The Sexual Wellness Sessions

From dating apps to AI companions, our relationships are increasingly mediated through screens, algorithms, and carefully curated versions of the self. But what does this mean for intimacy, desire and our capacity to tolerate the messiness of human relationships? In this episode Dr Aaron Balick draws on over two decades of clinical experience and psychodynamic thinking to unpack the idea of the digitally mediated self and how projection, fantasy, and validation can play out in online spaces. We explore why quick hits of connection, and what Dr Aaron describes as “relational doughnuts”can feel good in the moment, but leave us emotionally undernourished over time. We also discuss the rapidly changing landscape of both looking for love and connection, and maintaining relationships. This is a conversation about intimacy beyond ease and the difference between feeling seen and being known. We examine how relationships are changing as technology and AI play increasingly larger roles in our lives, and the similarities, differences and contradictions between relationship simulation and interpersonal connection. -  New Episode Every Friday -   This series was brought to you by Lelo, the world-leading luxury sexual wellness brand whose range is built on the belief that a fulfilled intimate life is a vital part of our overall wellbeing—a sentiment that sits at the very heart of this podcast.   Head over to LELO.com and use the code KM15 at the checkout to receive 15% off your order.   Code valid until 30th June 2026    -   Follow Us On Socials   Kate Moyle https://www.instagram.com/katemoyletherapy?igsh=MXNpNnFla240a3Rhcg==   Dr Aaron Balick https://www.instagram.com/draaronb?igsh=YWJyeTF1YzdiOWZo   Lelo https://www.instagram.com/lelo_official?igsh=MWhvZzJpa3o3c3l1cA==

In conversations about fertility, we often focus on hope, treatment, and the possibility of becoming a parent. But what happens when it doesn’t end that way? In this deeply honest and thoughtful episode, we explore the often unspoken experience of being childless not by choice—and the profound emotional, physical and relationship impacts that can follow fertility treatment, miscarriage, and years of trying to conceive. My guest Lucy Frank, a psychosexual and relationship therapist who now supports individuals and couples through these experiences, shares her own journey through infertility, IVF, and pregnancy loss. Together we talk about the losses and distress that so often go unseen, the concept of disenfranchised grief, and why these experiences can feel so isolating—even within relationships. We explore the language we use around fertility, the pressure of endless hope, and the cultural narratives that can make it so difficult to imagine a meaningful life outside of parenthood. We also talk about the impact on identity, relationships, intimacy, and how couples can begin to reconnect when life takes an unexpected direction. This is a conversation about the often unspoken side of infertility, and the ongoing process of making sense of what life looks like when it turns out differently to how we imagined. -  New Episode Every Friday -   This series was brought to you by Lelo, the world-leading luxury sexual wellness brand whose range is built on the belief that a fulfilled intimate life is a vital part of our overall wellbeing—a sentiment that sits at the very heart of this podcast.   Head over to LELO.com and use the code KM15 at the checkout to receive 15% off your order.   Code valid until 30th June 2026    -     Follow Us On Socials   Kate Moyle https://www.instagram.com/katemoyletherapy?igsh=MXNpNnFla240a3Rhcg==   Lucy Frank https://www.instagram.com/theyxologist/    Lelo https://www.instagram.com/lelo_official?igsh=MWhvZzJpa3o3c3l1cA==

How can we feel more confident speaking up for ourselves as a patient in a medical setting? How can we best prepare for doctor's appointments? And what are the things that can help if we feel embarrassed or ashamed about symptoms that we are experiencing? In this episode, I sit down with Dr Nighat Arif who is a GP specialising in women's health, an author, and well known medical broadcaster and voice on our screens and radios. She believes her role as a GP is multidisciplinary and that helping her patients to advocate for themselves plays an important role in improving healthcare and creating a more inclusive, compassionate, and effective healthcare system. We unpack the barriers many people face when seeking care, the importance of being heard and believed in clinical spaces, and how healthcare professionals can create environments where patients feel empowered to speak up. With practical insights and honest reflections, a huge part of this conversation is about helping patients to feel better informed, more educated, and to know their own normal. With our specialisms as clinicians being in sexual wellbeing and women's health, our discussion also has a particular focus on these areas of wellbeing that still so often get ignored or left untreated due to shame and taboo.  -   This series was brought to you by Lelo, the world-leading luxury sexual wellness brand whose range is built on the belief that a fulfilled intimate life is a vital part of our overall wellbeing—a sentiment that sits at the very heart of this podcast.     Head over to LELO.com and use the code KM15 at the checkout to receive 15% off your order.   Code valid until 30th June 2026       Follow Us On Socials   Kate Moyle https://www.instagram.com/katemoyletherapy?igsh=MXNpNnFla240a3Rhcg== Dr Nighat Arif https://www.instagram.com/drnighatarif/?hl=en Lelo https://www.instagram.com/lelo_official?igsh=MWhvZzJpa3o3c3l1cA==

