Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships

30:18

A Conversation with Begin Again Institute's Matt...

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/09/29

How does childhood attachment wounding lead to sex addiction and what does healing look like for both the betrayer and the betrayed?In this powerful episode of Conversations on Sex, Addiction and Relationships, hosts Tim Stein, Jeanne Vattuone, Dan Drake, and Wendy Conquest welcome Matt Wenger, Executive Clinical Director, and Raina Hampton, Partner Clinical Coordinator, from the Begin Again Institute (BAI). Together, they explore the deep connection between attachment wounding, sex addiction,

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25:44

Healing Through Community After Betrayal

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/09/01

In this new episode of Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships, Jeanne Vattuone and Dan Drake welcome Melissa, founder of WeTonglen, a private online community created to support women impacted by sexual betrayal and relationship trauma.Melissa shares her own path from feeling isolated, misunderstood, and uncomfortable in early support spaces to finding genuine connection with others who understood her experience. That journey ultimately inspired WeTonglen: a carefully moderated,

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34:59

Gambling and Sex Addiction with Michael Lazar

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/08/18

In this new episode of Conversations on Sex, Addiction and Relationships, Tim Stein, Jeanne Vattuone, Wendy Conquest, and Dan Drake welcome Michael Lazar, an expert in sex addiction and gambling disorder, for an important conversation about the rapidly changing world of online gambling.As sports betting, prediction markets, day trading, cryptocurrency, and gambling apps become increasingly accessible through mobile devices, gambling no longer requires a trip to a casino. The hosts explore how this

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19:14

When Partners Think Betrayal Means Hate: Mailbag Special

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/08/11

In this powerful mailbag episode, Tim Stein, Jeanne Vattuone, Wendy Conquest, and Dan Drake, tackle one of the most common and painful questions from partners in recovery: "Did you have to hate me to do this?" A listener in early recovery shares his wife's struggle: she believes he must have been angry with her or even hated her to act out in his addiction. But his experience was rooted in shame, fear, and feelings of inadequacy, not anger toward her. Whether you're the one in recovery or the

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32:07

Therapeutic Separation with Dr. Stevie Hall

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/07/28

What happens when a couple is caught between staying and leaving, and neither option feels safe? In this episode the podcast hosts, Wendy, Dan, Jeanne, and Tim sit down with Dr. Stevie Hall, the author of Therapeutic Separation: A Workbook for Couples Facing Addiction to explore a third path. Stevie breaks down what a therapeutic separation actually is: an intentional, structured break (often around 90 days) that's far different from the ambiguous separations that so often create more harm and

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30:10

The Rise of AI Companionship

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/07/14

This exciting new episode explores the rapidly emerging world of AI companionship and its impact on relationships, attachment, and mental health.Conversations hosts, Jeanne Vattuone, Dan Drake, Tim Stein, and Wendy Conquest are joined by Elizabeth Abbruzza and Connie Zollner of Bellevue Trauma Recovery Center to unpack how artificial intimacy is showing up in clinical practice. They examine why AI companions can feel so compelling and how that appeal can quickly become addictive, especially for

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28:49

Training the Mind: Meditation for Addiction Recovery

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/06/26

Meditation isn’t about clearing your mind. It’s about changing your relationship to it. Conversations Hosts, Wendy Conquest and Tim Stein, explore how meditation can strengthen recovery for addicts and support grounding for partners. They unpack the myth of “emptying the mind,” the power of sitting with discomfort, and how building mental resilience helps interrupt addictive cycles and emotional reactivity. This conversation highlights meditation as a practical, trainable skill for creating space,

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30:04

'Finding the Way Through': Rewriting Recovery with...

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/06/09

Conversations host Dan Drake and Wendy Conquest explore with Jeanne Vattuone and Tim Stein on their new workbook 'Finding the Way Through'. It is a comprehensive, 15+ year-in-the-making resource for sex and pornography addiction recovery.What sets this workbook apart is its integration of rigorous sobriety work with a consistent focus on partner sensitivity, challenging the traditional “stay on your side of the street” model. The conversation unpacks how the book guides readers through the full arc

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35:57

Empathy in Recovery with Dr. Stevie Cotet

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/05/26

In this new episode, Conversations hosts, Jeanne Vattuone, Tim Stein, Wendy Conquest, and Dan Drake talk with guest, Dr. Stevie Cotet, about empathy and why it matters so deeply in sex addiction recovery and relationship healing. Dr. Stevie explains empathy as both an internal process and an external response, and discusses common barriers like shame, dysregulation, and skill deficits. The conversation also explores how empathy shows up differently in individuals and couples, why realistic

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20:12

The Truth About Lying in Addiction & Relationships

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/05/05

In this latest episode on Conversations on Sex Addiction and Relationships, the team dives into a tough but essential question: Why do addicts lie and are they even aware they’re doing it? Tim Stein, Dan Drake, and Wendy Conquest, unpack how lying often starts as an early survival strategy rooted in trauma, where being fully authentic didn’t feel safe. Over time, this evolves into patterns of denial, omission, and “motivated reasoning,” where the brain unconsciously twists reality to avoid

