Normalizing Non-Monogamy - Personal Stories of Polyamory, Swinging, and Beyond

Kelli and Conner opened up their relationship pretty early on as a way for Kelli to explore her bisexuality. For the last few years they have been on an adventure together to find ways to get each of their needs and desires met, both as individuals and as a couple. However! As they put it, it's about way more than just sex... These two were on an amazing journey of self-evolution before they came together, and now they're taking life on as a team. We have so many beautiful conversations around self-work, expectations, owning your shit, communication, and maybe a threesome or two. We also have a ton of gratitude for both of them for how honest and transparent they were about their experience with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)... So powerful. Kelli and Conner run a podcast production company called Soulfire Productions. The also each host their own podcast as well... Kelli's is called OK, Babe and Conner's is Politically Homeless. Go check out all their work and send them some love! Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation is so much fun! So much! Eve opens this interview by saying "I'm a woman who does a lot... That means work-wise, and people-wise!" She is such a delight to talk to and our conversation is full of laughs that also weave in some beautiful and important lessons Eve has learned along her journey. Eve has been in open relationships since pretty much her first adult relationship. How those relationships have looked has evolved over time as she has grown and learned more about herself. We have some incredible conversations about her personal growth, jealousy, transitioning relationships, and so much more... Eve also shares some absolutely hilarious stories with us from her various jobs over the years that are sex work-adjacent. Eve is also the co-creator of The Secret Circus cabaret show that has expanded from the UK to LA! Definitely go check it out! Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

In case you haven't listened to Episode 145... Here's the super short version, but you'll want to go back and get all the amazing details for yourself... Rah and Tom are wonderful humans who are married. A few years back, another wonderful human danced onto the scene, enter Mel. The three of them forged an incredible bond and throuple relationship. Again, there's so much more to it. But, that brings us to where this episode starts. So what's changed? Well, they're still wonderful humans. Rah and Tom made a new human. They've all developed new relationships. The throuple is still a throuple, but the polycule has roughly doubled in size since we last spoke. Of course, it's been a flawless transition and they didn't have any learning or growing to do along the way. Or did they? Only one way to find out. Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation is incredibly powerful in so many ways! Elizabeth is in her early thirties and has been exploring ethical non-monogamy for over a decade. Things got off to a bit of an unethical start during college but she quickly decided to just take ownership of her wants and who she was. She didn't have any language for what she was doing or wanting but that didn't stop her from blazing her own trail. As she puts it... She sort of "wrecking balled" her way through polyamory for a bit. The way she has approached non-monogamy over the course of her journey has evolved, but she has always shown up with as much integrity and transparency as possible. She shares with us in a deeply honest and transparent way about her struggles, her flaws, and her (hilarious) bloopers. At the same time, she balances it with the incredible amount of love and support she has surrounding her from partners, family, and friends. What's amazing to us about this conversation is how powerful it is, while at the same time, we laughed our way through the entire thing. Elizabeth is also a relationship coach, primarily working with people in the polyamorous and queer communities... Her website bio hardly does her work justice, but it's better than we could write. So, here is a bit more about Elizabeth in her own words. Love, Relationships, and Sexuality have always been something that Elizabeth has been passionate about. Ever since she was a kid she has been curious about how love, relationships and sexuality shape people’s lives. Especially, growing up in the Midwest where sexuality is not as talked about, she began asking herself and others questions that people had not been asked before about their sexuality and relationships. ​ She followed this passion and went to college at the University of Kansas where she earned two Bachelor’s Degrees; Political Science and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies with an emphasis in Religion and a Certificate in Service Learning. After college, she worked as a volunteer in Community and Outreach for the Willow Domestic Violence Center. There she co-started the SAFE Initiative, where her and a team went into the community and talk to kids ages 5 - 18 about self-esteem, bullying, healthy relationships, self-love, the power of language and more. She also lead and created trainings for other volunteers on privilege, What is Domestic Violence?, How to Recognize an abuser and Being Sensitive to Sexuality. During the three years at the Willow Domestic Violence Center she lead and created talks, lectures and discussions to people ranging from the ages of 5 years old to 85 years old. Elizabeth moved to Seattle, Washington, in 2014. She realized that her work at the domestic violence center was important but ultimately not what she wanted to be doing. In the words of Mother Theresa, Gandhi, MLK and the like, what you speak into the world is what exists. She decided she wanted to be on the side of love and relationships where she was speaking love into the world. She wanted to make a difference with people before they came to a domestic violence center. In essence, she wants