Podcast
Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy
Hosted by Ellen Holloway · EN
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.
45episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
You Were Made for More Than Just a "Fine" Sex Life | Ep. 268
Apr 2700:14:15Tap to summarizeSign 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 actually build. It might make you rethink what you’ve been calling “fine.” ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →Your Sex Life Won't Fix Itself | Ep. 267
Apr 2000:29:42Tap to summarizeDownload your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right hereIn 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 things aren’t where you want them, this episode is a loving but honest push to take responsibility, make some changes, and start doing the work that actually makes sex better. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →How to Fix Mismatched Libidos | Ep. 266
Apr 1300:10:46Tap to summarizeDownload your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right hereIn 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 intimacy “menu” and scheduling connection time so you can grow closer without all the pressure around sex. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →I Thought I Would Be Fine Never Having Sex Again | Ep. 265
Apr 600:10:21Tap to summarizeDownload your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right hereIn 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 actually enjoyable. If you’ve ever wondered “what if I just never like sex,” this episode will feel very familiar and really hopeful. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →The #1 Reason You Can't Stay Present In Sex | Ep. 264
Mar 3000:19:58Tap to summarizeDownload your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right hereIn 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 “correctly.” Ellen also shares practical tools to interrupt spectatoring, including sensory grounding techniques and mindset shifts that help you stay present with your husband. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →What Purity Culture Got Right (and of course what it got wrong) | Ep. 263
Mar 2300:29:32Tap to summarizeDownload your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right hereIn 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 episodes where you’re like, oh…that’s why this still feels weird for me. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →Do You Have Responsive or Spontaneous Desire? | Ep. 262
Mar 1600:11:41Tap to summarizeDownload your free copy of What the Church Actually Says About Sex and Marriage right hereIn 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 wait to feel “in the mood” before engaging. Ellen also shares how responsive desire actually grows in the right context and how shifting one key question during initiation can transform a couple’s sexual connection. This episode helps Catholic wives better understand their desire and approach intimacy with greater confidence and freedom. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →Stop Outsourcing Your Desire | Ep. 261
Mar 900:28:09Tap to summarizeIn 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 emotional pornography, the differences between male and female arousal patterns, and practical ways to cultivate healthy sexual anticipation within marriage. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →Your Sleep is Ruining Your Sex Life (and how to fix it) | Ep. 260
Mar 200:10:46Tap to summarizeIn 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 responsibilities to support a healthier sex life. Join Want it and Enjoy it at https://reclaimingcatholicintimacy.com/wantandenjoy___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
Transcribe →We have a new name!
Feb 2600:01:47Tap to summarizeWelcome to Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy, the podcast for Catholic women that helps you improve your sex life, strengthen your marriage, and embrace God's design for love. ___________________________________Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!Reach out at instagram.com/ellenholloway_/ or email us at info@vinesinfullbloom.com
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