Live From Love

Do you or your spouse struggle with chronic pain and/or illness?  This is a struggle for many individuals and it is affecting every aspect of the relationship. It isn’t what you had planned for your life and that can create resentment if not kept in check. It can be physical or emotional- or both.  Whatever the cause, I will talk about some ways to work through it.  Some options.  Some ideas. 

What does a healthy relationship look like?  Today I will give you ten warning signs that you may need to examine.  You may need to get some help or even get away from the relationship.  I will also share ten areas where you can work together to make your relationship stronger.  Join me today as we discuss ways you can become the person you want in your marriage and tips for building the long lasting and healthy relationship you are seeking.

Sex should be anything but boring, but what I am hearing from many of you . . . is that it is exactly that.  The good news is that It doesn’t have to be. It can and should be fun.  It is totally an option to be  playful, imaginative and creative.  So if you are bored in the bedroom, jump on the podcast now and learn some possible reasons why this is going on and ways we can change that up for you.    

Many of our marriage stories start out the same- but what happens after we say “I do?” That is where things can start to change.  You may have started to see your partner for who they truly were - and the more you saw - the more concerned you became.  Today on the podcast, I am going to talk about codependent relationships and ways to recognize if you are in one, why it is important to free yourself and how I can help.

Last week in the podcast, we discussed 5 mistakes women make in bed.  So today let’s chat about five mistakes for men.  Neither of you want to think about or admit you haven’t perfected your sex life. It can be a vulnerable place. But it is a fact that men and women just think and feel differently - especially when it comes to the bedroom.  Understanding this and recognizing some areas that could use some tweaking will be worth discussing. So grab your spouse and listen as we chat about how these little problem areas can be turned around easily and make all the difference.

Today I want to talk about the top 5 mistakes women make in bed, the reasons that keep them from getting aroused and enjoying sex to the fullest.  Join me in my podcast for more information on the ways I can help you work through these roadblocks and get you on the path to enjoying your sex life even more.

Why have many in the past believed and taught that it is impossible to be a sexual being and a loving and gentle wife and mother?  Freud believed you needed to pick sides. . .Madonna or whore.  Today I will talk about how you can allow both to be part of you.  That is a lot of what I do in coaching, I help create a secure attachment in our sexual and non-sexual relationship and let the two co-exist together. Listen to how this is possible and why it is critical.

Welcome to Live From Love and to 2021!  The podcast today is a great way to begin your year.  New thoughts, new ideas and new adventures in your marriage.  You were possibly raised with fairly narrow views of your sexuality. . .along with some pretty strict guidelines . . .most of us were.  But things should have changed for you by now.  With some wisdom and sexual maturity on your side, you get to choose what you want to believe, think and do regarding your sex life. You get to set your own boundaries. . .just you and your spouse together. No one else.  

Welcome 2021!  This week for the podcast I am going back to the vault and bringing out one of my favorite podcasts - wrapped around goals and resolutions in your intimate relationship. I will talk about how to come up with SMART goals and what those are exactly.  We will talk about the importance of coming up with the purpose of sex in your marriage and what it looks like for you and your spouse. Are you ready to create change? 2021 is your year!

Last week I discussed sex toys, but this week I am taking a deep dive into vibrators.  Did you know that most women need 45-60 minutes to move from 0 to climax?  And many need more than is humanly possible.  Viagra has helped so many men - and thank heavens for vibrators to help women. So today we will discuss what to look for and all the reasons this can benefit every marital relationship.

I get a lot of questions concerning sex toys. What ones are best, are they appropriate, what materials should I be looking for. . and much more.  Tune in and I will give you a basic beginning course on all of this- as well as how using them in your marriage can add an element of novelty, playfulness, and eroticism to your sexual experience.  

Today, I’m going to discuss the five gears of touch by Barry W. McCarthy - a certified sex and couples therapist.  Gear 1 begins with affectionate touch and gear 5 is intercourse. I will teach you the value of each level of touch -  and how slowing down and moving forward together through these gears will propel your sexual relationship to a whole new level.  Learn more and get show notes here: https://amandalouder.com/podcast/137/ 

When your head hits the pillow exhausted - the last thing you might want is sex. But your partner may have other ideas.  Now what?  Give in with resentment and exhaustion? Reject your spouse. . .again?  Today I am going to offer you a third option.  I will share some ways to better communicate and I will walk you through how your body can actively respond to willingness. This episode will be a game-changer in the bedroom.  

Join us on the podcast today to hear about Zach and Darcy Spafford’s journey to regain intimacy after Zach’s 25 year battle with pornography. They will take you on a beautiful journey of forgiveness, change, each owning their own sexuality, loving themselves and one another. They are fun, energetic and real. It is a podcast you will want to share with others. Get full show notes and more information here: https://amandalouder.com/135

I know that this topic may be a controversial one. Let me start by saying, I am not the expert for your life. I am here to offer you new and different ideas or options, greater understanding. It is up to you to contemplate these things for yourself and for your family and what works for you. In podcast 134, I will go through the course of changes that have taken historically within the church on this topic. It might surprise you. I highly encourage you to think about it and take your thoughts and questions to the Lord. For a greater understanding. . .stay tuned.

Does your spouse think he is not a priority in your life?  Could he be right?  Today I will dive into true desire and false desire and how to manage your brain around them.  The answer lies within the ability to use your higher brain above your lower brain and how the work you do can actually retrain your brain.  You can actually learn how to stay on your plan - and not eat the ice cream.  You can give up a few minutes of sleep to build a better relationship with your spouse and so much more this week!  

Today’s podcast looks at how to deal with grief, intimacy and fear after losing a baby.  My guest, Amy Watson, is a life coach who helps mom’s who have had pregnancy or baby loss at any point.  Amy shares how she and her husband grieved differently and how they worked together to be intimate even when it felt terrifying.  Join me in this heartfelt story of carrying on through the challenge of loss.

I am excited to spend some time today with Sadie Banks.  Sadie is a photographer and owner of “Good Grief” journals.  Her company was born in the midst of - and due to the grief she was dealing with during her own infertility journey.  She shares how she came to understand the real meaning of intimacy and how to separate pleasure sex from clinical sex.  She shares insight into how to keep your marriage a priority - even during the most difficult times.

Pregnancy can be a magical time- but it can also be a scary time. There are so many unexpected changes, added hormones and a changing body. This can have an impact on not only the woman, but to her spouse and their relationship.This podcast is packed full of information. I will go through what you might expect concerning sex surrounding each trimester, myths and warning signs of when intercourse needs to be cleared with your doctor. Even if pregnancy isn’t in your future or it’s come and gone, this might be helpful to someone you know. It’s a good one to share.

Do you find yourself trying to be in control of situations or others? If you stop and question the emotion that is riding along with you. . .it is fear?  For some, having control makes them feel powerful.  This week I hope to teach you different ways you might be exerting control and what emotion it is stemming from.  I will also teach steps to work on overcoming this tendency.  If you are new to the podcast or if you have been here before - welcome!