Is intimacy just sex? According to Dr. Etel Leit—"Your Love Doctor"—true intimacy begins long before the bedroom. In this raw, practical convo, we unpack the 3 V's of durable relationships (Vibe, Values, Vision), why partners trigger our deepest wounds, and how to move from transactional patterns to reciprocal love. We also go there on scheduling sex, initiating when it feels awkward, and shifting from "career mode" to feminine/masculine safety at home.

Highlights:

• "Into-me-I-see": redefining intimacy

• Triggers, inner-child work, and compassionate repair

• The dopamine trap vs real connection

• Two-times-a-week rule of thumb (and why "sex starts before the bedroom")

• Masculine/feminine polarity & rejection fears

• Parenting seasons, presence, and keeping play alive

Guest: Dr. Etel Leit—PhD, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of UnAddicted to You, known for helping singles and couples rebuild safe, passionate connection.

Listen + Watch: new episodes drop every Wednesday on Apple Podcasts & YouTube. Follow @h2fpod for clips, Q&As, and Dare 2 Heal panels.

Show notes

• 00:00 Welcome & set-up: "Yield of fear—let's start this journey together."

• 03:46 What is intimacy? "Into me, I see."

• 04:31 How becoming a parent (and the pandemic) rewired relationships

• 06:26 Gen Z, screens & why early sparks fade

• 07:50 Self-acceptance, curiosity, and seeing each other again

• 09:53 Put down the magnifying glass—pick up the mirror

• 12:19 Dr. Etel's backstory: cycles, near-death wake-up, choosing change

• 17:56 Divorce vs "conscious uncoupling": doing it with care

• 29:13 The 3 V's: Vibe, Values, Vision

• 36:26 Masculine/feminine energy at work vs at home; safety & softness

• 49:03 No time for sex? Why connection is a daily practice (and how to schedule without killing the mood)

• 51:58 When work/gaming/addictions replace intimacy

• 52:58 "Sex starts before the bedroom"—imagination, play, and pre-game

• 56:58 Relearn each other's bodies; compliments, cues, and consent

• 59:29 Initiation anxiety & the male fear of rejection

• 01:04:00 Easy ways to initiate if it feels awkward

• 01:05:56 Rule of thumb: 2x per week (one planned, one spontaneous)

• 01:07:00 Where to find Dr. Etel + H2F wrap & CTA

• Resources & Links Dr. Etel Leit (Guest)

  • Website: dretelleit.com

  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dretelleit instagram.com

  • Book: UnAddicted to You: Loving Yourself Through the Darkness — Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578871874 | Books page: https://www.dretelleit.com/etel-leit-books Amazon+1

  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrEtelLeit YouTube

  Heal 2 Feel

  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h2fpod instagram.com

  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Heal2FeelPodcast YouTube

  • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heal-2-feel-with-liat-gerszt-mercedes-javid/id1793230143 Apple Podcasts

  Credits Hosts: Liat Gerszt & Mercedes "MJ" Javid Production: Sylvirgale Productions Drops: Wednesdays (subscribe for weekly releases)