Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy

 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...

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,...

Join our email list and be the first to know about the new coaching program launching January 19, 2026.  In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway addresses the common feeling of wanting to enjoy sex but not knowing how. She explores the physical, emotional, and mental roadblocks that prevent pleasure, from lack of arousal to Catholic guilt around desire. Ellen explains why pleas...

Make sure you're on our email list to be notified when the new program is available! In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway addresses one of the most common struggles Catholic wives face: not wanting sex. She explains the five most common desire blocks and how to identify which one may be affecting you. Ellen also teaches the three foundational pillars that create real, l...

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes to explore the overwhelming experience of feeling "touched out." They dive into why this sensation happens, why husbands often don’t understand it, and how to clearly communicate your needs without causing disconnection. Practical tools like grounding techniques, body-awareness exercises, and the “10-minute...

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy , Ellen Holloway unpacks how disappointment can sabotage your sex life. She explores why unmet expectations, like not receiving the Christmas gift you hoped for, often lead to resentment and sexual withdrawal. Ellen offers practical mindset shifts and clear communication strategies to help you avoid turning sex into a transactional exchange. This episode...

Please rate and review Charting Toward Intimacy on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes explore the common belief that NFP is the problem in Catholic marriages. They share personal experiences and discuss how the true issue is often a lack of non-sexual intimacy. The conversation offers practical tools for cultivating emotiona...

Please take a moment to rate and review Charting Toward Intimacy! It helps other women find the podcast and transform their marriages.  In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explores the Feast of the Immaculate Conception through a powerful and rarely considered lens: the sanctity of the sexual union that conceived Mary. She reflects on how Anne and Joachim’s openness to grac...

Please rate and review Charting Toward Intimacy! It helps other women find the podcast and benefit from it! In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway dives into the damaging expectation that your husband should be able to read your mind (especially when it comes to emotional and sexual needs). She explores why this belief undermines true intimacy and reframes what genuine, loving...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives.  In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes explore the difference be...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway dives into the struggle of making time for sex i...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. So many Catholic women secretly struggle with body image, but few realize how deeply it’s sabotaging their d...

 When sex is completely off the table and there’s no end in sight, it can leave you feeling isolated, frustrated, and unsure of what God is doing in your marriage. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway helps you understand how long term abstinence, whether from a high risk pregnancy, illness, or painful sex, can become an unexpected path to deeper connection. Learn how to fin...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. You’re married now, so why do you still feel guilty wearing that flattering dress? In this episode, Ellen an...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode, Ellen Holloway talks about why so many Catholic women struggle with sexual desire and what...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. Sex is messy, and that is completely normal. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy , Ellen Holloway an...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode, Ellen Holloway explores what to do when intimacy is interrupted and sex gets derailed by ev...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives.  In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explores the concept of edging, a technique tha...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen and Kathleen explore the question: "What is the male...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode, Ellen Holloway addresses the often confusing topic of female orgasm within Catholic teachin...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss the real-life challenges of fertility decisions and what it mean...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode of Ellen Holloway breaks down the myth that arousal just happens on its own. She explains wh...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. Here's all the things you and your husband should figure out with sex so that it's amazing and you...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode, Ellen addresses the common concern of needing to focus on yourself to orgasm and reassures...

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It , my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss the topic of transactional sex within marriages. They share pers...