Latest Family planning Podcast Episodes
Family Vacations and Sex | Ep. 177
Charting Toward Intimacy - July 08, 2024 07:00 - 28 minutesIn this episode Ellen and Kathleen dive into the complexities of maintaining a healthy sex life during family vacations. They discuss practical tips for navigating shared living spaces, the importance of sustaining intimacy without sex, and creative ways to find private moments with your spouse...
What Does the Church Actually Teach about Oral Stimulation? | Ep. 176
Charting Toward Intimacy - July 01, 2024 07:00 - 11 minutesIn this episode host Ellen Holloway delves into the topic of oral stimulation. Ellen explains the church's teachings on what is permissible and how oral stimulation fits into moral boundaries as foreplay leading to intercourse. Highlighting the importance of both male and female sexual pleasure,...
Trying New Positions | Ep. 175
Charting Toward Intimacy - June 24, 2024 07:00 - 31 minutesTrying new positions can be a lot! Maybe you're not sure how to approach the conversation or you don't even know any other positions to try. This week, Ellen and Kathleen talk all things trying new positions in the bedroom! NOW AVAILABLE The Catholic Sex Positions Guide 48% off for a limited t...
They Mystery of Sexual Pleasure and the Body | Ep. 174
Charting Toward Intimacy - June 17, 2024 07:00 - 12 minutesIn this episode Ellen delves into why there isn't a checklist for sexual pleasure in marriage and why that's a good thing. She discusses the theological perspectives on the human body and sexual pleasure, emphasizing the opportunity for couples to learn and grow through the newness of each intim...
Grooming and Shaving | Ep. 173
Charting Toward Intimacy - June 10, 2024 07:00 - 34 minutesIn this episode Ellen and Kathleen discuss the nuances of grooming and shaving the genital area from a Catholic perspective. They address common questions around the morality of grooming, reasons people choose to groom, and the purpose of genital hair. The episode also covers the importance of ...
Painful Sex, Differing Comfort Levels, and Communicating about Sex | Ep. 172
Charting Toward Intimacy - June 03, 2024 07:00 - 25 minutesToday Ellen is answering a question from Instagram: My husband really resists oral, but sex has been painful for me. He's really rough. I spoke up and there's been no change. As you can see there are a lot of facets to this question and we cover it all in this episode! ______________________...
Lingerie Style Guide | Ep 171
Charting Toward Intimacy - May 27, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutesIn this week's episode Kathleen and Ellen talk about some common elements of lingerie. They discuss both personal preferences as well as how certain elements can fit well for certain body types or seasons of life (like postpartum or pregnant bodies!) We talk through some pieces specifically on ...
What is the 10-minute Unwind? | Ep. 170
Charting Toward Intimacy - May 21, 2024 07:00 - 15 minutesEllen addresses the struggle many women face in transitioning from their busy day to intimate moments with their spouse. Highlighting the inherent multitasking nature of women's brains, Ellen introduces the '10-minute unwind' as a method to help focus and prepare for intimacy. Check out the O...
NFP is NOT "Catholic Contraception" | Ep. 169
Charting Toward Intimacy - May 13, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutesIn this episode, Ellen and Kathleen delve into the distinction between Natural Family Planning (NFP) and contraception, addressing common questions and concerns from a Catholic perspective. They explore the theological significance of sex, the church's stance on NFP versus contraception, and how...
What if I'm Not Comfortable With Something My Husband Suggests? | Ep. 168
Charting Toward Intimacy - May 06, 2024 07:00 - 14 minutesIn this episode Ellen discusses how couples can handle differing levels of comfort with sexual acts. She emphasizes the importance of communication, respecting each other's boundaries, and defaulting to the less comfortable spouse to maintain a loving and trusting relationship. She provides guid...
Chastity is More Than Just Abstinence - SO MUCH MORE | Ep. 167
Charting Toward Intimacy - April 29, 2024 07:00 - 28 minutesIn this episode Ellen and Kathleen explore the topic of chastity within marriage, emphasizing that chastity goes beyond merely abstaining from sex. They discuss the deep and abundant grace available through the sacrament of marriage and how living out chastity can enhance marital intimacy and un...
Messy Liturgies and Sin-Filled Marriages | Ep. 166
Charting Toward Intimacy - April 22, 2024 07:00 - 14 minutesIn this episode Ellen shares a personal revelation about finding God's presence and grace in the imperfections of married life and liturgical celebrations. Despite her initial frustration with less-than-perfect liturgies during the Easter Triduum, Ellen is reminded through prayer that God's gra...
Thank God for Your Husband's Sex Drive | Ep. 165
Charting Toward Intimacy - April 15, 2024 07:00 - 29 minutesThis episode focuses on the common issue among couples regarding the disparity in sex drives, a topic frequently brought up by listeners. We propose a perspective shift, suggesting couples view these differences as blessings that can forward the relationship and increase intimacy. ____________...
What Does the Church Actually Teach about Manual Stimulation? | Ep. 164
Charting Toward Intimacy - April 08, 2024 07:00 - 20 minutesIn this episode, the focus is on the church's teachings regarding manual stimulation and masturbation within the context of marriage. We'll go through basically all of the different scenarios of manual stimulation from masturbation to stimulating the other person. Get the Orgasm Course for Cat...
Stop Treating Good Sexual Thoughts Like Intrusive Thoughts | Ep. 163
Charting Toward Intimacy - April 01, 2024 07:00 - 29 minutesIn this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen and Kathleen tackle the challenge of internalized purity culture and its impact on women's sexual thoughts. They discuss the phenomenon where healthy sexual desires within the context of marriage are mistakenly treated as intrusive thoughts due ...
