Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Podcast

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Can men be intimacy professionals? And what really makes someone the right person for the job?

In this episode, Claire Warden is joined by experienced intimacy professionals Marcus Watson and Zev Steinrock to unpack gender, bias, consent, and what it takes to build trust on set and in rehearsal rooms.

They explore why identity alone doesn’t determine competence, how to recognize the expertise someone brings, and why the best intimacy professional is the person who can best serve the actors and the story.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why assumptions about gender can prevent talented intimacy professionals from even being considered for a job
• Why being a safe person is something you demonstrate through your actions, not something you can simply declare
• How training, self-reflection, and examining personal biases build the skills needed to support consent and advocacy
• Why an actor’s preferences and lived experience matter when deciding who is the right fit for an intimacy scene
• How to recognize when you’re not the right person for a job, and why stepping aside can be an act of professional integrity, not a failure

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

💡 Continue the conversation by listening to the full episode, subscribing to the IDC Podcast, sharing it with a colleague, and following us on Instagram at @idcprofessionals.

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

What if the thing holding you back in your career isn’t a lack of skill, experience, or opportunity, but the way your brain is trying to keep you safe?

As intimacy professionals, we spend so much of our time advocating for other people. We protect boundaries. We speak up when something isn’t right. We navigate complicated power dynamics.

But what happens when we struggle to do those same things for ourselves?

In this episode of the IDC Podcast, Marie Percy sits down with success coach Brad Bizjack to explore what it really means to reclaim your personal power in an unjust world.

They unpack why giving away your power can actually feel safer, how past experiences can shape your nervous system responses, and why setting professional boundaries can feel much riskier than it actually is.

Most importantly, this conversation offers a powerful reframe. You don’t have to shame yourself for the ways you’ve learned to survive. You can understand them, work with them, and choose a different way forward.

Because standing in your power isn’t about controlling other people.

It’s about recognizing what is yours to choose, and having the courage to act on it.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why intimacy professionals can be great at advocating for others, but struggle to advocate for themselves, especially when it comes to boundaries, rates, and workload.
• The surprising reason giving away your personal power can feel safe, even when it is keeping you stuck, exhausted, or frustrated.
• How past experiences can shape your nervous system responses on set, and how to recognize when you may be responding to what happened before instead of what is happening now.
• The warning signs that you may be giving your power away, including stories of powerlessness, “always” and “never” thinking, anxiety, anger, resentment, or hopelessness.
• Brad’s simple daily practice for changing your emotional state, using three tools: physiology, focus, and language.

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit
• Brad Bizjack’s Success Accelerator

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

You can know the definition of consent. You can understand the process. You can check every box on the checklist.

But does that mean you’re ready to do the job?

In this episode, Marie Percy and Claire Warden explore the difference between knowing how to do something and actually having the skills integrated enough to do it under pressure.

They break down the stages of learning, the importance of practice and failure, and why intimacy professionals need to understand their level of competency before taking on higher risk work.

Because learning the information is only the beginning.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why knowing something is different from being able to do it when the pressure is on
• What an intimacy professional is actually managing when an actor changes their boundary on set
• The four stages of learning and how to recognize where you are in your own professional development
• Why safe practice and failure are essential to becoming a competent intimacy professional
• How to assess your level of competency and the level of risk before saying yes to a job

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

💡 Learning the information is only the beginning. The real work is practicing, integrating, and building the skills you need to do this work well.

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Thinking about becoming a certified intimacy professional, but stuck in the questions? You’re not alone.

We’re re-releasing this episode because these questions are just as relevant today, and because IDC’s certification program is officially opening its doors today!

If you’ve been wondering what certification actually means, whether intimacy work can become a sustainable career, or how to get your foot in the door, this episode is a great place to start.

We’re breaking it all down. Not with fluff. Not with vague advice. But with real, grounded insight from inside the industry.

We’re diving into what certification actually does, how careers in intimacy work really get built, and what separates people who struggle from those who build something sustainable.

Because this isn’t just about getting trained. It’s about building a career that lasts.

And if becoming certified has been on your mind, now is the time to take the next step. Our certification program is open for enrollment for a short time, so make sure you enroll while the doors are open!

