Intimacy doesn’t disappear overnight, it erodes quietly through unspoken resentment, emotional overload, and forgotten play.

In this episode of The Moon Collective Sanctuary Podcast, host Dr. Lydia Luna, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and founder of The Moon Collective Sanctuary, welcomes Dr. Elenor Daneshvar back to the podcast for a deep, honest conversation about the hidden keys of intimacy, play, partnership, and pleasure.

Together, they explore why intimacy is rarely about what happens in the bedroom and far more about what happens throughout the day. From emotional repair after rupture to the invisible labor many women carry, this conversation sheds light on why desire often fades and how it can be restored.

Elenor and Lydia break down how resentment, emotional disconnection, and rigid routines quietly extinguish intimacy, and why curiosity, novelty, and shared joy are essential for deepening long-term connection. The conversation also examines the role of partnership, “we” language, and emotional investment as foundations for pleasure.

The episode also reframes foreplay as an all-day experience shaped by emotional safety, presence, and energetic connection, rather than something confined to the bedroom.

This episode is an invitation to rethink intimacy as a sacred, living energy that thrives on repair, presence, and intentional connection, not performance or pressure.

To Watch the Show click HERE

Visit mooncollectivesanctuary.com to explore our upcoming gatherings and private healing offerings.

Connect with Elenor

Website: https://oneneuro.com/elenorbdaneshvar/

Instagram: @womens_mental_health

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenor-daneshvar-psy-d-330ba414/

Chapter Markers

01:10 What intimacy really means (beyond sex)

03:10 Why intimacy fades over time
06:35 Resentment, rupture, and unspoken disconnection
08:05 Repair as the key to deeper connection

10:20 “I see you”: validation and emotional repair
12:15 When repair strengthens vs. weakens relationships
14:55 When to work through rupture vs. when to leave

18:55 Why play and novelty are essential for intimacy
22:45 Shared experiences and creating freshness together

26:40 Partnership, “we” language, and alignment
28:40 Invisible emotional labor and why women feel depleted
31:05 Emotional investment as a foundation for desire

33:15 Flirting as a daily practice
35:30 Energy, safety, and the sacral connection
38:10 Foreplay as an all-day experience
40:15 Creating intimacy through presence, not pressure

Support the show

Connect with Dr. Lydia Luna, PhD:

Website: www.mooncollectivesanctuary.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@mooncollectivesanctuary

IG: @lydialunaphd & @mooncollectivesanctuary

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mooncollectivesanctuary

This episode is an invitation to slow down, soften, and meet Lydia through the moments that shaped her.

In this special “Get to Know Lydia” episode of The Moon Collective Sanctuary Podcast, the roles are reversed as host Lydia Luna, Ph.D. is interviewed by her nephew and podcast producer, Milo Solis, Jr. Together, they explore the moments, questions, and turning points that shaped Lydia’s path, both personally and professionally.

Lydia reflects on her early experiences of emotional uncertainty, loss, and instability, and how music, curiosity, and inner listening became quiet lifelines during difficult seasons. She shares openly about the times when life felt overwhelming, when meaning felt distant, and how choosing curiosity, rather than fear, became a way forward.

The conversation also touches on spiritual inquiry, embodiment, creativity, and the importance of honoring natural rhythms, including intuition and cyclical energy. Lydia speaks to the power of slowing down, listening to your body, and allowing life to unfold without forcing answers. She also shares about a profound spiritual healing experience that helped her reframe grief, purpose, and her understanding of life itself.

This episode is not about having it all figured out. It’s about staying open. It’s about allowing curiosity to guide you when certainty isn’t available and trusting that even in the unknown, something meaningful can emerge.

To Watch the Show click HERE

Visit mooncollectivesanctuary.com to explore our upcoming gatherings and private healing offerings.

Important Note:

This episode includes a personal discussion of plant medicine and ayahuasca shared from lived experience. This conversation is not intended as medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation of ayahuasca or any psychedelic substances. Ayahuasca is illegal in many jurisdictions and may pose serious physical and psychological risks, particularly for individuals with certain medical or mental health conditions. Listeners are encouraged to consult qualified medical and mental health professionals and to consider legal, medical, and personal factors before engaging in any such experiences.

Chapter Markers

• 01:00 Introducing Milo & flipping the interview
• 02:05 The message Lydia needed at age 12
• 04:05 When life stopped feeling stable
• 07:00 The breaking point and starting over
• 09:45 Choosing curiosity over despair
• 11:15 Creating purpose after loss
• 12:40 Spiritual awakening, grief, and Ayahuasca
• 19:30 Music, vibration, and healing
• 22:10 Moon cycles, intuition, and self-trust
• 28:00 What Lydia hopes listeners feel after this episode
• 30:55 Final reflections and closing

Support the show

Connect with Dr. Lydia Luna, PhD:

Website: www.mooncollectivesanctuary.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@mooncollectivesanctuary

IG: @lydialunaphd & @mooncollectivesanctuary

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mooncollectivesanctuary

Intimacy doesn’t start with another person, it begins with how connected you are to yourself.

In this episode of The Moon Collective Sanctuary Podcast, Dr. Lydia Luna, Ph.D. sits down with Dr. Elenor Daneshvar, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and trauma-informed therapist, for a powerful conversation about intimacy, embodiment, and healing from the inside out.

Together, they explore how intimacy begins through self-connection, emotional awareness, and learning how to feel safe in your own body. Elenor shares how living in our heads, negative self-talk, and unresolved trauma quietly block our ability to experience closeness, pleasure, and authentic connection with others.

This episode also dives into the role of mindfulness, breathwork, and body awareness as tools for reconnecting with yourself. From navigating shame and body image to understanding why so many people feel sexually disconnected, this conversation blends clinical expertise with real-world insight into how intimacy and connection actually work.

If you’ve ever felt numb, disconnected, or stuck in patterns of resentment or self-criticism, this episode offers a grounded look at how reconnecting with your body can rebuild intimacy from the inside out.

To Watch the Show click HERE

Visit mooncollectivesanctuary.com to explore our upcoming gatherings and private healing offerings.

Connect with Elenor

Website: https://oneneuro.com/elenorbdaneshvar/

Instagram: @womens_mental_health

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenor-daneshvar-psy-d-330ba414/

Chapter Markers

01:00 Elenor’s Journey Into Psychology

03:30 What Intimacy Really Means

05:40 Why We Live in Our Heads

07:45 Reconnecting With the Body

09:00 Trauma, Shame, and Self-Image

12:30 The Mirror Exercise & Self-Compassion

15:00 Mindfulness, Breathwork & Embodiment

18:30 Motherhood, Depletion & Resentment

21:00 Energy, Presence & Emotional Safety

25:00 Sexual Disconnection & Numbness

27:00 Pleasure, Permission & Healing

30:40 Intimacy as the Foundation for Sex

Support the show

Connect with Dr. Lydia Luna, PhD:

Website: www.mooncollectivesanctuary.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@mooncollectivesanctuary

IG: @lydialunaphd & @mooncollectivesanctuary

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mooncollectivesanctuary