Advertise on podcast: Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy

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 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 [email protected]

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 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 [email protected]

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 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 [email protected]

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 “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 [email protected]

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 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 [email protected]

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 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 [email protected]

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 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 [email protected]

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 responsibilities to support a healthier sex life.  ___________________________________ 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 [email protected]

Welcome 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 [email protected]

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes challenge the belief that husbands should always be the pursuers in marriage and explain why wives are also called to pursue. They discuss the spiritual roots of this dynamic, the fear of rejection that can hold women back, and the resentment that often keeps intimacy stalled.  ___________________________________ 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 [email protected]

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explores how to prevent scheduled sex from turning into checkbox sex. She breaks down the real reason scheduled intimacy can start to feel like a burden and teaches you how to rewire your mindset so that sex becomes something you joyfully anticipate. Using relatable analogies and spiritual reflection, Ellen offers practical tools to bring excitement, connection, and intentionality back into your intimate life.  ___________________________________ 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 [email protected]

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes explore the deep and often hidden impact of resentment in marriage. They discuss how unspoken feelings of unfairness and unmet expectations can slowly erode intimacy, especially in the bedroom. Through personal stories and spiritual insights, they reveal how resentment may be the true barrier to connection, not libido or effort. You’ll learn practical ways to root it out, start healing, and truly love both yourself and your spouse.  ___________________________________ 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 [email protected]

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway unpacks the moral and theological considerations of stopping sex due to pain. She explains why halting the act isn’t sinful when the intention was to complete it, and emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of painful sex. Ellen also discusses the pain-fear-tension cycle, the potential consequences of delaying a stop, and how healing involves both pelvic floor therapy and mindset work.  ___________________________________ 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 [email protected]

 In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes unpack the spiritual battle at the heart of intimacy, the impact of Satan’s lies on couples striving for holiness, and why struggle may actually signal sanctity. The conversation includes practical encouragement, spiritual tools like the St. Michael Prayer, and the importance of inviting God into every part of your 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 [email protected]

Join us in Want it and Enjoy it an 8 week group coaching program for Catholic women to reignite desire, pleasure, and joyful sex. Can't wait to see you inside! In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explores why simply learning about intimacy doesn't automatically lead to change in your sex life. She explains how desire and pleasure are rooted in the nervous system, why emotional safety is essential, and how true transformation requires more than just information. Ellen also shares how her eight-week coaching program, Want It and Enjoy It, provides the supportive container needed to create lasting change.  ___________________________________ 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 [email protected]