My Delight with Sarah Bartel

Sarah Bartel

You are not broken!

The culture is broken. Your expectations may be skewed. But God designed your feminine sexuality to flourish in marriage if it is honored and nurtured appropriately.

This show is for Catholic women who want to know how to enjoy sex in marriage. This show helps you learn how to create a positive view of sexuality and your body in line with Catholic teaching and ALSO gain practical knowledge, tips, and scripts. If you want to know more about what it means to care for your unique, God-designed sexuality as women --so that you can thrive in your sex life in marriage and help change the culture--join in these honest, woman-centered conversations hosted by Sarah Bartel, moral theologian and Catholic sex + marriage coach.

“Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure: The Creator himself ... established that in the genitive function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment.” -Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2362

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53 episodes
Updated July 10

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July 10 · 9 min
A Positive Vision of Sex for Catholic Wives
Catholic married women, have you ever thought that you might have limiting beliefs about sex in your marriage? Have you ever envisioned that you could experience sex with your husband as nourishing comforting rejuvenating delightful playful tender sweet wild and so much more! What gets in the way of these positive types of experiences? Obstacles can include an obligation sex mindset, lack of emotional connection, ignorance, or spousal selfishness. When obstacles are removed and problems are solved, sex can be so beautiful in a wide variety of positive ways. Sarah helps expand your thoughts about what can be possible in sex--all based in Catholic teaching. Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Sources mentioned in this episode: Catechism of the Catholic Church 2362 "'The acts in marriage by which the intimate and chaste union of the spouses takes place are noble and honorable; the truly human performance of these acts fosters the self-giving they signify and enriches the spouses in joy and gratitude.' Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure: 'The Creator himself . . . established that in the [generative] function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment. They accept what the Creator has intended for them. At the same time, spouses should know how to keep themselves within the limits of just moderation.'" Ruth Buezis, Awaken Love: The Truth About Sex That Will Transform Your Marriage (Protestant author, so use your Catholic filter. Don't masturbate or use birth control, even if she talks about it in the book. Her mindset advice is great.) Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University and Total Money Makeover (Evangelical Protestant) Excellent Catholic personal finance advice, check out our friends Jonathan and Amanda Teixeira's content at WalletWin.com (try their Budget Reset) and The Catholic Money Podcast 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
July 3 · 39 min
15 Real Couples Shared What Their Marriage Needs--Emotional Connection
Recently, Sarah invited her marriage ministry followers to reply to a simple question: "What Does Your Marriage Need Right Now"? She offered to take their marriage prayer intentions before Jesus in Adoration. Over 59 women and men answered. There was a common thread running through most of them. In today's episode, Sarah shares fifteen responses from Catholic wives and husbands. This privileged glimpse into the heart of real Catholic marriages illustrates what Our Lady says at the Wedding at Cana in John 2:3: "They have no more wine." Reading through these 15 replies, Sarah reflects on what they teach us about the need for intimacy, communication, joy, friendship, and that so-necessary superglue for marriage: emotional intimacy. Do you any of these stories resonate with what you are feeling right now? In this episode: ✅ 15 honest responses from Catholic wives and husbands ✅ Recurring themes ✅ An example of emotional abuse, and a Catholic response ✅ Why many marriages don't need more work. Enough with the heaviness! What they need is more FUN! ✅ Resource ideas if you want to improve emotional intimacy in your own marriage Mentioned in this episode: 🌴 canafeast.com/abundantlive The 4 week experience your marriage needs this summer! 📖 Don't Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic's Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic Abuse A book for Catholic wives suffering emotional abuse ❤️‍🩹 hopesgarden.com Online community for hurting wives and husbands ✨ youaremadenew.com Catholic coaching with De Yarrison for wives who have suffered emotional abuse 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