👂 What to Listen For

• Why the “rush to get hired” mindset is quietly sabotaging new intimacy professionals
• The truth about whether intimacy work is a sustainable long-term career
• What most people don’t see when they watch experienced ICs and IDs work
• How credibility and trust actually get built in this industry
• How certification helps you get your foot in the door (even without connections)
• A behind-the-scenes breakdown of IDC’s 5-phase certification pathway

🔗 Important Links

• Enroll in IDC Certification
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

⏰ Enrollment is open now—but only for a short time. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to begin your certification journey, this is it.

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

What if changing a toxic industry culture doesn’t require a movement to start with thousands of people?

What if it starts with one person willing to say something?

In this episode, we explore what it really means to speak up when something feels wrong at work. They unpack why people so often stay silent when they witness microaggressions, harmful behavior, or unsafe practices, and how the desire to be agreeable can allow toxic industry norms to continue.

But speaking up is not as simple as reacting in the moment. Effective advocacy requires self-awareness. It means understanding your own values, recognizing when you are activated, and learning how to regulate yourself so you can choose how you want to respond. Sometimes the most effective form of allyship happens immediately. Other times, it means taking a breath, gathering information, and finding the right moment to have a conversation.

How can curiosity can make difficult conversations more productive? Why do policies and procedures actually create more freedom? How can intimacy professionals use structure, communication, and community to prevent problems before they happen?

Through real stories from their careers, Marie and Amanda show how one person stepping in can create a ripple effect. A single creative ally can give others permission to speak, shift a rehearsal or production, and help create a workplace where people feel safer and more supported.

Whether you're an intimacy professional or simply someone who wants to become a better ally, this episode offers practical tools for speaking up without losing yourself in the process.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why most people stay silent when they witness a microaggression, unsafe practice, or harmful behavior at work
• How one person speaking up can create a ripple effect and give others permission to challenge toxic industry norms
• The difference between reacting from anger, panic, or judgment and practicing intentional, effective advocacy
• How to use curiosity, regulation, and self-awareness to navigate difficult conversations and build trust
• Why creating clear structures, policies, and protocols can make workplaces safer while giving people more freedom to do their best work

🔗 Important Links

• 📧 Email: info@idcprofessionals.com
• 🎓 How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• 🌐 Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• 🛠️ How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

The fastest way to lose trust on a production is not by making a mistake, it's by forgetting where your role begins and ends. In this episode, Jessica Steinrock and Claire Warden share honest stories from their own careers about the times they overstepped, why it happened, and what those experiences taught them. Together, they explore the pressure many new intimacy professionals feel to constantly prove their value, the temptation to say yes to everything, and why true confidence comes from serving the production instead of your ego. If you have ever wondered whether you were doing too much, stepping into someone else's lane, or struggling to balance confidence with collaboration, this episode will give you practical tools to navigate those moments with greater clarity.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why the pressure to prove your value can lead even the best intimacy professionals to overstep their role
• How quiet confidence allows you to support a production without needing constant validation
• The simple questions to ask before answering requests that may fall outside your responsibilities
• Why saying "I don't know, but let's figure it out" builds more trust than pretending to have every answer
• Three practical habits that will help you stay grounded, collaborative, and effective on every production

🔗 Important Links

• 📧 Email: info@idcprofessionals.com
• 🎓 How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• 🌐 Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• 🛠️ How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

What kind of community are we building as intimacy professionals? As our field continues to grow, so do the conversations, disagreements, and differing approaches to the work. In this episode, Jessica Steinrock and Marie Percy take an honest look at the social dynamics shaping the intimacy profession today. They explore why good intentions can sometimes lead to judgment, policing, or division, and why building a thriving profession requires something much more powerful: trust, accountability, and genuine support for one another. If you've ever felt frustrated by conflict within the industry or wondered how to navigate disagreements with integrity, this conversation offers a thoughtful roadmap for creating a stronger community together.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why good intentions can sometimes turn into judgment, policing, and division within the intimacy community
• How to offer feedback that builds trust instead of damaging professional relationships
• Why context matters before making assumptions about another intimacy professional's work
• The difference between accountability, mentorship, and trying to control someone else's career
• How creating a culture of generosity and collaboration strengthens the future of the entire profession

🔗 Important Links

• Report concerns about an IDC Certified Professional through the accountability process on the IDC website.
• Email: info@idcprofessionals.com
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

You want to do a great job. You want to support the actors, protect the process, and make the work better. But somewhere along the way, that instinct can tip into something else. Overstepping. In this episode, Alicia Rodis and Amanda Pulcini unpack one of the most common mistakes intimacy professionals make in the field. Not because they are untrained or careless, but because they care deeply. This conversation breaks down how overstepping shows up, why it happens, and how to stay grounded in your role without losing your voice. If you have ever second guessed whether you were doing too much or not enough, this episode will give you the clarity to find that balance.

