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
193 episodes since 2020
Alleviating Male Performance Issues Related to NFP | Ep. 187
In this episode, Ellen addresses a listener's question about male sexual dysfunction, particularly erectile dysfunction and inability to finish, related to performance anxiety and natural family planning (NFP). She offers insights from a Cathol...
September 16, 2024
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Episode 187
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14:01
Pursuing Your Husband (Why it's the best thing for your marriage) | Ep. 186
In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss the importance of pursuing your spouse outside of the bedroom, offering practical advice and theological insights. They stress the significance of intentional love actions and how they reflect our rel...
September 09, 2024
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Episode 186
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34:02
Wives, Be Subordinate to Your Husbands (What it ACTUALLY Means) | Ep. 185
Ellen dives into the frequently misunderstood Ephesians chapter 5, elucidating its true meaning and emphasizing the profound responsibilities it places on both husbands and wives. She explores how Ephesians chapter 4's call to holiness frames t...
September 02, 2024
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Episode 185
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16:53
What Do I Do if My Husband Doesn't Agree With Church Teaching? Ep. 184
Ellen welcomes Dr. Sarah Bartell, a moral theologian specializing in marriage and sexuality, to discuss how to handle situations where a husband does not agree with Catholic teachings on sex, intimacy, natural family planning, and contraception...
August 26, 2024
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Episode 184
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40:49
THE Most Important Requirement of a Married Relationship | Ep. 183
Ellen and Kathleen discuss the crucial role of empathy in relationships, particularly in the context of a married sexual relationship. They emphasize the importance of understanding and sharing the feelings of one's spouse, navigating differenc...
August 19, 2024
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Episode 183
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28:37
Shame isn't Actually a Bad Thing! | Ep. 182
In this episode, Ellen explores the complex concept of shame in the context of sex and intimacy for Catholic women. Drawing insights from St. John Paul II's "Love and Responsibility," she discusses the dual nature of shame—its protective aspect...
August 12, 2024
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Episode 182
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16:14
When to Stop TTA (Trying to Avoid) | Ep. 181
In this episode Ellen and Kathleen delve into the highly requested topic of knowing when it's the right time to stop avoiding pregnancy and start trying to conceive. They explore the differences between the two approaches and discuss the beauti...
August 05, 2024
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Episode 181
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28:44
Your Difference in Sex Drive isn't the Problem | Ep. 180
In this episode Ellen delves into the common marital issue of differing sex drives between spouses. Ellen emphasizes that every couple faces this problem at some point and highlights the importance of understanding the difference between sponta...
July 29, 2024
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Episode 180
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19:21
Sex Sucked for the First Year of our Marriage | Ep. 179
In this episode I (Ellen) am joined by my husband Kurt to discuss the challenges we faced during the first year of our marriage, primarily focusing on our struggles with sex due to acute vaginismus and poor communication. We delve into how thes...
July 22, 2024
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Episode 179
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33:17
The Different Types of Painful Sex with Tighten Your Tinkler | Ep. 178
Get our FREE Download of 5 tips for less painful sex!In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway is joined by Christina Walsh, co-owner of Tighten Your Tinkler, to expl...
July 15, 2024
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Episode 178
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36:15
Family Vacations and Sex | Ep. 177
In this episode Ellen and Kathleen dive into the complexities of maintaining a healthy sex life during family vacations. They discuss practical tips for navigating shared living spaces, the importance of sustaining intimacy without sex, a...
July 08, 2024
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Episode 177
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28:34
What Does the Church Actually Teach about Oral Stimulation? | Ep. 176
In this episode host Ellen Holloway delves into the topic of oral stimulation. Ellen explains the church's teachings on what is permissible and how oral stimulation fits into moral boundaries as foreplay leading to intercourse. Highlighting the...
