Charting Toward Intimacy
Looking for answers to the questions you don't want to Google? Not sure where to get help when your sexual life is on the rocks and everything the secular culture has to offer is only making things worse? Welcome to Charting Toward Intimacy where you learn to actually enjoy and desire good, holy sex with your spouse. Hosted by Ellen Holloway, Catholic Sex and Intimacy Coach.
Episodes
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In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway dives into the struggle of making time for sex in the midst of a packed, modern-day schedule. She challenges the cultural norm of constant busyness and offers a clear, practical strategy for prioritizing intimacy. Ellen explains why spontaneity might be sabotaging your sex life and how intentional prioritizing can reignite desire and...
Get the Catholic Sex Positions Guide right here!
So many Catholic women secretly struggle with body image, but few realize how deeply it’s sabotaging their desire for intimacy. In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen unpack how negative thoughts about your body directly impact your sex life, why losing weight doesn’t automatically fix body image issues, and how to begin healing your mindset so you can show up more confidently and joyfu...
When sex is completely off the table and there’s no end in sight, it can leave you feeling isolated, frustrated, and unsure of what God is doing in your marriage. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway helps you understand how long term abstinence, whether from a high risk pregnancy, illness, or painful sex, can become an unexpected path to deeper connection. Learn how to find peace in God’s plan, grow closer ...
Get the positions guide and try a new position tonight!
You’re married now, so why do you still feel guilty wearing that flattering dress? In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen talk about what modesty really looks like after marriage, how purity culture messages can linger, and why your wardrobe might be quietly affecting your confidence and intimacy. We’re diving into how to find the virtuous middle ground, dress the body you have ri...
grab the Orgasm Course for Catholic Women right here
In this episode, Ellen Holloway talks about why so many Catholic women struggle with sexual desire and what to do about it. She explains the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire and how understanding this can transform your experience of intimacy in marriage. You’ll learn practical ways to cultivate openness to arousal, strengthen emotional and spiritual intim...
grab the Catholic Sex Positions guide here!
Sex is messy, and that is completely normal. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and co-host Kathleen Chovanes get super practical about what to do after sex. From preventing UTIs, managing the inevitable drips, protecting your sheets, and handling lube cleanup, you will get down-to-earth tips to make post-sex cleanup less stressful. Whether you are a newlywed or ha...
Check out the Orgasm Course for Catholic women right here!
In this episode, Ellen Holloway explores what to do when intimacy is interrupted and sex gets derailed by everyday distractions like kids, pets, or sudden discomfort. She shares practical mindset strategies Catholic wives can use to manage intrusive thoughts, refocus their desire, and re-engage with their husbands. This episode provides clear guidance on strengthening intim...
Get the Orgasm Course for Catholic Women right here!
In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explores the concept of edging, a technique that can enhance pleasure, comfort, and unity in your sex life. She explains how edging works, its benefits for those seeking to extend intimacy or synchronize climaxes, and how it can help make sex more enjoyable and comfortable, especially for women who experience discomfort ...
Get the Catholic Sex Positions Guide right here!
In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen and Kathleen explore the question: "What is the male equivalent of flowers?" They discuss the importance of pursuing your husband with small, thoughtful gestures that make him feel seen and loved, even if those gestures look different from traditional gifts like flowers. The conversation covers why flowers are meaningful to ...
Check out the Orgasm Course for Catholic Women right here!
In this episode, Ellen Holloway addresses the often confusing topic of female orgasm within Catholic teaching. She clarifies what is morally permissible, explains the importance of female pleasure in the context of marriage, and dispels common myths rooted in purity culture. Listeners will learn when and how female orgasm fits into the marital act, why it matters, and how bo...
Grab the Catholic Sex Positions Guide right here!
In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss the real-life challenges of fertility decisions and what it means to be "open to life" from a Catholic perspective, emphasizing that openness is a posture of the heart rather than a checklist of actions, and encouraging listeners to seek God’s will through prayer, discernment, and honest conversation with their spouse, trusting th...
Stop dreading sex and take steps to get in the mood with the Getting in The Mood Guide right here!
In this episode of Ellen Holloway breaks down the myth that arousal just happens on its own. She explains why arousal is an active process and shares practical strategies for inviting desire and enjoying intimacy more fully. Ellen discusses the importance of mindset, environment, and intentional actions in cultivating arousal, and enco...
Check out the Catholic Positions Guide right here!
Here's all the things you and your husband should figure out with sex so that it's amazing and you can avoid disagreements and dissatisfaction.
Click Here to download a PDF of the questions we shared on the episode!
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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!
Reach out at instagram.com/cha...
Give me one hour and you'll learn how to orgasm
In this episode, Ellen addresses the common concern of needing to focus on yourself to orgasm and reassures listeners that doing so is not selfish, but rather an essential part of the mutual self-gift in marriage—emphasizing that vulnerability, presence, and receiving pleasure are key to deepening intimacy and unity with your spouse.
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Grab the Catholic Sex Positions Guide right here and try a new position tonight!
In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss the topic of transactional sex within marriages. They share personal stories, emphasize the importance of non-transactional intimacy, and provide actionable steps to address and resolve feelings of transactional sex. From scheduling sex to understanding each other's love languages, this episode equips cou...
Grab the Catholic Sex Positions Guide right here!
If you’ve ever felt unseen or pressured when your husband asks about sex, this episode is for you. You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, communicate your needs with confidence, and invite more intimacy and understanding into your marriage. Walk away feeling empowered, cherished, and ready to enjoy deeper connection with your spouse.
Need more support? Check our courses linked below
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Check out the Orgasm Course for Catholic Women
Go to listen to episode 224 first, our intro to the Temperaments and Sex Life topic!
In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen break down how each temperament pairing can affect intimacy and communication in marriage. They discuss the unique challenges and strengths of every combination, offering practical tips for understanding your spouse and building a stronger relationship.
Temperament Pair...
Just one position can change everything. Get the Catholic Sex Positions Guide right here!
In this episode, Ellen shares a personal story from her third pregnancy, when the usual routines in the bedroom no longer worked. Instead of resigning herself to months of less enjoyable intimacy, she and her husband decided to try new positions—leading to a surprising transformation in their sex life.
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Orgasm Course for Catholic Women is right here!
In this episode, Ellen discusses the Catholic Church's teaching on the necessity of male ejaculation inside the vagina, even in cases of infertility, menopause, or pregnancy. She explains the deep theology and symbolism behind this teaching, emphasizing that sex is not just a physical act but a sacramental sign of total self-gift. Ellen explores how sex maintains its meaning and i...
Find out the 100% Catholic Way to orgasm right here!
In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss how everyday habits affect brain chemistry, focusing on hormones like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol. They explore the negative impacts of dopamine and cortisol on relationships, especially marriage and intimacy, and offer practical strategies for reducing excessive phone use and avoiding quick dopamine hits. They emphasize ...
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