sexinthesticksandstuff

Welcome to Sex in the Sticks (and Stuff)! My name is Melody Karmichael, the blog’s matriarch. This is a space where I explore the messy, fascinating, and often hilarious world of dating in a rural area—and everything that comes with it. Here, I get curious about relationships, sex, sexuality, sexual behavior, and all the things we don’t always feel comfortable talking about out loud.

This blog is also a place where I challenge and dismantle the internalized messages I’ve absorbed about romantic relationships, womanhood, and who I’m supposed to be. I get real about the roles I’ve played in relationships, how those roles have shaped the dynamics I’ve experienced, and the ways I’m learning to take responsibility for my contributions without taking responsibility for everything.

I write honestly about reclaiming my power after years of losing myself in unhealthy relationships and a marriage. About finding my voice, trusting myself, reconnecting with my desires, and, yes, getting my “Oh’s” back.

I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am currently pursuing a doctorate in Human Sexualities Studies. I’ll draw from my educational, professional, and personal experiences—but my greatest expertise comes from being human, living through things, asking questions, and remaining willing to challenge what I thought I knew.

This is a space for curiosity, self-exploration, humor, vulnerability, and unapologetic honesty. I hope that as I navigate this world and figure things out in real time, something I share helps you feel more empowered to question the scripts you’ve been handed, reclaim parts of yourself, and create relationships—and a life—that feel more authentically yours.