The Trouble with Sex

Do you and your partner have different needs when it comes to intimacy? Does one of you crave emotional intimacy while the other expresses themselves better in the bedroom? Dr. Tammy sits down with therapists and podcast hosts, Laurie Watson and George Faller to talk about how to navigate desire discrepancy, different attachment styles, building a stronger connection, and their book Brave Love, Great Sex.

OUR GUESTS

LAURIE WATSON, PhD, LMFT, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist, has spent thirty-five years working exclusively with couples’ emotional and se...

Dr. Tammy talks with narcissism expert Wendy Behary about the complicated dance between the narcissist and the people who love them—how to recognize the traits and distinguish between other potential issues, change old patterns and find the courage to trust your instincts.

OUR GUEST 

Wendy T Behary is a therapist, author, and internationally recognized expert in narcissism and Schema Therapy, with more than 30 years of experience helping people navigate difficult relationships. She’s also the author of the international bestseller Disarming the Narcissist, now in its third edition and t...

The Trouble with Sex is thrilled to introduce Dr. Tammy's podcast Pair-A-Docs, which she co-hosts with acclaimed OB/GYN, Dr. Sherry Ross.

In this episode, the two Docs talk with actors and LGBTQ+ Icons, Kate Moennig & Leisha Hailey about their friendship, their podcast PANTS, their new cocktail BIGYAY, and their life changing experience working on the hit show The L Word.

MORE ABOUT PAIR-A-DOCS

Dr. Sherry Ross and Dr. Tammy Nelson pull back the curtain on sex, relationships, mental...

Dr. Tammy talks with Jaiya, the award-winning somatic sexologist and author of Your Blueprint for Pleasure, about how discovering what turns you on can help you take control of your pleasure, have amazing sex, rekindle the spark in the bedroom, heal past trauma, and empower your relationship and your spirit. 

Re-listen or enjoy for the first time - then take the Quiz to find out your Sexual Blueprint!

DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. S...

Dr. Tammy explores the rise of anxiety in our culture, and its impact on our closest relationships. Learn tools to reconnect with yourself and your partner, communicate better, and find calm amid the chaos.  

DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationship and help you with your Trouble with Sex. Send your questions to [email protected].

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?
Visit ISTI - Integrative Sex Therapy Institute.  If you are already a therapist, find out how to re...

Dr. Tammy sits down with psychoanalyst and certified sex therapist Juliane Maxwald to explore the hidden emotional patterns shaping our relationships, why talking about sex can feel so difficult, and how breaking through those barriers can create deeper intimacy, connection, and understanding.

OUR GUEST 

Juliane Maxwald is a licensed psychoanalyst, couples therapist, and an AASECT certified Sex Therapist with more than two decades of experience helping individuals and couples navigate challenges such as low desire, infidelity, anxiety, burnout, and compulsive behaviors. Her work focuses not only on symptom relief, but on u...

What happens when a daughter discovers the truth about her mother's secret past? Dr. Tammy sits down with journalist and author Tracy Clark-Flory to discuss her powerful memoir,  My Mother’s Daughter: Finding Myself in My Family’s Fractured Past. From meeting her sister to peeling back layers of shame, grief, and silence, Tracy shares how reclaiming the past helped to unite her family and heal the wounds they inherited.

OUR GUEST 

Tracy Clark-Flory is a journalist, essayist and author. Her first memoir, Want Me: A Sex Writer’s Journey into the Heart of Desir...

Women’s health is finally a mainstream conversation—but along with it has come access to an overwhelming amount of advice, trends, and misinformation. Dr. Tammy talks with health journalist Meghan Rabbitt about her book, The New Rules of Women's Health, and how women can cut through the social media noise, understand the latest science, ask the right questions, and make informed decisions about their bodies, sex lives and life choices. 

OUR GUEST

Meghan Rabbitt is an award-winning journalist and author of The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Gui...

Dr. Tammy talks with sensuality mentor and author of The Sure Thing: A Pleasure Practice to Revive the Spark about empowering your sex life, strengthening your relationship, liberating yourself - and all about the 13 Moon Mystery School.

GUEST

Elana Auerbach is a mentor, activist, author, and the founder of Sensuelle: A Woman’s Journey into Sensuality — a transformational program designed to help women reconnect with their bodies, authentic voice, and passion.

After building what looked like the “perfect” life — graduating Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA, working on Wall Street, and marrying someone wi...

Dr. Tammy talks with relationship and sex therapist Todd Baratz about sex, the role generational trauma plays in relationships and how to stay open to love while working on yourself and navigating the modern dating world. 

