Bawdy Storytelling, Episode 93: “All the 7’s” (Kacie Rahm)

Host: Dixie De La Tour
Date: October 17, 2019

Overview

This episode of Bawdy Storytelling centers around self-discovery, coming of age, sexual milestones, and the transformative power of storytelling. The main event is a story by Seattle storyteller Kacie Rahm, who recounts her first real one-night stand and what it symbolized for her escape from small-town life. True to Bawdy’s format, the episode features humor, vulnerability, sexual honesty, and a supportive community spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Community & Listener Impact (00:01 – 12:54)

• Dixie opens with a reflection on the challenges and rewards of building a sex-positive community—both in live shows and through the podcast.
• She shares a heartfelt email from a listener, Carly, highlighting how the show inspired Carly to explore her queer identity and polyamory and spoke to the power of finding one’s chosen family through sex-positive spaces.
  • Listener’s words: “Coming to your show feels like a spiritual pilgrimage for me.” (09:44)
• Discussion around how Bawdy has helped listeners grow, feel connected, and even sparked significant life events (e.g., “Body gets you babies and new partners… people are making pervert pilgrimages to come to our Midwest show.” – Dixie, 11:40).

Notable Quote

“That made me cry, Carly, thank you for sending me that message, what you said about how hard I'm working. It feels good to have somebody see it because there's been a lot of work and I'm really tired, but that really uplifted me.” – Dixie de La Tour (12:20)

2. Feature Story: “All the 7’s” by Kacie Rahm (12:54 – 26:40)

Story Setting and Build-up (12:54 – 16:44)

• Kacie sets the scene: She’s in a studio apartment in Honolulu, about to have a long-anticipated one-night stand with Ray, a local surf instructor.
  • “I look over to Ray and he's sitting on the bed. It's really just a mattress on the ground and also the only soft surface in the room.” (13:14)
• Backstory: Kacie, growing up in small-town Chelan, Washington, describes being a “seven” among “tens”—her best friends are gorgeous, she’s the relatable, quirky one.
  • “It's really frustrating when you're a seven to have all your best friends be tens.” (14:54)
• Her friendship with Ray: Originates during a high school trip to Hawaii. They bond, but initial flirtations are stymied by Kacie’s then-boyfriend. They stay in touch for two years.

The Night of the Story (16:47 – 24:02)

• On her senior trip back to Hawaii, Kacie is finally single and eager to see Ray.
• She fumbles through the excitement and awkwardness of her second-ever sexual experience—but with more determination and slightly more worldly confidence.
  • “I'm not a virgin at this point, but I had only had sex with the one boyfriend… So I was like, that's not what I'm doing this time.” (21:08)
  • Classic Bawdy humor: “You know how to remove a bra without taking seven minutes to do it?” (22:19)
• Her attempt at being ‘the grown-up’ and taking charge during sex is endearingly imperfect.
  • “I immediately knee a bed spring, like directly in the knee, funny bone. And I'm like, no, it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt.” (22:54)
  • “When you're the one on top, you also have to position everything. So I just kind of like sat there for a second and then I was like, oh, I do this. Okay.” (23:08)

The Aftermath & Emotional Growth (24:02 – 26:40)

• Kacie describes the post-coital moment, having her first cigarette because it “seems appropriate.”
• The next morning she returns to her classmates, disheveled but satisfied.
  • “I'm clearly wearing club clothes from the night before. And everyone in my class that was on this trip just does, like, the hard stare as I walk in.” (24:16)
• She stands up for herself when challenged by a male classmate who judges her.
  • “‘Just because you're the only one not getting laid on this trip doesn't mean you need to give me shit.’” (25:20)
• Closure and Transition: Kacie reflects on leaving her high school past and small town behind—this experience marks her entry into a broader, more adult world.
  • “It was also closure for me because I was done with the Chelan dating pool. I was in the Pacific Ocean now.” (26:32)

Notable Quotes

“This is not a coming story. It's a coming of age story.” – Kacie Rahm (23:57)

“I told you all. I told you how excited I was. I went and had sex and they were like, oh, cool. Like, good job. Yeah.” – Kacie Rahm (24:28)

3. Musical Interludes

• Opening Song: “My Vagina is Eight Miles Wide” (00:16 – 01:10)
  • A tongue-in-cheek, body-positive anthem that sets the playful, inclusive tone.
• Interlude: “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish, performed by Musical Guest (26:40 – 29:41)
  • A soulful rendition, echoing the story’s Hawaii setting and themes of longing and new experiences.

4. Community Announcements & Upcoming Events (29:41 onwards)

• Sex-positive Resources & Events:
  • Promotion of tour dates in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and Seattle.
  • Shout-outs to sponsors supporting sex-positive spaces and inclusivity.
• Host’s Reflection:
  • The importance of reviews, audience participation, and supporting the Bawdy community via Patreon to keep the podcast going.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Host reflection: 00:01 – 12:54
• Listener email/impact segment: 03:44 – 12:54
• Story Introduction (Kacie Rahm): 12:40
• Kacie Rahm’s story begins: 12:54
  • Backstory and Hawaii trip setup: 13:34 – 16:44
  • One-night stand awkwardness/sex scene: 20:20 – 24:02
  • Aftermath at McDonald’s/group dynamic: 24:02 – 26:40
• Musical Outro (“Ocean Eyes”): 26:40 – 29:41

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On sex-positive growth:
  “Hearing courageous people tell their truths brazenly on stage, without shame and being celebrated for it has been incredibly encouraging.” – Carly (Listener email read by Dixie, ~09:30)

• On leaving small town limits:
  “I was done with the Chelan dating pool. I was in the Pacific Ocean now.” – Kacie Rahm (26:32)

• On self-acceptance through ‘imperfection’:
  “I immediately knee a bed spring, like directly in the knee, funny bone. And I'm like, no, it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt.” – Kacie Rahm (22:54)

• On new sexual bravery:
  “I'm not gonna go to college without having had one [a one-night stand].” – Kacie Rahm (23:36)

Takeaways

• Personal Sexual Milestones: The episode underscores how pivotal (and awkward!) first sexual adventures can be in a person’s life story.
• The Importance of Community: Both Kacie’s story and Carly’s email stress that open, accepting spaces allow people to grow, take brave steps, and find their authentic selves.
• Celebrating the ‘Sevens’: While society focuses on “tens,” it’s the honest, vulnerable, real-seeming “sevens” who carry the richest stories—and sometimes, the most fun.

This episode is a perfect demonstration of Bawdy Storytelling’s mission: blending humor, honesty, and the messiness of real sexual experience, while building community around the power of true tales.