Welcome to Episode 479 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Zach Brittle who speaks to me about negative sentiment override and how relationship dynamics shape our erotic connection.

 

In this episode, Zach and I discuss how the emotional tone of a relationship deeply influences intimacy inside and outside the bedroom. We look at the concept of Negative Sentiment Override, a term from John Gottman’s research, and discuss how couples can find themselves stuck in patterns where even neutral moments feel charged with criticism or defensiveness. 

Zach has been teaching, coaching, mentoring and counseling couples for nearly 20 years. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington and a Certified Gottman Therapist (CGT) and Relational Life Therapist. He is the host of Marriage Therapy Radio and the author of the best selling relationship guide The Relationship Alphabet and the Marriage Therapy Journal. His writings and insights have also been featured in Vanity Fair, Men’s Health, Real Simple, The New York Times and the Washington Post. Zach has been happily married to his wife Rebecca for 25 of 28 years. They live in Seattle with their two adulting daughters.

 

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      Understanding Negative Sentiment Override

·      Positive Versus Negative Emotional Filters

·      The Pasta Example And Neutral Events

·      Emotional Safety And Sexual Vulnerability

·      Gender Socialization And Desire Patterns

·      Slowing Down Between Impulse And Response

·      Taking Responsibility In Relationship Conflict

·      Contempt And The Illusion Of Superiority

·      Redefining What Sex Is For

·      Scheduling Erotic Play And Expanding Intimacy

 

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

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Welcome to Episode 478 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by EJ and Tarah Kerwin who speak to me about sex and parenting, how becoming parents reshaped their intimacy, desire, and how they maintain their emotional connection to each other.

 

In this episode, EJ and Tarah speak to me about what it was like to go from a playful, spontaneous sex life to feeling completely overwhelmed after the birth of their twins; navigating sleep deprivation, and the resurfacing of past trauma. They also talk openly about the grief that can accompany shifts in identity, libido, and partnership, and how isolating that transition can feel when couples are not talking about it.

 

EJ and Tarah Kerwin are the founders of Relationship Renovation and hosts of the Relationship Renovation Podcast, where they share raw honesty, humor, and decades of combined experience as relationship coaches to help couples deepen intimacy, build emotional safety, and navigate the complexities of long-term partnership.

 

Known for their vulnerability and willingness to share their own relationship challenges, EJ and Tarah offer practical tools, research-backed insights, and real-life stories that resonate with couples around the world.

 

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      The Impact Of Parenting On Sexual Desire

·      Navigating Postpartum And Identity Shifts

·      Grief Around Changing Intimacy

·      Higher And Lower Desire Dynamics

·      Emotional Safety In Long Term Relationships

·      Pressure Windows And Sexual Expectations

·      Rebuilding Intimacy Through Communication

·      Processing Trauma Within Partnership

·      Non Sexual Affection And Erotic Connection

·      Creating Systems To Prioritize Your Relationship

 

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

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Welcome to episode 477 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Laurie Gerber, who speaks to me about how to communicate about sex, sexual preferences, and talking about difficult topics like STIs with more confidence and clarity.

 

In this episode, Laurie and I discuss why silence is one of the biggest obstacles to fulfilling sexual and romantic relationships. Laurie shares powerful insights from her work with clients, especially around why sex is a key differentiator between friendship and romantic partnership, and why ongoing conversations matter more than crisis-driven ones.

 

Laurie Gerber is the creator of Master the Art of Love, an online digital course for women over 50 who are ready to date like they mean it. She’s the host of the podcast “Love at Any Age,” through which she coaches the audience, based on the wholehearted belief that everyone deserves healthy, lasting love, and it’s never too late.

