Celibacy, abstinence, sex strike, sexlessness, dry spell ….call it what you may but we can all agree is challenging. 

This week we are joined by Stephan Speaks- one of the most popular voices in the relationship education space. Stephan has devoted himself to a life of celibacy on more than one occasion: first run with the intention to connect with God, second to connect with his God-given purpose and now he finds himself conflicted between looking for the clarity that celibacy seemed to give him before and longing for the intimacy he desires as a healthy, single, eligible bachelor. 

Thanks to the sponsors of this episode. Dipsea!
Whether you want to energize your sex life for yourself, a lover or so you can channel that energy elsewhere, try tuning into Dipsea because listeners of Lovers and Friends, get a 30 day free trial! 

Go to http://DipseaStories.com/LOVERS

Links to episode clips that were featured in this episode. 

Glo Atanmo:
https://youtu.be/lbIaM09t0ZU

Tanarelle:
https://youtu.be/FcKrnF2OpS4

Rachel Lindsay: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnEORZJD2pQ&t=354s

Sex Strike: 
http://youtu.be/71ZgcVtMq84


Follow Shan: 
http://instagram.com/shanboody
http://tiktok.com/shanboody
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSE2Lr9RfYXiFtiX1jk5qng
loversfriendspodcast@gmail.com

Follow Stephan Speaks:
http://instagram.com/stephanspeaks
https://www.stephanspeaks.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBO9gLGy8ujsJ7xjARI7ow

<div>Celibacy, abstinence, sex strike, sexlessness, dry spell ….call it what you may but we can all agree is challenging.  This week we are joined by Stephan Speaks- one of the most popular voices in the relationship education space. Stephan has devoted himself to a life of celibacy on more than one occasion: first run with the intention to connect with God, second to connect with his God-given purpose and now he finds himself conflicted between looking for the clarity that celibacy seemed to give him before and longing for the intimacy he desires as a healthy, single, eligible bachelor.  Thanks to the sponsors of this episode. Dipsea! Whether you want to energize your sex life for yourself, a lover or so you can channel that energy elsewhere, try tuning into Dipsea because listeners of Lovers and Friends, get a 30 day free trial! Go to <a href="http://dipseastories.com/LOVERS"><a href="http://DipseaStories.com/LOVERS">http://DipseaStories.com/LOVERS</a></a> Links to episode clips that were featured in this episode. Glo Atanmo: <a href="https://youtu.be/lbIaM09t0ZU">https://youtu.be/lbIaM09t0ZU</a> Tanarelle: <a href="https://youtu.be/FcKrnF2OpS4">https://youtu.be/FcKrnF2OpS4</a> Rachel Lindsay: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnEORZJD2pQ&amp;t=354s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnEORZJD2pQ&amp;t=354s</a> Sex Strike: <a href="http://youtu.be/71ZgcVtMq84">http://youtu.be/71ZgcVtMq84</a> Follow Shan:  <a href="http://instagram.com/shanboody"><a href="http://instagram.com/shanboody">http://instagram.com/shanboody</a></a> <a href="http://tiktok.com/shanboody"><a href="http://tiktok.com/shanboody">http://tiktok.com/shanboody</a></a> <a href="http://shanboodram.com/"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSE2Lr9RfYXiFtiX1jk5qng">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSE2Lr9RfYXiFtiX1jk5qng</a></a> <a href="mailto:loversfriendspodcast@gmail.com">loversfriendspodcast@gmail.com</a> Follow Stephan Speaks: <a href="http://instagram.com/stephanspeaks"><a href="http://instagram.com/stephanspeaks">http://instagram.com/stephanspeaks</a></a> <a href="https://www.stephanspeaks.com/"><a href="https://www.stephanspeaks.com/">https://www.stephanspeaks.com/</a></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBO9gLGy8ujsJ7xjARI7ow"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBO9gLGy8ujsJ7xjARI7ow">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBO9gLGy8ujsJ7xjARI7ow</a></a> </div>

Lovers by Shan is an education-first space where listeners come to better understand their own intimate lives through the life lessons and expertise of others. Shan Boodram’s mission is to empower everyone to be their own intimacy expert in the bedroom and beyond by treating guests of the podcast as educators in their own right.

