Isn't it ironic that the more connected technology makes us, the more isolated many of us feel? Searching for intimacy in the 21st century -- especially intimacy that isn't tethered to a sexual encounter -- can seem like an impossible task that leaves us frustrated and even lonelier than we were before.
So what do you do if you're looking for some affection or tenderness and maybe a community to call your own but Tindr or Grindr just aren't offering what you need?
In this episode of the HuffPost Love+Sex Podcast, co-hosts Carina Kolodny and Noah Michelson explore two options. They chatted with Paul, the head of Rain City Jacks, a masturbation party for men in Seattle, and Marcia Baczynski, the co-founder of Cuddle Party, which is... well... exactly what it sounds like. The podcast explores exactly what happens at these parties, what is -- and isn't -- allowed and the whys and hows that motivate attendees to get up close and personal with a roomful of strangers minus the goal of going all the way:
This podcast was produced and edited by Katelyn Bogucki and sound engineered by Brad Shannon with additional production by Jorge Corona. Like Love + Sex? Subscribe, rate and review our podcast on iTunes. Have an idea for an episode? Find us on Twitter@HuffPostPodcast or email us at loveandsexpodcast@huffingtonpost.com.