Pleasure Project: Sex and Relationships

Dr. Jenn Kennedy, PhD, LMFT
  • 4.7 (31)
  • Sexuality
  • Updated Biweekly

Exploration of all topics related to relationships and sexual pleasure: anatomy, psychology, toys, aging, communication, media, history. As a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in couples and sexuality, I will also sometimes discuss adjacent topics such as attachment, dating, couples goals, communication, sex addiction and relational dynamics.

  1. 6d ago

    Play Parties 101: What Happens After Dark w/ Dr. Nicole Marcione | Szn. 5 Ep. 4

    Ever wondered what actually happens at play parties? In this spicy follow-up, Dr. Jenn welcomes back gerontologist & domme Dr. Nicole Marcione for a candid, myth-busting conversation about sex parties, consent culture, voyeurism vs. participation, what to wear (and what to bring home), and how curiosity, not pressure, guides the experience. This is an unfiltered, educational deep dive into pleasure, boundaries, aging bodies, and why your yes can always become a no. Perfect if you’re intrigued, nervous, or just wildly curious. ✨ Best paired with: ⁠Untying Ourselves w/ Dr. Nicole Marcione | Szn 4 Ep 2⁠ Reach Dr. Nicole at: ⁠⁠https://www.integrativeaging.com/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.integrativeaging.com/mini-workbook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.integrativeaging.com/InfluenceDomme⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drnicolemarcione/⁠ Connect with Dr. Jenn: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@drjennkennedy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pleasure Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Riviera Therapy⁠

  2. Jun 28

    Chemistry Isn't Compatibility | Szn. 5 Ep. 3

    Most of us spend years learning math, science, and history—but nobody teaches us how to be in a relationship. Yet, we're expected to communicate effectively: navigate conflict, set boundaries, express our needs, repair hurts, and stay emotionally connected. In this episode, Dr. Jenn breaks down the relationship skills that many of us never learned growing up—and why the struggles you're experiencing may have less to do with compatibility and more to do with skill building. You'll learn: The difference between chemistry and relationship skillsWhy conflict is normal (and how to handle it better)How emotional regulation impacts communicationThe role of boundaries in healthy relationshipsWhy resentment often signals an unmet needHow repair conversations strengthen trust and intimacyThe power of curiosity, validation, and direct communicationWhether you're dating, partnered, or reflecting on past relationships, this episode offers practical tools to help you create deeper connection and healthier communication. Because lasting relationships aren't built by perfect people—they're built by people willing to learn, practice, repair, and keep showing up. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@drjennkennedy⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠ Pleasure Project⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠Riviera Therapy⁠

  3. Jun 14

    Does Size Really Matter w/ Dr. Joel Pash | Szn. 5 Ep. 2

    Men are Paying to Increase Their Goods Male enhancement is one of those topics people are curious about but rarely discuss openly. Yet as conversations around men's health, hormone optimization, longevity, and body image continue to grow, more men are asking questions about confidence, appearance, and sexual wellness. In this week's episode of Pleasure Project, Dr. Jenn sits down with anesthesiologist and co-founder of the Upsize Clinic, Dr. Joel Pash, to explore the rapidly growing world of male enhancement. Together, they discuss what is actually driving demand, the emotional and psychological factors behind these decisions, and the myths that many men carry about their bodies. The conversation goes far beyond procedures. You'll hear about the impact of pornography and comparison culture, the connection between body image and sexual confidence, why many men underestimate what's considered "normal," and the importance of making informed decisions in an increasingly unregulated marketplace. Whether you're curious about the topic yourself or simply interested in understanding the pressures men face around sexuality and self-image, this episode offers a thoughtful and surprisingly candid look at a conversation that is happening more often than most people realize. Connect with Dr. Pash: Website Twitter Instagram TikTok YouTube Connect with Dr. Jenn: Instagram: ⁠⁠@drjennkennedy⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ Pleasure Project⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠Riviera Therapy⁠ #PleasureProjectPodcast #DrJennKennedy #MaleEnhancement #MensHealth #MensSexualHealth #SexualConfidence #BodyImage #MensMentalHealth #Masculinity #SexualWellness #RelationshipPodcast #SexPodcast #SexTherapist #SexEducation #HealthyMasculinity #MensBodyImage #Confidence #SelfEsteem #Intimacy #Relationships #HumanSexuality #SexPositive #PornCulture #ModernDating #MentalHealthAwareness #Longevity #HormoneHealth #MidlifeMen #PodcastRecommendations #NewPodcastEpisode