June 25 · 18 min
The Beach Mindset Vacation Your Marriage Actually Needs 🏝️
Maybe you don't need to work on your marriage right now. Maybe you need to rest, play, and relax more together. This creates a lush space for connection to naturally flourish. In this episode, Sarah explores why so many couples feel emotionally exhausted. They're in the daily grind, slowly drifting apart as they handle the real-world responsibilities of work, kids, household, and social commitments. Even Church commitments can add to this! What they need is not more work, but more play. More delight. Drawing from favorite memories of tropical vacations, quiet walks in the countryside, and the meaning of authentic leisure, Sarah shares how couples can step out of survival mode and cultivate the atmosphere where friendship, affection, and intimacy can thrive. You'll discover: Why vacations often help couples reconnect The surprising importance of play, laughter, and leisure in marriage How the beach vacay essentials of sun, sand, and waves can become a simple framework for strengthening your relationship Practical ways to bring vacation-like joy into your everyday life—without buying a plane ticket! ✈️ Whether you're longing for a special getaway or just hoping to find connection again after an intense season, this episode offers encouragement and practical ideas to help you rediscover the delight of being together. Mentioned in this episode: 🏝️ Join our free Summer Marriage Getaway for Catholic couples at CanaFeast.com/Getaway, You get our short, fun online sessions designed to help you slow down, laugh together, and renew your friendship as husband and wife. Hawaiian Island vibes are infused throughout!🍍🌈🌺 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
June 18 · 23 min
5 Ways to Encourage Each Other Better in Your Marriage
It helps the bad times feel more bearable. It makes the good times even more joyful. Encouragement is magic for your marriage relationship. In this episode, Sarah shares how Nathan's encouragement transformed her late nights staying up creating her Catholic French language course, French with St. Thérèse. Learn five aspects to becoming a better encourager in your marriage, and learn what NOT to do when your husband or wife is struggling. 1. Know you are aligned with the voice of God's affirming love. The enemy's voice is harsh and critical. The Lord's voice is gentle, loving, and encouraging. You are a conduit of that love when you encourage your husband or wife. 2. You have to have a hopeful, positive big-picture perspective on the future rooted in God's goodness and ultimate victory. 3. You can boost your encouragement powers by layering on helpful practical gestures, such as bringing them a tea. Show you support what they're trying to do by pitching in to support them tangibly in some way. 4. Be specific in your affirmations. "You are amazing!" is a great start; "You handled that specific situation really well" is even better. Point to their specific victories and achievements, even if they are internal victories. "You kept your cool while you got that done. That was admirable!" 5. Give comfort. Reassurance can keep a spiral from getting out of hand. Wives, do you dismiss your husband's encouragement to you? Learn to graciously receive and believe the encouragement and reassurance he offers you. Learn to ask for this if you're not getting it. These are choices you can make. Learn how and why to avoid sabotaging encouragement by offering unsolicited practical advice. Interested in taking French with St. Thérèse this summer? A backdoor is open, if you or your teens want to slip in! 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
May 20 · 1 hr 1 min
Highlights from My Women's Pilgrimage to France! 🇫🇷
"I felt like I was embraced by St. Thérèse."🌹 What happened on the May 2026 women's pilgrimage to France? So many gifts, graces, encounters, and special moments! Even though Sarah got Covid on the way home, she would do it again in a heartbeat. In this episode she shares many of the highlights of the experience, along with the following links for you to explore further: 1. The Story of a Soul, by St. Thérèse of Lisieux 2. A Call to Deeper Love: The Family Correspondance of the Parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux 3. Les Buissonets (the Little Flower's childhood home in Lisieux) 4. Novena to Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin (the prayer from the shrine in Alençon is in bold at the end of each day of the novena on this website). 5. Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle (Lace Museum in Alençon) 6. Monet's House and Garden at Giverny in Normandy, France 7. Leisure, the Basis of Culture, by Joseph Pieper (easy-to-read book of Catholic philosophy about the importance of authentic leisure) 8. Notre Dame des Victoires Basilica in Paris (church that St. Thérèse and her parents loved) 9. Chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Paris 10. Heart of the Father Ministries (Healing Prayer, Five Steps of Deliverance) 11. Be Healed, by Dr. Bob Schuchts 12. Your Blue Flame: Drop the Guilt and Do What Makes You Come Alive, by Jennifer Fulwiler 🇫🇷Interested in taking a French class with Sarah this summer or find out about upcoming pilgrimages to France?🇫🇷 Fill in your email address here to get notified: https://canafeast.com/france 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
