In this episode we welcome erotic author Anna Sansom. We chat to Anna about all things erotic - and how we can get in touch with our own desires through creativity, even when it might feel really challenging. We also discuss her book Desire Lines - part
memoir, part guide to reclaiming our erotic nature.

Anna is a queer cis woman (pronouns: she/her) who is endlessly curious about how we experience and express our unique sexual selves. She started writing erotica over two decades ago, has had a full-length erotic novel published and several short stories in anthologies and online. She has a PhD in occupational therapy and is the co-creator of In Touch with Yourself, a guided journey for women who want to reconnect with their pleasure, sensuality, and sexuality, using creative, playful, and empowering personal practices. She loves drinking tea, swimming in the sea, and talking to her cats.

You can find her at annasansom.com and intouchwithyourself.co.uk, and on Facebook (@AnnaSansomWriter) and Instagram (@Anna_Sansom_Writer).

Anna's Substack is at https://annasansom.substack.com/

If you're ready to take the next step in deepening your connection, Nicola's course Reigniting Intimacy can be found here at www.realrelating.com/reignitingintimacy

If you'd like to contact us - suggestions for topics, guests, brickbats or bouquets - find us at www.realrelating.com/podcast.

Endings, though difficult, are an essential part of life. Whether it's a breakup, divorce, or the loss of a loved one, endings can be traumatic. In the podcast we talk about how society often downplays the significance of endings, offering clichés like "plenty more fish in the sea," which fails to acknowledge the pain and complexity of separation.

Research shows that the pain of a breakup can trigger physical responses similar to those of physical injury. Heartbreak is real and can have a profound impact on our well-being. What can we do to support ourselves during these times?

We also talk about conscious uncoupling, as popularized by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin - what is it and how do you go about it?

Recommended resources:

Book: The Wisdom of a Broken Heart - Susan Piver

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast for more discussions on intimacy and relationships.

If you're ready to take the next step in deepening your connection, Nicola's course Reigniting Intimacy can be found here at www.realrelating.com/reignitingintimacy

If you'd like to contact us - suggestions for topics, guests, brickbats or bouquets - find us at www.realrelating.com/podcast.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Intimacy Mattters podcast where we dive into intimacy and relationships.

Highlights of this episode include:

• Sex Frequency: How often is "normal"?
• Spontaneous vs. Responsive Desire: Why knowing the difference makes ALL the difference.
• Navigating Differences: Contrary to popular belief, sex can improve with time through exploration, communication, and a shift away from performance-based attitudes.
• Initiation Strategies: We share some playful approaches to help initiate intimacy without pressure.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• NATSAL British Survey of Sexual Attitudes
• David Schnarch's book "Passionate Marriage"
• Good Times Planner (download)

If you're ready to take the next step in deepening your connection, Nicola's course Reigniting Intimacy can be found here at www.realrelating.com/reignitingintimacy

If you'd like to contact us - suggestions for topics, guests, brickbats or bouquets - find us at www.realrelating.com/podcast.