  4. May 31

    How Mental Load Derails Desire | Szn. 5 Ep. 1

    The invisible labor no one talks about? It might be the thing killing your desire. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy dives into the mental load so many people carry in relationships—the nonstop planning, anticipating, organizing, remembering, and emotional caretaking that quietly drains energy, connection, and eroticism. From managing schedules and groceries to carrying the emotional responsibility for the entire household, this invisible labor can leave people feeling exhausted, resentful, and disconnected from pleasure. Dr. Jenn explores: Why mental overload impacts libido and desireThe hidden resentment that builds in partnershipsHow “manager mode” blocks playful, erotic energyWhy simply saying “help me more” often backfiresThe connection between perfectionism, control, and burnoutHow to shift from project manager back into partnerWays couples can create more spaciousness, collaboration, and intimacyThis episode is especially for anyone who feels like they’re carrying the relationship logistics, family planning, emotional labor, or invisible responsibilities—and wondering why desire feels so far away lately. Because your libido may not be broken. It may just be overloaded. ✨ Plus: Dr. Jenn shares details about her self-paced course designed to help women better understand their desire, pleasure, and erotic blueprint. If this episode resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it—and don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast to help more people find these conversations. Connect with Dr. Jenn: Instagram: ⁠@drjennkennedy⁠ Website:⁠ Pleasure Project⁠ Website: ⁠Riviera Therapy⁠ #MentalLoad #Relationships #Desire #EmotionalLabor #CouplesTherapy #WomensDesire #SexTherapy #PleasureProject #MidlifeWomen #Intimacy #RelationshipAdvice #DrJennKennedy

  5. May 17

    Getting What You Want w/ Jocelyn Silva | Szn. 4 Ep. 17

    What happens when a relationship feels safe… but no longer feels alive? In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with sexual empowerment coach Jocelyn Silva for a conversation about shame, desire, authenticity, and what it really takes to create intimacy that feels both secure and deeply turned on. Together, they unpack: ​How purity culture and religious shame shape adult sexuality​Why so many couples have sex but never actually talk about sex​The hidden ways shame shows up in relationships and the bedroom​Why performance anxiety disconnects us from pleasure​The tension between attachment and authenticity​How to communicate desires without fear or self-abandonment​What it means to feel “at home” in your body​Why pleasure is about more than sex—it’s about creating a life that excites youJocelyn also shares her personal journey from religious shame and sexual repression to healing, self-trust, and helping others reclaim their erotic selves through curiosity, communication, and embodiment. This episode is for anyone who wants more than just safety in their relationship. It’s for people craving aliveness, playfulness, connection, and permission to want what they want. Because intimacy isn’t just about sex. It’s about feeling fully expressed in your own life. ✨ Plus: Jocelyn shares details about her new course, Speak Your Desires: A Woman’s Guide to Knowing What She Wants and Asking For It. Connect with Jocelyn: Instagram: @iamjocelynsilva Website: Jocelyn Silva Substack: @therelentlesslover Connect with Dr. Jenn: Instagram: @drjennkennedy Website: Pleasure Project Website: Riviera Therapy #SexTherapy #Intimacy #Desire #Relationships #SexualShame #PurityCulture #EroticIntelligence #Pleasure #CouplesTherapy #WomensDesire #Authenticity #EmotionalIntimacy #PleasureProject

