Libido, desire and connecting with pleasure

11/19/24 • 45 min

Women of the Well | Holistic Women’s Health and Wellness

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Send us a text here

How do you really feel about your desire and connection to pleasure?
Curious? Confused? Maybe even a little frustrated?
In this week’s episode of Women of the Well, we’re diving into one of the most fascinating and misunderstood aspects of health: libido.
Whether you’re navigating the ups and downs of desire or simply curious about how to connect more deeply with your pleasure, this conversation is packed with insights and practical tools to inspire and empower you.
Dr Peta Wright, Dr Thea Bowler, and Sam Lindsay-German take an honest, evidence-based, and holistic look at what impacts libido – and how you can feel more connected to yourself, your partner, and your life.
Why you’ll love this episode:

🌿 Discover why libido isn’t just about sex – it’s about how you feel in your body, your life, and your relationships.

🌿 From tantric-inspired practices to Moon Centres in yoga, learn how to nurture connection and bring more pleasure into your daily life.

🌿 Why hormones like testosterone aren’t the main factor – and what really affects desire, including stress, safety, and connection.

🌿 Understand the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire – and how to make intimacy work beautifully in long-term relationships.

🌿 Rediscover the link between sexual energy, creativity, and your overall zest for life.

🎧 Listen now and let us know what you think.

Resources and Recommendations:

📖 Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski – The ultimate guide to the science of female sexuality and desire.
📖 Come Together by Emily Nagoski – A follow-up exploring deeper dimensions of connection and intimacy.
💡 Lubricants:
- Olive & Bee – Organic olive oil and beeswax-based lubricant (not suitable with latex condoms).
- Coconut oil or olive oil – Natural, nourishing alternatives.
- Stimulating lubricants – Options that add warmth or tingling for extra sensation.
- Specialty lubricants from Ellechemy – Options infused with testosterone or Viagra for enhanced blood flow.
🧘 Moon Centres (from yoga traditions): Enhance connection and pleasure through gentle touch and tantric-inspired practices.
🌟 Eye gazing and tantric breathing techniques: Deepen intimacy through simple yet transformative practices.
🧘‍♀️ Pelvic flow movements: Try yoga-inspired practices like pelvic tilts to increase connection and flow.

______________________

For more information about us, visit VeraWellness.com.au.

We’d love to continue the conversation with you on Instagram @verawellness.com.au

To stay in the loop with every new episode of Women of the Well and gain first access to special resources and events – join our Podcast VIP Club here.

______________________

DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for information and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Send us a text here

🌿 Discover why libido isn’t just about sex – it’s about how you feel in your body, your life, and your relationships.

🌿 From tantric-inspired practices to Moon Centres in yoga, learn how to nurture connection and bring more pleasure into your daily life.

🌿 Why hormones like testosterone aren’t the main factor – and what really affects desire, including stress, safety, and connection.

🌿 Understand the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire – and how to make intimacy work beautifully in long-term relationships.

🌿 Rediscover the link between sexual energy, creativity, and your overall zest for life.

🎧 Listen now and let us know what you think.

Resources and Recommendations:

📖 Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski – The ultimate guide to the science of female sexuality and desire.
📖 Come Together by Emily Nagoski – A follow-up exploring deeper dimensions of connection and intimacy.
💡 Lubricants:
- Olive & Bee – Organic olive oil and beeswax-based lubricant (not suitable with latex condoms).
- Coconut oil or olive oil – Natural, nourishing alternatives.
- Stimulating lubricants – Options that add warmth or tingling for extra sensation.
- Specialty lubricants from Ellechemy – Options infused with testosterone or Viagra for enhanced blood flow.
🧘 Moon Centres (from yoga traditions): Enhance connection and pleasure through gentle touch and tantric-inspired practices.
🌟 Eye gazing and tantric breathing techniques: Deepen intimacy through simple yet transformative practices.
🧘‍♀️ Pelvic flow movements: Try yoga-inspired practices like pelvic tilts to increase connection and flow.

______________________

For more information about us, visit VeraWellness.com.au.

We’d love to continue the conversation with you on Instagram @verawellness.com.au

To stay in the loop with every new episode of Women of the Well and gain first access to special resources and events – join our Podcast VIP Club here.

