Touch Me There: Rediscovering Intimacy, Power, and Purpose in Midlife

What I Discussed With Juliette LaMontagne…- Why losing sexual intimacy in a long-term relationship doesn’t have to mean the relationship is over.- How the Wheel of Consent helped one couple reconnect after years of distance, resentment and recovery.- Why talking about sex isn’t always enough—and how touch can communicate what words cannot.- How learning to ask for what you truly want can transform both intimacy and emotional connection.- Why pleasure begins with understanding your own desires before expecting a partner to meet them.- How recovery, personal growth and radical accountability created the conditions for rebuilding trust.- Why even placing your hands on someone’s feet can become a profound act of reconnection.- How curiosity, rather than perfection, can become the foundation for a more fulfilling relationship.And much more…Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction02:00 Why Long-Term Relationships Lose Intimacy04:00 Juliette’s Journey Through Separation and Self-Discovery08:00 Discovering the Wheel of Consent12:00 Rebuilding Trust One Small Step at a Time16:30 Understanding Serving, Accepting, Taking and Allowing20:00 Learning to Express Desire Without Shame24:00 Seeing Your Partner in a Completely New Way28:00 Why Curiosity Is the Beginning of Better Intimacy32:00 It’s Never Too Late to Start AgainShow NotesWhat happens when you’ve talked about your relationship so much that there simply aren’t any words left?Many couples reach a point where they know something is missing. The conversations have been had, the therapy sessions attended, the books read—and yet intimacy still feels out of reach. Perhaps the problem isn’t that we haven’t talked enough. Perhaps we’ve forgotten how to connect in other ways.In this episode, I’m joined by writer and Substack creator Juliette LaMontagne, who shares the remarkable story of rebuilding intimacy with her husband after years of separation, addiction recovery and emotional distance. Rather than searching for another communication technique, Juliette discovered the Wheel of Consent—a deceptively simple framework that helped them reconnect through curiosity, touch and learning how to ask for what they truly wanted.What I love about this conversation is that it isn’t really about one particular method. It’s about recognising that intimacy doesn’t magically return on its own. Sometimes it begins with something as small as asking someone to place their hands on your feet for three minutes. Sometimes it begins with discovering that desire isn’t something another person gives us—it’s something we first learn to recognise within ourselves.Whether you’re in a decades-long relationship, navigating a difficult period with your partner or simply becoming more curious about your own desires, Juliette offers a hopeful reminder that meaningful change doesn’t require dramatic gestures. Often, it starts with one small act of courage.Listen, learn and enjoy.Key Takeaways- Rebuilding intimacy often starts with reconnecting to yourself.- Small acts of physical connection can feel more powerful than grand romantic gestures.- The Wheel of Consent provides a practical language for touch, boundaries and desire.- Learning to ask for what you want takes practice.- Recovery and personal growth can create new opportunities for intimacy.- Curiosity is more valuable than trying to be the “perfect” partner.- Emotional safety allows desire to emerge naturally.- Touch can communicate things that words cannot.- Long-term relationships can evolve in surprising ways.- It’s never too late to rediscover intimacy.About the GuestJuliette LaMontagne is the writer behind the Substack Touch Me There: Reclaiming Desire, Power and Purpose in Midlife, where she explores intimacy, relationships, sexuality and personal transformation. Drawing on her own experiences of marriage, separation, recovery and reconciliation, Juliette writes thoughtfully about midlife desire, emotional growth and the practices that helped her reconnect with herself and her partner. Her work combines lived experience with insights from somatic practices, psychology and personal development to encourage deeper, more authentic relationships. About SuzanneSuzanne Noble is a sex and relationship expert, author, and host of the Sex Advice for Seniors podcast—one of the top-rated shows empowering people 50+ to embrace confident, joyful intimacy. Known for her candid, warm, and often humorous approach, Suzanne challenges age-related taboos, misinformation, and awkward conversations about sex after 50. She helps millions around the world navigate their sexual lives with pleasure, connection, and self-assurance. Because life is too short for bad sex... or silence about it.Connect With SuzanneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexadviceforseniorsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sexadviceforseniorsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sexadviceforseniorsSubstack: https://www.sexadviceforseniors.comWant More?Visit the Website: https://sexadviceforseniors.com — includes FREE guides and resources for better sex at any age.Free Downloadable Guide: 10 Most Overlooked Secrets to Better Sex PDF: https://subscribepage.io/suzannenoblefreebieSign Up for My FREE Newsletter: https://sexadviceforseniors.comOvercome Erectile Dysfunction & Stay Firm: https://www.stayfirmprogram.comCheck Out My Storefront for Better Sex: https://zaap.bio/stayfirmInterested in 1:1 Coaching or Custom Sex Advice for Seniors Sessions? https://tidycal.com/suzannenoble/30-minute-mentoringRelated EpisodesBonus Live: The Relationship Lesson That Ends So Much Conflict - https://www.sexadviceforseniors.com/p/bonus-live-the-relationship-lessonWhy Long-Term Couples Drift Apart—and the Simple Habit That Brings Them Back - https://www.sexadviceforseniors.com/p/why-couples-lose-the-spark-and-howRecovering from Infidelity after 50: What nobody tells you about Betrayal - https://www.sexadviceforseniors.com/p/recovering-from-infidelity-after This is a public episode. 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