333 | Dr. Kate Balestrieri | What Happened to My Sex Life?: A Sex Therapist’s Guide to Reclaiming Lost Desire, Connection, and Pleasure

After years of helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of intimacy, renowned clinical psychologist and sex therapist Dr. Kate Balestrieri has seen it all—from the challenges of fostering honest conversations to the powerful transformation that comes with reconnecting to oneself. In this episode, Dr. Kate shares profound insights into why so many people feel disconnected from their desire and how curiosity, vulnerability, and non-judgment can reignite connection and pleasure in relationships. Drawing from themes in her upcoming book, “What Happened to My Sex Life,” she also reveals how overcoming self-abandonment is the key to living authentically and building deeper intimacy. In this episode, Darius and Dr. Kate will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Dr. Kate Balestrieri (02:00) Dr. Kate's Journey into Sex Therapy (05:40) Exploring Crime and Psychology (09:35) The Spectrum of Sexuality (12:50) Cultural Shame Around Sex (15:39) Hedonism vs. Shame in Sexuality (18:59) Parenting and Sexual Education (27:14) The State of Sexual Satisfaction (33:40) Improving Partnered Sex Lives (37:58) Navigating Novelty in Relationships (43:59) The Rise of Non-Monogamy (49:03) The Role of Therapy in Sexual Conversations Dr. Kate Balestrieri is a licensed psychologist, certified sex therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy, with practices in Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. Passionate about the intersection of mental health, sex, and relationships, she helps individuals and couples heal from trauma, navigate addictions, improve communication, and build deeper intimacy. Guided by a holistic approach that integrates evidence-based practices, Dr. Kate emphasizes the mind-body connection to foster resilience, recovery, and thriving vitality. She also hosts the podcast Get Naked with Dr. Kate, where she explores topics on mental health, sexuality, and relationships. Sponsored by: Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/DARIUS. Shopify: Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/darius. Stash: Join millions of Americans reaching their financial goals—starting at just $3/month! Get $25 towards your first stock purchase at get.stash.com/GREATNESS. Rocket Money: Cancel unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster at RocketMoney.com/Darius. Connect with Dr. Kate: Website: https://www.modernintimacy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-balestrieri-psy-d-cst-csat-s-pact-iii-42b378152/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkatebalestrieri/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-naked-with-dr-kate/id1563975869 Book: https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-My-Sex-Life/dp/1891011766 Connect with Darius: Website: ⁠https://therealdarius.com/⁠ Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine⁠ Book: The Core Value Equation ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.