to put these centers out of business. One of the biggest takeaways from college and her experiences lead her to believe that when people are empowered, the world works. So began her journey of self-growth and development. Using herself as her own guinea pig she began to learn as much about why humans make the decisions that they do. In her journey discovering why people make the decisions that they do, why she has made the decisions she has made, she began coaching others. Organically, it grew into a coaching business. Over the years, Elizabeth has helped people discover where their mindset is limiting their potential in love and in life. It is her true calling to witness others transform their relationships to themselves and show up for others in the ways that they have always wanted to. It is who she is, what she stands for and it is her mission in life to expand the conversation of love in the world. Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Wendy Strgar is an author and an award-winning social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Good Clean Love, a pioneer in the organic personal care product industry. Wendy started Good Clean Love in her kitchen almost 20 years ago and has since grown it into a multimillion dollar, certified B-Corporation. Wendy’s mission in life is to increase the quality and quantity of healthy, loving, relationships in the world. Married for over 34 years, her daily life has always been the laboratory for her work. We cover a ton of different topics in this fantastic conversation with her. She talks about the inspiration behind starting Good Clean Love, how she's managed to nurture a 34+ year marriage, the importance of cultivating a fulfilling sex life for yourself, taking care of your sexual health, and advice for tapping into your sexual self... She also shares a lot of her personal stories and relationship journey as well. As you can imagine... ALL of these pieces of her life are very interlinked and tied to what Good Clean Love stands for. It's an incredible conversation and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did! In addition to serving as Good Clean Love’s CEO, Wendy is a popular blogger, host of the renowned Dear Sex Podcast and author of two books. Sex That Works: An Intimate Guide To Awakening Your Erotic Life and Love that Works: A Guide to Enduring Intimacy. A sexual health educator and loveologist, Wendy is the featured writer at the award-winning blog, Making Love Sustainable. Her writing has been featured on Eco Salon, Care2, The Huffington Post and Elephant Journal, among many others. To save 10% off your order at Good Clean Love, use the offer code EMMA at check out! Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Rainey and Paco is incredible. We laugh, we cry, we laugh some more... Don't skip this one. These two have been together for about six years, nesting together for two, and recently got married just a few months ago! A few years back, they decided to open their relationship and it's evolved over the years. Their particularly flavor of ethical non-monogamy falls somewhere between swinging and polyamory. It's not a clearly defined boundary but one thing is clear... "It's not JUST sex!" They come from two very different backgrounds. They've both been married once before. Paco is Puerto Rican and has been breaking away from the "Latin Machismo" and rewriting what it means to be himself. Rainey comes from a very conservative religious background and is coming out of an abusive marriage. They talk through how they've worked together to overcome jealousy, fears, and so much more to land in the best relationship they've ever had and are more themselves than they've ever been! Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Taylor has been exploring polyamory, swinging, and all kinds of non-monogamy for over a decade at this point. She was married for 25 years, monogamously for about 12, and then Hedonism Resort made an appearance. Thirteen years after opening their relationship, her and her husband separated (not because of non-monogamy and she will prove it to you if you don't believe us) and now she's on her own solo journey and it is incredible. Taylor can best be described by her own self on her website: www.organicloven.com Amongst many things, Taylor (aka Mariposa) Sparks is a passionate erotic educator and sex goddess, certified in both holistic aromatherapy and human behavior. With over twenty years of experience in the natural skin care/cosmetics industry, Ms. Sparks launched OrganicLoven.com, one of the largest BIPOC owned online intimacy shops. Organic Loven specializes in improving adults’ sexual health/wellness and enhancing their sex lives via their organic intimate body products, body-safe sex toy materials, sex-positive books, erotic educational seminars and adults only luxury vacations. Ms. Sparks’ expertise has contributed to articles in Bustle, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Men’s Health, Oprah, Shape, Women’s Health magazines and more. Prior to launching Organic Loven she developed a line of 16 head-to-toe organic body care products for elite endurance athletes, called Skin Care for Athletes Tri-Body Products. These products were featured in Muscle & Fitness Hers and the ESPN Magazines, sponsored numerous triathlons, 5ks and marathons as well as 5 Olympian athletes in both the summer and winter Olympics. As a leading facilitator in the adult travel industry for many years, Taylor has served as an Experience Advisor for thousands of international travelers, bringing joy and happiness to all she encounters. Taylor remains passionate about bringing people to new destinations and providing opportunities for amazing open-living experiences. Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Elisa and Mike have been together about seven years and polyamorous for about four of them. Two years into their relationship, Elisa had an affair and that became the catalyst that led them to digging deep into their truest needs and rebuilding their relationship in an intentional way. They talk through a lot of their process of repairing and co-creating a dynamic that feels good to both of them. At the same time, in order to do this, they needed to go at their own pace, not compete with one another, and be open to growing together. This is an amazing and deep conversation. Elisa and Mike also host the Poly+Amor=Us podcast! (Get it? "Polyamorous"... You get it.) They're on a mission similar to ours... Show people that they're not alone and provide more resources for going against the norm. Also, they interview her parents, which is amazing! Go check out and support their work! Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

