Foreplay Replay - Alcohol -- Gas Pedal or Brake?

Foreplay Replay - Alcohol -- Gas Pedal or Brake?

Author: Cloud10 February 16, 2026 Duration: 31:14
"Sometimes popping two gummies on vacation helps us have really great sex!" "I really need that glass of wine to get me in the mood!" "Smelling alcohol on your breath is such a turnoff!" As couples and sex therapists, we've talked to thousands of partners about how alcohol and substances affect their relationships. Sometimes couples report that alcohol is a major block to sexual connection, others share that it can help them get out of their heads and make sex more enjoyable. In your relationship, is alcohol a gas pedal or a brake? Meaning it turns you on and helps with desire, arousal, orgasm or it shuts you down and you withdraw from sex. If seeing your partner drunk is a sexual brake, you may feel rejected by their advances because they wouldn't typically act like that sober. If alcohol is a gas pedal, you may feel your inhibition lower and it's more comfortable to access thoughts about sex and connection to your body. Listen to this episode as George and Laurie discuss the function of alcohol in sex and relationships and what you may need to explore underneath if it is a gas pedal or brake. Our hosts approach this topic with non-judgement and are explicit that alcohol and substance use runs on a wide spectrum and affects people in many ways. We know this may open up myriad reactions from our listeners and we welcome your feedback! As always, thank you for listening and keep it hot, y'all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world where conversations about intimacy often get reduced to cliches or awkward silence, Brave Love Great Sex-Couples Therapy Podcast offers a different space. Hosted by certified sex therapist Dr. Laurie Watson and renowned couples therapist George Faller, LMFT, this is a dialogue that goes beyond simple advice. Each episode is built on a foundation of professional expertise and compassionate honesty, tackling the real, sometimes messy, intersections of emotional connection and physical desire. You'll hear frank discussions that demystify therapy, explore relationship dynamics, and address the challenges and joys of maintaining a vibrant, erotic bond within a committed partnership. The conversations are designed to be both fascinating and practical, moving from broader concepts of love and trust to specific discussions about sexual intimacy and technique. This isn't about quick fixes; it's about providing hope and actionable insights for couples who want to deepen their understanding of each other. By listening to this podcast, you gain access to a rare combination of perspectives, where a focus on sexual health and a focus on relational fitness come together. It’s for anyone in a long-term relationship seeking to nurture both the brave love and the great sex that can sustain it for the long haul.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Brave Love Great Sex – Couples Therapy Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Foreplay Replay - How to Assess Your Present Sexual Relationship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:15
We invite you into a thoughtful reflection about what is happening in YOUR sex life. Bring your spirit of curiosity and stay with us in the discovery mode as our “client” played by the brave volunteer - George - answers…
524: Ghost of Christmas Present [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
In today's episode, we are focusing on tending to the 'Ghost of Christmas Present' so the 'Ghost of Christmas Future' can reap the relational benefits! Join our experts, Dr. Laurie and George Faller, hosts of the newly b…
Foreplay Replay - Closing the Arousal Gap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:21
With the average Joe and average Jane so different in their approach to sex and the ways and timing of arousal, what can a couple do to close the arousal gap? Join sex therapist and author Dr. Laurie Watson and couples t…
523: How to Give Great Gifts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:05
The holiday season is here and in today's episode we are talking about giving and receiving gifts in your relationship. What does this ritual mean to you and which are you more comfortable with? George and Laurie share t…
Foreplay Replay - The Complexity of Male Sexuality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:37
The expectations in relationship and in our culture for what it means to be a man often comes down to a big erection that works every time. The prevalence of porn has communicated unrealistic ideas about sex and sexualit…
522: Invisible Turn Offs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:18
We may know what the big turn offs are but there are many small things that kill desire. In today's episode we are discussing invisible turn offs that end up taking sex off the table without you even realizing it. Join o…
Foreplay Replay - Affair Recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:31
Recovery from an Affair – The delicate process of recoveringfrom an affair; what works best for restoring the relationship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
521: Spirituality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:00
In today's episode we are discussing sex and spirituality. Sex and religion are often clashing ideals that can be shaming, rigid and rule-based. We invite listeners to explore the space between, where sex is an intimate…
Foreplay Replay - Stop the Fight—How to Break the Negative Cycle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:29
Are you always having what feels like the same fight? Does the negative cycle leave you feeling frustrated and angry? Or misunderstood and like you're failing? Can you see what your partner does clearly but not see how w…
520: Touch Deprivation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
In this episode, Laurie and George explore a pattern they see often in therapy but rarely hear women talk about openly: growing up under-touched—not abused or mistreated, but raised with too little warm, affectionate con…