Latest news with #AustrianAlps
Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
We started listening to porn to improve the health of our sex life
If you were to picture a couple working in the porn industry, then my wife and I couldn't be further from what you might imagine. Hannah hasn't got pneumatic boobs, and I'm hardly blessed (let's say) with the 14-inch 'credentials' you might expect of porn stars. We'd never be found filming on seedy sets wearing dubious costumes, thank you. We're more likely to spend our time hiking, cycling and running around after our seven- and four-year-old children. But yes, we do run an ethical (non-degrading to anyone) porn business, and our passion is helping couples – just like us – enjoy sexually fulfilling relationships. When I met Hannah through friends 15 years ago, I'd just finished university and she'd completed her design apprenticeship. Her quiet self-confidence attracted me, and instantly it felt like a meaningful relationship; more than your average, 20-something hook-up. Our wedding in the Austrian Alps 10 years ago was so romantic, both of us were certain we'd found our 'forever' person. Like most young couples we were ambitious. I co-founded a marketing agency while Hannah launched a wedding stationery design business. Sexually, I'd describe us as 'vanilla' in our tastes and we were both very happy. With neither of us keen to do anything too eyebrow-raising, we were compatible. But several years into marriage, around the time we became parents in 2017, things started to slide in the bedroom. I'm sure many long-term couples might relate to this. And that's when we began talking, really honestly for the first time, about how to keep the intimacy alive. Not from a place of crisis (there were no rows or any infidelity fears for us) but more with curiosity and a will to make it work. So one evening, I said 'why don't we watch some porn together?' Full disclosure here, like most men (statistics imply it's half of us but I suspect that's higher in reality) I did already use porn alone occasionally, probably a few times a month. It wasn't anything extreme or secretive, and Hannah never objected; she was perfectly secure knowing it didn't make me think any less of her or our sex life. But when I suggested we try watching together (I'd researched the more tasteful 'ethical' porn for the occasion) the result was… underwhelming. Even though I'd picked videos geared towards women, which seemed more thoughtfully produced, Hannah was not impressed. The hyper-perfected bodies she saw on the screen made her feel bad about herself; she found it distracting. And a turn-off. 'They just don't feel or look like us,' she (quite fairly) complained. This in turn, however, led to a bigger conversation. I asked her what she enjoyed masturbating to (sounds obvious, but I bet many men don't actually ask, or perhaps not in a way women feel comfortable responding to). Hannah told me she loved romance books, reading them most nights. So I started reading a few and the appeal was obvious – there was more slow-burning tension, proper storytelling and actual emotional connection between characters. Let's face it, 'traditional' porn offers none of this. But, as I pointed out to Hannah, those stories aren't exactly suited to spontaneous moments (which marital sex often necessitates – 'quickies' are sometimes the only way it's happening with kids and work). I also joked that I didn't have the trained, sexy voice of a narrator to read the steamy chapters out loud in bed… It made us both realise that while I could compartmentalise (a clichéd sex difference perhaps – but a truism), Hannah could not. And she's far from alone. All in the mind We researched it all and found that when it comes to sex, on average, women rely more on imagination, fantasy and emotional build-up than men. In Germany, there's even a term for it, kopfkino, which translates to 'head cinema'. So for many women, including Hannah, eroticism is simply more cerebral. Men, by contrast, tend to be more visually stimulated and better able to separate themselves from what they're watching (not comparing themselves unfavourably, as women commonly do). And that was our lightbulb moment – what if we could create erotic audio stories? Something immersive and arousing, but by listening only, without the visuals that alienate women. This insight shaped what would become our careers. We realised that listening to sexy things (as opposed to watching them) offered a unique middle ground for us. Richer than regular porn, yet more immediate than steamy books. As Hannah described it, 'you can close your eyes and imagine yourself in the scene, not watching from the outside'. When we looked into what was available, we found that nothing was tailored for couples to enjoy together. Our first concept was to make guided sex audios – like having a third person in the room, giving instructions and helping a couple connect. Over time, we evolved into more narrative-driven audio plays, with multiple voice actors, sound effects and character arcs. Basically, like erotic audio plays. And so, in early 2020 – two months into the pandemic, with a toddler and a newborn at home – we launched Bloom Stories, our ethical erotic audio-only platform for adults, to be enjoyed solo or as a couple. At first it was just the two of us writing, producing and editing everything from our living room. Today, we employ around 20 staff, with hundreds of freelance writers and voice actors. We find those with lived experience of the scenarios they're playing to make sure it's authentic and now make stories in English, German, French and Spanish. While there's cover art for each story, it's only lightly suggestive, with no nudity and nothing explicit. Each episode is typically 20 to 30 minutes long, as this is the 'sweet spot' for most users, we discovered. Our listeners are mostly in long-term relationships or marriages, and many use our stories to safely act out fantasies – such as threesomes or some light BDSM – which they wouldn't act out in reality. Some people say in feedback that indulging their fantasy is enough, while others say our stories gave them the confidence to try something new in real life; for example, they've since become regular swingers. Our audience is predominantly female – around 60-70 per cent – and the average age is around 38 years old. It's not only couples though, we've heard from women in their 70s rediscovering desire after being widowed. That's heart-warming. Clear rules Interestingly, not all of our users listen to these stories in bed. Some people listen during their commute or housework, saying it acts like foreplay, getting them thinking about fantasies to enjoy together later. One of our proudest projects is a spicy, 13-hour-long version of Pride and Prejudice. There's so much simmering tension between Elizabeth and Darcy, we thought it would be fun to imagine what went on behind closed doors. We've set clear rules on the sort of stories we create. There's nothing you'll hear that includes non-consensual sex or incest or underage characters; no bestiality