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21:10

Emotional Affairs and Betrayal

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/04/21

What counts as an emotional affair? In this episode of Conversations on Sex Addiction and Relationships, Wendy Conquest, Tim Stein, Jeanne Vattuone, and Dan Drake unpack emotional affairs. How they begin, and why they can be deeply painful even without physical cheating.The conversation will look at how emotional affairs can blur lines through texting, personal disclosure, and unmet emotional needs, especially when someone starts turning outside their primary relationship for support or intimacy

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26:24

Sex Addiction 101

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/04/07

What does it really mean to be a sex addict? In this episode of Conversations on Sex Addiction and Relationships, hosts Tim Stein, Jeanne Vattuone, and Wendy Conquest unpack the confusion around sexual compulsivity, pornography use, betrayal trauma, and intimacy issues. They explore how to tell the difference between normal sexual behavior and addiction, what red flags to look for, and how shame, secrecy, and early exposure to sexual material can shape lifelong patterns.Join the discussion about

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20:56

How Recovery Rebuilds What Matters Most

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/03/24

When someone is caught in the cycle of sex addiction, it can appear that their only value is acting out in the addiction itself. But beneath the surface lies something much deeper. In this episode on Conversations on Sex Addiction and Relationships, Tim Stein, Wendy Conquest, and Dan Drake unpack what values really mean in sex addiction recovery. They explore the disconnect between what addicts say they value, like connection, honesty, and loyalty, and the behaviors that often contradict those

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23:16

The High-Functioning Addicts

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/03/10

In this mailbag episode 'The High-Functioning Addicts' on Conversations Podcast, Wendy Conquest, Tim Stein, and Dan Drake tackle a listener’s question about “high-functioning” sex addicts.These are people who appear to have everything under control yet still find themselves in patterns of secrecy, betrayal, and shame. What happens when addiction wears the disguise of success? The Conversations Podcast hosts explore the subtle defenses that protect the illusion of control, the difference between

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43:04

Six Things That Quietly Destroy Relationships (and...

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/02/10

Conversations Podcast hosts - Wendy Conquest, Dan Drake, and Tim Stein sit down to name the everyday dynamics that quietly erode even committed relationships.They move beyond sex addiction to look at what harms connection in “ordinary” couples: assumptions and misattunement, the numbing presence of smartphones, the difference between healthy anger and aggression, dishonesty and lack of authenticity, and the pull of fantasy over reality. Using concepts like the “three H’s” (Do you want to be Helped,

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40:51

Broken to Brave: Tammy Gustafson's Roadmap from...

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/01/27

Betrayal shatters your world. Can you find a way to be brave and heal?Join Jeanne Vattuone, Wendy Conquest and Dan Drake as they speak with this week's Podcast Guest, Tammy Gustafson, on Conversations. Tammy unveils her 6-year journey writing Broken to Brave, sharing her four phases of healing after intimate betrayal. From dysregulated nervous systems to demystifying the path forward, this episode offers betrayed partners clear guideposts, honest hope, and proof that thriving is possible. Available

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19:40

"You were staring at her!" - How to Tell If You Are...

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2026/01/20

When does simply noticing someone cross into objectifying them? In this thought-provoking conversation, Wendy Conquest, Jeanne Vattuone, and Dan Drake unpack the difference between normal human noticing and objectification — a key theme in recovery and relationships. They explore questions like: - Can someone in recovery notice someone’s attractiveness without crossing a boundary? - How can betrayed partners feel safe in a world full of triggers? - What role do stress, self-awareness, and

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4:11

Are We Connected or Addicted to Technology?

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2025/12/27

Technology has transformed nearly every part of modern life from how we work and communicate to how we seek comfort, connection, and even therapy. But as it continues to simplify daily tasks and free up time, a deeper question emerges: what do we choose to do with that time?In today’s episode, we explore the double-edged nature of technology, its potential to connect us, and its power to isolate us. They discuss how digital tools have reshaped connection, mental health, and even addiction,

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5:18

Is Secrecy a Part of Porn Addiction?

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2025/12/23

Is secrecy a core part of pornography addiction — or just one possible sign of a deeper struggle? In today’s episode, we explore the complex intersection between porn use, shame, secrecy, and addiction. They unpack what “problematic use” really means, why some people hide their behavior while others don’t, and how early experiences and family culture can shape an individual’s understanding of sexuality and self-control. Together, the panel discusses: - Why secrecy may (or may not) signal

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37:50

Male Betrayal Trauma: Breaking the Silence with Adam...

Conversations on Sex, Addiction, and Relationships ·

2025/11/22

What happens when men are the ones betrayed by sex addiction?In today's episode, author and therapist Adam Nisenson joins the Dan Drake, Wendy Conquest, Tim Stein and Jeanne Vattoune to unpack a topic rarely discussed — male betrayal trauma. Through his book A Man’s Guide to Partner Betrayal, Adam gives voice to men who’ve been silenced, shamed, or overlooked in conversations about infidelity and healing. Together, the panel explores: - Why betrayal hits men differently and how society teaches

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