______________________

DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for information and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Previous Episode

Diet, movement, and self-care for menopause

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Send us a text here

In this episode, we’re focusing on how to feel good during perimenopause and menopause without rigid rules or overwhelming advice.
Co-hosts Dr Peta Wright, Dr Thea Bowler and Sam Lindsay-German unpack holistic ways of supporting the body through menopause – that feel aligned, sustainable, and balanced.
With so much contradictory information out there, it’s easy to feel confused about what your body needs.
This conversation breaks it all down, offering guidance that honours body wisdom and embraces a truly holistic approach to health.
🎧 Here’s what you’ll discover:
🌿 Why prescriptive advice can be counterproductive and how a flexible, personalised approach to menopause often feels best.
🌿 Simple, nourishing foods and diets that support brain health, lower inflammation, and honour what works best for you.
🌿 The value of joyful movement – from gardening to dancing – and how to find forms of exercise that make you feel good.
🌿 Tips from Ayurveda to balance your energy and promote gut health, including the benefits of cooked, warming foods.
🌿 Honest insights into navigating alcohol and sleep challenges, with gentle suggestions for finding what works best for your body.
Listen in as Dr Peta, Dr Thea and Sam discuss everything from diet and movement, to the importance of tuning into your body’s unique needs.
Resources to complement this episode:

Listen to our previous episode Rediscovering yourself in perimenopause.
More about Sam Lindsay-German and her healing work with women.
Join Sam for Sadhana recorded live each weekday at 5am in The Calm Room.

______________________

For more information about us, visit VeraWellness.com.au.

We’d love to continue the conversation with you on Instagram @verawellness.com.au

To stay in the loop with every new episode of Women of the Well and gain first access to special resources and events – join our Podcast VIP Club here.

______________________

DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for information and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Next Episode

The Spring + Summer of Your Menstrual Cycle (Follicular and Ovulatory phases)

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Send us a text here

What if you could work with your cycle to feel more energised, creative, and aligned with your natural rhythm?

This week on Women of the Well, we’re kicking off a mini-series on the menstrual cycle with a deep dive into the follicular and ovulatory phases – the 'Spring' and 'Summer' of your cycle.

These phases are often when you feel most energised, social, and capable. This makes them the perfect time to focus on productivity, creativity, and connection.

Dr Thea, Dr Peta, and Sam guide you through the hormonal, physical, and emotional shifts of these times, sharing practical ways to harness your natural energy and embrace a cyclical approach to life.

Please note: we apologise for the sound quality in parts of this episode, we are working on a fix and should have this sorted soon!

Listen to discover:

🌿 How rising oestrogen levels influence your mood, energy, and creativity – and why the follicular phase is often the “go-getter” time of the cycle.

🌿 How tuning into your cycle can help you work smarter, not harder, and bring more balance to your life.

🌿 The physical and emotional shifts that occur during ovulation – from peak energy to the occasional emotional overwhelm.

🌿 Why you might feel more spontaneous desire around ovulation and how this connects to your hormones and emotional state.

🌿 How to align your tasks, projects, and self-care with your natural rhythm.

🎧 Tune in now to find out how to embrace the energy and possibility of these phases.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:
🌳 Unlocking the Power of Your Cycle Course: A comprehensive online program (guided by Dr Peta Wright) to help you understand and optimise your cycle – with education, tools, and practices to support you throughout the month.
📖 Florence Given’s Book – Women Living Deliciously: A bold and empowering guide to embracing self-expression, living deliciously, and doing life on your terms.
🌟 Stardust App: A menstrual cycle tracking app that aligns your cycle with the phases of the moon and provides personalised insights that your partner can access too.

______________________

For more information about us, visit VeraWellness.com.au.

We’d love to continue the conversation with you on Instagram @verawellness.com.au

To stay in the loop with every new episode of Women of the Well and gain first access to special resources and events – join our Podcast VIP Club here.

______________________

DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for information and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Women of the Well | Holistic Women’s Health and Wellness - Libido, desire and connecting with pleasure

Transcript

[00:00:00] Dr.Peta: Hello, and welcome to Women of the Well. I'm Peta Wright. I'm Thea Bowler, and I'm Sam Lindsay-German. It's good to be here at the beginning of an episode for once rather than popping halfway in.
We are going to talk about libido today, which is such a huge I think for so many of the women that come to see us and there's a lot of, confusion and shoulds and expectations that we place upon ourselves and have placed on us from the society that we live in, that we wanted to