The Intimate Marriage Podcast, with Intimacy Coach Alexandra Stockwell, MD

There are many different ways for a couple to connect. For Marilee and Paul Kostadimas, it has always been using travel to enhance intimacy – from the day they met on an archeological dig far from where either one of them lived. Rugged travel, luxury travel, educational travel, service-based travel, leisure travel, historical travel, and many other kinds of travel form the defining backbone of this couple’s beautiful, intimate marriage. They live by the mantra, “meaningful travel is part of a meaningful life”  and they see themselves as travel partners in life, through life, and for life. While this shared value has been there since they met, it has evolved over time and taken many different shapes over the course of their long, nourishing marriage. The Kostadimas’ share their love story and how travel became so important to them and has enhanced their marriage–so much so, that they started a company, Spotlight Sojourns, to inspire and connect others wanting to enjoy more meaningful and varied travel together. Also In this episode: How these two bring balance to their relationship through respecting one another’s gifts and creativity: Paul’s photography skills and Marilee’s way with words Marilee and Paul’s conviction that couples shouldn’t commit to marriage until they’ve traveled together How Marilee and Paul became passionate about travel and allowed that to color their lives The different types of travel styles and how Marilee and Paul choose their next adventures Marilee has such a beautiful way with words that invites you to feel the moments she shares from this couple’s incredible adventures.    The Kostadimas’ website and blog: https://spotlightsojourns.com/ Get travel inspiration delivered to your inbox: https://spotlightsojourns.ck.page/   Subscribe To The Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify   Connect With The Show: Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Instagram   If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, get started with the FREE first chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book “Uncompromising Intimacy” HERE Purchase a FULL copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD Her mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement together, every day. For over two decades, she’s been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom—all while maintaining extraordinary professional success!

It’s the 100th episode of The Intimate Marriage Podcast and we discuss why intimacy matters! I am elated to be celebrating this beautiful milestone. In honor of the occasion I invited my own coach, Anne Rose Hart, to join me. We talk about intimacy, why it matters, my zone of genius in serving couples, and the need for this type of work in the world. This is a refreshingly unique episode, as I am the one who is interviewed, on my own podcast! It’s such a great way to mark 100 episodes of the show. Also in this episode: Exactly how I define intimacy Why intimacy is a learned skill (including a foray into my teachings!) The importance of growing within your marriage, not just for you as a couple, but for what it creates on a much larger scale in terms of influence and impact My vision and goals for the future of relationships This is a tender and intimate glimpse into what a private conversation looks like between me and my amazing coach and you’ll get to hear the beauty of our mutual respect, and the foundation of love that informs our communication. Connect with Anne Rose Hart on her website: https://annerosehart.com/   Subscribe To The Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify   Connect With The Show: Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Instagram   If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, get started with the FREE first chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book “Uncompromising Intimacy” HERE Purchase a FULL copy of “Uncompromising Intimacy” HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD Her mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement together, every day. For over two decades, she’s been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom—all while maintaining extraordinary professional success! Alexandra Stockwell, MD supports family happiness through facilitating healing and joy for couples.

Although I don’t typically focus on religious considerations on The Intimate Marriage Podcast, I was thrilled to have a wonderful conversation with devoted, church-going Christians Teresa and Blair Bass. They set out to make a change in the way their fellow Christians view sex and intimacy by opening a Christian sex toy shop where you can purchase sex toys and other supplies, receive instruction and respectful encouragement. Now this is the place where Christians get their sex toys. The Basses share their story and the many challenges they faced in this unique, courageous, and remarkably honest conversation. You’ll hear about: How Blair and Teresa define purity culture and my take on it How purity culture can impact women’s relationship to sex How Teresa reacted when Blair presented the idea of opening a Christian sex toy shop How Blair’s expertise in supply chain management translates to sex toys How Teresa and Blair navigated the complicated responses of their pastor and other members of their church Get 10% Off From The Romantic Blessings Sex Toy Shop  Use this code: IMP10 Stay Connected with Teresa and Blair: Website | Instagram | Blog Connect With The Show:  Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | Instagram If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare.

Implementing masculine and feminine polarity teachings prohibits the cultivation of uncompromising intimacy, because they place you in a particular role that inhibits the expression who you really are. This is an outdated view on relationships and ultimately undermines the idea that the tension between “masculine” and “feminine” ways of being creates erotic chemistry in a relationship. This usually is understood to mean that having a man embody masculine energy and a woman embody feminine energy (in a heteronormative relationship) will result in a wonderful marriage.  It’s far more important to focus on your own authenticity and self-expression, rather than taking on a particular gender role.  In this episode, I discuss: How masculine and feminine roles have changed over the decades (including examples from my own relatives) Why I believe that masculine and feminine polarity teachings are extremely restrictive My client, Suzanne, who was hesitant to participate in coaching because she was so concerned about giving up who she is in order to fit into a “feminine” role (as she felt she would be losing herself in the process) When masculine and feminine polarity teachings ARE helpful in an intimate marriage Resources referenced in this episode: Uncompromising Intimacy podcast episode Going Beyond the 5 Love Languages podcast episode  Download the first chapter of my book, Uncompromising Intimacy Connect With The Show: Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | Instagram If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare.

