Latest news with #roleplay
The Sun
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
My husband wants me to pretend to be his SISTER during sex and it's freaking me out – have our kinky games gone too far?
WHAT'S the weirdest thing you've ever been asked to do in bed? I've had some pretty out-there requests (even by my standards), but one still haunts me. 4 I'm all for roleplay, but an ex once asked me to be his stepmum — and since he actually had one who looked a bit like me, it creeped me out! So when I got this letter from a reader whose husband asked her to roleplay as his stepsister, it took me right back to that moment. She has my full sympathy. It's tricky to balance not kink-shaming with being comfortable in your own sex life - but I'm up for the challenge. I'm The Sun's Sexpert, and this week in my no-holds-barred sex series, I'll show you how to fend off an awkward kinky request without going back to boring sex. Q. A few months back, me and my hubby agreed to try out some role play to spice things up. We've been married for six years and sex had gone a bit stale. At first, it worked a treat and we were at it like rabbits, but now he's suggesting I pretend to be his stepsister and it's freaking me out! He assures me it's just a harmless common fetish and to be fair some of my mates have said the same, but to me it just feels weird - especially since he actually has a sister. I love my husband, we have a great marriage and I don't want to push him away in the bedroom just when things were heating up again. How can I steer him away from this fantasy without going back to the vanilla sex we had before? How can I bring up kinks with my partner? Georgie says: 'HAVING fantasies is completely normal, and I'm sure his stepsister one is innocent enough - but I understand why it's made you uncomfortable. It's a common theme in mainstream porn, so it's likely he's just picked it up from there and became fixated on the idea. That said, since he actually has a sister, it probably feels a bit too close to home for you — and that's valid. The key here is communication. Being open and honest is essential for great sex and a healthy relationship. How you respond will shape what happens next. You don't want to blurt out, 'God, that's creepy as hell, babe,' as that could make him shut down. He might start feeling ashamed or like a weirdo, and stop sharing things with you - which could cause issues both in and out of the bedroom. 4 That said, it's absolutely okay to say no. If something doesn't sit right with you, you shouldn't feel pressured to go along with it - and any decent partner should respect that. But just because you're not into this particular fantasy doesn't mean role play is off the table entirely. Here are my tips for keeping things exciting without going down that route… Secret fantasies Being able to say what you like and don't like is key to great sex - but how you say it matters just as much. It's important to create a safe space where your partner feels comfortable opening up. I love roleplay but an ex once asked me to be his stepmum and he actually had one who looked a bit like me! Georgie CulleySun Sexpert Never mock or laugh if they share an unusual kink or fantasy. Instead, use positive language - try something like: 'I love it when we do X, Y, Z, but I'm not really into that kind of roleplay. I'd be up for trying this instead…' It's all about keeping the conversation open, respectful, and focused on mutual pleasure. Set boundaries With any kind of kinky play, it's essential to set clear boundaries and agree on a safe word - something either of you can use to stop immediately if things become uncomfortable. Roleplay often involves exploring power dynamics, and can sometimes veer into BDSM territory. That's why having a safe word or signal in place is so important - it ensures both partners feel secure, respected, and in control at all times. What sent my ex wild Roleplay is a brilliant way to explore fantasies. For many, slipping into a uniform and taking on a different persona can help them fully embrace the part. An ex of mine went wild when I dressed up as a maid and spent the whole day teasing him — doing the housework in a skimpy outfit, but not letting him rip it off until later. It was the ultimate slow-burn foreplay, and it drove him mad in the best way. Make it fun by involving each other in the process — shop together for outfits (whether you're trying doctor and patient, police officer and defendant, or something else entirely) and see what sparks your interest. Do you enjoy being dominant, submissive, or a bit of both - known as a switch? Don't be afraid to experiment with different roles and, most importantly, enjoy the ride. Filthy fiction Stuck for ideas? Try watching an erotic film or steamy bonkbuster for inspiration. Fancy a Regency-style romp? Pop on Bridgerton for outfit ideas and boudoir makeover inspo. If TV's not your thing, pick up an erotic novel. Fifty Shades is a classic intro to BDSM, but there's a whole world of saucy books out there to spark your imagination. Want to up the ante? Take turns reading the naughtiest chapters aloud to each other - it's a guaranteed way to get in the mood. 'One night stands' with a twist If dressing up isn't your thing, don't worry - roleplay doesn't have to involve costumes. It can simply be about creating a new scenario. Taking sex out of the bedroom is a great way to shake things up, especially in a long-term relationship where you want to reignite that just met spark. One of my favourite roleplays is dressing up in a sexy outfit, heading to a bar, and having my partner meet me there as if we're strangers. He has to chat me up like it's a first date - then we book into a hotel for a cheeky 'one night stand'. It's playful, exciting, and adds a whole new energy to your sex life.
