It’s surprisingly warm for January (52 degrees), so Candace Johnson and I decide we’re going to hang for the day at a Pennsylvania vineyard. We both agree that a few glasses of wine will be good for the soul and loosen us up to talk candidly.
There are three things I realize as we enjoy the afternoon together; 1) when she’s hungry, she orders damn near everything on the menu, 2) she smokes weed from another planet, and 3) she’s willing to kiss my bare foot, in front of everyone, to demonstrate the power and intimacy of her new adult intimacy card game, TOUCHY/FEELY.
A New Adult Card Game: Sensual. Emotional. Intellectual.
When one thinks of the phrase “adult card game,” it may conjure up thoughts of porn or raunchy humor, but this game is a complete departure from those lazy concepts. It focuses entirely on the sensual, emotional, and intellectual aspects of adult intimacy, something Candace believes is sorely lacking in today’s romantic connections.
“Adult play has always been present in American culture, often reduced to smut for outliers or oddly drawn cartoon genitalia. Neither of which are accurate representations of interpersonal intimacy or the joy associated with the receiving and giving of pleasure,” says Candace. “TOUCHY/FEELY is a card game created to oscillate at the intersection of pleasure and intimacy for all adults who enjoy positive playful expressions. It encourages lovers to stay together by fanning their fire; creating good energy which radiates on a continuum … lasting long after the game has ended.”
Candace asks me if I want to play the game. I sheepishly reply, “Uh … that’s a lot of pressure, I think I need to drink more first.” We both laugh, as she pulls the game out of her bag and places it on the table. I immediately notice how beautiful the game simply looks – it rests in a soft pink drawstring bag. The game is inside of the bag, encased in a classy pink and red rectangular box, with an elegant script on the outside. Branding is on point.
I open the box and see several enticing phrases such as, “Guiding, Good Talk, Good Touch, And Good Vibes” “Satisfy Your Connection Emotionally, Sensually and Sexually, Simultaneously” and “The Pathway to Pleasure.” I think to myself that the table next to us is about to get the best show of their lives. Candace observes I’m a bit nervous, places her hand on mine, and assures me that everything is going to be ok.
Further exploration of the box’s content reveals 80 conversational cards containing specific questions, a list of 16 erogenous zones on the human body, and a prompt to be raw and real. Two sample questions from the game offer insight into the psychology of uncovering player authenticity: “Can you truly love unconditionally? If possible, share a time you have.” and “What is your favorite holiday, and why?”
Rules of the Game: Ready, Set, Go.
Here’s how the game works: Players choose a playing level (1- 4), with higher levels having more emotionally specific questions and more sexualized erogenous zones at play. One person answers a question drawn with as much open honesty as possible. The other person rates that response on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most thoughtful or meaningful.
There is an Emotional Conversion Card to translate the rating into an intimate physical gesture (ranging from caress to improvisation). Together, players choose one of the erogenous zones listed at the bottom of the question card for the person who answered the question to demonstrate on the other player. Keep in mind, the touch should be as intentional as the talk.
So now it’s my turn to play a card. I pull the “unconditional love” question, of course. It takes me some time to think about a genuine answer. Finally, I arrive at a story about my teenage son who is living with me full time (his mother and I are no longer together). We’ve experienced some serious struggles together, and the bond is deep. As I’m talking about him, it becomes crystal clear to me how the game leads you down a path to reveal deep truths that are rarely shared with others.
When I’m finished, Candace gives me a 4 rating. She likes my answer. The erogenous zone? Foot. The physical gesture? A kiss. Did Candace make me take off my boot and sock, and kiss my naked foot at the table? You’re damn right she did.
The game is impressive, and apparently, investors think so too. Candace is working hard to secure corporate partners and individual investors to help her expand – she envisions a billion dollar venture. That hard work seems to be paying off with pop-up events in Philadelphia’s top restaurants and bars, where Candace guides couples through a game experience. She also showcased recently in the Joan Shepp store, a meticulously curated fashion boutique that specializes in elegant events for A-list customers in Philadelphia. Toss in some major publicity such as a feature spread in Philly Current Magazine, and TOUCHY/FEELY is off to the races.
A Concept Conceived from Love Making
I ask Candace how she originally came up with the idea for the game. She shares that she created TOUCHY/FEELY during the pandemic, after going through one of the most challenging ordeals in her life. “In 2020, I experienced severe depression. The pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, the ensuing protests, the world’s destruction at hand … it all hit me really hard. I was forced to take a deep dive, headfirst, into my ‘self’. Within one year, I mentally burnt out, left my ‘successful’ job, stopped speaking to everyone I knew at the time, entered intense therapy, rebuilt my relationship with God and the humans I wanted to keep in my life, got clear about who I am, found pleasure, and started a company I named GOOSHY CANDY, with TOUCHY/FEELY being its launching product.”
Candace then reveals that the card game concept itself came to life after a night of love making with someone special to her. “Ultimately, I fell in love; that’s what happened. I went to a day party, met this guy, and we just hit it off. There was one night in particular when we got high and had the most incredible sex into the late morning. I was on the couch after he left, still buzzed about being with him. I thought to myself, I’m going to craft this feeling into a game. I created TOUCHY/FEELY in the next 8 hours; the concept and clarity of the questions came to me in that moment.”
One of the coolest aspects of the game is its intentionality around inclusion – anyone can play it. As Candace explains, “Access for adults to creatively explore various connections in games is extremely limited. Most companies and products focus on the ‘monogamous heterosexual couple’ experience, excluding alternative attachment styles. TOUCHY/FEELY intimacy card game was created for all relationship statuses.” So, whether you’re straight, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, pansexual, or anything else on the spectrum … it doesn’t matter.
Purpose Driven Communication, Foundation for the Future
When asked what the future has in store for Candace and her newfound entrepreneurial path, she’s going to ride this roller coaster as far as it will travel. “Right now, I’m focused on purpose-driven communication. I believe our ancestors’ greatest dream is for us to live in a consistent state of peace and freedom, as this is what most of their lives lacked. I think they would be proud of this product. The future of GOOSHY CANDY and TOUCHY/FEELY is in the hands of its supporters. As word spreads of our mission, we are working to gain consumer awareness and trust with future product releases, live events (digital and in-person) and hopefully a talk show soon. Stay Tuned!”
TOUCHY/FEELY retails for $50.00. It is it worth it? Well, I’ve never had a woman kiss my bare foot … at a vineyard table … with others watching … so this writer thinks so.