May 1 · 10 min
Your Marriage Needs More AWE: Affection, Warmth, and Encouragement 💖
If you want a good foundation in your marriage for those problem-solving, conflict-solving, tension-resolving conversations, you need to build rapport and connection first with AWE: Affection Warmth Encouragement This concept is developed in Jim Burns' book Creating and Intimate Marriage: Rekindle Romance through Affection, Warmth, and Encouragement. In this episode, you'll learn examples for how to pour in more AWE in your marriage with affirmation and gratitude, non-sexual touch, and rooting for each other. If you want to learn more little things you can do with great love to build up your marriage, check out the Little Way of Marriage, the free online Catholic workshop Sarah and Nathan Bartel created for their CanaFeast ministry. Find it at www.littlewayofmarriage.com. 🌹 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
April 25 · 19 min
What about Wives Withholding Sex When They're Upset? 🤔
Is it sinful for a wife to withhold sex when she's upset at her husband? Is it unfair if they've planned to make love, but then he does something to upset her, so she doesn't want to anymore? The truth is, emotional connection is the foundation for good lovemaking in marriage. If a wife is upset, she is not in a good place to make love. She shouldn't try to force her body to communicate a closeness, connection, and intimacy that her heart doesn't feel. If a wife is not experiencing physical and emotional equilibrium, the husband must respect that and surround her with care and affection, as Humanae vitae says when it warns that practices such as birth control which lead to an entitled attitude towards sex are dangerous because a husband "may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection." (Humanae vita, 17). To talk about "withholding" sex implies an entitled attitude. Sex is not something husbands and wives are entitled to in marriage--even if there is a common expectation that sex is part of marriage. The Catholic Church does not teach that it is a sin for a wife to decline lovemaking in any circumstances. She is always free to do so. Husbands are also always free to decline. It is possible that a wife may use lovemaking in a manipulative manner to try to control her husband's behavior, but this is objectifying herself, and she shouldn't do that. Instead, a wife should use words to explain why she is upset, and the couple should repair the relationship. Then, they can celebrate that repair with lovemaking... when it's the right time. A couple may need to increase their marriage skills in order to be able to have good, honest dialogue and get equipped to navigate good repair conversations. If they can tend their emotional connection, they'll be in a good place to celebrate that with their physical intimacy. 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
April 8 · 27 min
10 Truths Every Catholic Bride (and Wife!) Should Know to Have Good Sex in Marriage
Here's the episode with all the things married women wish someone had told them when they first got married. Maybe you've been married a while, and no one ever told you. It's not too late to learn! Maybe you're a newlywed, or about to get married. You're in a great place to learn good habits early, before you settle into practices in your marriage that work against good lovemaking--practices that are unhelpful, harmful, or even sinful. If you want help unpacking these Ten Truths further, you can learn more in The Wedding Night and Beyond: The Catholic Bride's Guide to Sex in Marriage. This is good for engaged women, newlyweds, AND wives married decades who never learned all this at the beginning (which, let's be honest, is probably most women!). https://canafeast.com/weddingnight Other resources mentioned in this episode The Catechism of the Catholic Church 2363 The Ohnut by the Pelvic People (device to reduce penetration depth to prevent pain) The Obligation Sex Series by Sheila Gregoire (excellent blog article series by an Evangelical Christian author/speaker) A Closer Look at Sexual Coercion (straightforward article on a hotline website) My Delight podcast episode "Marital Debt is Not Church Teaching" My Delight podcast episode "What is Sexual Coercion?" 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