👂 What to Listen For

• The subtle ways overstepping shows up and how it can unintentionally take power away from actors and directors
• Why reading the room and understanding each set’s culture is essential to doing your job well
• How too much structure or technical language can actually break trust instead of building it
• The difference between facilitating collaboration and controlling the process
• Why feedback in the moment is a gift and how to use it to adjust and grow in real time

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Have you ever been told that making it in the entertainment industry is nearly impossible? That even if you do succeed, you'll spend your life overworked, underpaid, and burned out? In this episode, Jessica Steinrock and Marie Percy challenge one of the most persistent myths in the arts and entertainment world. Together, they unpack what it really means to "make it," why success looks different for everyone, and how limiting beliefs about the industry stop talented people from pursuing meaningful careers. Whether you're an aspiring intimacy professional, actor, director, or creative entrepreneur, this conversation will help you rethink what's possible and take ownership of the career you actually want to build.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why the myth that "nobody makes it in the entertainment industry" keeps so many talented people from even trying
• How defining success on your own terms can completely change your career trajectory
• The surprising opportunities available to intimacy professionals beyond traditional film and television work
• Why waiting to be "discovered" may be holding you back from creating your own opportunities
• How resilience, creativity, and a willingness to adapt can help you build a sustainable career in the arts

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

What if the biggest thing standing between you and becoming a more effective intimacy professional is not another certification, protocol, or tool, but your own personal growth? In this episode, Marie Percy and Claire Warden tackle one of the most important and least discussed aspects of intimacy work: the internal work required to do this role ethically and effectively. From managing your own reactions and assumptions to understanding your relationship with power, validation, and control, this conversation explores why self awareness is not a bonus skill for intimacy professionals. It is a professional responsibility. Whether you are brand new to the field or years into your career, this episode offers a powerful invitation to examine how your inner world impacts every room you enter.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why personal growth and self awareness are essential professional skills for intimacy coordinators and directors
• How your emotional state, body language, and energy influence the people around you, even when you say nothing
• The difference between sharing power and trying to control a room through fear, judgment, or assumptions
• Claire and Marie’s unforgettable cookie oven metaphor for identifying what belongs to you and what belongs to others
• How ego, validation seeking, and the desire to be the hero can quietly interfere with your ability to serve collaborators

🔗 Important Links

• Instagram: @idcprofessionals
• Email: info@idcprofessionals.com
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

If I just get better… I’ll get more work.

That belief is everywhere in this industry.
And it’s quietly exhausting a lot of really talented people.

In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most persistent myths in intimacy work, and honestly, across the arts as a whole.

Because yes… your craft matters.
But it’s not the whole picture.

We talk about what actually creates a sustainable career in a gig-based industry. The part no one teaches. The part that determines whether you keep getting hired or quietly get passed over.

From perfectionism and self-doubt…
To networking, finances, and follow-through…
To redefining what it means to be a “successful” artist…

This conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s really going on behind the scenes.

If you’ve ever questioned your talent because the gigs aren’t consistent…
This episode will give you a different lens to look through.

👂 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why being a highly skilled artist doesn’t automatically lead to more gigs
• The overlooked business and relationship skills that actually drive repeat work
• How perfectionism and “not good enough” thinking can stall your career
• What’s really happening during slow seasons—and how to respond without panic
• A practical strategy for turning your intimacy skillset into multiple income streams

🔗 Resources & Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Something has shifted in this industry and if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve felt it.

The resistance that once defined intimacy work? It’s fading.

In its place, something far more exciting is emerging: better storytelling.

In this episode, we unpack what happens when intimacy professionals are no longer fighting to justify their role and they can finally focus on what they’re truly there to do: tell nuanced, authentic, deeply human stories.