Past guest include Kelly Rowland who taught us about being a sensualist. Becky G who shared the importance of healthy love in an unhealthy body. Kerry Washington who warned about the dangers of keeping secrets. Kamie Crawford who taught us about the joys of breaking up. Jesse Reyez who reminded us that it's alright to admit you're the one who let a good one get away.

When we paused in 2023 we had 5.1 million listeners and 8 million YouTube views. Excited to see how many lives we can impact in 2025 with our fresh look and approach.

Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/  

Lovers by Shan is an education-first space where listeners come to better understand their own intimate lives through the life lessons and expertise of others. Shan Boodram&rsquo;s mission is to empower everyone to be their own intimacy expert in the bedroom and beyond by treating guests of the podcast as educators in their own right. Past guest include Kelly Rowland who taught us about being a sensualist. Becky G who shared the importance of healthy love in an unhealthy body. Kerry Washington who warned about the dangers of keeping secrets. Kamie Crawford who taught us about the joys of breaking up. Jesse Reyez who reminded us that it's alright to admit you're the one who let a good one get away. When we paused in 2023 we had 5.1 million listeners and 8 million YouTube views. Excited to see how many lives we can impact in 2025 with our fresh look and approach.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-stringify-link="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://lemonadamedia.com/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

LOVERS by shan

Celibutt...Good Lord It's Hard Ft Stephan Speaks 

In this episode of Lovers, Higher Learning host and former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay shares the deeply personal story of what it was like to experience intimacy both sexually and emotionally for the first time after divorce.

After nearly a decade of being with only one partner, that she met while being the Bachelorette, Rachel walks us through the fears, emotions, and expectations she carried into that moment, from questions of safety and vulnerability to the quiet pressure of “doing it right” after such a long chapter had closed. She reflects on what that experience taught her about trust, desire, and emotional presence, and how those lessons reshaped her understanding of intimacy moving forward.

Though she isn’t with the person from that first post-divorce experience, Rachel shares why she remains grateful for what it revealed about her needs, her boundaries, and her capacity for connection. She also opens up about how those insights are influencing the relationship she’s in today, offering a grounded, honest look at what intimacy can become after loss, change, and reinvention.

This conversation isn’t about sex for shock value. It’s about safety, growth, and learning how to meet yourself again after everything you thought you knew about love has shifted.



———
Follow Rachel Lindsay
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/therachlindsay/ 

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HigherLearning 

Podcast — Higher Learning with Van Lathan & Rachel Lindsay → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/higher-learning-with-van-lathan-and-rachel-lindsay/id1515152489 

Official Website → https://www.rachellindsayofficial.com/ 

Rachel’s Book — Miss Me With That: Hot Takes, Helpful Tidbits, And A Few Hard Truths → https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57895042-miss-me-with-that?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=vFiuBJ3vpY&rank=1 

Want more Lover?
Receive the weekly Love Letter → http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter
Join the Lovers Community → https://www.loversbyshan.com/community
Explore quizzes and worksheets → http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes

