Foreplay Radio Sex Therapy For Couples

"Sometimes popping two gummies on vacation helps us have really great sex!" "I really need that glass of wine to get me in the mood!" "Smelling alcohol on your breath is such a turnoff!" As couples and sex therapists, we've talked to thousands of partners about how alcohol and substances affect their relationships. Sometimes couples report that alcohol is a major block to sexual connection, others share that it can help them get out of their heads and make sex more enjoyable. In your relationship, is alcohol a gas pedal or a brake? Meaning it turns you on and helps with desire, arousal, orgasm or it shuts you down and you withdraw from sex. If seeing your partner drunk is a sexual brake, you may feel rejected by their advances because they wouldn't typically act like that sober. If alcohol is a gas pedal, you may feel your inhibition lower and it's more comfortable to access thoughts about sex and connection to your body. Listen to this episode as George and Laurie discuss the function of alcohol in sex and r

In today's episode, Laurie and George discuss how improving caretaking in your relationship can lead to better sex. If you've felt bogged down by the mental load or have heard your partner make complaints about it this is a must listen episode. Join us as we guide you through 'four ways to be a better caregiver.' Learn how recognizing your partner's needs, taking action before asking, and making the little things important will increase and improve your sexual connection. Make sure to check out our NEW website www.bravelovegreatsex.com for updates on our upcoming book release and other ways you can support your relationship. We're on a mission to help our brave lovers have great sex! Check out this episode's sponsor (and help the pod!): Uberlube.com -- Laurie's long-time favorite personal lubricant! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picture this, you walk in from a hard, stressful day at work and finally see your partner--your person. You say to them, "Honey, today was such a hard day. Everything went wrong. It was really bad." Your partner replies with, "Well, look on the bright side you're home and your job helps us keep this beautiful roof over our heads." Your body deflates a little. Your partner just brightsided you when you were really hoping for a little sympathy and comfort. This is defined as 'Toxic Positivity': an experience where someone shares something along a negative vein and the responder replies with the brightside, silver lining or overt positivity. In this episode, George and Laurie discuss how toxic positivity affects interactions between partners, why partners might anchor towards using it and how it causes disconnection in relationships. Listeners will take away intent v. impact, and how partners can shift from avoidance of negative emotion to connection through it and end up on the bright side together. If this sho

In today's episode, hosts Laurie and George are taking listeners to the islands! Islands of Security explores the places where secure attachment lives—those small but powerful moments where partners feel safe, seen, and able to find each especially during times of struggle. You'll walk away from this show with great ideas on how to develop more islands of security through intentional connection, imperfect action, meeting caregiving needs and managing the high and low roads. Set your calendars for September 2026 to pick up a copy of our book Brave Love, Great Sex and make sure to follow us on our socials @BraveLoveGreatSex Please check out our wonderful sponsors (and support the pod!):WE-VIBE.com and use code BRAVELOVE for 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors:cozyearth.com and use code FOREPLAY for 20% offWE-VIBE.com and use code BRAVELOVE for 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we are joined by Meygan and Casey Caston, founders of Marriage 365. Marriage 365 is a comprehensive relationship program designed to give couples tools to improve their marriages immediately. Born out of the need to fix their own failing marriage, Meygan and Casey have been coaching couples for over a decade to move from disconnection and dissatisfaction to closeness and intimacy. Listen as they share the 10 essential habits to improve your marriage from their upcoming book, "The Marriage Habit." Pre-orders available now on their website www.marriage365.com and make sure to follow us on @BraveLoveGreatSex for more!   Support this episode's sponsors (and help the pod!): cozyearth.com -- use code FOREPLAY for 20% off WE-VIBE.com -- use code BRAVELOVE for 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the G-Spot real? Does every woman have one? Where is it? How to stimulate it? Join certified sex therapist Laurie Watson and psychologist Dr. Adam Mathews discuss the elusive G-Spot and how to discover it, and employ it in your sex life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can sex ever be “owed” in a relationship? On today's episode of Brave Love, Laurie and George explore how expectations sabotage intimacy - and how to communicate desire in a way that invites connection, not resistance. Includes a step-by-step role play you can try today. Join us on socials under our new name @BraveLoveGreatSex. Support this episode's sponsor (and support the pod!): WE-VIBE.COM and use code BRAVELOVE for 20% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George wants men to have a method to improve their sexual game in 3 zones—pre-sex, during sex and post-sex in 4 different areas: heart, mind, body, and genitals. Twelve variables for guys who like stats to measure their self progress. George gets into specific numbers for the average Joe in each area and has a plan for what they can do if they don't like their own assessment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome Brave Lovers! In today's episode, our hosts interviewed couples therapist and author of the upcoming book 'The Cost of Quiet', Colette Fehr. Colette shares her wisdom and years of experience with us on the true cost of conflict avoidance in a relationship. She defines avoidant behavior as actions that prevent connection from yourself or your partner. Colette bravely shares with us how the end of her first marriage led her to examine her own conflict avoidance and conditioning that quiet and keeping the peace was best but ultimately a silent relationship killer. In her book, Colette shares the ABCs every couple needs to practice: Acting in the face of fear, Be vulnerable and Communicate assertively. If these aren't skills you possess or are sometimes hard to come by, she reminds us that they can be strengthened through practice and repetition. The more we do something we are afraid of the less scary it feels! Visit her website www.colettejanefehr.com to pre-order a copy and for more free resources on w