Forbes
02-08-2025
- Forbes
How To Have Your Next Difficult Conversation By Practicing With AI
You can spend years building credibility at work and still feel unprepared for the moment you need to say something uncomfortable. That one difficult conversation you wish you could avoid often turns out to be the one that matters most. These situations are hard to face because emotions can cloud your thinking. That is why preparation is often the most important part of communication. Jeff Wetzler recently shared in Harvard Business Review that successful conversations begin with what he calls a Curiosity Check. He shared that before you walk into a high-stakes conversation, ask yourself if you are truly open to learning something new. That pause can create space for clarity, empathy, and better decisions. What many people still overlook is how much more effective this pause can become when you practice with a quick AI simulation. A short role-play can help you rehearse what to say, how to say it, and what to expect when the other person responds. Why Difficult Conversations Fail Without Preparation Most people think they will know what to say in the moment, but then something gets triggered and the conversation shifts. The message gets buried under tension or misunderstood entirely. You may feel clear on your intention, but the words come out different than planned. This is why writing out what you want to say ahead of time makes such a difference. It helps to get all your thoughts out first, even the parts you would never actually say. I like to do this to get my thoughts and emotions out of my head, to vent, so I can see what I really want to communicate. It is important not to send that draft, though, because it can be very blunt. You can re-read the message a few times until you land on the wording that gets your point across in a way that really matters. This step alone can lower your stress before anything is said out loud. How AI Can Support A Difficult Conversation Before It Happens After writing your thoughts down, the next step is to run a practice round with an AI tool. You can use a simple prompt like, 'Pretend you are my coworker. I am about to give you this feedback. Tell me how you would respond.' What comes back might surprise you. You can take that feedback and rewrite your approach. Look for areas where the AI questions your tone, asks for clarification, or misunderstands your meaning. These types of responses can show you where your message may be too vague, too harsh, or missing context. That kind of feedback is helpful because it points to areas where a real person might also get confused, defensive, or disengaged. Ask the AI to improve your language or tone. Try out different ways to open the conversation. AI likes to tell you what you want to hear, so I often ask it to respond to me as if I were wrong. That kind of prompt is especially helpful because people rarely see themselves as wrong. If you only ask it to respond, it may give you polite agreement, which does not help you improve. The tool can give you an instant preview of how your words might be received if you tell it to respond in multiple ways like positive agreement, argumentative, etc., which means you walk into the real conversation better prepared. What Happens When You Practice Both Sides Of A Difficult Conversation There is even more value when you go one step further. Ask the AI to now act as you, and then you take the other person's perspective. Allow it to question your own message. Ask questions like, 'Why are you bringing this up now?' or 'Have you considered my side?' When you play both parts, you build awareness about what the other person might be feeling or needing. That allows you to stop rehearsing a speech and start preparing for a two-way conversation. Most people expect to deliver a message instead of having an exchange, which rarely happens. Practicing with AI shows you how quickly things can shift once the other person speaks. It also helps you prepare follow-up questions that keep the conversation constructive. How AI Practice Helps You Recover If It Becomes A Difficult Conversation Even with preparation, conversations sometimes still take a turn. You might get interrupted, the other person may become emotional, or you might forget what you wanted to say. Practicing with AI can also help you recover in those moments. During your role-play, ask the AI to interrupt you mid-conversation or push back in a way that catches you off guard. Then practice how you would respond. You can test ways to redirect the conversation without losing momentum or sounding defensive. Try prompts like, 'What can I say if I lose my train of thought?' or 'How do I respond if the other person gets upset?' These simulations prepare you to stay calm even when things feel unpredictable. That way, if the conversation veers off course, you will have already practiced what to do next. Using AI To Reduce The Emotional Impact Of A Difficult Conversation