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The Kink Collective

  • Meet Your Founders

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua is a facilitator, educator, and advocate empowering individuals through self-discovery and intentional relationships. With 15+ years of experience, he guides people—especially men—in navigating modern masculinity, sexuality, and personal growth. 

As co-founder of the Kink Collective with his partner Cat, he designs programming that fosters confidence and authentic connection. In 2025, their work with partner Mistress Natalie earned them the Northeast Power Exchange Educational Title, honoring their innovative use of power dynamics for empowerment. 

Based in East Harlem, Joshua curates transformative experiences at The Sanctuary, a community space in his childhood neighborhood dedicated to identity, relationships, and conscious evolution. Their philosophy, “People Before Kink” drives his mission: equipping individuals with the tools to build self-authored, fulfilling lives.



Cat Orme

Cat is a transformative leader in the kink, BDSM, and leather communities, with 30+ years of experience, mentorship and advocacy. Alongside partners Joshua and Natalie, she earned the 2025 Northeast Power Exchange Educational Title, celebrating her innovative approach to power dynamics as a tool for empowerment. 

Her journey began in San Francisco’s leather scene, where early mentorship ignited her passion for community building and personal growth. As co-founder of theKink Collective, educator, and counselor, she bridges kink with personal development, healing around trauma and grief, and sexual wellness. 

Rooted in honesty, integrity, and transparency, Cat creates spaces where people are seen, valued, and empowered—whether exploring identity, grief, recovery or desire. Her work proves that profound healing happens when we dare to own our stories.

Meet the Kink Collective Team

Meet our dedicated facilitators and get to know the brilliant minds behind our organization whose passion and expertise have driven the Kink Collective's success.


Natalie 
Organizational Manager & Social Media Strategy 

As the Organizational Manager for the Kink Collective, Natalie fuels the mission of “People Before Kink” through strategic communication and community leadership. As a 2025 Northeast Regional Power Exchange titleholder, she works alongside co-foundersCat and Joshua to promote intentional exploration of sexuality and BDSM education worldwide.

Professionally, she amplifies the collective's voice through dynamic social media content, event promotion, and ensuring every message is both approachable and community-centered. As a professional dominatrix and aspiring educator, Natalie combines integrity, clear communication, and confident leadership to expand the collective's reach while cultivating her own powerful footprint in the lifestyle.


Dan | Space Manager & Event Host

Dan’s growth into authentic self-expression was shaped through the Kink Collective.

After moving from Maine to NYC in August 2024, he experienced a profound personal transformation through the Collective’s programs, mentorship, and kink practices—using them as tools for introspection, healing, and growth. What began as a quiet, isolated life evolved into one rooted in confidence, authenticity, connection, and intention. 

Through the 12-week online mentorship program & in-person weekend intensives,
Dan has developed a grounded, intentional approach to consensual kink, prioritizing presence, energy exchange, and holding space for others while sharing skills through demonstrations and guided experiences.

Dan creates safe, intentional spaces where people can show up fully as themselves.  Free from judgment, fear & self-censorship. He also creates spaces for Men to explore kink and erotic connection with confidence, connection, and care. 

Tila | Facilitator 


I'm a 46 year-old queer NB switch (they/she). I was in Leather for 16 years, followed by a 10-year spiritual convalescence where I was just that weird ghoul at parties trying to educate straight people about anal (no, please don't put that in your butt). I guess that makes me both gray and green. I found Kink Collective totally by accident while prowling the perimeter of my new city for professional dominants. 

Kink Collective was both offering and requiring something different. On offer was an opportunity to find the clarity and tools I needed to step back in with care, to build, to repair. I had to give up my attachment to the narrative, be willing to sit in my discomfort and (perhaps most importantly) to recognize the wins and celebrate them. While there's still a great deal to learn, there's been much to celebrate.

Testimonials from "The Collective" Community

"I entered the kink collectives online mentorship program because I was unsure of my place in the leather community. I had been making harmful choices and I needed help figuring out if I was kinky, just needy, or to understand if kink was my only way to find connection and to clarify my role as a submissive. I’ve learned so much about Dominant/submissive roles, power exchange relationships, and what I want and need from a Dominant. This program has also helped me recognize the errors I made as a sub and understand why things were not working. Although I’m happy with my progress, I am eager to learn even more."

Paul, 56 | Lansing, Michigan

"I decided to join the kink collective's mentorship program because I resonated deeply with the co-founders approach to engagement, which spoke to my spirit and essence. Their program felt like a natural progression in my ongoing inner work. Initially, I didn’t believe I had a specific issue, but through the program, I’ve gained the vocabulary and understanding needed to recognize my self-worth. It's been instrumental in building my confidence while maintaining humility and gratitude. I’m learning to articulate and confidently speak about what I always knew but didn’t know the words for. In progress, I’ve noticed a significant change in how I interact with others and myself, allowing for more grace. I've become more confident and no longer feel like the 'odd one out.' Cat and Joshua's support and celebration of our victories have been invaluable. Our group is merging in spirit, creating a more profound and vital community foundation. I eagerly anticipate our future together."

Lace, 60 | Queens, New York

"I joined the mentorship program because I was drawn to the idea of 'people before kink' that I saw in other workshops and intensives. I wanted the time dedicated to exploring how these tools for connection apply to various aspects of my life. Coming from the fringes of the community, the topics of dominance, submission, and personal vetting truly intrigued me. Before the mentorship program, I struggled with trusting myself, especially in sexual situations. The mentorship program has allowed me to explore these issues both sexually and non-sexually. I've made progress in trusting myself more and blending that trust into other areas of my life. I began to trust my dominance more, realizing that my fear of hurting others was unfounded and rooted in misunderstanding my instincts. Furthermore, the program has created a space for me to work on my insecurities regarding submission, a topic I had previously avoided discussing."

Earline, 36 | Queens, New York

"I joined the mentorship program because I trusted Cat and Joshua and knew I needed to learn more about BDSM and leather. After hearing them speak about it, I was sure I needed this. They make me feel safe, and the people they engage with make me feel safe. I wanted to address a knowledge gap and find my place in BDSM and leather, seeking genuine connection rather than random intimacy. Walking into the program, I aimed to gain self-knowledge and confidence, but I also found a much-needed connection I didn’t know I was missing. This program has taught me about self-knowledge, confidence, and people-pleasing and helped me tackle difficult questions in a supportive environment. In terms of progress, it's like a logarithmic scale. Building trust and laying foundational knowledge was essential, and delving into D/s dynamics opened up complex issues that needed addressing. Discussing these questions in scheduled sessions with trusted people provides the support I need. Although I’m still processing a lot, having multiple trusted people to talk to is significant progress. Now, I’m figuring out the questions I want to ask and continuing my journey."

Madeline, 27 | Ann Arbor, Michigan

"I decided to join the mentorship program because, as someone early in their kink journey and venturing solo into unfamiliar territory, I believed the experience would be richer, safer, and more illuminating with trusted guidance from people who had already provided excellent education and avenues for discovery. I sought trusted guidance to explore facets of myself that were crystallizing into a more authentic self, aspects of which were previously unknown to me. Additionally, as a neurodivergent person struggling with connecting with others and reading social cues, I aimed to mature my capacity to make connections, find community among peers, and become more comfortable with communication. Through the mentorship program, I now feel much more informed and confident in navigating kink spaces and expressing my desires, interests, and concerns. I've also gained assurance in fostering connections and socializing, both within and outside the scene."

Chris, 35 | White Plains, New York