We’ve had a little makeover! Conversations We Need to Have is now: Let’s Simply Talk About Sex, Relationships and Everything in Between.
Same topics. Same honest conversations. Just a simpler, more relaxed approach.
We’re moving away from anything that feels like a lecture and towards conversations that are easy to follow, relatable and hopefully a little more fun.
No complicated explanations. No information overload. Just… let’s simply talk about it.
If you’ve listened before, thank you for being here. ❤️
And if you’re new — welcome!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Publisher
Andrea Simson
Category
health & fitness · health & fitness · society & culture
We’ve had a little makeover! Conversations We Need to Have is now: Let’s Simply Talk About Sex, Relationships and Everything in Between. Same topics. Same honest conversations. Just a simpler, more relaxed approach. We’re moving away from anything that feels like a lecture and towards conversations that are easy to follow, relatable and hopefully a little more fun. No complicated explanations. No information overload. Just… let’s simply talk about it.
If you’ve listened before, thank you for being here. And if you’re new — welcome!
Anxiety is something we all experience, but what if the problem isn’t anxiety itself — but the way we respond to it? In this episode, Andrea explores anxiety as an over-sensitive alarm system rather than something that means we’re broken. Drawing on ideas from Barry McDonagh’s DARE Response, she looks at why fighting, avoiding and trying to control anxiety can actually keep it going — and what happens when we respond differently.
Sources
* Barry McDonagh – DARE Response – An approach to responding to anxiety and panic by reducing fear and resistance rather than fighting the sensations.
* DARE: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks – Barry McDonagh.
* NHS – Anxiety and Panic – Information about anxiety, panic attacks and available support.
Support
If anxiety or panic is significantly affecting your everyday life, relationships or ability to do the things you want to do, consider speaking to a qualified mental health professional or your GP.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
15 Oct 2026
Desire in Long Term Relationships
In this episode, Andrea explores one of the great paradoxes of love: why sexual desire fades even in relationships filled with affection, loyalty, and trust.
Love and desire play by completely different rules — love craves closeness, comfort, and safety, while desire thrives on distance, curiosity, and mystery.
And yet we expect one person to provide both.
Andrea breaks down how to reignite desire without swapping partners or adding pressure — by reintroducing imagination, autonomy, and play.
Sources
Mating in Captivity – Esther Perel
The State of Affairs – Esther Perel
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
8 Oct 2026
Understanding Vaginismus
In this episode, Andrea explores vaginismus — a condition that affects many women and people with vaginas, but is often misunderstood or hidden behind silence and shame.
Because vaginismus isn’t a flaw — it’s a fear response.
And once the body feels safe again, pain can ease and pleasure can return.
If you want to see Andrea demonstrate the dilators - this episode is also on YouTube
Resources:
Come As You Are — Emily Nagoski, PhD
When Sex Hurts — Andrew Goldstein, Caroline Pukall & Irwin Goldstein
British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy (BASRT.org.uk)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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