April 1 · 11 min
Making Space in Your Brain for Lovemaking 🧠
Your brain is your most important sexual organ. As you go through your days, weeks, months, and years, you need to make space in your brain for relaxation, creativity, fun, and pleasure... if you want to have those in lovemaking. You have to learn to periodically value other things more than productivity. -Connection -Rest -Play -Delight A woman in a chronic stress state is not going to be able to enjoy sex very much. In this episode, Sarah shares some examples for how you can slow down and connect with yourself ....and with your husband!... in order to create the foundation you need for good lovemaking. 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
March 24 · 28 min
"Like Heaven on Earth": Megan Gephart's My Delight Success Story✨
When Megan Gephart first signed up for the My Delight course, her husband was deployed. She and her husband were both active duty military, and they wouldn't be together for months, but she was decided to use the time while he was away to start work on herself before. Years later, Megan is still seeing the fruits unfold in her marriage. She shares her story of the tremendous changes she made. 🍍 She decided not to push through pain any more--and to finally talk to her husband about it. 🍓 She realized her pleasure mattered just as much as her husband's--which led to even more more honest, open communication than she'd ever had before in her marriage. 🍇 Now creating time to be together is a big priority. Hear the story of the weekend getaway that was like "heaven on earth"--though events, tensions, a nursing infant, and a big NFP decision leading up to the weekend could have derailed it. 🫐 She went from avoiding intimacy and avoiding non-sexual touch to finding her way to turn towards and actively choose connection. 🍒 Listen to Meghan share the genius shift her therapist suggested that is helping non-sexual touch go SO much better in her marriage now! Megan and her husband are now preparing a new adventure with military orders to Germany. She shares how they are being intentional about preparing for this new adventure (and all the packing and tasks leading up to it), while continuing to communicate closely about prioritizing their marriage, improving their love life ever more, and preparing for the years when they'll be that loving, affectionate silver-haired older couple sitting on their porch swing! Follow Megan Gephart's work supporting Catholic women entrepreneurs and professionals with coaching for strategy, operations, and sustainable growth at Apostolic Fruit. She also co-hosts the Apostolic Fruit podcast with her business partner, Anna Saucier. 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
March 11 · 17 min
A Husband's Perspective on Desire Differences... with Nathan Bartel
Most marriages have one spouse who is more interested in sex, and another who is less interested. This is desire difference. While this is normal--most marriages have a desire difference one way or another--it causes a lot of tension in marriages. Sarah brings on her husband, Nathan, to talk about understanding desire difference from a husband's point of view at a deeper level. Beyond just physical libido, he shares about the yearning for connection with their wives he hears from men he's worked with who have the higher desire. He also shares what it's like for the husband who has the lower desire. Understanding is key, and so are actionable skills that couples can use to help navigate the different factors at work. Sarah and Nathan point some paths forward to creating more connection--including not making sex the only source of connection in the marriage. They discuss the importance of recognizing the wife's mental load, and how the wife and husband can work with that. Affirmation and gratitude, non-sexual touch, empathy, and curiousity all help husbands and wives grow closer, feel seen, feel like they matter to the other, and grow in their unity and emotional connection. Catholic husbands interested in Nathan's free Desires Differences workshop can join here through March 12th. Replays of past calls are available. Desires Differences Workshop: https://canafeast.com/desire 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
February 19 · 42 min
The Five Spiritual Attacks to Expect While Fasting... with Denise Jelinek