In this episode of Lovers, Higher Learning host and former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay shares the deeply personal story of what it was like to experience intimacy both sexually and emotionally for the first time after divorce.
After nearly a decade of being with only one partner, that she met while being the Bachelorette, Rachel walks us through the fears, emotions, and expectations she carried into that moment, from questions of safety and vulnerability to the quiet pressure of &ldquo;doing it right&rdquo; after such a long chapter had closed. She reflects on what that experience taught her about trust, desire, and emotional presence, and how those lessons reshaped her understanding of intimacy moving forward.
Though she isn&rsquo;t with the person from that first post-divorce experience, Rachel shares why she remains grateful for what it revealed about her needs, her boundaries, and her capacity for connection. She also opens up about how those insights are influencing the relationship she&rsquo;s in today, offering a grounded, honest look at what intimacy can become after loss, change, and reinvention.
This conversation isn&rsquo;t about sex for shock value. It&rsquo;s about safety, growth, and learning how to meet yourself again after everything you thought you knew about love has shifted. 
&mdash;&mdash;&mdash; Follow Rachel Lindsay Instagram &rarr; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/therachlindsay/">https://www.instagram.com/therachlindsay/</a>&nbsp;
YouTube &rarr; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HigherLearning">https://www.youtube.com/@HigherLearning</a>&nbsp;
Podcast &mdash; Higher Learning with Van Lathan &amp; Rachel Lindsay &rarr; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/higher-learning-with-van-lathan-and-rachel-lindsay/id1515152489">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/higher-learning-with-van-lathan-and-rachel-lindsay/id1515152489</a>&nbsp;
Official Website &rarr; <a href="https://www.rachellindsayofficial.com/">https://www.rachellindsayofficial.com/</a>&nbsp;
Rachel&rsquo;s Book &mdash; Miss Me With That: Hot Takes, Helpful Tidbits, And A Few Hard Truths &rarr; <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57895042-miss-me-with-that?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=vFiuBJ3vpY&amp;rank=1">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57895042-miss-me-with-that?from_search=true&amp;from_srp=true&amp;qid=vFiuBJ3vpY&amp;rank=1</a>&nbsp;
Want more Lover? Receive the weekly Love Letter &rarr; <a href="http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter">http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter </a>Join the Lovers Community &rarr; <a href="https://www.loversbyshan.com/community">https://www.loversbyshan.com/community </a>Explore quizzes and worksheets &rarr; <a href="http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes">http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes</a>

Rachel Lindsay’s Shocking Discovery About Intimacy After Divorce

In this episode of Lovers, I’m joined by my husband Jared Brady to tell the story of the exact day we decided to call our relationship an open relationship.

Want to take the Relationship Style quiz I mentioned in the episode? Click HERE
https://www.loversbyshan.com/quizzes

In this episode, Shan Boodram and Jared Brady share intimate details from the early days of their relationship that led to them choosing to label their love as an open relationship.

If your first reaction to “open relationship” is “so… cheating?” you’re not alone, and this conversation is also for you.

Cheating isn’t about a specific behavior, it’s about breaking the rules of the relationship you agreed to play by, which is why it’s important to clearly define YOUR rules together. 

This episode explores why people seek structured relationships even without exclusivity, what commitment actually looks like when it isn’t defined by romantic restriction, and how accountability, emotional safety, partnership, and love can exist outside traditional scripts.

This isn’t an episode about convincing anyone to open their relationship. It’s about clarity, consent, and understanding why the rules matter more than the label.



MasterClass
Have you taken my MasterClass yet? New subscribers get access to my class and hundreds of others starting at $10 per month. Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any MasterClass annual membership at masterclass.com/lovers.

Follow Jared
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/enjoyjaredbrady
YouTube →https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKVWwEy39GLNzKXXt9v46TA



Want more Lover?
Receive the weekly Love Letter → http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter
Join the Lovers Community → https://www.loversbyshan.com/community
Explore quizzes and worksheets → http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes

In this episode of Lovers, I&rsquo;m joined by my husband Jared Brady to tell the story of the exact day we decided to call our relationship an open relationship.
Want to take the Relationship Style quiz I mentioned in the episode? Click HERE https://www.loversbyshan.com/quizzes
In this episode, Shan Boodram and Jared Brady share intimate details from the early days of their relationship that led to them choosing to label their love as an open relationship.
If your first reaction to &ldquo;open relationship&rdquo; is &ldquo;so&hellip; cheating?&rdquo; you&rsquo;re not alone, and this conversation is also for you.
Cheating isn&rsquo;t about a specific behavior, it&rsquo;s about breaking the rules of the relationship you agreed to play by, which is why it&rsquo;s important to clearly define YOUR rules together.&nbsp;
This episode explores why people seek structured relationships even without exclusivity, what commitment actually looks like when it isn&rsquo;t defined by romantic restriction, and how accountability, emotional safety, partnership, and love can exist outside traditional scripts.
This isn&rsquo;t an episode about convincing anyone to open their relationship. It&rsquo;s about clarity, consent, and understanding why the rules matter more than the label. 
MasterClass Have you taken my MasterClass yet? New subscribers get access to my class and hundreds of others starting at $10 per month. Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any MasterClass annual membership at <a href="http://masterclass.com/lovers">masterclass.com/lovers</a>.
Follow Jared Instagram &rarr; https://www.instagram.com/enjoyjaredbrady YouTube &rarr;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo-SwvkGbQgDt3oXfASPPJQ?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> </a>https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKVWwEy39GLNzKXXt9v46TA 
Want more Lover? Receive the weekly Love Letter &rarr; <a href="http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter">http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter </a>Join the Lovers Community &rarr; <a href="https://www.loversbyshan.com/community">https://www.loversbyshan.com/community </a>Explore quizzes and worksheets &rarr; <a href="http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes">http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes</a>

