Reclaiming Catholic 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 Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy where you learn to actually enjoy and desire good, holy sex with your spouse. Hosted by Ellen Holloway, Catholic Sex and Intimacy Coach. Formerly, this podcast was named Charting Toward Intimacy.
Episodes
In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway talks about why sex can feel so exciting before marriage but lose its appeal afterward, especially for couples who had sex before they were married. She explains how our understanding of sex can get twisted and shares why there is always hope for healing through prayer, honesty, and letting God restore the true meaning of intimacy.
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In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes talk about how to help your kids grow up with a healthy view of sex without repeating the fear or shame so many of us learned. They share simple, everyday ways to answer questions, talk about changing bodies, and create a home where sex is seen as a good gift from God.
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In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway shares why she stopped selling her popular Catholic Sex Positions Guide, even though it was a huge success. She talks about why most women don't need another tip or technique and what actually creates lasting change in your sex life.
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Ready to stop avoiding sex and actually enjoy it? Join ...
In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes talk about Father's Day, why so many husbands desire intimacy on special days, and how to approach that desire as a gift instead of an obligation. They also share ideas for couples who can't have sex right now, including ways to build emotional and physical intimacy that still help your husband feel loved and prioritized.
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In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway talks about why your sex life in marriage actually matters way more than most women think it does. She shares how God completely changed the way she saw intimacy and explains why learning to enjoy sex with your husband is deeply connected to your vocation and your relationship with God.
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In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway talks about what to do when sexual arousal shows up at the “wrong” time and why you do not need to panic or shame yourself for it. She shares such a gentle way to think about arousal instead of stuffing it down, especially if purity culture made you feel like sexual feelings were bad.
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In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes talk about why initiation can feel so awkward, frustrating, or even hurtful in marriage and the simple things that make it so much easier. They get really practical about responsive desire, how to actually communicate what kind of initiation you like, and why saying yes does not have to mean sprinting straight to the bedroom.
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In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway talks about why foreplay can feel totally numb when your brain is still carrying the stress and mental load of the whole day. She shares this really helpful “parka” analogy about trying to jump into sex while still weighed down by your to do list, distractions, and exhaustion, and how preparing your mind before sex can completely change the experience. ...
What can a beloved children's cartoon teach you about your sex life? More than you'd think. In this episode, Ellen Holloway draws unexpected wisdom from the hit show Bluey to reveal how just a few intentional minutes of connection each day can transform your marriage and your intimacy. If you've been waiting for a complicated fix, this episode will surprise you.
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In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes talk about talking during sex and how it helps you stay present and connected. They explain what kinds of words support the dignity of the act, why “dirty talk” can be harmful especially after purity culture, and how to approach pillow talk in a way that builds intimacy.
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Sign up for Want it and Enjoy it right here!
Enrollment is open through May 1.
In this bonus episode, Ellen shares some responses from women in the most recent cohort of Want it and Enjoy it. There are wins, things they loved about the course, and encouragement for women trying to decide if they want to join the program.
Take a listen to this episode if you are on the fence about joining.
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Sign up for Want it and Enjoy it right here! Enrollment is open through May 1 at 11:59 pm PT
In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway talks about why a “fine” sex life is actually keeping you stuck and slowly disconnecting you from your husband. She challenges all those thoughts like “this is just how it is” and explains why desire, pleasure, and excitement are things you can actu...
Download your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right here
In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes talk about a hard truth most of us don’t want to hear: your sex life isn’t going to magically fix itself. They share why waiting for a different “season of life,” blaming your husband, or blaming hormones usually keeps you stuck. If th...
Download your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right here
In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway talks about what to do when you and your husband want sex at totally different levels. She explains why desire often comes from how rewarding sex feels and why many women struggle to want it if it hasn’t been very enjoyable. Ellen also shares simple ideas like building an in...
Download your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right here
In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway shares what it was like six months into her marriage when she honestly thought she might never like sex and could live without it. She talks about the purity culture messages that made sex feel bad and dirty, and the slow journey that helped her see it as something good, holy, and...
Download your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right here
In this episode Ellen Holloway explains the concept of “spectatoring,” the mental habit of monitoring yourself during sex instead of being present in the experience. She explores why this is so common among women, including influences like purity culture, performance pressure, body image concerns, and anxiety about doing sex &ldquo...
Download your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right here
In this episode of Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes talk about what purity culture actually got right and where it really hurt us. They share how all those fear-based messages about sex can stick with you into marriage and make it hard to relax and actually enjoy intimacy. Honestly, it’s one of those epi...
Download your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right here
In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explains the difference between spontaneous desire and responsive desire and why misunderstanding these patterns often causes frustration in marriage. She walks through simple questions that help women identify their primary desire style and explains why many wives struggle when they ...
In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes discuss the impact of romance novels, story based erotica, and popular television dramas on female arousal and marital intimacy. They explain how anticipation and imagination shape women’s desire, and why directing those dynamics toward fictional characters can undermine connection with your husband. The conversation explores the concept of emot...
In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway discusses the connection between sleep and sexual desire for women. She explains how chronic exhaustion puts the body into survival mode, lowering both libido and enjoyment of sex, and why pushing through fatigue often backfires. Ellen offers practical guidance on how much sleep women truly need, especially during pregnancy and postpartum, and how to reprioritize responsib...
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