If you are looking for a beautiful journey of what it can look like when you live intentionally and seek out your authentic self... Look no further. We often use this space to give a high-level overview of the relational dynamic our guests are in... There isn't a better way to describe this for Arielle besides that she is in a relationship with living an incredible life and giving love to those around her. It's a beautiful conversation and we hope you enjoy it. A bit more about Arielle from her website: Arielle Brown is a teacher, facilitator, and ceremonialist specializing in energetic alignment, relational alchemy, and authentic communication skills. In her 1:1 private client work, Arielle supports men, women, and couples harmonizing their Masculine & Feminine energy flow in service to actualizing their creative potential, amplifying their impact in the world, and embodying greater levels of joy and meaningful fulfillment in their relationships, sexuality, and authentic expression of purpose and leadership. She is founder of the Cosmic Tantra Community, a global online monthly membership for consciousness explorers on the awakening path seeking to anchor in the new paradigm of love, sexuality, and authentic human connection. Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Taylor and Andrew... Wow, we love this conversation. They have been together for 13 years, married for 9, and have only been exploring ethical non-monogamy for a few months. Non-monogamy came up right around the time their son turned two and Taylor realized she had no idea who she was. She describes it as an identity crisis that lead her to becoming resentful of her husband and son. Then her and Andrew teamed up and dug in together researching and finding ways to support, repair, and connect with one another. This led them to the long and thoughtful process of being radically honest with one another and ultimately opening their marriage. It's been no easy task considering they both come from very conservative religious backgrounds, like very religious. (Andrew's father was a Southern Baptist Pastor) They have been very methodical about it all and share a beautiful journey and conversation with us. Check out the full show notes here. Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet! Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Gabrielle is back! It's been just over 100 episodes since we talked to her last on episode 151... You definitely don't have to listen to that episode to get a TON out of this one. She catches you up pretty quick and then we hit the ground running. Just a reminder... Gabrielle is solo poly and has been exploring non-monogamy for a few years. She takes us on a journey of how things have changed in her relationships and life as the pandemic has been shifting. We also talk about jealousy, anxiety, depression, the intersectionality of race and the sex-positive scene in New York City, and so much more. It's a beautiful conversation and we hope you enjoy it! Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

CC and Steve are back! We first talked to them way back on episode 84! They're in their early fifties and have been together for over thirty years. They have a mismatch in libido, CC loves exhibitionism, and wouldn't you know it, Steve loves being a voyeur! They discovered this a few years ago and began exploring a hotwife dynamic together. In fact, we would say it's probably the "purest" form of hotwifing we've ever seen. At the same time, it's about way more than just the sex... We have a wonderful conversation about how they got here and what's changed over the last few years since we spoke. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Eka is from Portugal and is an AMAZING storyteller! This interview is really much better described as Eka sharing her life story with us and it is beautiful. She's in her mid-thirties and has been exploring ethical non-monogamy for over a decade. She has also just welcomed a new baby into her life! This conversation covers so many incredible topics, but the overall takeaway is to embrace life... We have no idea what's coming our way. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Live it! Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This episode is a behind-the-scenes conversation with our friend and host of the Podcast Growth Hacks podcast, Pat Cheung, about how we built our podcast and community from scratch. We share pretty much everything from our stats to our income. Podcasting is an infinite game for us. . . We're not trying to beat anyone or take over. The more eyes we can open to the world of ethical non-monogamy and sex-positivity, the better. The more people we can help create meaningful and positive content in this space, the better. "A rising tide lifts all ships." We hope this episode helps some of you start your own podcast and community. Let's all grow and work together. Let us know if you have any questions! A bit more about Pat! Pat is the host of Podcast Growth Hacks. He’s also the CEO & founder of PodInbox, an audience engagement platform that lets podcasters easily receive audio messages and donations from their fans. He’s a serial tech entrepreneur, Techstars 2016 alum, and co-founder of Silversheet (acquired in 2019). He was born in Hong Kong, grew up in Southern California, went to UC Berkeley, and now lives in Portland Oregon. We had the honor of meeting Pat at the World Domination Summit, and he is an outstanding human. Please go support his work. Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jace has been out as a trans man for about a decade and exploring polyamory since right after he graduated high school roughly seven years ago. He's currently in a long-term nesting relationship with his two husbands and exploring a bit of dating on occasion as well. He sort of stumbled into polyamory without a framework and has been learning it as he goes. We have a wonderful conversation about his journey not only in polyamory, but in coming out as trans. Like many of us, personal growth and undoing codependencies has been a major part of the path for him. Jace also earned his Master's in Mental Health Counseling and works with Anna Baxter (Ep 231) at Love Positive Counseling in Georgia. His passion is working with LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as those within the polyamorous and kink communities. Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Yana has been exploring non-monogamous relationship structures for over a decade and describes herself as solo poly in which her primary relationship is with her three year old son. She's also been in a relationship with a couple for over five years, designed a beautiful co-parent relationship, has some girlfriends, and perhaps a few other people in her orbit. Our conversation covers a lot of ground from hard lessons she's learned along the way to a wonderful conversation on the beauty and challenges of transitioning a nesting partner to a co-parenting partner. Yana is also a couples & relationships therapist and a consent, sex & sexuality writer and educator living in Western Massachusetts. Her work centers around the belief that pleasure-positive & consent-based sex education can positively impact our lives and the world. Check out all her work at yanatallonhicks.com and definitely go get a copy of her new book, Hot and Unbothered! Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Michelle and Ron are a couple of Americans living in Australia with their three young kids. They’ve been together for about ten years, married for almost nine, and exploring non-monogamy for about three. Michelle had some experience with non-monogamy before she and Ron got together and talking about those experiences was what helped crack the door open for them. They describe their dynamic as Hotwife blended with stag/vixen and our conversation goes far beyond that. They share a lot about their struggle to get pregnant, the impact it had on their relationship, and each of them individually. Ron also talks through a lot of how jealousy has been something he has had to navigate, even though at the same time he is usually excited and even turned on. This is an amazing and super fun conversation that blends some deep talks with lighthearted laughter. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Like many of us, Suzannah is on a journey of self-discovery. A few years back she was in a long-term relationship and cheated on her partner multiple times. In fact, infidelity was a recurring theme in her relationships until she found her way to the ethical and consensual side of non-monogamy. We have a great conversation with her about what that journey looked like and what was holding her back. She also shares with us the amazing impact that going to sex clubs and parties by herself had on her confidence and her social EQ. There are so many beautiful lessons weaved into this conversation and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Beyond being a badass in her personal life, Suzannah is crushing it on the professional side as well. She is a feminist writer with over 8,000 articles published, a board-certified sexologist, and she's a sex and relationship educator and coach. Find all of her work on her website at suzannahweiss.com. Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This is Mel and AJ's second time exploring non-monogamy together. Their first time was in 2018 during a particularly challenging time in their marriage. They came very close to ending their marriage and ultimately pulled back from ENM to work on themselves and their relationship. Now they've been married about 10 years and have two kids together. In early 2021, they decided to give it another shot. However, this time they are in one of the best places they've ever been together and have done a ton of work on themselves. The conversation we have is super honest and vulnerable about how they got to this point... And it wasn't easy. Check out the full show notes here. Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed! Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Happy Friday! Don't worry, it's just us! We're excited to announce our Premium Subscription! We're always trying to find ways to grow and deliver incredible content to as many people as we can in an effort to drive forward our mission: To inspire people to embrace their true selves so that, together, we can open minds and live authentically without shame. We have a lot of exciting new things planned and this is the first step. We can't wait for what's to come! So, what do you get by joining?! Ad-free episodes plus periodic bonus content! Brief community announcements in show outro so you never miss anything! Warm fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting independent content creators! Who knows what the future may bring! How much is this going to cost you? We'll leave that up to you! We LOVE the pay what feels good model and we're embracing it again. We don't know what value we bring to your life... Maybe it's a dollar, maybe it's $100! When you sign up, you get to choose your monthly or annual contribution. The minimum monthly or annual amount is $2 (otherwise it all goes to processing fees). Other than that, the choice is yours! Thank you for your support! It means the world to us! Click here to get your Premium Subscription!