The Real Reason We Started an Open Relationship

Conflict is inevitable in long-term relationships. Damage doesn’t have to be.

In this episode, we explore what actually separates fights that bring couples closer from fights that quietly turn lovers into enemies. We talk about the moment arguments go sideways, why so many conflicts feel bigger than the issue at hand, and how couples can stay on the same team even when they fundamentally disagree.

Our guest, Touré Neblett, draws on decades of navigating high-stakes, contentious conversations both publicly and privately to share what he’s learned about emotional regulation, repair, and conflict inside a long-term marriage. This conversation focuses on how disagreement can exist without contempt, and how learning to fight differently can fundamentally change the trajectory of a relationship.

Follow Touré
Website → https://toure.com Toure
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/toureshow/ Instagram
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo-SwvkGbQgDt3oXfASPPJQ youtube.com
Podcast → Touré Show (Apple/Spotify) 
 Books → Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? What It Means to Be Black Now; I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon; Soul City; Never Drank the Kool-Aid; The Portable Promised Land; Nothing Compares 2 U (available on Amazon and major booksellers)

Want more Lover?
 Shan’s AI trained to give you her advice → http://loversbyshan.com
Receive the weekly Love Letter → http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter
Join the Lovers Community → https://www.loversbyshan.com/community
Explore quizzes and worksheets → http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes

<div>Conflict is inevitable in long-term relationships. Damage doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we explore what actually separates fights that bring couples closer from fights that quietly turn lovers into enemies. We talk about the moment arguments go sideways, why so many conflicts feel bigger than the issue at hand, and how couples can stay on the same team even when they fundamentally disagree. Our guest, Touré Neblett, draws on decades of navigating high-stakes, contentious conversations both publicly and privately to share what he’s learned about emotional regulation, repair, and conflict inside a long-term marriage. This conversation focuses on how disagreement can exist without contempt, and how learning to fight differently can fundamentally change the trajectory of a relationship. Follow Touré Website →<a href="https://toure.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> https://toure.com Toure </a>Instagram → <a href="https://www.instagram.com/toureshow/">https://www.instagram.com/toureshow/</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/toureshow/?hl=en&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com"> Instagram </a>YouTube →<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo-SwvkGbQgDt3oXfASPPJQ?utm_source=chatgpt.com"> https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo-SwvkGbQgDt3oXfASPPJQ </a><a href="http://youtube.com/">youtube.com </a>Podcast → Touré Show (Apple/Spotify) Books → Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? What It Means to Be Black Now; I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon; Soul City; Never Drank the Kool-Aid; The Portable Promised Land; Nothing Compares 2 U (available on Amazon and major booksellers) Want more Lover? Shan’s AI trained to give you her advice → <a href="http://loversbyshan.com/">http://loversbyshan.com </a>Receive the weekly Love Letter → <a href="http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter">http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter </a>Join the Lovers Community → <a href="https://www.loversbyshan.com/community">https://www.loversbyshan.com/community </a>Explore quizzes and worksheets → <a href="http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes">http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes</a>
</div>

Celibutt...Good Lord It's Hard Ft Stephan Speaks

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