderator)
Cynthia Plotch | Co-Founder, Winx Health
Caroline Goodman | Co-Founder and CEO, OrganiCare
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
This panel will explore how retailers are partnering with sexual wellness brands to disrupt the traditional intimacy aisle with innovative products to meet modern consumers’ demands for education, inclusivity, discretion, and accessibility. Together, they will examine the $6B gap in sexual health retail and share insights on how reimagined product offerings, inclusive marketing, and de-stigmatized approaches are creating a new standard where nothing is “TMI” intimate care.
John Lawson | Author and AI + Retail Expert
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Selling in the sexual wellness space comes with a unique challenge: creating content that converts without getting flagged, banned, or shadowbanned. In this session, John Lawson, ecommerce expert, digital strategist, and AI marketing specialist, shares how top brands are using tools like ChatGPT to generate compliant content, streamline marketing, and build consistent visibility. You’ll learn how to automate messaging, work around restrictive algorithms, and train AI to match your brand’s voice — all while growing your audience and driving sales. Attendees can look forward to learning how to use AI tools to create high-converting, compliant content, reframe messaging to avoid platform restrictions and bans, scale social, email, and product content quickly and efficiently, train AI to reflect your brand voice and customer triggers, and increase visibility in a restricted category using ethical growth tactics. This is a keynote session you won’t want to miss!
Nicoletta v. Heidegger, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Sexologist
Dr. Shannon Chavez, Licensed Psychologist
ASK THE DOCTOR Stage presented by GAINSWave®, Exhibitor Floor
Georganne Bender | Consumer Anthropologist, KIZER & BENDER (Moderator)
Silvina Modolo | Cruise Sales Manager, Desire and Temptation Resorts & Cruises (Panelist)
Susana De La Peña | Boutiques + Jewelry Manager, Desire and Temptation Resorts & Cruises (Panelist)
Dr. Erica Corpening, Pharm.D. | Hidden Honey Homes (Panelist)
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
The twists and turns of customer connectivity to sexual wellness products is not always straight forward. There are many types of destinations in which these products can reach consumers, and this session will explore some of the non-traditional merchants that support pleasure products at retail. From cruise lines to resorts and more, attendees can look forward to understanding how to engage customers at a variety of intersections that meet their target audience of consumers. From marketing to merchandising, get ready for an action packed session on shoppertainment when it comes to sexual wellness. ,
Tatyannah King | Clinical Sexologist
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
This presentation explores the cultural factors that sex toy retailers must consider when launching products for a diverse, global audience. As conversations around sexuality become more open and inclusive, the sex tech industry is facing a pivotal opportunity and responsibility to recognize and respect the vast cultural, racial, generational, and ethnic differences that influence how consumers perceive intimacy, pleasure, and sexual wellness. This presentation will examine how historical context, religious and social norms, taboos, body image standards, language, and generational attitudes shape consumer behavior and acceptance of sex toys across different communities, and how those factors ultimately affect marketing, product design, and communication strategies.
Dr. Amy Pearlman | Board Certified Urologist + Co-Founder of Prime Institute
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Looking to expand medical or therapy based business with sexual wellness assortment? This session will reveal how to ethically and responsibly set up your business to support patients with over-the-counter purchases in your practice. Attendees can look forward to learning how to select and display sexual wellness products using simple, space-efficient storage solutions, understand how to track inventory and discover how to run charges and manage sales seamlessly. Bring your questions! This is a session you won’t want to miss.
Dr. Charles Runels, M.D. |
Inventor of the O-Shot®, P-Shot®, and Vampire Facelift® | Founder, Cellular Medicine Association
ASK THE DOCTOR Stage presented by GAINSWave®, Exhibitor Floor
Dr. Charles Runels is best known for creating the O‑Shot® and P‑Shot®—two breakthrough PRP procedures that have helped thousands of clinics expand their sexual wellness offerings and drive recurring patient revenue. A board-certified internist with a background in emergency medicine and cosmetic innovation, Dr. Runels has trained over 5,000 medical professionals in 50+ countries in his proprietary methods for using blood-derived growth factors in both aesthetic and sexual health.
He is the founder of the Cellular Medicine Association and the original developer of the Vampire Facelift®. His work bridges medical science with commercial success, offering providers powerful tools to deliver results, build patient loyalty, and grow their practices. This session will support insight on how to enhance female pleasure with explanations of how over the counter products can help.
Jenna Perkins, Nurse Practitioner | DiscovHER
ASK THE DOCTOR Stage presented by GAINSWave®, Exhibitor Floor
Come ready to become educated, empowered, and equipped to better understand hormonal transitions of midlife. This session will unpack menopause symptoms, share real stories, and explore effective treatments and products. Among what you can expect to learn will include menopause symptoms with real solutions. Additionally, bring your questions to learn from expert Jenna Perkins, WHNP-BC.
From head to toe, young to mature, purpose to pleasure, STIMULATE connects retailers, spas, medical offices and more with vendors that support sexual wellness across categories that include men’s health, feminine care, pleasure products, novelty items and other inventory to support sexual well being.
©STIMULATE Sexual Wellness
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