With the new year, the podcast gets a new name! Brave Love Great Sex! The same great content, the same great hosts! We're aligning the podcast with our new book that will be out in 2026 from Penguin Random House. Pre order it today. Check out this episode's sponsors (and help the pod!): RexMD.com/foreplay -- Discrete, convenient support for ED. Shipped directly to you. Use the link for up to 95% off your first order. Uberlube.com -- Laurie's all time favorite personal lubricant. If you haven't tried it yet, it's a new year! Use the code 'BRAVELOVE' to get 10% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We invite you into a thoughtful reflection about what is happening in YOUR sex life. Bring your spirit of curiosity and stay with us in the discovery mode as our “client” played by the brave volunteer - George - answers this first set of questions. Pull back the curtain and hear what Laurie thinks about his answers as a sex therapist. Think about these beginning questions, (not easy questions) like… What would you want your partner to know about you sexually? Laurie reflects on how important vulnerability is when communication with your lover the deeper aspects of these questions. Our patient acknowledges his anxiety and how most of the time he communicates in frustration with his partner instead of coming from his heart’s longing. We ask: What is going on in your sex life now? Can you describe the problems? When did things change between you or when did the problems start? What have you tried to resolve these issues. Do you and your partner have desire for each other? What turns you on the most? When do you

In today's episode, we are focusing on tending to the 'Ghost of Christmas Present' so the 'Ghost of Christmas Future' can reap the relational benefits! Join our experts, Dr. Laurie and George Faller, hosts of the newly branded Brave Love, Great Sex podcast for this fun episode on resolution and renewal. Our hosts use an example of their role play couple, Joey and Maria to illustrate just what it looks like when the negative cycle is cooled off and they have a better way to move forward. In this stage repair is easily initiated and partners can move forward from conflict in a more positive way. George and Laurie share some active ways couples can continue to strengthen connection and intimacy at this time. This looks like identifying triggers, planning time to connect during busy periods, sharing small moments like morning coffees or kisses goodbye, being explicit with appreciation. We hold out for couples stuck in negative cycles that this place of connection does exist! As the New Year approache

With the average Joe and average Jane so different in their approach to sex and the ways and timing of arousal, what can a couple do to close the arousal gap? Join sex therapist and author Dr. Laurie Watson and couples therapist George Faller as they talk about how to negotiate the differences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holiday season is here and in today's episode we are talking about giving and receiving gifts in your relationship. What does this ritual mean to you and which are you more comfortable with? George and Laurie share their thoughts and some of their favorite gifts and memories over the years. Laurie suggests that partners keep a running list of their loved ones' likes so when it comes time to get a gift you already have ideas handy. It's best if gifts are thoughtful and have your partner feel seen rather than buying something just because. Intentional gift-giving can spark connection and provide lasting memories. On the other hand, gifts that don't consider your partner or create pressure can lead to a negative cycle. What is one holiday gift or ritual that makes you feel good and inspires connection? Share with us on our instagram page! We wish all our listeners a happy holiday season and thank you for your continued  support! We hope you continue to listen in the new year and celebrate as we transition to

The expectations in relationship and in our culture for what it means to be a man often comes down to a big erection that works every time. The prevalence of porn has communicated unrealistic ideas about sex and sexuality. Join sex therapist and popular author Laurie Watson and couple’s therapist Dr. Adam Mathews as they explore the complexity of male sexuality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We may know what the big turn offs are but there are many small things that kill desire. In today's episode we are discussing invisible turn offs that end up taking sex off the table without you even realizing it. Join our expert hosts, Dr. Laurie Watson and George Faller, LMFT as they review these 'microfractures', signals that you don't know you're sending. Stress, feeling hangry, irritability can all signal to your partner that they aren't important to you. Cell phones, social media and distracted minds dilute connection between partners and quickly eliminate connection. Our hosts share how familiarity of your partner can sometimes cause rejection. The more predictable you are to one another the less curious you will be. So what can you do? Start to notice your partner, pay attention to them with intentionality. Put your phone DOWN and connect with your love. Spend time giving each other prolonged kisses, longer gazes and more attention. These little actions can lead to big connections, decreasing turn off

Recovery from an Affair – The delicate process of recoveringfrom an affair; what works best for restoring the relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode we are discussing sex and spirituality. Sex and religion are often clashing ideals that can be shaming, rigid and rule-based. We invite listeners to explore the space between, where sex is an intimate connection between partners. Where people can create their own slice of heaven. Join our hosts, Laurie and George as they peel back the complicated layers between sex and spirituality and cite various views of sex from different religions. Many religious teachings try to show partners how to love one another better, honor their sexual connection as a way to be closer to God and provide boundaries to keep that connection sacred. There is no right or wrong answer in this discussion, rather a thought-provoking conversation to see where spirituality and the connection to the spirit and soul shows up in your intimate connection. Do you consider sex a place to transcend with your partner?  Let us know what you think and share your comments on our instagram @bravelovegreatsex Check out this episode'

Are you always having what feels like the same fight? Does the negative cycle leave you feeling frustrated and angry? Or misunderstood and like you're failing? Can you see what your partner does clearly but not see how what you do is contributing to the problem? George and Laurie use and acronym T.E.M.P.O. to help organize your thinking so you can be less reactive. Getting to know your feelings, what your body is communicating and how you are making sense of it all can give you emotional intelligence. Find the "space" that can change the pattern so you can help each other in these difficult moments and stay connected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices