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Sex For Couples with Heather Shannon: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Heather Shannon
Sex For Couples is a podcast for committed couples who feel stressed, guilty, or frustrated about their sex life—and want to feel excited, close, and playful again. New episodes are released every Monday.Hosted by Heather Shannon, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with 19 years of experience as a counselor and coach, the show breaks down the emotional and psychological reasons intimacy fades and what actually helps couples reconnect. Heather has been featured on BloomTV and quoted in Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, SELF, Glamour, and more. She is a Gottman-trained couples counselor, an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist and has spent 13 years as a practicing Buddhist.Through both solo and guest episodes, Sex For Couples offers approachable advice, open conversations, and helpful tools so couples can communicate better about sex, reduce shame and stigma, and enjoy rediscovering each other.This podcast isn’t about performance or perfection—it’s about helping couples stop overthink
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- Today22 min
Why You Don’t Need Intercourse To Be Intimate
Stuck in a sex rut? Take the free quiz at https://TheBetterBedroom.com.Tired of the all or nothing sex cycle? Learn how to enjoy intimacy without pressure, even when your energy is running low.If you feel like every affectionate moment needs to lead to intercourse, you might be trapped in an all or nothing sex mindset. This pattern often leaves partners feeling exhausted or disconnected, as it narrows the definition of what intimacy can be. This episode is for anyone who wants to break that cycle and find more room to breathe in their relationship.Certified Sex Therapist and host Heather Shannon explains how to build intimacy without pressure, helping you explore diverse forms of intimacy that do not require high energy or a high libido. By shifting your focus away from the performance of intercourse, you can start reclaiming your sexual experiences and finding connection in the small, everyday moments.Subscribe for weekly relationship insights, and comment if you have felt the pressure to perform in your own relationship.Want Heather to be your sex and relationship coach? Request your free consultation call here: https://calendly.com/hshann1/igniteThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
- 1 weeks ago55 min
Stop Trying To Get Your Old Sex Life Back
In this episode of Sex For Couples, Heather Shannon talks with relationship coach Ally Iseman about non-monogamy, consensual open relationships, and how to build a sex life and relationship that's designed on purpose instead of running on autopilot. They get into why exclusivity and commitment aren't the same thing, why jealousy shows up in monogamous relationships too, and how monogamous couples can borrow the same tools non-monogamous couples use to keep things exciting.Ally is the founder of Passport to Pleasure, offering relationship coaching and curated travel experiences for couples who want to have the conversations they don't get to have anywhere else. She and Heather talk about relationship scripts, the difference between fantasy and desire, why living together or splitting things a certain way isn't required for commitment, and why curiosity — not effort — is the real antidote to a stuck sex life.In this episode:Why exclusivity and commitment are not the same thingJealousy is an emotional experience, not a character trait — and it shows up in monogamous relationships tooThe difference between a fantasy and a desire, and why you can share one without acting on itHow "relationship scripts" (living together, marriage, monogamy by default) keep couples from designing what actually works for themWhy avoiding a hard conversation with your partner is still a choice, not neutralHow non-monogamous couples build novelty and variety — and how monogamous couples can borrow the same toolsWhy your sex life is supposed to change over time, and what that means for your relationshipConnect with Ally Iseman: Website: https://www.passport2pleasure.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyisemanConnect with Heather: Stuck In A Sex Rut? Take the free quiz: TheBetterBedroom.com Work with Heather As Your Coach: https://HeatherShannon.coThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
- 2 weeks ago25 min
How To Stop Being Sexually Inhibited
Stuck in a sex rut? Take the free quiz at https://TheBetterBedroom.comIf you've ever wondered if you're sexually repressed or inhibited, this is the eipsode for you! Discover the signs that you're sexually inhibited, why so many people hold back sexually and what to do to become more sexually authentic and free to be yourself! Let your freak flag (or vanilla flag) fly. Host and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Heather Shannon goes over common patterns she sees with clients as well as her own past experiences feeling repressed and uncomfortable with sexuality. In this episode, Heather shares practical ways to notice when you are holding back, how to talk about desires with a partner, and how to work with the parts of yourself that feel protective or ashamed.Key topicsSexual inhibition can show up as keeping fantasies private, staying quiet during sex, or feeling like your desires are weird or inappropriate.A “low libido” may