GUEST

Todd Baratz is a certified psychotherapist and sex therapist, dedicated to fostering open dialogues about culture, relationships, and sexuality. 

Holding a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Psychology from New York University and a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Miami, Todd is based in both New York City and op...

Dr. Tammy talks with professor, podcast host and writer, Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn about the changing landscape of sex, porn and how millennials and Gen Zers are learning to ask How Do You Like It?

OUR GUEST

Dr. Tara is a tenured professor of relational and sexual communication, and quantitative research at California State University Fullerton. She is an award-winning researcher, TV Sexpert on Celebs Go Dating, columnist on Women’s Health Magazine with her own column 'Sexplore with Dr. Tara’, and the host of Luvbites Podcast - that focuses on sexual wellness and sexp...

From the decision to separate, to co-parenting, to embracing the next chapter, Dr. Tammy sits down with therapist and author Oona Metz to discuss the emotional journey of divorce and her book - Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women.

OUR GUEST

Oona Metz is an author, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and a Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Oona has 30 years of experience working with individuals, families, and groups. She is active on numerous committees and boards related to group therapy -  p...

Psychedelics aren’t just a trend—they’re opening doors to pleasure, healing, and deeper connection. In this episode, Dr. Tammy talks with therapist and educator Dee Dee Goldpaugh to explore how these powerful tools are being used to help people heal, and how to experience what's possible in a safe, therapeutic setting.

OUR GUEST

Dee Dee Goldpaugh is a licensed psychotherapist, clinical consultant, educator, and author. They serve as the Women, Gender Diversity, and Sexual Minorities Advisor for the Chacruna Institute and are the Clinical Director of Chrysalis Integrative Psychotherapy. Dee De...

Dr. Tammy speaks with psychotherapist and bestselling author Katherine Woodward Thomas about her latest book, What's True About You, and how we can outgrow who we've known ourselves to be for the possibility of who we might become - and what we can create moving forward.

OUR GUEST

Katherine Woodward Thomas is a licensed therapist, author, educator, and a recognized pioneer in transformational psychology. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Calling in “The One” and Conscious Uncoupling. Katherine has taught hund...

Dr. Tammy speaks with psychotherapist and trauma specialist Tracy Jarvis about evidence-based Interoception Therapy, trauma healing, and the mind–body connection. They explore how developing awareness of the body’s emotional signals can support personal growth, emotional regulation, and healthier relationships.

OUR GUEST

Tracy Jarvis is a renowned psychotherapist, trainer, and consultant with over 20 years of experience in the fields of psychology and mental health. Specialising in neuroscience and trauma, Tracy combines a rigorous academic foundation with over 25 years of yoga and movement practice, bringing a deeply embodied and neurobiological perspective to her clin...

Dr. Tammy talks with experiential and sex therapist Maci Daye about how to use mindfulness and the methods of Hakomi Therapy to break away from past experiences and patterns to help avoid reenacting them in our current relationships and sex lives.  

GUEST BIO: 

Maci Daye is a force in the world of mindful somatic therapy. She’s a Licensed Professional Counselor, an AASECT-certified Sex Therapist, and a Certified Hakomi Therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her background spans university counseling, social services, and government work, supported by graduate degr...

Dr. Tammy talks with therapist and Autism Specialist, Kory Andreas, about what neurodivergence really means, how it shapes our connections, and how broadening our awareness can deepen the bonds with those we love.

GUEST BIO: 

Kory Andreas is a Clinical Social Worker, Autism Specialist, and late-diagnosed Autistic adult who works exclusively with Neurodivergent adults and couples. After two decades as a School Social Worker, she is now in private practice, offering diagnostic assessments and therapy grounded in the lived experience and “practice-based evidence” of late diagnosed Autistic adults. 

Kory’s work with ind...

Dr. Tammy sits down with Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh to discuss the challenges of modern relationships, the difference between sexual chemistry and harmony, desire vs attraction, and her new book - Love by Design: 6 Ingredients to build a lifetime of love.

GUEST BIO: 

Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh is an award-winning social psychologist, TED Speaker, global thought leader.

Her mission is nothing less than world peace, built one relationship at a time. She ahs advised governments around the world, UN agencies, leading universities, and Fortune 500 companies, helping people navigate intimacy, leadership, and c...

Dr. Tammy talks with Dr. Arielle Schwartz about Resilience Informed Therapy, Polyvagal Theory and how connecting to your body can rewire your nervous system to help heal from trauma and deeper connection with ourselves and those we love.

GUEST BIO

Renowned speaker, author, and esteemed clinical psychologist, Dr. Arielle Schwartz has been widely recognized for her research and clinical advancements in trauma treatment, which have shaped the landscape of trauma recovery and elevated the standard of care all across therapeutic settings.