When we fast, we can expect a pattern of five spiritual attacks--whether the fast is from food, behaviors like scrolling, people-pleasing, or other comforts. The enemy works in our false attachments: to things, to false gods, and to false comforts. He likes to get us to put something above God in our life, and that creates disorder. Fasting restores order. It puts God back as the center of our life. Of course the enemy will pursue our soul when we do this. Learn his tactics, learn that this is normal (you are not failing), and then learn how to gently and lovingly restore proper order after an attack. Denise Jelinek joins Sarah to break down the play book for each of these five attacks... and shares what to do about them. They touch on authentic self-care and tie it all in to Join Denise in fasting from the scale and finding peace with food this Lent in her beautiful and deeply transformative 63 Surrendered Program! Ash Wednesday Sale: Get it for $1 a day (coupon code: Lent63) Join here: https://weightlosswiththeholyspirit.com/ 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
February 18 · 12 min
3 Tips from the Song of Songs for Your Love Life 🌺
It's almost Lent! Listen to the voice of the Lord speak: "I will lead her into the desert, and there I will speak to her heart." Hos 2:14 So many good Catholic married women feel like there's a desert of some kind in their love life. Maybe it's a libido desert, or a postpartum desert, or a menopause desert. Maybe it's the ache of not feeling as desired by your husband as you'd like. Maybe lovemaking just feels humdrum and routine So many different kinds of deserts! The scriptures can renew our minds and bring supernatural inspiration. In this episode, Sarah shares three lessons from the Song of Songs to help guide your love life. As she reads this scripture through the lens of a Catholic sex and marriage coach, she sees: 1. The Bride's body image is very positive! 2. Great use of words and talking between the Bridegroom and the Bride. More Catholic couples should be talking about their love life with each other and talking while making love. You have a love story. Keep telling the story! 3. Use all 5 senses. The Song of Songs uses vivid language for all five senses. How can you incorporate and highlight the sense of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing in different ways to enliven your time coming together? Sarah shares just a few examples of ideas in this episode, but more is available in her Bloom in the Desert virtual retreat happening Feb. 18-24. It's free! Learn more from the Song of Songs to inspire your love life, do fun homework, win prizes, enjoy a safe Catholic community of sisters in Christ all committed to growing together. Enroll here: https://canafeast.com/desertbloom 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
February 4 · 41 min
What is Sexual Coercion? with Jenny DuBay
Making you feel guilty for saying "no." Wearing you down with asking over and over. You just want to get some sleep... the babies will be up at 5 am, so you just give in to get it over with. ...These are all examples of sexual coercion, which is a form of emotional abuse. Sarah is joined by Jenny DuBay, a certified trauma-informed Catholic coach, certified deconstructing gaslighting specialist, and certified narcissistic abuse specialist to talk about sexual coercion in marriage and the importance of consent to sex in Catholic marriage. Just because you're married doesn't mean you have to be constantly sexually available. That's not the teaching of the Catholic Church, and Jenny uses her theology degree and deep knowledge of TOB and Church teaching to dive into this topic. Listen in if you want to hear about the many different forms sexual coercion can take in Catholic marriage... and what to do about it. Get Jenny's DuBay's book Don't Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic's Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic Abuse (EnRoute Books and Media, 2024) Learn more about Jenny at https://www.jennydubay.com and learn more about healthy relationships in the articles on her SubStack at: https://www.createsoulspace.org/ 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
January 27 · 33 min
Nutrition, Libido, and Perimenopause with Rita Johnson
How does nutrition impact our hormones for libido and perimenopause thriving? Sarah is joined by Catholic nutritionist Rita Johnson of the Health and Hormones podcast to chat about how what you eat can impact your libido and perimenopause hormones. Along the way they chat about the power of dreaming, mindset shifts, and four high-protein breakfast ideas to anchor your blood sugar and set you up for a stable day... the kind of day more likely to leave with with some extra energy for intimacy at the end of it, if you want! You can find Rita at https://healthandhormones.org. Interested in the 5-day Perimenopause Workshop that Rita, Sarah, and other Catholic experts are offering Jan. 26-30? All sessions will be recorded so you can catch the replays. Walk away with a workbook full of practical strategies. https://healthandhormones.org/perimenopause-workshop Want Rita's free handout on hormone health? https://birdsend.page/forms/9473/cDk9YT4KSn 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
January 15 · 30 min
🇫🇷 7 Reasons I Love France and Want to Take You There!
