Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy

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.  _...

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.  ___________________________________ Ready t...

Join the waitlist for Want it and Enjoy it 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.  ___________________________________ Ready to stop avo...

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 lov...

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. ___________________________________ Ready to sto...

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.  ___________________________________ Ready to stop...

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...

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 chan...

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. ___________________...

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.  ___________________________________ Ready...

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.  ______...

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 c...

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...

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 si...

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...

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 anxiet...

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. H...

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 explain...

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...

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...

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.  ___________________________________ Ready to stop avoiding sex and actually enjoy it? Join the waitlist for Want it and Enjoy it now and join the next round! Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for...

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.  ___________________________________ Rea...

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...

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 libi...

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...