Getting distracted during sex not your only struggle with sex? That's why we created the Catholic Sex Course for Women, check it out here!

In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss the common issue of getting distracted during sex. They provide practical tips and strategies for staying present, such as using grounding techniques, involving your senses, and communicating with your spouse. They also emphasize the importance of cultivating a positive mindset towards sex and how sharing this struggle with your spouse can help. Join Ellen and Kathleen as they explore ways to enjoy and engage in meaningful, undistracted intimate moments.

Pop Culture Catechism episode with Ellen

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Get the Catholic Sex Positions Guide right here!

Stop right now and listen to episode 162 of this podcast before you listen to this episode!

In this episode, Ellen addresses the common issue of women experiencing low sexual desire during their infertile periods while using Natural Family Planning (NFP). She provides practical tips to help navigate this challenge, starting with the importance of sleep, adequate nutrition, and stress management outlined in episode 162. Ellen suggests techniques such as scheduling sex, wearing comfortable attire, and mentally preparing yourself to enhance desire. She also emphasizes viewing sex as a gift to your spouse and the importance of a positive mindset toward enjoying your sex life.

Mentionables (use code CHARTING10 to get 10% off!)

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Get the Catholic Sex Course for Women right here!


In this special episode, Ellen shares the powerful testimony of a woman named Victoria, who experienced profound changes in her marriage and sex life through faith and prayer. Overcoming personal struggles and the challenges posed by her husband's use of pornography, Victoria's story emphasizes the transformative power of God's providence, natural family planning, and intimate connection. This heartfelt narrative demonstrates how persistent devotion and understanding can turn a relationship filled with pain into one of love, joy, and deep intimacy.

Bloom for Women is an excellent resource if you are struggling in the same way that Veronica did.

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen discuss the impact of busyness on intimate relationships. They highlight how constantly busy schedules can strain the connection with spouses and offer practical strategies to maintain intimacy.  Additionally, they share personal experiences and the role of faith in navigating stressful, chaotic periods, emphasizing the significance of prioritizing family and marriage over societal pressures and financial worries.

Check out the O Course for Catholic Women right here! 

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

In this episode, Ellen discusses the common habit of saying no to sex initiated by a spouse. She shares her personal experience of realizing this habit and challenges listeners to reflect on their reasons for frequently declining intimacy. Ellen encourages evaluating whether these reasons are genuine or simply habitual excuses, urging a more mindful approach to fostering a loving and unifying sexual relationship with their husbands.

Get the Catholic Sex Course for Women right here!

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Ellen discusses the essential role of forgiveness in maintaining a healthy sexual and marital relationship. She emphasizes that forgiving a spouse, while difficult, is crucial for opening up emotionally and physically within the marriage. Ellen outlines what forgiveness truly means and why it is necessary, dispelling common misconceptions. She also connects unforgiveness with physical tension and reduced sexual pleasure, offering practical steps to forgive through faith in Jesus.

Check out the Catholic Sex Course for Women right here!

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Ellen and her husband Kurt discuss strategies to balance arousal differences between partners during foreplay and sex, particularly when a man's arousal curve is faster than a woman's. They stress the importance of mutual responsibility for each other's pleasure within a Catholic marriage, offering practical tips for men to manage their arousal and focus on their wives. Key elements include effective communication, patience, and intentional practice to ensure both partners enjoy a mutually satisfying sexual experience. The episode addresses misconceptions about sexual duration and underscores the selfless nature of intimacy, aiming for both partners to achieve pleasure together.

Check out the Catholic Sex Course for Women right here!

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

In this episode, Ellen discusses the profound impact of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession on improving sex life and marital intimacy for Catholic women. Drawing insights from 'The Imitation of Christ,' she highlights the healing and restorative power that these sacraments offer, emphasizing their importance in curing vices, overcoming temptations, and enhancing love and grace in marriage. Ellen encourages regular participation in these sacraments as a way to strengthen marriages, suggesting practical strategies for attending Mass and confession together with a spouse, even in challenging circumstances. The conversation aims to inspire listeners to integrate sacramental grace into their relationships, complementing human efforts such as marriage counseling for holistic healing and growth.

Check out the Catholic Sex Course for Women right here!

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

In this episode, Ellen and Kathleen emphasize the importance of discussing sex daily with your spouse as a way to improve communication and eliminate the negativity often associated with these conversations. They suggest setting aside just five minutes each day to ensure regular, comfortable discussions about sex. Topics include how to initiate conversations, preferences, personal hygiene, foreplay, and addressing past experiences. They provide practical tips and conversation starters to make these talks more effective and enjoyable.

Get the Catholic Sex Positions Guide Here!

Mentionables Website (CHARTING10 gets you 10% off!)

Here's the conversation starters we recommend!

• What do you like about the way I initiate
• Would you like me to initiate in a different way
• What kind of atmosphere do you like for sex
• What kind of personal hygiene do you prefer before sex? Shower, teeth, sweaty/stinky, cigar
• What kind of lingerie do you like
• Do you like talking during sex? What kind of talking do you like
• What is something you’ve always wanted to do?
• What is something about sex you often think about?
• What is something you wish/fantasize about sex?
• How often would you like to be having sex?
• What is your favorite position?
• What is a position you would like to try?
• What are your favorite things that I do during sex?
• What are things you dislike that I do during sex?
• What was your favorite sexual encounter we have ever had?
• What things do you like during foreplay?
• Is there something you would like to try?
• Is there something that embarrasses you about sex?
• What helps you relax before sex?
• What would you like to have done around the house before sex?
• Is there anything you need to have in place before being comfortable having sex?
• What are your past experiences of sex?
• How do your past experiences affect our sex life? How you view sex?
• Do you like wearing socks during sex?

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Ellen discusses the moral licitness of using marital aids, commonly known as sex toys, in Catholic marriages. She explains that while replacing sex with such aids is immoral, their use to enhance pleasure and intimacy within the marital act is acceptable. Specific aids like vibrators and penis rings are discussed in detail, emphasizing their role in improving the sexual experience without compromising the moral requirements of intercourse, such as ejaculation inside the woman. Ellen highlights the importance of using these tools as enhancements rather than necessities and offers guidance based on theological insights and teachings.

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Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books!

Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at [email protected]

Ready to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses