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 see it as something good, holy, and actually enjoyable. If you’ve ever wondered “what if I just never like sex,” this episode will feel very familiar and really hopeful. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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 anxiety about doing sex “correctly.” Ellen also shares practical tools to interrupt spectatoring, including sensory grounding techniques and mindset shifts that help you stay present with your husband. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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. Honestly, it’s one of those episodes where you’re like, oh…that’s why this still feels weird for me. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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 explains why many wives struggle when they wait to feel “in the mood” before engaging. Ellen also shares how responsive desire actually grows in the right context and how shifting one key question during initiation can transform a couple’s sexual connection. This episode helps Catholic wives better understand their desire and approach intimacy with greater confidence and freedom. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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 explores the concept of emotional pornography, the differences between male and female arousal patterns, and practical ways to cultivate healthy sexual anticipation within marriage. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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, and how to reprioritize responsibilities to support a healthier sex life. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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 excitement, connection, and intentionality back into your intimate life. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]

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 libido or effort. You’ll learn practical ways to root it out, start healing, and truly love both yourself and your spouse. 

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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/ellenholloway_/ or email us at [email protected]