What makes this method so helpful is that the conversation starts to feel like something you have already experienced. That familiarity gives you confidence. When you reach the moment that might have triggered a reactive response, you pause instead, because you know how to steer in a positive direction. You already know the questions that help clarify issues. You start thinking less about proving a point and more about communicating effectively. Building A New Habit Around Difficult Conversations With AI The best part is that this does not have to take much time. In fact, most people find that just five to ten minutes of AI practice gives them exactly what they need to feel more confident. Once you do it a few times, it becomes a habit. You catch yourself before sending that rushed message or making the phone call you will regret. You take a few minutes to write, pause, and simulate the conversation. That extra layer of preparation saves time in the long run. It helps you avoid miscommunication, awkward follow-ups, and the kind of tension that lingers after things go unsaid or poorly said. Making Space For Curiosity In Difficult Conversations With AI When you use AI in this way, you are preparing your mindset. That is where Jeff Wetzler's idea fits so well. A Curiosity Check is a reminder that even when you think you are right, there is always more to learn. Practicing with AI gives you a chance to ask questions before the conversation even starts. You can test your own assumptions and find language that avoids resistance. Most of all, you give yourself time to cool off, think clearly, and walk into the moment well-prepared. How Practicing With AI Can Improve Every Difficult Conversation You Have Preparing for a difficult conversation is a small step that helps you find the words you need and the tone that fits. It keeps you calm in the moments that used to trigger defensiveness. It builds your ability to listen, adjust, and stay focused on what matters. Difficult conversations will always be part of the workplace. What changes is how you prepare for them. When you write first, rehearse with AI, and consider your mindset, you avoid a lot of conflict and confusion, which helps build stronger work relationships.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
My husband's secret fantasy has broken me. Friends say it's a harmless kink all men have - but I know the truth behind it: ASK JANA
Dear Jana, My husband recently suggested we try something new in the bedroom, a bit of light roleplay.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Children's role play and party centre announces closure with 'sad heart'
A children's party service and role play area has announced "with a sad heart" that it is closing after three "incredible" years of operating. Imagination Corner on Shirley High Street has confirmed that it will be shutting its doors after one "last day of fun" on August 29. The play area used new and preloved toys to create role play experiences for children, letting them live out scenarios like taking their pets to the vets, give hair cuts at the hairdressers or take a trip to the beach. Wooden play equipment was used to put sustainability at the forefront of the party centre. The business was set up and led by qualified teacher Vicki Stewart, who created the space to offer children the chance to play and have fun using only their imagination. READ MORE: Children's play centre Imagination Corner in Southampton celebrates In a post on social media, Vicki said: "With a sad heart I have made the decision to close Imagination Corner after three amazing years. "This hasn't been an easy decision but financially it's the best decision for me and my family. "With the economy testing all businesses, small or large, mine unfortunately cannot take another year of trading." The news was met with sadness from parents, with one saying that her toddler had "flourished" into a "confident girl" at the centre. Another parent said they had "loved coming for the past few years" and that they were "so sad to see it close". Vicki said though that she has had a "blast" with Imagination Corner, making "lifelong friendships" and having the privilege to share the "highs and lows" of children's and parent's lives. "We have laughed and we have cried then if all else failed there was always a hug," she said. "Imagination Corner has been a small community of people from all different walks of life and a ray of sunshine in a grey looking Shirley High Street. "We have had mums, dads, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunties, uncles, care givers and friends all visit over the years. "But what I am most proud of is being a listening ear and being able to facilitate strangers who became good friends." Vicki finished the statement by calling the children she has catered for "incredible" and branded them a "credit to the grown ups who look after them". "Please don't be sad it's over, be happy it happened," she said.