Is there a tension between evolutionary biology and modern culture? How do our distinct motivations for intimacy and love differ from our sex drive, and importantly what does this mean for relationships where the two co-exist? In this episode, I’m joined by evolutionary biologist and author Dr Justin Garcia, Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute and author of The Intimate Animal. We dive deep into one of the biggest questions when it comes to our sex lives : what is the real relationship between sex, love, and intimacy — and why do they so often feel at odds? From a legal brothel in the Nevada desert to cutting-edge research on dating apps, hookup culture, and the so-called “sex recession,” this conversation unpacks what’s really driving modern relationships, and Justin explains the complimenting and competitive needs that we have as humans, and what that means for our sex lives and relationships.  At its heart, this conversation is about understanding ourselves more clearly — as intimate animals navigating a modern world our brains didn’t exactly evolve for. Because when we stop asking “What’s wrong with us?” and start asking “What are we wired for?” Then we start to see things differently.   This series was brought to you by Lelo, the world-leading luxury sexual wellness brand whose range is built on the belief that a fulfilled intimate life is a vital part of our overall wellbeing—a sentiment that sits at the very heart of this podcast.   Head over to LELO.com and use the code KM15 at the checkout to receive 15% off your order. Code valid until 30th June 2026   Follow Us On Socials Kate Moyle https://www.instagram.com/katemoyletherapy?igsh=MXNpNnFla240a3Rhcg== Dr Justin Garcia https://www.instagram.com/drjustingarcia?igsh=MWJtcDUxNGV6dWtjNQ== Lelo https://www.instagram.com/lelo_official?igsh=MWhvZzJpa3o3c3l1cA==  

These podcast episodes barely scratch the surface of conversations around different aspects of our sexual and relationship wellbeing, and this is definitely the case for this conversation on neurodiversity and how it shows up in sex lives, intimacy, relationships and dating.   Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that includes many conditions, and describes the variety of ways that people’s brains process information, which differs to what’s described as being neurotypical. By definition it’s a huge spectrum of thoughts, experiences and behaviours which can show up in our lives in a variety of ways and these unique traits and characteristics can create certain challenges when it comes to the more intimate part of our lives.   My guest for this episode is someone who experienced this personally, and trained to become a psychosexual and relationship therapist to help other neurodivergent people get the help that they felt they wanted and couldn’t find. Genevieve Collister Brown is a therapist who specialises in working with gender, sexual and relationship diversity, with a keen interest in working with neurodiversity and disability.   Follow Genevieve on Instagram at @squirtingisntpee   This series has been brought to you by the luxury sexual wellness brand Lelo, who are offering listeners 30% off all Lelo products purchased on BeautyBay.com  Use the code KMOYLE30 until 11.59pm on 31st December 2024.   The Sexual Wellness Sessions is hosted by Kate Moyle, a Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist and Certified Psycho-Sexologist, and author of The Science Of Sex : Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered.   Follow Kate on Instagram at @KateMoyleTherapy   DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast, and always seek the advice of your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider.

Whilst we have come a long way in breaking down the silence around infertility, conversations around male infertility and male fertility issues are still broadly undiscussed. Common perception and assumptions around infertility are that it's a 'woman's issue', but it's estimated that 7% of all men are impacted by infertility; and an estimated one in seven couples in the UK experience infertility which highlights the huge gap in how often people are navigating these emotional and physical challenges, in comparison to how much they are talked about. *   Two men who have personally navigated this in their lives are hosts of The Male Fertility Podcast Ciaran Hannington and Shaun Greenaway, who met through sharing their infertility experiences online, and decided to try and be the resource and help that neither of them could find when they needed it. Shaun and Ciaran talk about how the impact of infertility is limitless and puts pressure on mental health, relationships, self-esteem and self confidence; and how it brings up so many questions in relation to being a partner, fatherhood, masculinity and vulnerability. In this conversation they are both so honest about their own experiences - from being told for the first time that they were experiencing low sperm count and azoospermia ( the medical condition of a man whose semen contains no sperm ) through to decision making, medical treatments, the impact on their mental health and relationships, sperm donation and creating their families.    Trigger Warning - This episode contains reference to suicide.   * figures taken from The Infertility Awareness Report 2024     Follow Shaun on Instagram at @knackered_knackers Follow Ciaran on Instagram at @themalefertilitypt Follow The Male Fertility Podcast on Instagram @themalefertilitypodcast   This series has been brought to you by the luxury sexual wellness brand Lelo, who are offering listeners 30% off all Lelo products purchased on BeautyBay.com  Use the code KMOYLE30 until 11.59pm on 31st December 2024.   The Sexual Wellness Sessions is hosted by Kate Moyle, a Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist and Certified Psycho-Sexologist, and author of The Science Of Sex : Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered. Follow Kate on Instagram at @KateMoyleTherapy   DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast, and always seek the advice of your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider.

