{"podcast":{"title":"Sex For Couples with Heather Shannon","slug":"sex-for-couples-with-heather-shannon-5845078","podcast_index_feed_id":5845078,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/ask-a-sex-therapist-with-heather-shannon/","website_url":"https://heathershannon.co/podcast/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/dcbb0239-9ee5-409e-8b0d-71903234ff7d/Sex-For-Couples-Podcast-Tile-2k-Square-Pixels.jpg","author":"Heather Shannon","episode_count":184,"summary":"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 Vale…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-13T10:20:21.504059+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sex-for-couples-with-heather-shannon-5845078"},"episode":{"title":"3 Mistakes Couples Make When Sharing Sexual Fantasies","slug":"3-mistakes-couples-make-when-sharing-sexual-fantasies","published_at":"2026-04-13T05:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sex-for-couples-with-heather-shannon-5845078/3-mistakes-couples-make-when-sharing-sexual-fantasies","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sex-for-couples-with-heather-shannon-5845078","url":"https://heathershannon.co/podcast/","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/75e533f6-a5cf-421a-822a-d630c3377333.mp3","summary":"Thinking about sharing a sexual fantasy—but worried your partner will see you differently? This is where most couples unknowingly start creating distance instead of deeper intimacy. In this episode, we break down the 3 biggest mistakes couples make when sharing sexual fantasies —and why these patterns often lead to pressure, resentment, or emotional disconnection instead of closeness. If you’ve ever struggled with how to talk about sex, navigate kinks or fantasies, or handle differences in desire , this episode will give you a clear framework for doing it in a way that builds trust, emotional safety, and a more satisfying sex life What You’ll LearnHow shame around sexual fantasies creates distance in relationships Why avoiding conversations about sex limits intimacy and connection The hidden risk of pushing a fantasy too quickly after sharing it How pressure and urgency can lead to coercion (even unintentionally) Why your partner’s reaction is shaped by conditioning—not you The truth about being “sex-positive” without abandoning your boundaries How to handle mismatched sexual interests in a healthy way Ways to explore fantasies without being 100% sexually compatible Key Takeaways Open communication about sex is essential for long-term intimacy Fantasies require consent, pacing, and emotional safety Shame, pressure, and people-pleasing are the biggest intimacy killers You can accept your partner’s desires without participating in everything Great sex lives aren’t about perfect compatibility—they’re about how you navigate differences together Chapters 0:00 Introduction to the topic of sharing sexual fantasies and the common issues couples face. 1:05 Introduction to the three biggest mistakes couples make. 2:02 Mistake #1 3:23 Importance of openness and being sex-positive…","meta_description":"Thinking about sharing a sexual fantasy—but worried your partner will see you differently? This is where most couples unknowingly start creating distance…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1498,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/sex-for-couples-with-heather-shannon-5845078/episodes/3-mistakes-couples-make-when-sharing-sexual-fantasies/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/sex-for-couples-with-heather-shannon-5845078/3-mistakes-couples-make-when-sharing-sexual-fantasies.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}