 

For over 20 years, first as President of the Life Coaching division at Handel Group® and then as founder of Laurie Gerber Coaching Inc. she has been life and love coaching thousands of individuals and couples. Laurie is currently licensing The Handel Method® and uses it in her online and one-on-one coaching to help people achieve their dreams, with a focus on love.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      Why Silence Is The Biggest Mistake

·      Sex As A Learnable Skill

·      Making Sex An Ongoing Conversation

·      Choosing The Right Time And Setting

·      Asking Permission To Talk About Sex

·      Practical Hacks To Start Conversations

·      Navigating STI Disclosure With Confidence

·      Setting Sexual Boundaries Early

·      Desire Mismatches And Rejection

·      Rituals, Scheduling, And Prioritizing Sex

 

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

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Welcome to Episode 476 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Ally Iseman, who speaks to me about desire discrepancy, long-term intimacy, and how travel can become a powerful doorway back to erotic connection.

 

In this episode, Ally and I discuss one of the most common struggles couples bring into therapy: loving their partner while feeling disconnected from sex and intimacy. We talk about why desire naturally shifts over time, how novelty + security can feel like they are pulling in opposite directions, and why sexless periods are often symptoms rather than the core issue. 

Ally Iseman is a non-monogamy educator, erotic lifestyle consultant, and ICF-certified relationship coach who has spent over a decade helping individuals, couples, and moresomes create authentic, fulfilling relationships on their own terms. As the founder of Passport 2 Pleasure, an inclusive relationship education platform, Ally champions open communication and conscious connection within sex-positive and non-traditional relationship dynamics.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      Understanding Desire Discrepancy

·      Why Novelty Fuels Erotic Energy

·      Sexless Relationships As A Symptom

·      Reframing Masturbation And Shame

·      Travel As Foreplay For Connection

·      Escape Versus Exploration In Trips

·      Sensuality Beyond Sexual Acts

·      Creating Mystery Through Planning

·      Managing Expectations And Pressure

·      Curiosity As A Relationship Skill

Passport2Pleasure: Use our link HERE to save $100 on the course “ENM 101: Open Up Without Breaking Up”

 

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

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Welcome to Episode 475 of the Sexology Podcast! Today, I am excited to be joined by Caitlin V, who speaks to me about erectile unpredictability, performance anxiety, and supporting men’s sexuality through a holistic, shame-free lens.

 A quick note for my single listeners in California, if you're craving intentional, psychologically grounded ways to meet people. We have a beautiful offering coming up through LALOVELAB.com; a company I co-created with my colleague Dr. Richard Espinoza. Our next matchmaking event is Saturday February 7th at 4:00pmhosted at the Craft Contemporary Museum in LA. It's thoughtfully curated experience designed by us to help you connect with intention, not apps.

 

In this episode, Caitlyn and I discuss how many men are struggling with sexual performance earlier in life and why this is not a personal failure or a flaw. We also talk about how cultural expectations, lack of accurate sex education, and constant exposure to unrealistic sexual imagery can shape anxiety around erections, desire, and confidence. 

 

Caitlin V is one of today’s leading voices in modern sexuality and the host of the HBO Max series Good Sex. A researcher and coach with a background in public health, she has empowered millions to transform their sex lives through her coaching, courses, and viral online content. Her evidence-based, shame-free approach bridges clinical research with real-world intimacy, showing how better sex can make us better humans. Featured in O Magazine, GQ, Variety, and more, Caitlin champions a vision of sexuality that makes us not only better lovers--but more compassionate humans.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      Understanding Erectile Unpredictability

·      Performance Anxiety And Its Root Causes

·      Porn, Arousal, And Unrealistic Expectations

·      Treating Men’s Sexuality Holistically

·      Breaking Shame And Silence Around Sex

·      Talking To A Partner With Confidence

·      Rebuilding Erotic Connection As A Couple

·      Reducing Pressure And Outcome Focus

·      Sex Toys And Supportive Tools For Men

·      Practical Exercises For Emotional Intimacy

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

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Welcome to Episode 474 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Amy Quinn and Malia Carvallo, who speak to me about healing sexuality, pleasure, and connection through embodiment, community, and altered states of consciousness.

 A quick note for my single listeners in California, if you're craving intentional, psychologically grounded ways to meet people. We have a beautiful offering coming up through LALOVELAB.com; a company I co-created with my colleague Dr. Richard Espinoza. Our next matchmaking event is Saturday February 7th at 4:00pmhosted at the Craft Contemporary Museum in LA. It's thoughtfully curated experience designed by us to help you connect with intention, not apps.

