Pleasure Project: Sex and Relationships

Most of us spend years learning math, science, and history—but nobody teaches us how to be in a relationship. Yet, we're expected to communicate effectively: navigate conflict, set boundaries, express our needs, repair hurts, and stay emotionally connected. In this episode, Dr. Jenn breaks down the relationship skills that many of us never learned growing up —and why the struggles you're experienc...

Men are Paying to Increase Their Goods Male enhancement is one of those topics people are curious about but rarely discuss openly. Yet as conversations around men's health, hormone optimization, longevity, and body image continue to grow, more men are asking questions about confidence, appearance, and sexual wellness. In this week's episode of Pleasure Project , Dr. Jenn sits down with ane...

The invisible labor no one talks about? It might be the thing killing your desire. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy dives into the mental load so many people carry in relationships—the nonstop planning, anticipating, organizing, remembering, and emotional caretaking that quietly drains energy, connection, and eroticism. From managing schedules and groceries to carrying the emotional responsibilit...

What happens when a relationship feels safe… but no longer feels alive? In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with sexual empowerment coach Jocelyn Silva for a conversation about shame, desire, authenticity, and what it really takes to create intimacy that feels both secure and deeply turned on. Together, they unpack: ​How purity culture and religious shame shape adult sexuality ​Why so many...

Ever find yourself needing your partner to reassure you that you’re okay, desirable, or enough? That’s emotional outsourcing —and it quietly drains intimacy and desire. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with Bea Victoria Albina to unpack how this pattern forms, why it shows up in both daily life and the bedroom, and how it can keep you stuck in cycles of disconnection . Together, they ex...

Is scheduled sex sexy… or does it kill the vibe? In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most common (and quietly controversial) topics that shows up in long-term relationships: putting sex on the calendar. Because when life gets full—kids, careers, stress, exhaustion— spontaneity doesn’t just disappear… it gets crowded out. So what happens when you stop waiting to “feel in the mood” and sta...

Most people think desire should just show up. And when it doesn’t? They assume something’s wrong. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with Sex Therapist Brooke Bralove to challenge one of the biggest myths about sex: that desire is supposed to be spontaneous. Together, they unpack: Who actually experiences spontaneous desire (hint: fewer people than you think) Why long-term sex often becom...

Perhaps you’ve questioned if you have a “libido issue,” but really it’s more of a self-abandonment problem. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy explores how people pleasing shows up in the bedroom and quietly erodes desire. If your sex life feels tense, mismatched, or confusing … if one partner is always pursuing while the other pulls away… this conversation will challenge the assumption that it’s s...

There’s a moment in many relationships that rarely gets named. It’s when you stop initiating, not because you don’t want intimacy, but because rejection has started to feel predictable. You tell yourself you’ll try again later. You try to be patient. Low pressure. Understanding. But quietly something shifts. You start wondering: Is it me? Am I asking for too much? Does wanting closeness make me th...

You did everything right. You built the career. The family. The life you were supposed to want. From the outside, it works. So why does it feel like something inside you has gone quiet? In this episode, Dr. Jenn sits down with executive coach Fernanda Bressan to explore what really happens in midlife, when success no longer feels satisfying , when performance replaces presence , and when the spark...

In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy interviews Dr. Shreya Hessler , a clinical psychologist, speaker, and founder of The Mindset Center, to discuss how anxiety, perfectionism, and self-worth shape intimacy in young adulthood and how this affects relationships of all structures. Together, they explore rejection sensitivity, shifting social norms, and how embracing imperfection can deepen connection....

We all assume we know why people have sex, pleasure, love, connection. But when you actually ask people, the answers are far more nuanced and, at times, surprising. Some people have sex to feel close. Others to avoid conflict, boost their ego, satisfy curiosity, reclaim power, or even get revenge. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy pulls back the covers on the real motivations behind why humans hav...

What if better sex isn’t about more tricks—but more presence? 💫 In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with tantric holistic sex coach Emma Galland to explore how slowing down, tuning in, and connecting to your body can reignite desire and deepen intimacy. They unpack what it means for men to be embodied lovers, how to elongate pleasure and performance without pressure, and even how to acces...

