Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy

 In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes unpack the spiritual battle at the heart of intimacy, the impact of Satan’s lies on couples striving for holiness, and why struggle may actually signal sanctity. The conversation includes practical encouragement, spiritual tools like the St. Michael Prayer, and the importance of inviting God into every part of your marriage. ___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com

Join us in Want it and Enjoy it an 8 week group coaching program for Catholic women to reignite desire, pleasure, and joyful sex. Can't wait to see you inside!In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explores why simply learning about intimacy doesn't automatically lead to change in your sex life. She explains how desire and pleasure are rooted in the nervous system, why emotional safety is essential, and how true transformation requires more than just information. Ellen also shares how her eight-week coaching program, Want It and Enjoy It, provides the supportive container needed to create lasting change. ___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com

A candid look at why pleasure can feel out of reach in marriage. Topics include body readiness, pelvic pain and arousal basics. Conversations about mental distraction, emotional connection, and why religious guilt can block desire. Practical focus on body literacy, clitoral anatomy, and learning to slow down for mutual enjoyment.

A candid look at why desire can fade and how to spot the specific barrier keeping it away. Short breakdown of five common desire blocks like burnout, shame, and disconnection. Clear focus on three core pillars—safety, pleasure, and permission—that help rebuild lasting sexual interest. Practical encouragement to shift patterns that train the nervous system against desire.

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes to explore the overwhelming experience of feeling "touched out." They dive into why this sensation happens, why husbands often don’t understand it, and how to clearly communicate your needs without causing disconnection. Practical tools like grounding techniques, body-awareness exercises, and the “10-minute unwind” are shared to help you shift from sensory overload to sexual readiness. ___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com

In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway unpacks how disappointment can sabotage your sex life. She explores why unmet expectations, like not receiving the Christmas gift you hoped for, often lead to resentment and sexual withdrawal. Ellen offers practical mindset shifts and clear communication strategies to help you avoid turning sex into a transactional exchange. This episode equips you to protect intimacy in your marriage and show up fully, even when things don't go as planned. ___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com

Please rate and review Charting Toward Intimacy on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes explore the common belief that NFP is the problem in Catholic marriages. They share personal experiences and discuss how the true issue is often a lack of non-sexual intimacy. The conversation offers practical tools for cultivating emotional closeness and connection outside the bedroom, helping couples reconnect and feel united, even during seasons of abstinence. ___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com

Please take a moment to rate and review Charting Toward Intimacy! It helps other women find the podcast and transform their marriages. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway explores the Feast of the Immaculate Conception through a powerful and rarely considered lens: the sanctity of the sexual union that conceived Mary. She reflects on how Anne and Joachim’s openness to grace reveals God's profound affirmation of the dignity of sex within marriage.___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com

Please rate and review Charting Toward Intimacy! It helps other women find the podcast and benefit from it!In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway dives into the damaging expectation that your husband should be able to read your mind (especially when it comes to emotional and sexual needs). She explores why this belief undermines true intimacy and reframes what genuine, loving actions look like in marriage. Ellen breaks down the importance of asking clearly for what you want, and how your husband's choice to respond, even reluctantly, can still be deeply loving. ___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com

The course or guide mentioned in this episode is no longer sold, but the help you’re looking for is still available. If you want support improving your sex life while staying faithful to Catholic teaching, I invite you to explore Want It and Enjoy It, my current program for Catholic wives. In this episode of Charting Toward Intimacy, Ellen Holloway and Kathleen Chovanes explore the difference between eroticism and holy sex, drawing insights from Dr. Gregory Popcak's book Holy Sex. They discuss how purity culture, shame, and cultural misconceptions distort our understanding of sexual pleasure and God's design. This conversation unpacks what it means to embrace your full self in the bedroom, how arousal and intimacy work together, and why holy sex actually grows more joyful over time. ___________________________________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 info@vinesinfullbloom.com