Episodes

Saturday Aug 01, 2020
Saturday Aug 01, 2020
We interview Dr. Christine DiBlasio, a psychologist and 4th degree Black Belt in Kempo-Jujitsu Karate, about her innovative programs using concepts of Empowerment Self Defense to help survivors of sexual abuse. Together with Dr. DiBlasio, we consider a listener's question: how can she get over her tendency to shut down whenever a relationship starts to become sexual?
Wondering about the idea of affirmative consent? Want to learn about ways of preventing partner violence, both in the general community and on college campuses? Dr. DiBlasio shares her passionate commitment and expert knowledge about these and other topics in a lively discussion in this episode.
For more information about Dr. DiBlasio's work, see her guest blog post here.
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you!
And let us know if you'd like to be interviewed on the show! Visit brucechalmer.com/podcast for more information.
Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Like this podcast? Review us, like us, follow us, and do all those other kinds of wonderful things to us! It helps people find the show.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Saturday Jul 25, 2020
What is Faith? Episode 8
Saturday Jul 25, 2020
Saturday Jul 25, 2020
What is faith, and why is it crucial for relationships, even if you're not religious? Faith isn't the same as religion or spirituality. And it's the opposite of fundamentalism! Find out why. For our listener question this time, "Edna" wants her marriage to go back to the way it was before her husband told her he thinks he might be gay. What to do? And what does that have to do with faith?
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you!
And let us know if you'd like to be interviewed on the show! Visit brucechalmer.com/podcast for more information.
Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Like this podcast? Review us, like us, follow us, and do all those other kinds of wonderful things to us! It helps people find the show.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Friday Jul 17, 2020
Getting Hold of Yourself - Episode 7
Friday Jul 17, 2020
Friday Jul 17, 2020
How do you get hold of yourself when your partner is freaking out, or freaking you out? We talk about shame and guilt, getting to the right argument, and tolerating ups and downs without panic. Then we handle a listener question: How can I stop hounding my husband who cheated on me?
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you!
And let us know if you'd like to be interviewed on the show! Visit brucechalmer.com/podcast for more information.
Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Like this podcast? Review us, like us, follow us, and do all those other kinds of wonderful things to us! It helps people find the show.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Saturday Jul 11, 2020
Trauma and Relationships: An Interview with Rabbi David Edleson - Episode 6
Saturday Jul 11, 2020
Saturday Jul 11, 2020
How does trauma affect relationships? We talk a bit about the next topic in Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark, and then turn to an interview with Rabbi David Edleson. Rabbi Edleson talks about his work doing rabbinic counseling with couples, his role as a congregational rabbi, and his life as a gay man in a 38-year relationship.
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you!
And let us know if you'd like to be interviewed on the show! Visit brucechalmer.com/podcast for more information.
Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Sunday Jul 05, 2020
Passion and Sex: An Interview with Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus - Episode 5
Sunday Jul 05, 2020
Sunday Jul 05, 2020
What happens to passion in long-term couples? And how can they keep their sex life alive and well? We talk about the next chapter of Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark, called "The Death Spiral for Passion." Then we have a lively interview with Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, the "Orthodox Sex Guru." Dr. Marcus talks about her work as a sex therapist, and how both her Orthodox Judaism and her passionate feminism influence her work. Along the way, she busts some common myths about sex and aging, and handles a listener question.
You can find more about Dr. Marcus on Instagram @drbatsheva. She is the co-host of The Joy of Text, a monthly podcast about Judaism, sexuality, and the intersection between the two.
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you!
And let us know if you'd like to be interviewed on the show! Visit brucechalmer.com/podcast for more information.
Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Sunday Jun 28, 2020
Panic and Its Effects (Good and Bad) - Episode 4
Sunday Jun 28, 2020
Sunday Jun 28, 2020
What good is panic? And how does it affect your relationships? We talk about how panic affects us, and then handle a listener question: How can a woman who's only been with women before tell a guy she loves that their sex life isn't doing it for her?
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you!
And let us know if you'd like to be interviewed on the show! Visit brucechalmer.com/podcast for more information.
Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Friday Jun 19, 2020
The Two Golden Gifts - Episode 3
Friday Jun 19, 2020
Friday Jun 19, 2020
What are the gifts you need for your relationship to thrive? We talk about stability and intimacy--how they're both vital, but sometimes conflict. Then we tackle a listener question: He wants to watch porn with her to spice up their sex life, she thinks he's a pervert for suggesting it. Now what?
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you! Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Friday Jun 12, 2020
I Am My Beloved's And My Beloved Is Mine - Episode 2
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Friday Jun 12, 2020
The topic is kindness--not just being nice, but in the stronger (and more difficult) sense of being kin. We explain how assuming good will helps shape your relationship toward that sense of kinship. Then we talk about a provocative listener question: how can their marriage survive when one partner can't stand President Trump, and the other supports him?
Send in your questions: email us at bruce@brucechalmer.com, or just visit brucechalmer.com. We'd love to hear from you! Dr. Chalmer's book Reigniting the Spark: Why Stable Relationships Lose Intimacy, and How to Get It Back is available here, or wherever you get your books.
Music: Besamim (Spices) by Bruce Chalmer, performed by Fyre and Lightning Consort

Couples Therapy in Seven Words
Be kind, don't panic, and have faith. Everything and anything about relationships.