July 01, 2024
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Episode 176
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11:44
Trying New Positions | Ep. 175
Trying new positions can be a lot! Maybe you're not sure how to approach the conversation or you don't even know any other positions to try. This week, Ellen and Kathleen talk all things trying new positions in the bedroom! NOW AVAILABL...
June 24, 2024
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Episode 175
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31:03
The Mystery of Sexual Pleasure and the Body | Ep. 174
In this episode Ellen delves into why there isn't a checklist for sexual pleasure in marriage and why that's a good thing. She discusses the theological perspectives on the human body and sexual pleasure, emphasizing the opportunity for couples...
June 17, 2024
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Episode 174
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12:44
Grooming and Shaving | Ep. 173
In this episode Ellen and Kathleen discuss the nuances of grooming and shaving the genital area from a Catholic perspective. They address common questions around the morality of grooming, reasons people choose to groom, and the purpose of...
June 10, 2024
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Episode 173
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34:33
Painful Sex, Differing Comfort Levels, and Communicating about Sex | Ep. 172
Today Ellen is answering a question from Instagram:My husband really resists oral, but sex has been painful for me. He's really rough. I spoke up and there's been no change. As you can see there are a lot of facets to this ...
June 03, 2024
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Episode 172
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25:08
Lingerie Style Guide | Ep 171
In this week's episode Kathleen and Ellen talk about some common elements of lingerie. They discuss both personal preferences as well as how certain elements can fit well for certain body types or seasons of life (like postpartum or pregnant bo...
May 27, 2024
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Episode 171
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33:42
What is the 10-minute Unwind? | Ep. 170
Ellen addresses the struggle many women face in transitioning from their busy day to intimate moments with their spouse. Highlighting the inherent multitasking nature of women's brains, Ellen introduces the '10-minute unwind' as a method ...
May 21, 2024
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Episode 170
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15:33
NFP is NOT "Catholic Contraception" | Ep. 169
In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen delve into the distinction between Natural Family Planning (NFP) and contraception, addressing common questions and concerns from a Catholic perspective. They explore the theological significance of sex, the ...
May 13, 2024
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Episode 169
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33:17
What if I'm Not Comfortable With Something My Husband Suggests? | Ep. 168
In this episode Ellen discusses how couples can handle differing levels of comfort with sexual acts. She emphasizes the importance of communication, respecting each other's boundaries, and defaulting to the less comfortable spouse to maintain a...
May 06, 2024
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Episode 168
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14:48
Chastity is More Than Just Abstinence - IT'S SO MUCH MORE | Ep. 167
In this episode Ellen and Kathleen explore the topic of chastity within marriage, emphasizing that chastity goes beyond merely abstaining from sex. They discuss the deep and abundant grace available through the sacrament of marriage and how liv...
April 29, 2024
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Episode 167
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28:25
Messy Liturgies and Sin-Filled Marriages | Ep. 166
In this episode Ellen shares a personal revelation about finding God's presence and grace in the imperfections of married life and liturgical celebrations. Despite her initial frustration with less-than-perfect liturgies during the Easter...
April 22, 2024
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Episode 166
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14:42
Thank God for Your Husband's Sex Drive | Ep. 165
This episode focuses on the common issue among couples regarding the disparity in sex drives, a topic frequently brought up by listeners. We propose a perspective shift, suggesting couples view these differences as blessings that can forward th...
April 15, 2024
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Episode 165
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29:21
What Does the Church Actually Teach about Manual Stimulation? | Ep. 164
In this episode, the focus is on the church's teachings regarding manual stimulation and masturbation within the context of marriage. We'll go through basically all of the different scenarios of manual stimulation from masturbation to stimulati...
April 08, 2024
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Episode 164
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20:36
Stop Treating Good Sexual Thoughts Like Intrusive Thoughts | Ep. 163
In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen and Kathleen tackle the challenge of internalized purity culture and its impact on women's sexual thoughts. They discuss the phenomenon where healthy sexual desires within the context of marria...
April 01, 2024
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Episode 163
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29:23