Ladies, this is your invitation from Sarah to join her on a "Daughters of Grace" Women's pilgrimage to France in May 2026! It's this May 4-13th, in the footsteps of St. Thérèse, her mama St. Zélie, St. Joan of Arc ("I was born to do this!"), and of course, all guided, inspired, and devoted to Our Lady. You'll pray at Notre Dame cathedral, the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, Mont St. Michel where we'll seek the archangel's strength and protection, and culminate with a healing of hearts at Lourdes. The themes of the dignity of women, feminine genius, the theology of the body throughout a woman's life cycle, and healing the heart of a woman will all be woven throughout the pilgrimage. Sarah shares her pivotal memory of encountering St. John Paul II at World Youth Day in Paris in 1997 in an atmosphere of joy, gathered with thousands of youth from around by the Holy Spirit. In this episode, Sarah shares seven reasons why she loves France and wants to take you there with her. 1. The country's devotion to Our Lady 2. French saints! 3. Breathtaking cathedrals (French Gothic architecture 😍) 4. Beauty 5. Intelligence + Elegance 6. The French Language 7. The Food The pilgrimage costs $4,199 for the land-only package in which you arrange your travel to and from France, or $4,999 flying from Seattle. More info at https://canafeast.com/france Want to go, but can't? Pray this novena to see if a way might open up through the Little Flower's prayers! My Novena Rose Prayer O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors I now place with confidence in your hands . . (mention in silence here) St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did in God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day. Amen Want to join the free online formation on the pilgrimage themes? Sign up at: https://canafeast.com/france 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
Dec 18, 2025 · 12 min
What Should You Wear to Bed? 💕
What should you wear as you climb into bed with your husband for a lovemaking night? Sarah invites you to consider: Wearing something that makes you feel good. 1. It might feel good in terms of comfort. It might feel cozy and comforting on your skin and keep you warm. 2. It might make you feel good because it looks good on you. It's your color. The cut and fit suit you and flatter you. That's another wonderful reason to wear something to bed! 3. It might make you feel good because it feels sensual, with slinky, soft fabric. 4. Maybe it feels good because you feel feminine, sexy, or confident in it. That can help you get in the right attitude for lovemaking. Lingerie is okay. You don't have to wear it, but you can. There's nothing immoral about it, and in fact, it is quite likely that some of the lace made by St. Zélie Martin's workshop was for lingerie. If you want to wear lingerie, consider a model-free store such as Mentionables. (Get 10% off with the affiliate link: https://www.shopmentionables.com/BARTEL) Or, consider the unique, hand-made, fair-trade pieces made by Ginger and Peach. https://www.gingerandpeachlingerie.com Another tip is to go to an upscale department store, try on some chemises and nightgowns to see what you like, and then see if you can find them for a fraction of the price on eBay. Imaginary lingerie is another great way to go! It fits perfectly, looks great on you, doesn't itch, scratch, or ride up, and it's FREE! 5. Don't do this if it's bringing you down! Is ratty, stretched-out sleepwear dragging your energy down and making you feel frumpy and un-sexy? You deserve to feel good. If it's dragging you down, ditch it, and make an intentional choice to wear something that makes you feel good as you climb into bed to meet your husband. 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
Dec 13, 2025 · 21 min
Do You Need a Sex Sabbatical?🚫
What is a sex sabbatical? How do you know if you need one? What do you do during it, and how do you change up your dynamic afterwards? In this episode, Sarah shares how a sex sabbatical can be a helpful way to reset your love life in marriage. If you're in a cycle of obligation sex, forcing yourself to have painful sex, or just feeling burnt out, used, or resentful about sex in your marriage, a sex sabbatical can be just what a wife needs. It can give her the time to reflect on how she got to this point, it can give her space to research and learn more, and it can give her time to plan out and design a better chapter going forward, after coming together with her husband again. A husband and wife can use this time to develop other areas of intimacy in their marriage that may have gotten neglected. They can work on their communication, deepen emotional intimacy, and expand their repertoire of non-sexual touch. Resources mentioned in this episode: Mary Bruno, Missing Pieces: Female Perspectives on Sex for Catholic Women (book) Cana Feast Retreat Library (at-home Catholic date night retreats for a small dose of cemotional connection) Abundant Catholic Marriage Course (comprehensive online program for a big dose of emotional connection) Ruth Buezis, Awaken Love: The Truth about Sex That Will Transform Your Marriage (book) 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
