With successful vaccine rollouts putting the end of the pandemic in sight, people are eagerly anticipating the end of social restrictions. But how will a return to physical intimacy play out? Will people approach touching with trepidation or will they revert to pre-COVID-19 interactions?
Sophie Saint Thomas is a journalist and author based in New York City. Her work has been published in GQ, Playboy, Vice, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Allure, Glamour, and Marie Claire, among others. Her writing focuses on sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll as well as the occult and other subcultures. She is the author of five books: Finding Your Higher Self (Simon & Schuster), The Little Book of CBD for Self-Care (Simon & Schuster), Sex Witch: Magickal Spells for Love, Lust, and Self-Protection (Weiser), Glamour Witch: Conjuring Style and Grace to Get What You Want (Weiser) and the forthcoming (April 2023) Weed Witch (Running Press/Hachette Book Group), and is currently writing her sixth; The Devil’s Work, a real-life thriller that is the history of reproductive rights and witch hunts, due for release in summer 2024 (Running Press/Hachette Book Group).
In addition, Saint Thomas is Allure Magazine‘s resident astrologer and a sex columnist for AskMen. She is the co-creator and author of The Intimacy Journal: A Sex & Cannabis Log Book.
Dr. Tiffany Field is the director of the Touch Research Institute in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami School of Medicine. She has received research scientist awards to support her 30-year research career and has published over 400 journal papers and more than 20 books.
Natascha Nanji is an artist and writer with a background in Anthropology and Fine Art. She contributes to art journals, museums and tech agencies and works with arts organisations to enhance their digital systems and communications. Natascha studied cultural criticism at the Royal College of Art and is co-editor/publisher of LAY IT ON THICK, a literary magazine orbiting themes around desire and erotics.