Dr. Schwartz promotes a strength-based, embodied approach to trauma recovery...

Dr. Tammy talks with relationship therapist, podcaster, and author Rick Miller, about how men communicate, what masculinity means for both queer and straight men,  and why open relationships are an old school concept - if not the norm in the gay world.

OUR GUEST

Rick Miller is a practicing psychotherapist and founder and executive director of Gay Sons And Mothers. Rick co-hosts of the podcast Modern Couples: What Your Therapist Never Told You. His TEDx talk, The Mother Factor, grew out of his work with his nonprofit, which shares worldwide narratives of gay m...

Dr. Tammy talks with Dr. Kate Truitt about her healing journey after a devastating car accident. Together, they explore fear, intimacy, expectations, and how gentle touch can help create a safe space while igniting connection and intimacy with your partner after a traumatic experience.

OUR GUEST

Dr. Kate Truitt is an esteemed clinical psychologist and neuroscientist - globally recognized for her trauma, stress, and resilience expertise. As founder of the Truitt Institute, Dr. Truitt integrates cutting-edge neuroscience into mental health training and seminars. She also leads Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates and serves as...

Has stress in your life killed your mojo? Do you feel disconnected from pleasure or your partner? Dr. Tammy sits down with sex therapist and host of the Sexology Podcast, Dr. Nazanin Moali, to discuss how trauma and stress reshape desire, and how to reclaim your sensuality and erotic connection with your partner.

OUR GUEST 

Dr. Nazanin Moali is a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Nazanin Moali is a sex and relationship expert who helps individuals and couples improve their sex lives to achieve passionate connections with their partners.

Dr. Tammy shares the trauma of her recent assault with the leading expert on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Resource Tapping, Dr. Laurel Parnell. Together they explore how these therapies can rewire the brain to help heal trauma, restore balance and improve relationships.

OUR GUEST

Laurel Parnell, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and Executive Director of the Parnell Institute and co-director of the non-profit Trauma Assistance Program International (TAP-IN). One of the world’s leading experts on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), she is the originator of the EMDR-related th...

Dr. Tammy has a deeply personal conversation with psychologist and sex therapist Dr. Andreya Jones who shares her story of growing up in a cult-like religious community shaped by Christian purity culture — a movement that’s left lasting impressions on how many women understand their bodies, sexuality, and sense of self.  Andreya offers insight, hope, and a path forward for anyone who’s been burdened by shame and is ready to reclaim their pleasure, their power, and redefine their life.

OUR GUEST

Dr. Andreya Jones grew up in Papua New Guinea and Senegal, West Af...

Join Dr. Tammy as she talks with LA based Dominatrix, Ashley Randall, aka Irreverent Femme, about the therapeutic benefits of erotic exploration, and how she uses BDSM, kink and fantasy to help her clients overcome shame, face their fears, and build greater trust, intimacy and pleasure into their relationships.

OUR GUEST

Ashley Randall, aka Irreverent Femme, is an LA based, certified Sex, Intimacy and Kink Coach and Dominatrix based in Los Angeles, offering transformative coaching for individuals and partners seeking deeper intimacy, sexual confidence, and authentic connection...

Dr. Tammy sits down with relationship therapists Mary Kay Cocharo and Evie Shafner to discuss how reactivity and anxiety kills connection and libido, and to how cultivate the space between you and your partner - because that space is where your relationship and family lives and thrives.

OUR GUESTS

Mary Kay Cocharo

Former Employment Recruiter turned Marriage and Family Therapist, Mary Kay Cocharo specializes working with couples and families. She is certified in Imago Relationship Therapy and achieved the level of Master Practitioner in Encounter-centered Couples Transformation. She works...

HAPPY END of SUMMER!  We'll be back in September with all new episodes. In the meantime, please enjoy Dr. Tammy's introduction to Open Monogamy, and continue to explore what's important to you and those you choose to love. 

The idea of monogamy and marriage  are no longer simple concepts. Can you have a loving, trusting relationship while exploring new direction as a couple? In this episode,  Dr. Tammy introduces the concept of Open Monogamy by answering listener questions and talking with a couple first-hand about what open monogamy means to them and how they...

Do you know your sex script? We all have subconscious stories we tell ourselves when it comes to love. In this episode, Dr. Tammy talks with acclaimed therapist and New York Times Best Selling author, Dr. Ian Kerner, about his latest book, and how we can reframe our stories to improve our relationships and our sex lives.

DR. TAMMY WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS about Sex, Love & Relationships. Send your questions to [email protected].

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CERTIFIED AS A SEX THERAPIST?
Visit ISTI - Integrative...