Dec 8, 2025 · 8 min
Our Lady and Your Love Life
What does the Blessed Virgin Mary have to do with your love life as a Catholic wife? Is it even appropriate to turn to her for help in this area, seeing as she is a virgin--the Virgin of virgins, in fact? Yes! She is the passionate spouse of the Holy Spirit, and you do not need to be shy of asking her help with this intimate sanctuary of your marriage. -Mary is the perfect model of active receptivity. This concept can help you grow in your love life. Some women need to develop the "active" side of this more, and for others, perhaps it's the "receptivity" they need to work on. Meditating on what "active receptivity" means for you can be helpful. -You can ask Mary's help by praying a novena to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots for help undoing knots of shame, ignorance, wounds, and other obstacles holding you back from enjoying peace, freedom, and wholeness in your love life. -St. John Paul II was deeply devoted to Our Lady, and he is also the pope who has written and spoken most on sex and marriage. -Consider consecrating yourself to Our Lady, praying the Rosary, and approaching her for help. Her help and protection are powerful. St. Maximilian Kolbe's Consecration to Mary (read about the preparation as well): https://militiaoftheimmaculata.com/act-of-consecration-to-mary/ St. Louis deMontfort's Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Total Consecration, by Fr. Michael Gaitley 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.
Dec 4, 2025 · 19 min
Touched Out! 4 Tips
So many moms feel touched out by the end of the day and don't want their husband to touch them, especially not in lovemaking. How do you handle this? In this episode, Sarah shares 4 tips for handling that touched-out feeling that affects moms with young kids as well as other hands-on caregivers. 1. Set boundaries with your kids to save yourself from some of the unwanted touches throughout the day--for example, teach them not to tug at your clothes, if that drives you nuts. 2. Take the time you need to reset and regulate after a high-touch day. You can calm your nervous system down. Scrolling and screens won't do this; a walk, a book, quiet time by yourself can. After you reset, you might be more open to touch than you thought you could be. 3. Your back, feet, and legs probably aren't touched-out. It's usually your arms, upper torso, head, and maybe core/ lap area that are. After you reset, invite your husband to touch you in those places that haven't been overstimulated. Try a back massage, a foot rub, or a leg massage first. Once you're feeling good from those touches, you will likely feel more open to touch in your upper torso, arms, head, and core/pelvis/lap area. 4. Are you an HSP? Take the quiz to see if you're a Highly Sensitive Person. https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/ Learning that you are an HSP can help you learn how to take care of yourself better. Know that overstimulation from touch will affect you more than others, and give yourself extra reset time and white space in your day. Learn more about the superpowers and sufferings of being an HSP at hsperson.com, and learn to talk with your husband about your bubble. Sometimes your bubble of personal space will be big, other times smaller and more porous. Use this, or some other image, to communicate with your husband about whether coming in for some touch is welcome or not at any given time. 🌸 free online Catholic marriage workshop: the Little Way of Marriage Learn how to do little marriage-building skills with great love, inspired by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, and her holy parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin! Support the show MORE RESOURCES Want to learn 10 Truths for Good Sex for Catholic Wives? Free "10 Truths" download. https://canafeast.com/10truths Free Enhancing Marital Intimacy Guide for Catholic Women: 9 Skills for Body, Mind, and Spirit (for married and engaged women) Do you want to know what is allowed for Catholics in the bedroom? The "What's Allowed List" answers 20+ questions about what is licit and illicit. ($10) Model-free lingerie! Get 10% off with my affiliate link for Mentionables.