Embracing ‘Pleasure Activism’ this Valentine’s Day
It’s happening. The onslaught of pink and red in store displays... the candy hearts and chocolate sales... the pressure. Valentine’s Day is coming. Whether you love it or want to run screaming, we’ve got you.
This week, we’re honoring love in its many forms. We’ll offer you things to do, places to go, and advice on how to care for friends, lovers… and yourself.
Today, we’re talking about how taking time for your own pleasure can be an act of love.
We talk to Sami Schalk, UW Madison professor and columnist for Tone Madison, about why celebrating joy in daily life is essential for our well-being and how finding your ‘enthusiastic yes’ can help you set better boundaries in love and life.
📚 Sami’s ideas for sharing love and book recommendations: Pleasure Activism, Rest is Resistance, The Body is Not an Apology and Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
📸 Here Sami’s recommendation for a Madison photographer skilled at taking intimate photos
🦉 And check out date night ideas from the library (and not just books!)
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
The Neighborhood Bars That Hold Madison Together
Madison has no shortage of cocktail bars and dives to satisfy your need to imbibe. But there’s something extra special about those neighb...

How Isthmus Keeps It Real, 50 Years In
Longevity in the media industry is hard to come by. Longevity for a local alternative weekly is an even tougher task. But Isthmus has man...

How Safe Are Our Streets?
How safe are Madison’s streets? After several high profile crashes this year, including one that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old h...

Earth Day’s Wisconsin Connection
Did you know we wouldn’t have Earth Day if it wasn’t for the efforts of a Wisconsin senator? And that’s not all. The UW-Madison has been...

'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor — Presented By City Cast Madison
Madisonians, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices are...

UW System President Ousted, Men's Shelter Update, and Another Round For Essen Haus
This week, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted to fire its president, Jay Rothman. The regents say this has been a long...

What’s New in Madison’s Restaurant Scene This Spring
From Ba Lao to Friends Applaud, there are so many new restaurants in the Madison area to check out this spring. In her recent Cap Times...

2026 Wisconsin Spring Election Results
Last night’s election results are in! More than 50% of registered voters in Dane County turned out to the polls, and it was a good night...

It’s Time to Vote! Plus, Get Psyched for Summer Sports, and RIP Tone Madison
Happy Election Day, Madison! We’re wrapping up our election primers today with a breakdown of the contested Madison City Council races. P...

Veterans Memorial Coliseum Is Ready for an Encore
Back in the 1990s, it was normal, if not expected, that big-name bands would stop in Madison. From Metallica to Bon Jovi to Reba McEntire...