 

In this episode, we explore how pleasure and erotic energy can be deeply healing when approached with intention, safety, and compassion. Amy and Malia share their personal journeys into healing work, including dolphin-assisted experiences, somatic practices, and psychedelic-informed therapy.

Amy Ruffolo Quinn, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist with a private practice in El Segundo, California. She is also the founder of Your Beautiful Beginning, LLC, where she leads Wild Dolphin Wellness Retreats that weave together somatic healing, nature, and the medicine of joy. Malia Carvalho is a somatic guide, trauma-informed tantra educator, and founder of The Dreamweaver Collective. Through a unique blend of Kundalini Fusion, somatic yoga, nervous-system regulation, sound healing, microdosing support, and integrative embodiment work, she helps women reconnect with their pleasure, creativity, and personal power.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

●      Healing Sexuality Through Embodiment

●      Releasing Shame Around Pleasure

●      Dolphin-Assisted Healing Experiences

●      Psychedelic-Informed Therapy And Integration

●      The Role Of Breath In Pleasure

●      Presence, Surrender, And Letting Go

●      Relational Healing And Community Support

●      Erotic Energy As A Healing Force

●      Creating Safe Containers For Exploration

●      Joy As A Pathway To Wholeness

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

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Welcome to Episode 473 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Dr. Nicole Thompson, who speaks to me about psychedelic-informed sexuality, chemsex, and harm reduction in erotic spaces.

A quick note for my single listeners in California, if you're craving intentional, psychologically grounded ways to meet people. We have a beautiful offering coming up through LALOVELAB.com; a company I co-created with my colleague Dr. Richard Espinoza. Our next matchmaking event is Saturday February 7th at 4:00pm hosted at the Craft Contemporary Museum in LA. It's thoughtfully curated experience designed by us to help you connect with intention, not apps.

 

In this episode, we discuss how psychedelics intersect with sexuality, pleasure, and relationships, beginning with a reframe of what we even mean by “drugs” and altered states. We also talk about how substances such as MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine can act as non-specific amplifiers, and why intention, set, and setting matter so deeply when people are exploring erotic connection in altered states. 

 

Dr. Nicole Thompson is a queer sex and relationship psychotherapist providing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, researcher, and host of the top-5% global podcast Modern Anarchy. As the founder of The Pleasure Practice, she supports individuals in crafting expansive sex lives and intimate relationships grounded in desire, freedom, and authenticity. Her work weaves together psychology and embodiment, exploring how pleasure, psychedelics, and relational healing open pathways to liberation.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      Psychedelics And Erotic States

·      Chemsex And Harm Reduction

·      Set, Setting, And Intention

·      Consent In Altered States

·      Managing Jealousy And Activation

·      Grounding And Co-Regulation Tools

·      Comparing MDMA, Psilocybin, And Ketamine

·      Safety, Dosing, And Preparation

·      Integration After Psychedelic Sex

·      Sober Psychedelic Sex Practices

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

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Welcome to Episode 472 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Anya Laeta, August McLaughlin, Bel Di Lorenzo, Dr. Elliot Justin, Dr. Evan Goldstein, Dr. Maria Sophocles, Nicoletta Heidegger and Suzannah Weiss as part of this special episode on setting goals for sexual health in 2026. 

As we move into the new year, I want to slow things down a bit and move away from rigid resolutions that are often rooted in pressure, shame, or performance. In this episode, I’m bringing together voices you already know and trust to help reframe sexual health goals as supportive practices rather than benchmarks to pass or fail.