The impact of cancer can touch every part of our lives, but many people with cancer report that the impact that is rarely discussed is that on sex, pleasure, intimacy, relationships and dating. The experiences, treatments and changes that we go through are so layered in terms of the physical, emotional and psychological and it's impossible to separate the different parts out as we are in constant relationship between our bodies and how we think and feel about them, and this is something that cancer can completely hijack, which can have huge implications when it comes to sex and intimacy.  Someone who has personally experienced this is Lauren Mahon, who after being diagnosed with breast cancer in her early thirties has become a tireless campaigner for breast cancer awareness through her online community Girls vs Cancer and as one of the hosts of the award winning podcast You, Me And The Big C with her great friends the late Dame Deborah James and Rachel Bland. Lauren is an advocate for talking about all aspects of cancer, and when it comes to the topic of sex lives she launched the Get F*cked campaign through Girls Vs Cancer which is helping to offer some guidance and resources to those who feel like they don't know where to start with getting to know themselves sexually again, both physically and emotionally through diagnosis, treatment and beyond. This conversation covers so much, and Lauren openly goes into how cancer has shaped her sex life and relationships, from first discovering the lump which she would then find out was cancer during a self-pleasure session, through to how she shares that she had cancer when she's dating, and how her expectations and non-negotiables for sex have changed.  Follow Lauren on Instagram at @IAmLaurenMahon   This series has been brought to you by the luxury sexual wellness brand Lelo, who are offering listeners 30% off all Lelo products purchased on BeautyBay.com  Use the code KMOYLE30 until 11.59pm on 31st December 2024.   The Sexual Wellness Sessions is hosted by Kate Moyle, a Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist and Certified Psycho-Sexologist, and author of The Science Of Sex : Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered. Follow Kate on Instagram at @KateMoyleTherapy   DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast, and always seek the advice of your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider.

Anne Hodder-Shipp is an AASECT Award-winning certified sex educator and relationship coach, known for founding Everyone Deserves Sex Ed. She unveils her fascinating theory of the 18 Modern Love Languages, emphasizing the need for expanded and personalized expressions of love. They discuss how societal structures shape romantic ideals and the evolution of communication through tools like emojis and GIFs. The conversation highlights the importance of self-love and understanding diverse communication styles to enhance relationships and navigate modern intimacy.

In this conversation, Emma Reed Turrell, a psychotherapist and author, dives into the blind spots that often cloud perceptions in relationships. She discusses how early experiences form our beliefs about love and attachment, and stresses the importance of open communication to combat misunderstandings. Emma also examines the evolving dynamics of gender roles and parenting, advocating for emotional awareness to enhance intimacy. Additionally, she highlights the characteristics of 'the bridge' personality type and the challenges they face in midlife relationships.

There is a real lack of conversation around many medical conditions, and especially those which are not immediately visible, and MRKH falls into this category. Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a congenital condition which is characterised by the vagina and uterus being underdeveloped or absent, alongside other symptoms. As there are no physically outwards signs until someone reaches puberty and doesn't start their period, this leaves many discovering that they have the condition and everything that comes with it, typically around ages 16-18. There are so many factors that can impact someone with the condition from being unable to carry a pregnancy, to uncomfortable, painful and sometimes impossible penetrative sex; through to the psychological influence, thoughts and shaping of identity and self-esteem, and the way that it can potentially shape relationships. My brilliant guests for this conversation are both women with MRKH and huge advocates and conversation starters, and they bring so much of themselves to this episode as well as so much information about how we can get educated about a condition that impacts so many, but is still rarely heard of.  Ally Hensley is an author, speaker and global ambassador for women's health. Born with MRKH syndrome, she advocates for awareness and support of this condition. Ally co-founded MRKH Australia and Global MRKH, and serves on the board of UK's MRKH Connect. Her podcast, Stigma Shakers, tackles taboo topics and has gained international recognition, and her debut memoir releases later in 2024.   Ellamae Fullalove, is an artist, speaker & founder of Va Va Womb, where she also runs her advocacy work - Mind Over MRKH. She founded a community where she curates social and mindful events in the UK , produced the worldwide MRKH podcast & sends gift boxes to MRKHers.  By day she works in social housing. Follow Ally Hensley on Instagram at @Ally_Hensley and Ellamae Fullalove at @Ellamaebeing   This series has been brought to you by the luxury sexual wellness brand Lelo, who are offering listeners 30% off all Lelo products purchased on BeautyBay.com  Use the code KMOYLE30 until 11.59pm on 31st December 2024.   The Sexual Wellness Sessions is hosted by Kate Moyle, a Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist and Certified Psycho-Sexologist, and author of The Science Of Sex : Every Question About Your Sex Life Answered. Follow Kate on Instagram at @KateMoyleTherapy   DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast, and always seek the advice of your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider.