Is it normal for desire to fade in long-term relationships? Or can passion actually last?

This episode breaks down a powerful study of over 38,000 people in long-term relationships to uncover what really keeps sex satisfying over time. Spoiler: it’s not just about frequency or trying something new — it’s about how couples connect.

We explore the 7 key habits that set passionate couples apart — and the biggest mistake many people make.

You’ll learn:

• Why emotional intimacy is just as important as physical pleasure
• How sexual satisfaction changes over time — and why it doesn’t have to decline
• What couples who still feel passion years in are doing differently

The study covered in this episode is What Keeps Passion Alive? Sexual Satisfaction Is Associated With Sexual Communication, Mood Setting, Sexual Variety, Oral Sex, Orgasm, and Sex Frequency in a National U.S. Study, by Frederick et al., published in The Journal of Sex Research:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2015.1137854

🎧 Listen in — and if it sparks something, share it with someone you care about.

Interested in my services? Check them out here: https://leighnoren.com/all-services

Want to join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire? Here’s the link: https://leighnoren.com/redesire-sex-drive-course-apply

Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link: https://airtable.com/apploL0ElRa01lJAk/pagT9VXL3OG25BwvA/form

Do you ever hesitate to initiate sex because you're afraid of being rejected — or feel guilty for turning your partner down?

In this episode, I answer a listener question about how to navigate mismatched libidos and the pain of repeated rejection in a relationship. We unpack the science of sexual rejection, and how it can shape desire, emotional safety, and long-term connection — often in ways couples don’t talk about.

You’ll learn:

→ The most common emotional reactions to sexual rejection — and why some responses shut down intimacy while others build it

→ What the data shows about how rejection impacts desire over time

→ A free list of conversation starters to help you open up this conversation with more clarity and less pressure

The study covered in the episode is: Comparing Responses to Sexual Rejection and Sexual and Relationship Well-Being in Couples Coping with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder and Community Couples, written by Schwenck et al. and can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2023.2282617#abstract

📝 Grab your free exercise connected to this episode here: https://leighnoren.com/podcast-resources

🎧 Listen in — and if you find yourself nodding along, pass it on to someone who needs to hear this too.

Interested in my services? Check them out here: https://leighnoren.com/all-services

Want to join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire? Here’s the link: https://leighnoren.com/redesire-sex-drive-course-apply

Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link: https://airtable.com/apploL0ElRa01lJAk/pagT9VXL3OG25BwvA/form

Do you ever feel like you’re performing during sex — instead of actually experiencing it?

In this interview episode, I talk with researcher Noémie Viens about how perfectionism can quietly shape our sex lives.

We unpack her study on sexual perfectionism — including its connection to shame, frustration, anxiety, and desire — and why some forms of perfectionism are actually linked to more sexual desire… but not always for the reasons you’d expect.

You’ll learn:

→ Why performance pressure doesn’t just affect men — and how it shows up differently in women and men

→ The 3 different forms of perfectionism, and how each one impacts desire, pleasure, and sexual wellbeing

→ A free couples exercise to help you reflect on how perfectionism might be affecting your sex life — and how to shift from performance to pleasure

The study covered in the episode is: Multidimensional Perfectionism and Sexual Difficulties Among Adult Couples: A Dyadic Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study written by Viens et al. and can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2025.2456117?src=exp-la

📝 Grab your free exercise connected to this episode here: https://leighnoren.com/podcast-resources

🎧 Listen in — and if you find yourself nodding along, pass it on to someone who needs to hear this too.

Interested in my services? Check them out here: https://leighnoren.com/all-services

Want to join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire? Here’s the link: https://leighnoren.com/redesire-sex-drive-course-apply

Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link: https://airtable.com/apploL0ElRa01lJAk/pagT9VXL3OG25BwvA/form

Are you someone who believes great sex should just… happen? Like chemistry either exists or it doesn’t?

This episode unpacks one of the biggest invisible roadblocks to intimacy: our beliefs about how sex is supposed to work. We break down a fascinating study on “sexual growth vs. destiny beliefs” and why couples who believe sex takes effort tend to experience more passion, responsiveness, and long-term satisfaction.

You’ll learn:

→ Why expecting sex to be effortless can damage connection

→ How believing sex takes effort is linked to greater support, responsiveness, and satisfaction — especially when things aren’t going smoothly

→ How to unpack your own beliefs using the free reflection exercise I’ve included

The study covered in the episode is: Responsiveness in the Face of Sexual Challenges: The Role of Sexual Growth and Destiny Beliefs by Uppot et al. and can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2023.2175194

📝 Grab your free exercise connected to this episode here: https://leighnoren.com/podcast-resources

🎧 Listen in — and if you find yourself nodding along, pass it on to someone who needs to hear this too.

Interested in my services? Check them out here: https://leighnoren.com/all-services

Want to join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire? Here’s the link: https://leighnoren.com/redesire-sex-drive-course-apply

Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link: https://airtable.com/apploL0ElRa01lJAk/pagT9VXL3OG25BwvA/form

Interested in my services? Check them out here: https://leighnoren.com/all-services

Want to join my 1:1 online program Re:Desire? Here’s the link: https://leighnoren.com/redesire-sex-drive-course-apply

Do you want to submit a listener question for the podcast? Here's the link: https://airtable.com/apploL0ElRa01lJAk/pagT9VXL3OG25BwvA/form