All aspects of our lives contribute to the health of our relationships, including physical health and well-being. The couple I’m speaking with today with Jared and Joni McDonald. Jared is a health coach I have worked with as a client and has made an enormous difference in my life. Jared and Joni are beautiful examples of a couple who focus on physical well-being in a way that enhances their connection and brings them closer together. In this episode, you’ll hear: The significant event in my life that triggered me to gain weight The happenstance story of how Jared and Joni met All about Jared and Joni’s health journeys and how a mold problem in their home triggered their lifestyle change How focusing on health and wellness enhances Jared and Joni’s marriage today How Jared and Joni balance the lack of time of being parents with their physical health routine Learn more at: The Metabolism Reboot  Connect With The Show: Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | Instagram If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare.

Your complaints can become desires.  Oftentimes, however, when I talk to couples about challenges in their relationship, no matter the issue, there is one common theme: one of them wants the other to make a change. When the partner stays the same, they inevitably respond with resentment. This is the cycle that happens no matter what the issue is. Whether it’s about sex, parenting, work, or anything else, this is the pattern that plays out. In this episode, you’ll hear detailed examples of 3 real-life couples I’ve worked with: A couple who was fighting constantly A couple who had a non-existent sex life A couple where he was working too much and she felt he needed to be more present in their marriage If you’ve been looking for an accessible way to work on your marriage and see real results, my brand new Aligned & Hot Marriage LIVE program is for you! Click here for details: www.alexandrastockwell.com/LIVE Connect With The Show: Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | InstagramIf you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare.  

More often than not, couples shy away from the idea of group coaching,  they think it will mean sharing intimate details in your marriage with strangers. If you’re feeling this way, you could be missing out on one of the most powerful ways to grow your relationship while thriving in an inspiring community and having a genuinely fun and productive time: compounded growth in your marriage In this episode, you’ll hear: The two most common times when we tend to share intimate details of our relationship with others Why it’s beneficial to have other couples present while you coach on your relationship (and oftentimes people’s favorite part of group coaching!) How group coaching can improve your marriage Details about my brand new Aligned & Hot Marriage LIVE program If you’ve been looking for an accessible way to work on your marriage and see real results, my brand new Aligned & Hot Marriage LIVE program is for you! Click here for details: www.alexandrastockwell.com/LIVE Subscribe To The Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With The Show: Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | Instagram If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare.

Libido mismatch is a myth. That’s right. In my experience working with hundreds of people on relationships and intimacy, drawing the conclusion that one person has a low libido and the other person has a high libido is an oversimplification of a much larger (and much more solvable) issue.   Libido mismatch is an easy assumption to make because it is an accurate description of what seems to be happening at the moment. But, it is not an explanation and it is not the root cause of the issue at hand. In this episode, you’ll learn: The actual most common reasons why one person wants to have sex less often than the other Lifestyle changes you can make to start to boost your libido Ways in which you can transform the environment around you to increase your or your partner’s desire for sex Subscribe To The Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With The Show: Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | Instagram If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare.

Communicating about sex with your partner is essential to turn up the heat in your relationship. If you are you are newly dating or they have been married for forty years communication is key. Talking about sex will also create and maintain a long-lasting, happy marriage–one that includes nourishing, erotic, intimate sensuality. In this episode, you’ll hear: My own early sexual experience with an older man exemplified how I couldn’t communicate and didn’t know what I wanted in the bedroom Why talking about sex is so important to the quality of sex you have Clear tips on exactly how to get the conversation about sex going with your partner  When to avoid talking about sex Subscribe To The Podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With The Show: Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | Instagram If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE About Alexandra Stockwell, MD My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare. Communication To Turn Up The Heat

When thinking about flirting, it’s common to think of initial meetings, picking someone up in a public place, dating, or when getting to know a partner. But flirting is not something that should be restricted to the early stage of a relationship; it should be present through the decades of a long-lasting, intimate marriage! Logan reached out to me on Facebook seeking advice on how to flirt with his wife. He wanted to cultivate genuine connection, playfulness, and spontaneity in his marriage and didn’t know where to begin. This episode was recorded live and is a unique episode and a rare opportunity to hear Alexandra coach.   In this live coaching call, you’ll discover: Logan’s initial thoughts on what flirting means to him My specific, step-by-step advice for Logan to bring flirtation into his marriage Logan’s own recap of what he learns from our impactful coaching session   Subscribe To The Podcast:   Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify   Connect With The Show:   Facebook | Facebook Group | Linkedin | Website | Twitter | Instagram   If you're ready to create the deliciousness and joy of a growth-oriented, passionate relationship, visit: www.alexandrastockwell.com If you’re ready for your relationship to feel as good on the inside as it looks on the outside, read this. Get started with a complimentary free chapter from Alexandra’s acclaimed bestselling book Uncompromising Intimacy HERE Purchase A Full Copy of Uncompromising Intimacy HERE   About Alexandra Stockwell, MD   My mission is to change the cultural narrative around long-term relationships from one of ongoing stagnation and compromise to the delectable joy and deep gratification a couple feels while building passion and excitement on a daily basis. For over two decades, I have been guiding men and women to bring pleasure and purpose back into all aspects of life— from the daily grind of running a household to creating ecstatic experiences in the bedroom! I embarked on this journey not only for my patients but for myself and my own relationship. I wanted more for my life and my marriage than logistics, and discussions about childcare.   Live Coaching: Married Man Wants To Flirt With His Wife