 

Throughout this episode, we discuss your capacity for pleasure, enhancing communication, and letting go of narrow definitions of what sex is supposed to look like. We also look at nervous system safety, pelvic floor health, pleasure practices, sex technology, and intimacy in midlife. This episode aims to remind you that great sex isn’t about fixing yourself; it's about developing skills, remaining connected to your body, and allowing yourself the freedom to grow at your own pace.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      Setting Shame Free Sexual Intentions

·      Using Your Voice In Intimacy

·      Expanding Pleasure Capacity

·      Building Nervous System Safety

·      Body Acceptance And Arousal

·      Pelvic Floor Health And Pleasure

·      Pleasure Over Performance

·      Normalizing Change Across Life Stages

·      Creating Sustainable Pleasure Practices

·      Redefining What Counts As Sex

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Sexual Skills Workshop

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Welcome to Episode 471 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Ita O’Brien, who speaks to me about intimacy coordination, embodied consent, and creating safety and authenticity in intimate storytelling.

In this episode, I sit down with Ita to discuss what an intimacy coordinator actually does and why this role has become so essential in film, television, and theatre. We talk about how intimacy coordination brings structure, clarity, and care to intimate scenes, not only to protect performers, but to serve the story, the characters, and the creative vision. 

Ita O’Brien is an intimacy coordinator and movement director for film, television, and theater. For more than a decade, she has been developing “intimacy on set” guidelines: best practices for working on scenes with sexual content and nudity in film, TV, and theater. O’Brien pioneered the role of intimacy coordinator, which is used in production companies including HBO and Netflix. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Guardian, The New York Times, and NBC. She’s contributed to the intimate content praised in shows such as Normal People, Sex Education, and I May Destroy You.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      What An Intimacy Coordinator Does

·      Creating Safety On Set

·      Consent As A Creative Foundation

·      Embodiment And Somatic Awareness

·      Choreographing Intimate Scenes

·      Anatomy And Authentic Storytelling

·      Power Dynamics And Character Choice

·      Training And Professional Standards

·      Emotional Safety In Long Term Relationships

·      Bringing Intimacy Practices Into Daily Life

Thank you to our sponsor Filthy Milfs! Your podcast lineup is about to get filthy. Get ready for a completely uncensored, outspoken, dirty-minded, and eye-opening look from the most adventurous milfs on the block, Ellen Ancui and Sophie Levine. They're filthy. They're milfy. And they’re waiting for you on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts.

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Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

 

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Welcome to Episode 470 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I am excited to be joined by Margeaux Feldman, who speaks to me about trauma, chronic illness, intimacy, and pleasure, inspired by their book Touch Me. I’m Sick.

In this episode, we discuss the personal and academic journey that led them to write Touch Me. I’m Sick., which began as a PhD dissertation and evolved into a deeply human book about sickness, trauma, disability, and love. Margeaux shares how their own experience with chronic illness shifted their work away from purely academic analysis and toward something more accessible, relational, and rooted in lived experience. 

Margeaux Feldman is a writer, a public educator, and an artist. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing from CalArts and a PhD in English Literature and Sexual Diversity Studies from the University of Toronto. Margeaux's first book Touch Me, I'm Sick: A Memoir in Essays was just published with Beacon Press. They also created the popular meme account @softcore_trauma on Instagram, where they share memes and writing that testifies to their experiences living with trauma and chronic illness.

In this episode, you will hear:

 

·      The Origin Story Of Touch Me. I’m Sick.

·      Chronic Illness And Trauma Connections

·      Redefining Intimacy And Care

·      Independence, Codependence, And Interdependence

·      Wellness Culture And Performativity

·      Trauma, Pleasure, And Ambivalence

·      Dissociation As A Survival Strategy

·      “Ugly Sex” And Sexual Healing

·      Somatic Therapy And Embodiment

·      Pleasure As A Political Act

Thank you to our sponsor Filthy Milfs! Your podcast lineup is about to get filthy. Get ready for a completely uncensored, outspoken, dirty-minded, and eye-opening look from the most adventurous milfs on the block, Ellen Ancui and Sophie Levine. They're filthy. They're milfy. And they’re waiting for you on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts.

Get your FREE Sex Bucket List

Book an Appointment with Dr. Moali

 

Spice Up Your Social Media Feed AND Your Sex Life: Follow Us On Instagram

 

Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions

 

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy