Sex For Couples with Heather Shannon

Heather Shannon

Sex For Couples is a podcast for committed couples who feel stressed, guilty, or frustrated about their sex life—and want to feel excited, close, and playful again. New episodes are released every Monday. Hosted by Heather Shannon, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with 19 years of experience as a counselor and coach, the show breaks down the emotional and psychological reasons intimacy fades and what actually helps couples reconnect. Heather has been featured on BloomTV and quoted in Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, SELF, Glamour, and more. She is a Gottman-trained couples counselor, an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist and has spent 13 years as a practicing Buddhist. Through both solo and guest episodes, Sex For Couples offers approachable advice, open conversations, and helpful tools so couples can communicate better about sex, reduce shame and stigma, and enjoy rediscovering each other. This podcast isn’t about performance or perfection—it’s about helping couples stop overthinking sex and start having fun with it again. For more on Heather's work, visit HeatherShannnon.co. NOTE: This show was formerly called "Ask A Sex Therapist with Heather Shannon" and was renamed on Valentine's Day, 2026. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

  1. 1D AGO

    How to Navigate Your Cuckolding Kink With Your Partner

    If you’re in a committed relationship and exploring a cuckolding kink, this episode will help you navigate it without blowing up your connection. Cuckolding is one of the more common fantasies people have — but integrating it into a real relationship requires emotional steadiness, communication, and clarity. In this episode of Sex for Couples, we break down: • The difference between hotwife, stag/vixen, and cuckolding dynamics • Why taboo fantasies are often tied to insecurity and power • How to reclaim shame instead of being driven by it • How to talk to your partner about your cuckolding kink without pressure • What healthy integration can actually look like inside a committed relationship This is not about shock value. It’s about reducing stress around sex and creating more honesty and more fun in your relationship. If you’re trying to figure out how to navigate a cuckolding kink with your partner in a grounded, emotionally mature way — this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Cuckolding in Relationships 01:31 Understanding Cuckolding: Definitions and Dynamics 09:01 Getting Comfortable with Your Kink 15:21 Bringing It Up with Your Partner 23:09 Exploring Options and Variations Work With Heather Learn more about working with me inside my 6-month coaching program here: https://HeatherShannon.co More connection. Less stress. More fun in the bedroom. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    28 min
  2. FEB 23

    Why You Keep Getting Told No to Sex (And It’s Not About Attraction)

    Many higher sex drive partners are accidentally reinforcing the cycle of getting told no. This episode will help you break the cycle. Certified Sex Therapist, Heather Shannon, explores the patterns and emotional dynamics behind rejection in relationships, especially when one partner has a higher sex drive. In this episode, we'll break down common behaviors like withdrawal, performance, and story-telling, offering insights into how to shift these patterns for healthier intimacy. Chapters 00:00 The Rejection Loop in Relationships 00:29 Why Rejection Isn't About Attraction 00:56 Understanding the Pattern of Withdrawal 02:17 The Impact of Withdrawal on Emotional Needs 03:08 Attachment to Outcomes and Anxiety 03:54 Introducing Self-Energy and Spaciousness 05:15 Performance and Doing Sex for Your Partner 07:00 Authentic Desire vs. Performing Sex 08:18 The Power of Honest Communication 09:32 Managing Pressure and Expectations 11:37 The Stories We Tell About Rejection 12:52 Facts vs. Stories in Relationships 14:35 Relating to Thoughts and Stories 15:28 Protective and Exiled Parts in Emotional Regulation 17:11 Living at the Mercy of External Factors 17:37 Achieving Emotional Equanimity 18:26 Creating Space for Authentic Desire 19:20 Personalized Healing and Emotional Management Work with Heather Find out more about Heather's Pathway to Passion coaching program and see if it can help you stop stressing about sex and start having fun in the bedroom again! https://HeatherShannon.co Keywords relationship advice, sex drive, emotional mastery, attachment, communication, Heather Shannon, intimacy, relationship patterns, self-energy, emotional regulation This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    21 min
  3. FEB 16