Are you the one chasing closeness… or the one hiding in the bathroom for “just five more minutes”? In today’s episode, I break down one of the most common, and most misunderstood relationship dynamics: the pursuer–distancer pattern. Whether it's about sex, money, conflict, or parenting, many couples find themselves stuck in this painful loop of one partner reaching while the other retreats. I dive...

What if better sex isn’t about doing more, but about softening, slowing down, and coming home to yourself? In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy is joined by trauma-informed somatic practitioner and psychedelic microdosing guide Leslie Draffin to explore how intentional plant medicine can open new pathways to healing and pleasure. From releasing shame to deepening intimacy, they dive into how microdos...

Think desire should just happen ? Think again. 🔥 In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy unpacks the myth of spontaneous desire —that Hollywood fantasy where passion strikes out of nowhere. In real life, desire often builds slowly, through connection, safety, and intention. If you’ve ever wondered, “What’s wrong with me?” for not feeling instantly turned on, this episode is for you. You’re not broken—y...

What if healing your relationships isn’t about changing your partner, but reclaiming the parts of yourself you’ve disowned? Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with therapist and author Dené Logan to explore how masculine and feminine energies shape our relationships, what it means to be out of balance, and how to move from wounded dynamics into sovereign love. They dive into letting go of control, leading...

We think we know why we have sex — for love, pleasure, or connection. But the truth is often much more complicated. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy pulls back the covers on the real reasons humans get it on — from seeking closeness to conflict avoidance, ego boosts to revenge — and explores how understanding your why can transform the way you experience intimacy. This isn’t just about sex. It’s...

Forget everything you’ve been told about aging and sex. In this episode, Dr. Jenn talks to Dr. Nicole Marcione—a gerontologist and professional dominatrix —to dismantle old myths and open up bold new pathways to pleasure, power, and confidence . From an unforgettable field trip to a dungeon to surprising parallels between kink dynamics and the way many of us move through daily life, this conversat...

Welcome to Season 4! 💥 In this solo episode Dr. Jenn dives into one of her core, guiding ideas: “I’m with you." She notes , " When couples come to me for sex therapy, they often come in saying they want more sex—they want the desire, attention, or physical gratification they get from the act. But more often than not, what they truly want is intimacy . " Communicating I'm with y...

Curious about what really happens to your sex life during perimenopause and beyond? In this episode, I sit down with endocrinologist Dr. Gillian Goddard to unpack what’s going on inside your body — from hormones to blood flow , from estrogen to testosterone , and how it all impacts desire, arousal, and pleasure. We talk about vaginal atrophy (yes, it’s a thing), pelvic health , and the real change...

Wondering what it’s like to attend a retreat focused on sexual pleasure, body awareness and opening up in deeper way? I sat down with Pamela Madsen , who’s been running Back to the Body retreats for 15 years — a space devoted to helping women reclaim sexual pleasure on their own terms. We dive into what it really means to tune into your body beyond just sex: understanding your physical, emotional,...

Intimacy and sex are not one and the same—and knowing the difference can shift everything in your relationships. Both are valuable, but they serve different needs. This episode invites you to reflect: What does sexuality mean to you ? When do you choose to engage sexually, and when do you seek emotional closeness instead? How do you let others in, and what role does intimacy play in your erotic li...

Have you ever thought about what it means to have sex — completely sober — for the rest of your life? In this episode, Dr. Jenn sits down with Kim Litton, LCSW CSAT, to unpack sex and intimacy in recovery. Together, they explore how sobriety impacts dating, long-term relationships, and what it takes to navigate pleasure, connection, and communication without substances. Whether you’re in recovery...

Without Sleep, You Can’t Regulate I got a coveted hour with Dr. Jessica Payne, a neuroscientist, who studies sleep, to ask all the questions you've probably wondered about but never had the chance to explore. We get into what the brain actually does during sleep and  dreaming , how  exercise ,  caffeine ,  alcohol , and  sex  affect your rest, and why good sleep matters for your relationship.  Dr....