actually be hidden desire that has been buried by self-judgment, fear of being judged, or difficulty naming wants.Private sexual interests, like porn fantasies, romance novels, or kink scenarios, can be a sign that part of your sexuality is not being shared with a partner.Cultural conditioning plays a major role, including messages from family, friends, school, church, purity culture, and gender socialization.Safety matters first. Heather notes that sexual inhibition can be tied to real concerns about unwanted attention, objectification, and sexual aggression.Substance use during sex can be a clue that inhibition is getting in the way of pleasure and ease.Timestamps00:00 - What sexual inhibition is and what this episode will cover 00:31 - Signs you may be repressed or censoring yourself 05:36 - How socialization teaches people what sex is “allowed” to be 06:06 - Church, purity culture, and shame-based sexual messaging 07:03 - Sexual safety, unwanted attention, and guardedness 09:25 - Family modeling, mixed examples, and emotional risk around sex 13:36 - How civilization can lead us to exile our primal side 15:00 - Reconciling the proper self with the sexual self 16:25 - Integrating lust and emotional connection 17:24 - Using parts work to welcome the more wild parts 19:50 - How sharing desires can create intimacy and closeness 20:49 - Substance use as a sign that inhibition may be present 21:10 - Befriending the protective inner voice 21:40 - Freeing your sexuality without needing to be stereotypically wild 23:06 - How to ask for curiosity and safety from a partnerLooking for coaching? Request a free consultation with Heather:Unlock Your Passion - Consultation CallThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
- 4 weeks ago50 min
Sex With ADHD: Why Your Brain Checks Out
Feeling stuck in your sex life? Take the free quiz to find your sexy spark again: https://thebetterbedroom.comSEX WITH ADHDYou're in the middle of sex and somehow your brain wanders off to grocery lists, Hamilton the musical, or the ceiling fan clicking. Then the shame kicks in. If that's you, this episode is going to change how you think about it completely.Heather sits down with Cate Osborn, ADHD content creator, sex educator, and best-selling author of The ADHD Field Guide for Adults, to break down what ADHD and neurodivergence actually have to do with sex and intimacy. Spoiler: everything.They cover why the ADHD brain treats sex like just another series of tasks (same as making a sandwich), why kink might be the most naturally ADHD-friendly toolbox there is, how executive dysfunction shows up in the bedroom, the surprising links between ADHD and erectile dysfunction, orgasm difficulty, and hormonal shifts, and, for partners of someone with ADHD, where explanation ends and excuse begins.In this episode:00:00 Intro 01:35 Why so many of Heather's clients turn out to be neurodivergent 02:53 Executive functioning and how it touches every part of your sex life 04:15 The comorbidities nobody talks about (anxiety, OCD, disordered eating) 04:42 What "AuDHD" is and why it matters 06:45 The sexual assault statistics that stopped Heather in her tracks 08:04 Inside The ADHD Field Guide for Adults 14:11 Why kink might be the perfect tool for an ADHD brain 18:20 The real reason you get distracted during sex 23:50 "I'm thinking about Hamilton the musical", checking out mid-sex 25:10 Eye contact, communication, and knowing your own needs 36:12 The partner side: what's fair to ask, and where accountability comes in 44:34 Resentment, parentified relationships, and sex drive 45:43 Orgasm difficulty and erectile dysfunction, explainedCurious about coaching with Heather? Book a free Pathway to Passion consultMore from Cate Osborn: InstagramBuy The Book This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
- Aug 10, 202639 min
Why More Frequent Sex Isn't the Fix You Need
Feeling stuck in your sex life or wondering how to reignite intimacy with your partner? Take the free quiz at TheBetterBedroom.com to find out what's really going on.Why More Frequent Sex Isn't the Fix You NeedMost couples who feel stuck in their sex life assume the answer is just having sex more often. Couples therapist Zach Brittle (host of Marriage Therapy Radio) joins host and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Heather Shannon to explain why chasing frequency backfires, and why sex is actually a skill you build, not something you either have or don't. They dig into what people get wrong when they try to "work harder" at sex, why outcome-focused sex (orgasm, erection, intercourse) narrows what counts as intimacy, and how one couple in Zach's practice eliminated the guesswork around initiation entirely with a simple negotiated system.Topics covered:Why "more sex" is the wrong goal for a low sex lifeReframing sex as a skill instead of a talent you either have or don'tWhat "what's it for?" and "what counts?" reveal about your sex lifeWhy rejection in the bedroom is rarely about attractionA real couple's negotiated system for ending initiation anxietyTreating sex like a hobby instead of a performanceMore from Zach Brittle:Marriage Therapy Radio — https://marriagetherapyradio.com/More from Heather:AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, host of Sex For Couples. Want personalized support for your relationship? Book a coaching consultation at https://HeatherShannon.co. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
- Jul 27, 202621 min
Is Your Cell Phone Accidentally Killing Your Sex Life?
