SPARK Relationship + Sexual Wellness

Episode 12: How Do We Upgrade Our Date Nights?

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Still doing dinner and a movie for date night? If so, this episode is for you. Dr. Meghna Mahambrey shares common mistakes couples make when planning date nights, then offers evidence-based tips for upgrading your date nights to create more fun, connection, and intimacy. This season, Meghna is joined by her husband, Andy Kuss, who shares a male perspective along with anecdotes from their marriage.

Topics we explore in this episode:

Why high quality date nights are important in your relationship
How couples often fall into a date night rut
3 evidence-based strategies to upgrade your date nights
Specific date night ideas that Meghna and Andy love

Dr. Meghna Mahambrey is the founder of SPARK Relationship + Sexual Wellness, an educational platform with a mission to help singles, couples, and polyamorous partners build happy, healthy love lives. To learn more about SPARK, watch Meghna's TED talk, follow us on Instagram and Facebook , or check out our blog and YouTube channel.

Love what SPARK is doing?! Consider making a small monthly donation so we can keep creating free content for our followers! Visit Patreon to set up your contribution. Every little bit counts, thanks for your support!

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The grass is greener where you water it.

Episode 11: What Are the Ingredients of a Happy, Healthy Marriage?

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:00:00 -0400

Are you curious about what it takes to make a marriage last? If so, this episode is for you. Dr. Meghna Mahambrey shares her personal story surrounding marriage as she went from a formerly skeptical single to a happily married mother, then shares 5 evidence-based tips for a high-quality, long-lasting marriage. This season, Meghna is joined by her husband, Andy Kuss, who shares a male perspective along with anecdotes from their marriage.

Topics we explore in this episode:

Why modern singles may question the institution of marriage
What the research says about married vs. unmarried couples
Five ingredients for a happy, healthy marriage
How singles and couples can use this information to enhance their love lives

Episode 10: How Much Sex Should a Happy Couple Have?

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:00:00 -0400

Do you ever wonder if you and your partner are having enough sex? If so, this episode is for you. Dr. Meghna Mahambrey shares common questions and concerns she hears from clients about their sex lives, then offers valuable insight and concrete advice for listeners experiencing similar struggles. This season, Meghna is joined by her husband, Andy Kuss, who shares a male perspective along with anecdotes from their marriage.

Topics we explore in this episode:

Mismatched sex drives is a common problem among couples, but it's not always the men with the higher libido
Confusion around the "right" amount of sex can create unhealthy expectations and conflict
Research shows that more isn't always better, but rather compatibility between partners in the quality and quantity of sex you're having
Honest, introspective conversations can demystify what brings pleasure to each partner and help enhance your sex life

Episode 9: What Makes a Relationship Successful?

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Relationships are the single most important thing to us, yet we rarely receive any formal education on what it takes to make a relationship happy and healthy. In this episode, Dr. Meghna Mahambrey invites therapist and author Diane Strausser, an expert on relationships and couples dynamics, to share her secrets to building and maintaining successful relationships. Touching on topics such as being proactive, honoring differences, spending quality time together, and utilizing mindfulness in conflict, Diane breaks down this complex and multifaceted topic into something easy to digest and apply.

Episode 8: What's the Latest on Sex Education?

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Comprehensive, medically accurate, pleasure-based sex education is something we all need but rarely have access to. Join Dr. Meghna Mahambrey in exploring this topic with Erica Butler, founder of Happ E. Sextalk who has been using her voice to educate her community about sexuality in an open and affirming way. In addition to touching on how sex education can be used to combat health disparities within the black community, Erica sheds light on some of the many things lacking in traditional sex education: accurate portrayals of consent, discussions about self-pleasure, learning how to advocate for your own sexual health, and how outdated standards for sex education persist even in medical school.

Episode 7: What is Ethical Non-Monogamy?

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Ethical non-monogamy is a hot topic these days. More and more people are growing curious about it or sharing their experiences, leaving us all wondering about what it means, how it works, and why people do it. In this episode, Dr. Meghna Mahambrey interviews Dr. Michelle Vaughan, a researcher and therapist focusing on LGBTQ+ and consensually non-monogamous issues. Together, they'll answer all of your burning questions by discussing different ways to practice ethical non-monogamy, key values all ethically non-monogamous relationships share, and insight on dealing with jealousy.

Episode 6: What are Common LGBTQ+ Misconceptions?

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

There are a million ways to experience love. In this episode, Dr. Meghna Mahambrey has a conversation with Dr. Lisa Diamond, Professor of Psychology and Gender Studies at University of Utah, who provides compelling insight into current conversations within the LGBTQ+ community regarding the intersection of love, gender, and sexuality. This enlightening episode touches on topics such as social and gender norms in same-gender relationships, sexual orientation and fluidity, asexuality, and the role culture plays in sexuality as a whole.

Episode 5: What Do Couples Expect in Modern Marriages?

Sat, 01 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

What do wedding ceremonies and marriage mean and look like to you? In this episode, Dr. Meghna Mahambrey invites Amy Miracle, a pastor at Broad Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, OH, to delve into unique features of modern marriages relative to more traditional unions of past generations. Amy has officiated weddings for almost 30 years, bringing knowledgeable perspective on topics such as pre-marital counseling, the impact of COVID-19 on the way we wed, and the importance of sex in marriage.

Episode 4: What is Emotional Intelligence in Relationships?

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 13:00:00 -0400

What does emotional intelligence really look like in romantic relationships? Andy Kuss is a graduate of the Next Level emotional intelligence training program and partner to host Dr. Meghna Mahambrey. They have learned individually and together what emotional intelligence is all about, and they have gone through the deep personal work necessary to achieve it. Listen to their honest firsthand account of the importance of emotional intelligence and how they’ve built an emotionally intelligent relationship together.

To learn more about all the cool things we do at SPARK including public workshops, one-on-one relationship coaching, corporate/private events, and guest speaking, visit https://www.sparkwithmeghna.com/

Episode 3: How Can Couples Handle Conflict Peacefully and Productively?

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Conflict is inevitable and necessary in romantic relationships, but it can only strengthen them when we maintain healthy communication patterns. In this episode, Dr. Meghna Mahambrey interviews Dr. Renda Ross, associate professor and clinical social worker specializing in couples’ therapy, to help you discover where there's room for improvement in your relationships. Learn what the most common communication issues in relationships are, how to build better communication habits, and how to repair relationship damage created by past unhealthy conflict.

Hosted by Dr. Meghna Mahambrey. To learn more about all the cool things we do at SPARK including public workshops, one-on-one relationship coaching, corporate/private events, and guest speaking, visit https://www.sparkwithmeghna.com/

Episode 2: How Can We Increase Sexual Pleasure with our Partners?

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 16:00:00 -0500

Looking for the key to unlocking greater sexual pleasure? Join Dr. Meghna Mahambrey in learning valuable tools from Briana Cribeyer, an author and intimacy coach helping people connect with their mind and body to improve sexual satisfaction and overall wellbeing. Learn about the variety of different ways in which pleasure can be experienced, and how pleasure can be expanded both for ourselves and for our partners by identifying desires, fears, and boundaries.

Episode 1: Why Do Couples Fight About Money?

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500

One of the biggest hurdles in many relationships is bringing each other’s differences together to handle money. Financial decisions and burdens become much easier to handle once we understand how to tackle the topic of money with our significant others. In this episode, Dr. Meghna Mahambrey interviews Jonathan Groleau, a personal financial planner, to explore how to make money an opportunity for relationship growth instead of a dreaded topic.