and nothing involving bodily waste. We do cover BDSM, anal play and fantasies like group sex – but in the way romance novels often do: emotionally layered and tastefully written. While we don't listen to our own stories for arousal any more – by the time we've discussed the production nitty gritty (is his voice too low? Is she too breathy?) it breaks the spell – brainstorming new ideas remains a turn-on in a different way, as we listen to other creators' work. Hannah and I split our roles in the company. She's the CCO (chief creative officer) and leads on creative: everything from storytelling to cover art to product design. I handle the business side of things: data, finance – the 'boring stuff', as we joke. We know ourselves that listening and running a company together brings us closer. It's strengthened our own marriage and, crucially, it's led to a relationship where everything is open for discussion. As proud as we are of what we've achieved, we do keep it private. Our children know that their parents 'run a company'. When they are ready, we want to be open with them and explain that we've created a product that encourages experimentation and trying out new things. We'd like to show that sexuality is a normal part of human life and goes beyond the simple act of sex; it's something that shows the emotional depth that an intimate connection can create. And yes, we do still laugh sometimes about how unlikely this path was for us two – a relatively vanilla couple with fairly average sexual histories and no previous experience of working in the sex industry! The platform is about more than just feeling sexy for us – it's about connection, fantasy and trust. For many people, that's exactly what's missing in normal porn. We're delighted to be part of creating something different. As told to Susanna Galton
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Moment tourist plane in French alps nosedives and crashes near airport
Horrifying footage captured the moment a French tourist plane slammed nose first into the ground, with three people onboard at the time - all three were killed in the crash today The grim moment a plane crash that left three people dead in France was recorded in chilling footage. The crash, near Voglans in the southeastern French department of Savoie, occurred this morning. The light aircraft came down close to Chambéry airport, a small international airport. 'There are people dead ," the Chambéry prosecutor's office confirmed to a regional French news outlet earlier today. Footage shows the small aircraft ploughing nose down into the ground, close to a building, with dirt and debris being thrown up into the air. It is understood that the deceased include one male pilot and two female passengers. The plane, a Robin DR-400, is reported to have belonged to the Chambéry flying club. The aircraft did not catch fire after it came down, authorities confirmed, adding that the "tourist plane crashed south of the airport' and did not hit any homes but a fence was damaged. Specialist officers were dispatched to help the family members of the deceased and those who witnessed the incident. At the scene, emergency services from the fire service, ambulances and police could be spotted. A police investigation is underway. "The firefighters from the Savoie departmental fire and rescue service, the SAMU (emergency medical services) and the Chambéry air transport gendarmerie brigade, and units from the national gendarmerie group are currently on site," a spokesperson from the Savoie prefecture said. They added: "The precise circumstances of the accident are unknown at this time and may be determined as part of the judicial investigation." Savoie's prefect Vanina Nicoli said she 'extends her sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims'. It comes after a small plane that took off from neighbouring Germany crashed in the Austrian Alps on Saturday, killing all four people on board, authorities said. The propeller plane crashed near Wald im Pinzgau, in Salzburg province, at 12:45 p.m. local time and apparently burst into flames. Police said three men and a woman were killed, and that they were believed to be German, the Austria Press Agency reported. The plane had taken off for a round-trip flight from an airfield in Oberschleissheim, near Munich. The deceased included a 70-year-old man, his son, 33, and the son's girlfriend, 33. The couple were from the German city of Regensburg. The pilot, was named as 59-year-old Markt Schwaben. The single-engine aircraft had taken off for a sightseeing flight from Oberschleißheim Airport near Munich on Saturday. The aircraft ran into problems near its destination of the Krimml Waterfalls and over 70 firefighters had to be called to the scene. The wreckage, largely destroyed, is being investigated by an expert to try and determine the cause of the crash.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
A small plane crashed in the Austrian Alps, killing all 4 people on board
A small plane that took off from Germany crashed in the Austrian Alps on Saturday, killing all four people on board, according to Austrian authorities. The crash happened near the town of Wald im Pinzgau in Salzburg province around 12:45 p.m. local time, the Austria Press Agency (APA) reported, citing police. Police said the aircraft, a propeller plane, appeared to have caught fire after it went down. All four people three men and one woman died in the crash. The passengers are believed to be German nationals, though their identities have not yet been officially confirmed. According to AP, the plane had taken off from Oberschleissheim, a small airfield near Munich, for a round-trip flight. There is no immediate information about what caused the crash, and authorities are continuing to investigate.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Four killed as plane crashes in Austrian Alps after takeoff from Germany
A small propeller plane that took off from Germany crashed in the Austrian Alps on Saturday, killing all four people on board, Austrian authorities said. The aircraft went down near Wald im Pinzgau in Salzburg province around 12:45 p.m. local time and reportedly burst into flames upon impact, according to the Austria Press Agency. Police confirmed that three men and one woman were killed in the crash. All four victims are believed to be German nationals. The plane had departed from an airfield in Oberschleissheim, near Munich, for a round-trip flight. The cause of the crash is not yet known. (With inputs from Associated Press)
Washington Post
05-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
A small plane crashed in the Austrian Alps, killing all 4 people on board
VIENNA — A small plane that took off from neighboring Germany crashed in the Austrian Alps on Saturday, killing all four people on board, authorities said. The propeller plane crashed near Wald im Pinzgau, in Salzburg province, at 12:45 p.m. local time and apparently burst into flames. Police said three men and a woman were killed, and that they were believed to be German, the Austria Press Agency reported.