Geek Wire
21-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Yoodli CEO Varun Puri on startup grit, filtering out noise, and building the ‘AI roleplay' category
GeekWire's startup coverage documents the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial scene. Sign up for our weekly startup newsletter , and check out the GeekWire funding tracker and venture capital directory . The Yoodli team. Varun CEO and co-founder Varun Puri is back row, second from left. (Yoodli Photo) Yoodli CEO Varun Puri talks too fast. He spends too much time on small talk. And he 'question stacks,' or asks multiple questions at once. That's what his own startup tells him, at least. I caught up with the Seattle entrepreneur to talk about the company's fresh $13.7 million investment round and its ambition to create a new 'AI roleplay' software category. Yoodli's software analyzes speech and offers feedback. Companies such as Databricks, RingCentral, Snowflake and others use Yoodli to help their employees prep for sales pitches. It can also boost interview prep and leadership development — or even grade President Trump's inauguration speech. During our interview, Puri demoed Yoodli by role-playing a mock conversation with a virtual version of me — a use case for media training. The energetic CEO describes Yoodli as a 'batting cage before game time,' or a flight simulator for communication. The idea is to replace passive formats such as slide decks and training videos with interactive practice that builds conversational muscle memory. Yoodli is riding tailwinds from the rapid adoption of generative AI tools, and is an example of how AI is being used as a virtual coach. The startup is part of a broader shift as companies use AI not just to automate tasks, but to train and enable employees. 'The idea of people practicing on their own with generative AI isn't strange,' Puri said. Yoodli spun out of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) incubator in 2021 and started with a consumer-focused offering targeted at practicing public speaking. Now it is focusing on the enterprise market. Its revenue has grown by 5X over the past eight months. 'Our belief at Yoodli is that AI roleplay is a category, not a feature,' Puri said. Yoodli co-founders Esha Joshi (left) and Varun Puri at the GeekWire Awards in Seattle last month. (GeekWire Photo / Dan DeLong) Yoodli uses a mix of foundation models from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to power its product. Customers can tweak the software so it fits their own communication framework and goals. Puri sees Yoodli as complimentary to traditional communication coaching from a human. He said it can help people go from zero to 'an eight, even a nine.' 'But that last 10% — authenticity, vulnerability, humility, the essence of being human — I don't think AI can or should coach you on,' he said. Part of Puri's inspiration for starting Yoodli was to break down communication barriers as an immigrant in the U.S. His co-founder, Esha Joshi, wanted to level the playing field for women in the workplace. As the company has grown up, so has Puri. The first-time founder said he's learned how to delegate and developed a bit of grit — an essential ingredient for any entrepreneur leading a startup through the ups and downs. 'When I take the 50th face punch, I'm like — I've seen a version of that before,' he said. Puri also said he's better at distinguishing 'signal from noise.' 'The folks we really focus on are our users — who's using the product, paying for it, getting value or churning,' he said. 'Then getting their feedback is most important — instead of hearing what everyone else has to say.' Yoodli has grown to 25 employees and recently hired former Tableau and Salesforce leader Josh Vitello as its new head of GTM (go-to-market). Puri said the team is 'starting to click.' 'We're in a really good rhythm in how we work together,' he said, adding that one of the company's superpowers is speed. 'We iterate and ship really, really fast,' Puri said. Before starting Yoodli, Puri was a former product manager with X Development, the R&D organization of Google parent Alphabet. Joshi was a product manager at Apple. Neotribe led the company's latest round, with participation from Madrona, Cercano, Ascend, and other backers. Its total funding to date is more than $20 million.
