Episode Overview

Podcast: Bawdy Storytelling
Host: Dixie De La Tour
Episode Title: 'Just Happy to Be Here’ (Soren Berg)
Release Date: November 24, 2018

This episode features an electrifying, sex-positive storytelling set at Burning Man, delivered by first-time storyteller Soren Berg. Soren shares how a leap into a world of kink, friendship, and new experiences led to a transformative encounter at Orgy Dome. The episode centers on themes of openness, gratitude, adventure, and self-discovery through sexuality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction, Community, and Openness (00:14–08:37)

• Dixie’s Thanksgiving PSA:
  Dixie opens with a delightfully cautionary "disclaimer," encouraging listeners to use headphones if their holiday crowd is more conventional:

  “If, like a lot of people, your Thanksgivings look like a house full of people and grandma's sitting right there... make sure that you sneak off and put your headphones in.” (00:14)

• Sense of Belonging & Gratitude:
  Dixie reflects on her journey from a repressive small town to becoming the celebrated host of a sex-positive storytelling phenomenon. She describes the warmth and acceptance she’s found within the Bawdy community—a contrast to her conservative roots.
• Community Support Stories:
  Dixie recounts being embraced by the Bawdy and kink communities when she found herself without Thanksgiving plans, underscoring the “chosen family” dynamic often found in alternative subcultures.
• Listener Story – Jeffrey Allen Hayes:
  Dixie shares vignettes from a fan, including an impromptu naked dance at a Vancouver bar, unexpected furry encounters, and being recognized as a Bawdy celebrity—all reinforcing the joy found in unconventional openness and adventure.
• Patreon Acknowledgment:
  Dixie expresses deep gratitude for listener support, highlighting the communal effort underlying the continued production of the podcast.

2. Story Feature: Soren Berg’s ‘Just Happy to Be Here’ (08:38–18:39)

• First-Time Storyteller:
  Soren’s nerves and vulnerability are highlighted by Dixie, who describes his backstage anxiety and subsequent triumph onstage:

  “He was backstage in the green room having panic attacks till he stepped on stage and blew everyone away. Got a standing ovation.” (07:21)

• Entry into Kink:
  Soren begins with an evocative description:

  “So I walk into this cavernous, dimly lit room. I have two condoms in my left hand and four paper towels in my right and the room is full of mattresses... and they're all fucking.” (08:38)

• Journey to Burning Man:
  Traveling up the coast in a VW van, Soren is invited by friend Ian to a Burning Man camp called “Shots for Shocks”—specializing in consensual cattle prod play and home-infused liquor, exemplifying the creative extremes of the event’s kink community.
• Colorful Characters:
  • Ho+pup– a pup player in full playful regalia, likened to a “Breaking Bad era Bryan Cranston, but younger.”
  • Kim– a punk, tattooed, Lucy Liu lookalike, experienced in kink, and Soren’s main point of attraction.
  • Walt– Kim’s partner who, “looks like an adult Ron Weasley with a sardonic grin. He is a sadist... something I didn't know actually existed outside of Literotica short stories.”
• Orgy Dome Adventure:
  The group decides to visit the famed Orgy Dome. Kim jokes,

  “I dare them to tell me that I can't handle three guys at once.” (12:07) They discuss boundaries and intentions—openly and honestly—a sexual negotiation scene, notable for its refreshing matter-of-factness: “Everyone's got an intention... Kim wants someone to come on her... Hell Pup likes to be degraded. And I'm like, I'm just happy to be here.” (13:18)

• Group Sex Escapade:
  The story crescendos in the Orgy Dome. Soren is repeatedly and humorously outpaced trying to accommodate Kim’s squirting orgasms:

  “So we unscrew [the Camelbak] and we put it under Kim and try and angle it to catch as much as we can. And I think, problem solved. But then it starts getting full.” (15:32) Walt quips: “You know pups, pups clean up messes. This is your fault.” (16:00)
  Hell Pup, delighted, obliges.

• Reflection:
  Soren’s self-effacing humor and awe at his own journey shine as he realizes,

  “After that explosive introduction to kink and sex positivity and the Pacific Northwest, I would never be the same either. Thank you.” (17:55)

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Adventure and Belonging:

  “I just feel really... they're welcoming and so kind.” – Soren Berg (11:17)

• Sex-Positivity in Action:

  “Do we have shirts or... then I spy Hell Pup’s Camelbak. Camelbaks hold liquid.” – Soren Berg (15:27)

• True Gratitude:

  “I’m just happy to be here.” – Soren Berg (catchphrase recurring throughout the story; episode title)

• On Kink Community Impact:

  “I would never be the same either.” – Soren Berg (17:55)

• Audience Reaction (host):

  “He stepped on stage and blew everyone away. Got a standing ovation.” – Dixie De La Tour (07:25)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:14 – Dixie’s hilarious and heartfelt disclaimer about listening context
• 03:30 – Community anecdotes (furries, kinksters, “orphan” Thanksgiving)
• 06:54 – Patreon and gratitude for audience support
• 08:38 – Soren Berg’s story begins
• 12:07 – Kim’s bold assertion: “I dare them to tell me that I can't handle three guys at once.”
• 13:18 – The group’s frank intention-sharing at Orgy Dome
• 15:27 – Camelbak squirting solution (“Camelbaks hold liquid.”)
• 17:55 – “I would never be the same either.” Soren’s story ends, reflective note
• 19:18 – Dixie’s offer to help others with their personal stories

Language & Tone

Playful, sex-positive, and candid throughout—the tone, set by both Dixie and Soren, remains inclusive and welcoming. The episode abounds with moments of vulnerability, warmth, and disarming humor. Both speakers urge listeners to embrace openness, share their own stories, and discover joy in authenticity.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a perfect illustration of Bawdy Storytelling’s mission: breaking down shame, celebrating personal transformation through sexual adventure, and building community by sharing stories. Soren Berg’s “Just Happy to Be Here” blends innocence, honesty, and kink, offering both a wild adventure and, ultimately, a gentle invitation to embrace the freedom and connection found in sex-positivity.