    Is Your Sex Life Being Ruined By Hormones? A Hormone Doctor Explains

    Perimenopause libido dropping after 40? If sex feels different—lower desire, more dryness, shorter fuse, less connection—your hormones (not your relationship) may be the missing piece. In this episode of Ask a Sex Therapist, Heather Shannon talks with board-certified OB-GYN + functional/integrative hormone expert Dr. Tara Scott about the most common hormone shifts that impact women’s sex drive across postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause—and why women’s desire is often more “Goldilocks” than linear (too little or too much estrogen can cause problems). You’ll learn how hormone testing can be interpreted when timing is right, why blood levels don’t always match what’s happening in your tissues, and how chronic stress can quietly deplete DHEA and testosterone (even in your 30s and 40s). Dr. Scott also breaks down practical, realistic ways to support hormone health—movement, food quality, sleep, stress tools, and reducing endocrine disruptors—without trying to overhaul your entire life overnight. If you’re dealing with low libido, vaginal dryness, painful sex, fatigue, sleep changes, or irritability, this conversation will help you understand what’s normal, what’s treatable, and how to advocate for better care. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Hormonal Health 01:22 Understanding Hormonal Shifts Throughout Life 03:41 Differences in Male and Female Libido 14:00 Personalizing Hormonal Treatment 28:46 The Impact of Lifestyle on Hormonal Balance Want to address the emotional and psychological factors blocking your sex life? Request a free consultation for coaching/therapy with Heather or a member of her team here: Booking A Consultation With The Right Person Learn more about our guest Dr. Tara Scott at: Website - https://drtarascott.com/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TaraScottMD This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    45 min
  4. FEB 2

    Sex After 50: Why It Can Actually Get Better With Age

    Sex After 50 doesn’t have to decline — in fact, for many people, it gets better. In this episode of Ask a Sex Therapist, Heather is joined by Karen Bigman, a sex and relationship coach specializing in midlife and sex after 50, for an honest, funny, and deeply validating conversation about aging, desire, body changes, and intimacy. They explore why so many couples assume that low libido, painful sex, or loss of desire is just “part of getting older” — and why that belief is often what actually harms a sex life the most. From menopause and perimenopause to body image, shame, communication, and emotional intimacy, this episode reframes sex after 50 as something that can be playful, connected, and deeply satisfying. You’ll hear practical insights about: Why sex drive changes with age — and why that doesn’t mean sex is overHow menopause, hormones, and vaginal health affect desire and pleasureWhy mental foreplay, laughter, and connection matter more than performanceHow to talk about sex with a partner when it feels awkward or intimidatingLetting go of obligatory sex and rebuilding pleasure without pressure Why kissing, novelty, and communication are essential for long-term intimacy This conversation is especially helpful for: People navigating midlife, perimenopause, or menopauseCouples wondering how to keep sex fun and connected after 50Anyone struggling with desire discrepancy, body confidence, or sexual shamePeople curious about sex and agingPartners who want to better support each other through aging and change If you’ve ever wondered whether great sex is still possible later in life, this episode offers reassurance, science-backed insight, and permission to stop forcing what doesn’t work — and start enjoying what does. Find out more about Karen Bigman, her podcast, courses and ARYA discount at: https://www.taboototruth.com/podcast Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sex and Aging 04:03 Debunking Myths About Sex After 50 08:33 The Role of Hormones in Sexual Health 11:56 The Importance of Self-Compassion 14:21 Body Image and Self-Perception 17:16 Common Struggles in Sexuality After 50 21:13 The Necessity of Sex for Health 22:54 Dating and Communication in Later Life 23:33 Navigating Aging and Intimacy 24:28 Emotional Intimacy and Communication 25:48 The Art of Kissing 27:21 Exploring Playfulness in Relationships 28:32 Mental Foreplay and Connection 29:00 Kissing Techniques for Better Connection 31:17 Addressing Kissing Preferences 32:50 Overcoming Communication Barriers 34:29 Small Steps to Enhance Intimacy 36:00 The Importance of Novelty in Relationships 37:28 Quality Over Quantity in Sexual Relationships 39:12 Resources for Enhancing Intimacy This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    46 min

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
164 Ratings

About

Sex For Couples is a podcast for committed couples who feel stressed, guilty, or frustrated about their sex life—and want to feel excited, close, and playful again. New episodes are released every Monday. Hosted by Heather Shannon, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with 19 years of experience as a counselor and coach, the show breaks down the emotional and psychological reasons intimacy fades and what actually helps couples reconnect. Heather has been featured on BloomTV and quoted in Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, SELF, Glamour, and more. She is a Gottman-trained couples counselor, an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist and has spent 13 years as a practicing Buddhist. Through both solo and guest episodes, Sex For Couples offers approachable advice, open conversations, and helpful tools so couples can communicate better about sex, reduce shame and stigma, and enjoy rediscovering each other. This podcast isn’t about performance or perfection—it’s about helping couples stop overthinking sex and start having fun with it again. For more on Heather's work, visit HeatherShannnon.co. NOTE: This show was formerly called "Ask A Sex Therapist with Heather Shannon" and was renamed on Valentine's Day, 2026. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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