Sexologist Alexa Andre (@sexwithalexa) gets in bed with sexologist, intimacy coach for men, and former sex worker Coral Osborne for a conversation about conflict, repair, emotional safety, and how to fight in ways that actually strengthen relationships instead of destroying them.

This episode breaks down why conflict is inevitable, why resolution is not the same as repair, and how most people unintentionally make things worse by avoiding discomfort, suppressing feelings, issuing ultimatums, or apologizing without real empathy. Coral shares tools drawn from attachment theory, coaching, lived experience, and relationship psychology to help couples navigate fights with curiosity, accountability, and emotional intelligence.

Topics covered include:

• The difference between conflict resolution and emotional repair
• Why 69% of conflict in relationships is recurring
• Secure vs anxious vs avoidant attachment styles
• Why conflict is necessary for real intimacy
• Sulking, silent treatment, and “read my mind” behavior
• Fight, flight, freeze responses in relationships
• How avoidance fuels resentment and rupture
• The importance of reassurance during conflict
• Why “do you want to be right or happy?” matters
• Active listening and emotional attunement
• How to bring issues up without score-keeping
• Why feelings don’t have to “make sense” to be valid
• Rejection and abandonment as core emotional wounds
• What a real apology actually includes
• Why ultimatums damage trust and safety
• Repair rituals and post-conflict reconnection
• Why makeup sex doesn’t work for everyone
• Gamifying conflict and repair to reduce defensiveness
• When recurring fights are about values vs preferences
• Emotional safety as the foundation for erotic surrender
• Curiosity as the key to intimacy, sex, and connection

Thank you to the best waterproof sex blanket in the market,  Splash Blanket for keeping me and my guests dry and cozy ◡̈