  6. May 4

    Emotional Outsourcing w/ Béa Albina | Szn. 4 Ep. 16

    Ever find yourself needing your partner to reassure you that you’re okay, desirable, or enough? That’s emotional outsourcing—and it quietly drains intimacy and desire. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with Bea Victoria Albina to unpack how this pattern forms, why it shows up in both daily life and the bedroom, and how it can keep you stuck in cycles of disconnection. Together, they explore what it really means to take your power back—by reclaiming your voice, setting boundaries that actually hold, and rebuilding desire from the inside out. If you’ve been feeling a little too dependent on your partner’s validation (or just a little off in your connection), this conversation will help you shift the dynamic—without losing the relationship. Because desire doesn’t thrive on reassurance—it thrives on ownership. If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs a little reminder that they’re already enough—and don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the show to help more people find these conversations. Connect with Bea: Website Instagram #EmotionalOutsourcing #IntimacyIssues #RelationshipPatterns #Desire #WomensDesire #MidlifeLove #SecureAttachment #Boundaries #SelfWorth #CouplesTherapy #SexTherapy #HealthyRelationships #PleasureProject #PodcastEpisode

  7. Apr 19

    Scheduled Sex: Hot or Not? | Szn. 4 Ep. 15

    Is scheduled sex sexy… or does it kill the vibe? In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most common (and quietly controversial) topics that shows up in long-term relationships: putting sex on the calendar. Because when life gets full—kids, careers, stress, exhaustion—spontaneity doesn’t just disappear… it gets crowded out. So what happens when you stop waiting to “feel in the mood” and start creating the conditions for desire instead? We’re talking about: Why desire naturally shifts in long-term relationships (and why nothing is “wrong” with you) The myth that real desire should always be spontaneous How scheduling intimacy can actually increase anticipation, playfulness, and connection The difference between sex as a feeling vs. sex as a choice How to reduce pressure, performance anxiety, and the fear of obligation Why defining sex more broadly changes everything Common traps couples fall into (and how to avoid them) Practical ways to make scheduled intimacy feel intentional—not clinical Because here’s the truth: scheduling sex isn’t about forcing desire… it’s about making space for it. And for many couples, that shift is everything. — Want to take this deeper? If this conversation is hitting home, my course the Pleasure Circle walks you step-by-step through understanding your desire, your patterns, and how to actually build a more connected, satisfying intimate life—without pressure or performance. 👉 Learn more and enroll here: Pleasure Circle — #scheduledsex #relationshipadvice #longtermrelationships #desire #intimacy #couplestherapy #sextherapy #responsiveDesire #modernrelationships #emotionalintimacy #womensdesire #relationshiptips

  8. Apr 5

    Stop Waiting to Want It w/ Brooke Bralove | Szn. 4 Ep. 14

    Most people think desire should just show up. And when it doesn’t? They assume something’s wrong. In this episode, Dr. Jenn Kennedy sits down with Sex Therapist Brooke Bralove to challenge one of the biggest myths about sex: that desire is supposed to be spontaneous. Together, they unpack: Who actually experiences spontaneous desire (hint: fewer people than you think)Why long-term sex often becomes predictable—and what to do about itThe role of novelty in keeping desire aliveThe patterns couples fall into that quietly shut things downWhat it really takes to get out of a sexual rutPlus, Brooke shares how Accelerated Resolution Therapy can help shift the deeper emotional blocks that keep people stuck. If your sex life feels a little too quiet, a little too routine, or like something’s missing… this conversation will change how you think about desire and what to do next. Reach Brooke At: www.brookebralove.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/brookebralovepsychotherapy/IG: https://www.instagram.com/brookebralovepsychotherapy/reels/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bbralovepsychotherapy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookebralovepsychotherapy/ #sexpodcast #relationshippodcast #desire #lowdesire #longtermrelationships #intimacy #couplestherapy #sextherapy #relationshipadvice #emotionalintimacy #sexualwellness #womensdesire #midliferelationships #keepitinteresting #modernrelationships #pleasureproject

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Exploration of all topics related to relationships and sexual pleasure: anatomy, psychology, toys, aging, communication, media, history. As a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in couples and sexuality, I will also sometimes discuss adjacent topics such as attachment, dating, couples goals, communication, sex addiction and relational dynamics.

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