
Charting Toward Intimacy
Looking for answers to the questions you don't want to Google? Not sure where to get help when your sexual life is on the rocks and everything the secular culture has to offer is only making things worse? Welcome to Charting Toward Intimacy where you learn to actually enjoy and desire good, holy sex with your spouse. Hosted by Ellen Holloway, Catholic Sex and Intimacy Coach.
Latest episodes

Aug 7, 2023 • 30min
The Banquet | Ep. 129
What is the Eternal Banquet, the wedding feast of the Lamb? What is that really? I mean honestly we don't know, but God gives us windows to peer in and see tiny glimmers of the glory that await us in Heaven.Sometimes we turn those windows, those icons to heaven into idols. Sex is one of those things that we idolize.In this episode we'll pose the question that you need to regularly be asking yourself, am I making an idol out of sex or am I allowing it to be the icon that it was designed to be?Ghent AltarpieceDisputation of the Holy Sacrament - This is the one we didn't know the name of!___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jul 31, 2023 • 29min
Overcoming Pain | Ep 128
Pain with Sex is not normal.Let me say that again. Pain with sex is not normal. If you're experiencing pain, let this episode be the wakeup call you need to do something about the pain you're experiencing.Kathleen and Ellen share some of their experiences with pain and discomfort and give you some tips if you are experiencing pain!Links:Sweet Almond OilTighten Your Tinkler use code CHARTING50 for $50 off!___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jul 24, 2023 • 36min
Living Your Best Life Throughout Your Cycle | Episode 127
Every heard the term cycle syncing? well that's not what we're talking about in this episode. We're talking about ways to understand how to live your life to the fullest through the different phases of your cycle. How can you maximize your energy levels and focus on family time in ways that won't make you stomp around your house wanting to throw everything out!___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jul 17, 2023 • 31min
Your Mindset Around Sex | Ep 126
We're talking mindset when it comes to sex for those of us ladies. This is a huge topic and we just scratch the surface on opening up some of the reasons we think and act the way we do around sex and some tips on how to improve your mindset when it comes to sex!___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jul 10, 2023 • 37min
Characteristics of a Healthy and Mature Sexual Relationship | Ep. 125
What constitutes a healthy sexual relationship? How do you know if you and your spouse have a healthy and mature sexual relationship? We dive into the characteristics of a healthy sexual relationship in this episode so that you can take stock of your own relationship.___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jul 3, 2023 • 33min
Sex, Contraception, the Mass, and Blasphemy | Ep. 124
The Sacrament of Marriage and the Sacrament of the Eucharist have some incredible connections. In fact, marriage acts as a sort of analogy for the Mass. We're going to dive into this and even more in this episode.If marriage is an analogy for the Mass, what kinds of connections can be made about the use of contraception in a marriage and what that would look like analogously in the Mass? We'll answer that question too!___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jun 26, 2023 • 27min
Why All the Rules? | Ep. 123
We are talking today about rules--the rules of our faith and how the rules around our faith are not arbitrary or oppressive!The church should not be viewed as oppressive, especially in regards to our sexuality. There's a really good reason it's not just free for all, and we're going to get into that in this episode.The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jun 19, 2023 • 33min
You Have to Ask for What You Want | Ep. 122
Guess what! You and your spouse are different people who have different wants and needs.Your spouse is not going to want the exact same things you want and you're not going to want the exact things your spouse wants. In fact, you spouse might not care one bit about something you want, and THAT'S OK. Here's why, it's your job as spouse to communicate your wants and needs to your spouse. Your spouse isn't going to care unless you share how important it is to you.Sometimes that means you have to ask more than once. Sometimes it means you have to ask more than 10 times. Sometimes it means you have to charitably ask every single day for multiple years until it becomes clear how important it is.This applies both in and out of the bedroom too! Listen in for more on this topic and examples of how we've seen this play out in our marriages.___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jun 12, 2023 • 30min
One Surefire Way to Improve Your Sex Life with Dr. Sarah Bartel | Ep. 121
It might not sound as sexy as you think. The one thing you can do to improve your sex life is to work on your marriage as a whole!Looking for Abundant the full marriage course we mentioned on the podcast? Click right here! If you sign up through this link, you'll get a free one hour coaching session with Ellen alongside the course!___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses

Jun 5, 2023 • 30min
Sex is a Team Sport | Ep. 120
Here's the deal, you're not going to get good at sex by yourself. It takes two to tango! Sex is a team effort, and it takes practice to get good!The best sex happens when each spouse is focused more on the other than on themselves. If you're looking to get to have all-star sex, you need to train like an athlete. That means practice, communicate, and practice more!___________________________________ Did we mention a book on this week's episode? Click here for our recommended books! Reach out at instagram.com/chartingtowardintimacy/ or email us at ellen@vinesinfullbloom.comReady to improve your sex life and take it to the next level? Check out our courses: vinesinfullbloom.com/courses