From high-profile productions to personal experiences on set, this conversation explores why intimacy storytelling is entering a new era and what that means for both professionals and audiences alike.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why so many intimacy professionals are no longer facing resistance on set and what changed in the industry to create that shift
• The hidden skill of navigating bias, discomfort, and personal assumptions
• Why less resistance means more time for actual storytelling and how intimacy work is expanding into more nuanced and diverse narratives
• The role of intimacy professionals in shaping authentic representation and how intimacy work is expanding into more nuanced and diverse narratives
• The responsibility of ICs to honor complexity—not simplify it

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

You got the call. They need you tomorrow. Just come in, make sure everyone feels comfortable, and then we shoot. Simple, right? Not even close. In this episode, Alicia Rodis and Amanda Pulcini break down one of the most common myths in intimacy coordination: that this work can happen overnight. They pull back the curtain on what actually makes a set run smoothly, why prep days are not optional, and how skipping them doesn’t just create chaos, it compromises trust, consent, and the quality of the work. If you have ever felt pressure to say yes without the time you need, this conversation will give you language, clarity, and a stronger foundation to stand on.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why being hired the day before a shoot sets everyone up for stress, not success
• What actually happens during prep days and why they are essential to your role as a department head
• How strong prep builds trust with actors and prevents consent from being rushed or compromised
• The real reason you should never negotiate your work as hourly instead of full prep days
• How to hold the line on industry standards without burning bridges or undercutting your peers

🔗 Important Links

• Intimacy in Production Toolkit
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

Thinking about becoming a certified intimacy professional, but stuck in the questions?

You’re not alone.

This field has grown fast. Really fast. And with that growth comes confusion. What training actually matters? Do you need certification? Is there even enough work to build a real career?

In this episode, we break it all down with real, grounded insight from inside the industry.

We’re diving into what certification actually does, how careers in intimacy work really get built, and what separates people who struggle from those who build something sustainable.

Because this isn’t just about getting trained.

It’s about building a career that lasts.

👂 What to Listen For

• Why the “rush to get hired” mindset is quietly sabotaging new intimacy professionals
• The truth about whether intimacy work is a sustainable long-term career
• What most people don’t see when they watch experienced ICs and IDs work
• How credibility and trust actually get built in this industry
• How certification helps you get your foot in the door (even without connections)
• A behind-the-scenes breakdown of IDC’s 5-phase certification pathway

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

This is the moment our industry has been building toward.

Intimacy Coordinators are now officially unionized with SAG-AFTRA and this changes EVERYTHING.

In this episode, we break down what this milestone really means, beyond the headlines you've been seeing in the media. From the early days of explaining the role on every set to securing protections, pay standards, and long-term sustainability for intimacy professionals.

If you’ve ever wondered where this work is headed or what it actually takes to build a lasting career in this field, this is essential listening.

👂 What to Listen For

• How intimacy coordination went from unknown role to union-recognized profession
• The behind-the-scenes story of how SAG-AFTRA became a key partner in this work
• Why early advocacy required constant education, negotiation, and persistence
• Avoiding burnout: how unionization provides professional legitimacy and industry standards, and sustainable careers.
• What this milestone means for the next generation of intimacy professionals

🔗 Important Links

• SAG-AFTRA IC Agreement Page
• SAG-AFTRA Intimacy Coordinator Resources
• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes Introduction

What does it actually feel like to be an intimacy professional right now?

Not the polished version.
The real version.

In this inaugural episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to do this work in an industry that’s still catching up. From being a “department of one” on set to realizing you’re part of something much bigger.

Because here’s the truth:

You can’t build this career alone.
Not well.
Not sustainably.

If you’ve ever felt isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure where you fit in this field, this conversation is going to hit home.

👂 What to Listen For

• What it really means to be a “department of one” on set and why that’s harder than it sounds
• How intimacy work has evolved from unknown to industry-standard in under a decade
• Why feeling isolated in this role is common and how community directly impacts your confidence and effectiveness on the job
• The difference between freelance competition and community-driven growth
• A common mistake people make when trying to connect and a better way to build relationships

🔗 Important Links

• How to Become an Intimacy Professional Free Webinar
• Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Home Page
• How Aspiring Intimacy Professionals Can Build Their First Kit
• Email mentioned in episode: info@idcprofessionals.com