Your Hormones Aren't the Reason You Have Low Sexual Desire | Ep. 162
Charting Toward Intimacy - March 25, 2024 07:00 - 17 minutesIn this episode we'll address the misconception among individuals practicing Natural Family Planning (NFP) that their sexual desire only peaks during the fertile window due to hormonal influences. Listen in to see what you really need to change to experience more desire for sex! ______________...
Postpartum Sex! | Ep. 161
Charting Toward Intimacy - March 18, 2024 07:00 - 27 minutesThis episode addresses the complexities and challenges couples face regarding postpartum sex. The episode covers the expectations, fears, and physical changes women and their partners might experience, emphasizing the importance of communication, understanding, and patience. Techniques such as p...
Your Marriage Doesn't Need to Be Perfect | Ep. 160
Charting Toward Intimacy - March 11, 2024 07:00 - 12 minutesEllen addresses the common pursuit of perfectionism in marriage and sexual relationships, emphasizing that perfection is not a prerequisite for intimacy or spiritual growth. She discusses how striving for a perfect relationship or sexual encounter can be paralyzing, whereas embracing the imperfe...
Sex is Not a Love Language | Ep. 159
Charting Toward Intimacy - March 04, 2024 08:00 - 26 minutesIn this episode of 'Charting Toward Intimacy', Kathleen and Ellen discuss the misconception of sex being a love language. They explain that sex should be a result of love and intimacy rather than the base of it, and argue that using sex as the glue that holds a relationship together creates a fa...
Are you reducing sex to a purely physical act? | Ep 158
Charting Toward Intimacy - February 25, 2024 08:00 - 16 minutesIn this episode Ellen discusses the deep connection between sex and prayer. She implements the teachings of the Catechism, arguing that just as prayer cannot be reduced to spontaneous desire but requires an active will, sex should also not be reduced to spontaneous physical desire. She encourage...
NFP is Unfair | Ep. 157
Charting Toward Intimacy - February 19, 2024 08:00 - 22 minutesThis podcast, led by Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chavones, discusses the challenges of sticking to Natural Family Planning (NFP) during instances of limited fertile days and mandatory abstinence due to serious medical or financial constraints. It emphasizes how suffering and sacrifice are cruci...
The Most Vulnerable Thing You Can Do | Ep. 156
Charting Toward Intimacy - February 12, 2024 08:00 - 15 minutesThis episode focuses on the emotional complexities of initiating sex within a Catholic marriage, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual desires and the associated vulnerabilities. Through an in-depth discussion, Ellen addresses various misconceptions about physical desire and ur...
Is Sexual Passivity Ruining Your Sex Life? - With Mike "Gomer" Gormley | Ep. 155
Charting Toward Intimacy - February 05, 2024 08:00 - 1 hourMike 'Gomer' Gormley joins host Ellen as they discuss the detrimental effects of sexual passivity on marriage and ways to overcome it. Gomer provides valuable insights from a male perspective, emphasizing the importance of sexual initiation, communication, respect, and genuine love in maintainin...
How to Take the Pressure Off of Sex | Ep. 154
Charting Toward Intimacy - January 29, 2024 08:00 - 10 minutesIn this podcast episode, Ellen addresses the challenge of navigating sex within a marriage, particularly from a Catholic perspective. She discusses a situation where a couple put such heavy emphasis on the religious significance of sex that it led to tension and avoidance, reducing their sexual...
The One About Preparing for Postpartum
Becoming Maternal - January 29, 2024 05:00 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 22 ratingsThis week's guest is Lauren Johnson from Choose Joy Nursing. She is a newborn sleep strategist and a breastfeeding-friendly RN, BSN. Cathie and Lauren talk about preparing for postpartum and how to take care of yourself during the postpartum season. https://www.choosejoynursing.com/ https://w...
Are You the Gatekeeper of Sex? | Ep. 153
Charting Toward Intimacy - January 22, 2024 08:00 - 30 minutesIn this podcast Ellen, discusses the idea of women becoming gatekeepers of sex in a relationship, specifically within the context of a Catholic marriage and family planning. In conversation with guest Grace Stark, editor for Natural Womanhood, they suggest that the issue can be seen as an issue ...
The One About Your Pelvic Health
Becoming Maternal - January 22, 2024 05:00 - 48 minutes ★★★★★ - 22 ratingsThis week on the podcast with have Beth Anne Travis and Bethany Blake from Arkansas Pelvic Health. Bethany and Beth Anne are pelvic floor therapists in Arkansas who are passionate about spreading the word about pelvic floor health. We all know we have a pelvis but are we all taking care of our p...
If You Could Re-do Your Wedding Night, What Would You Change? | Ep. 152
Charting Toward Intimacy - January 15, 2024 08:00 - 26 minutesIn this episode, hosts Ellen and Kathleen talk about lessons they wish they knew on their wedding night. They highlight the importance of open communication, and understanding the depth and holiness of sex within marriage, and how it goes beyond just fulfilling an urge. They emphasize the need t...
The One About Hiring A Doula
Becoming Maternal - January 15, 2024 05:00 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 22 ratingsAndrea (she/her) has been fascinated by all things birth and babies since she was a small child. She began her doula career informally in 1999, and then became a full-time birth doula in 2015. She was motivated by the desire to support all pregnant people as they give birth where they feel most ...
The One About Starting the Adoption Process
Becoming Maternal - January 08, 2024 14:00 - 52 minutes ★★★★★ - 22 ratingsFriends! Meet Karen Nixon. She is the Tennessee Director of Adoption Assistance (https://www.adoptionassistance.com/). If you need someone to point you in the direction of how to journey through adoption, look no further! Karen is an adoptee as well as the mother to a daughter who came to her f...