Take the Why You're Stuck In A Sex Rut Quiz now! https://TheBetterBedroom.com If you feel more like roommates, co-parents, or logistical planning partners than lovers, your phone might be a bigger part of the problem than you think. In this episode, Heather Shannon — certified sex therapist with 20 years of counseling experience — breaks down what constant phone use is actually doing to your sex drive and your relationship, and how getting present again brings your desire back with it.What You'll Learn00:02 — Why phone use might be quietly killing your sex life, and what a 2025 University of Connecticut/Columbia study found about phone use, conflict, and intimacy in relationships02:27 — The societal shift toward disconnection: distracted driving, ignored bids for attention, and the disappearing "hello" when you walk into a shop04:54 — Why being "in your head" instead of "in your body" is one of the biggest hidden causes of performance anxiety, difficulty orgasming, and disconnection from your partner07:16 — How to audit your own phone use: what you actually want vs. what your actions show, and why this matters even more for men who weren't encouraged to be in touch with their emotions09:38 — What you get back when you put the phone down: presence, laughter, working out as a body-awareness practice, and why boredom can actually be good for your sex life11:52 — The trade-off most people don't examine: what you're sacrificing for a quick dopamine hit (and a mention of the book Dopamine Nation)14:15 — Heather's own 48-hour phone experiment: turning off text, WhatsApp, social media, and email for a weekend — and what it did to her nervous system and her sex drive16:32 — Practical solutions: checking in with yourself before you scroll, using Screen Time/Downtime limits, and why limits alone aren't enough — you have to decide how you actually want to spend your timeJoin the 30-Day ChallengeHeather's considering building a 30-day cell-phone-reducing, relationship-presence-boosting challenge. If that's something you'd want in on, comment "CHALLENGE" on YouTube or Spotify, or email Hello@HeatherShannon.co directly. If there's enough interest, she'll build it.Resources & Links📋 Take the quiz: TheBetterBedroom.com📅 Book a consultation call for coaching: HeatherShannon.co📖 Mentioned in this episode: Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke🧘 Mentioned in this episode: Eckhart Tolle's perspective on digital society and presenceThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
- Jul 13, 202650 min
Feel Confident Dominating Your Partner - A Former Dominatrix Shares How
Take the free quiz to find out why you're stuck in a sex rut: https://TheBetterBedroom.comWhat does it actually take to feel dominant in the bedroom, and why do so many of us freeze up when it's our turn to lead? In this episode, Heather sits down with Amanda Dames, a kink consultant and former professional dominatrix, to break down the real skills behind dominance, submission, and power dynamics in a relationship.Amanda spent two years working at a dungeon while holding down a corporate job at the Wall Street Journal, and she brings that hands-on experience into a real conversation about how dominant and submissive roles actually work, how to figure out your own authentic style, and how to vet a partner for safety before you ever get started. They cover the different types of Doms (Master, Traditional Dom, Caretaker Dom, and Pleasure Dom), the different types of submissives (service subs, slaves, baby girls and boys), the red flags that signal an unhealthy power dynamic, and why most of what we see about kink and BDSM in movies sets totally unrealistic expectations.If you're ready to go deeper than a podcast episode, visit https://HeatherShannon.co to request a free consultation and learn about Heather's signature Pathway to Passion coaching program.Timestamps: 0:00 Amanda's path from marine biology to the Wall Street Journal to a Craigslist dominatrix job 4:30 Discovering a more powerful, dominant version of herself 8:00 What a Dom's real job actually is, and how to avoid burnout 17:00 Why you need to talk to your partner before you talk divorce 19:30 How a real negotiation between a Dom and a client actually works 26:30 Why being patient with yourself matters more than getting it right the first time 30:00 The four types of Dominants, explained 36:20 The submissive types, and how to find your own style 37:50 How to vet a Dom (or any partner) for safety 45:00 Why movies like Secretary and Baby Girl are not how-to videos 51:00 Amanda's free worksheet for talking about your desires with confidenceTake the free quiz: https://TheBetterBedroom.comLearn more about Heather's Pathway to Passion coaching: https://HeatherShannon.coGet Amanda's free worksheet, Speaking Your Desires With Confidence: https://AmandaDames.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
- Jun 29, 202629 min
6 Ways To Effectively Communicate Your Sexual Needs
Want help figuring out your own needs before you bring them to your partner? Take the free Intimacy Audit: https://HeatherShannon.co (click the pop-up)In this episode . . . Great sex isn't about mind reading. If you've stayed silent about what you want, tried to bring it up and gotten shut down, or you're with someone who clams up at the mention of sex, this episode gives you six steps to actually say what you need without putting your partner on the defensive.AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Heather Shannon breaks down how to talk about your sexual needs, desires, and fantasies in a way that builds connection instead of conflict. You'll learn the difference between framing something as a "need" versus a "want," how to figure out what you actually desire when you're not sure, and how to bring up bigger topics, like having a threesome, without blowing up the conversation.Find out:Why calling something a sexual "need" instead of a "want" can create unintended pressure or resentmentHow to start identifying your own desires, even if you've never really thought about it beforeThe difference between healthy support and codependency in a relationship, and why it matters for your sex lifeA real example of how to bring up a fantasy with your partner without making it weirdWhat to say when your partner brings up something you're not intoHow to negotiate sexual differences so both people still feel like themselvesCurious about coaching with Heather? Request a free consultation at https://HeatherShannon.co.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
About Sex For Couples with Heather Shannon
Sex For Couples is a podcast for committed couples who feel stressed, guilty, or frustrated about their sex life—and want to feel excited, close, and playful again. New episodes are released every Monday.Hosted by Heather Shannon, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with 19 years of experience as a counselor and coach, the show breaks down the emotional and psychological reasons intimacy fades and what actually helps couples reconnect. Heather has been featured on BloomTV and quoted in Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, SELF, Glamour, and more. She is a Gottman-trained couples counselor, an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist and has spent 13 years as a practicing Buddhist.Through both solo and guest episodes, Sex For Couples offers approachable advice, open conversations, and helpful tools so couples can communicate better about sex, reduce shame and stigma, and enjoy rediscovering each other.This podcast isn’t about performance or perfection—it’s about helping couples stop overthink
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