Pan is in his late thirties and has been exploring non-monogamy since his marriage ended a few years ago. He describes himself as a kinky, sapiosexual, and solo polyamorist who is excited to explore what life has to offer. Pan has done a ton of self-work on codependencies, being confident in who he is, learning about consent, and diving into BDSM. We have so many amazing conversations in this interview that rather than continue to read this, we suggest you just come on in and listen. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Bre is amazing! It's full of energy, love, and great vibes! Bre is in her mid-thirties and has done a bit of it all... She's explored swinging, poly, kink, and even did a burlesque performance at her baby shower! We talk about it all, plus we get into her experiences co-parenting in a triad, living intentionally, how her body and sexuality changed after having a baby, healing, and of course boundaries. We also have a wonderful chat about conscious play parties vs. swinging parties. Again, this conversation is fantastic and so much fun! Enjoy! Bre is also a relationship coach and you can find her work at Liberate Your Love. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Kristin and Adam have been together about 20 years and have always loved exploring together. They discovered swinging early in their relationship but didn't really have a label for what they were doing. They were just kind of figuring it out and living life. By their own admission, it was messy. There have been lots of opportunities for learning and growing together. And that's exactly what they keep doing. They've circled back around to non-monogamy in the last few years and are continuing to figure out what flavor best suits them. They live in the blurry place between casual swinging experiences and seeking deeper connections that sometimes feel more polyamorous. We love their openness and vulnerability in sharing with us, and you. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Get your very own "Give Love" shirt, today! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Bex is back and this time we're digging into his personal story! We had Bex on a few months back to talk all about sexting and now we get a behind-the-scenes look at Bex's journey. As best he can remember, the last and only time he's had a monogamous relationship was in his early twenties. He has a vulnerable and honest conversation with us about how his attachment style and avoidance have impacted his relationships. We dig into hierarchy, jealousy, kink, and kitchen table poly. Bex also shares some beautiful thoughts on his own transition and how he's never hated his own body or felt like he was in the wrong body, even as a trans guy. We love this conversation and hope you do as well. After you listen, head over to Bex's website to check out and support all of his work, including the Dildorks podcast! From his website, www.bextalkssex.com: Bex Caputo is a sex educator, blogger, speaker, podcaster, and professional pervert. He’s been a proud and undeniable kinkster ever since he insisted on being served his meals in a dog bowl at the age of 8. He’s a Virgo, a Hufflepuff, and a transmasc queerdo who grew up to be the pop punk skater boy he had a crush on in high school. He’s also a huge nerd with ADHD, so every new interest he discovers comes with a strong desire to learn everything about it that he possibly can. As you’ve probably guessed, sex and kink were two of his earliest fascinations–and the more he learned about them, the more apparent it became that the rest of the world still had a lot to learn, too. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

The feeling of being alone when embarking on any new journey is so scary. Perhaps you can't talk to anyone around you about it, and the people you do talk to make you feel shamed or a bit crazy. Finding our community, our people, that feel like home, has been the single most powerful and supportive resource the two of us have for exploring non-monogamy. In this fantastic conversation, we sit down with Mrs. and Mr. Jones from the We Gotta Thing podcast to talk about all things community and our personal experiences with finally finding ours. This episode was originally released on their podcast as Episode 98. In an effort to help more people find their home, we decided to release it here as well. Enjoy! If you are interested in joining either or both of our communities, here are links to both: We Gotta Thing Normalizing Non-Monogamy Check out the full show notes here. Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Kaitlin and Julian is one of our all-time favorites. Not sure if we're allowed to say that, but here we are. They met and fell in love on the school bus and now have been together for 16 years and married eight. The short version is that one day Julian brought home the Ethical Slut, they read it, and pretty much the next day decided they were polyamorous. It's slightly more complicated than that, but not much. A lot has happened since they read the book and opened up and we have so many amazing conversations about their journey. We dig into self-love, dating, imbalance, self-esteem, and the art of just jumping in. One of the things we love about their journey is that while they have definitely been on it together, they've also each been on their own path at the same time. This conversation is incredible and we hope you enjoy. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Marla is back! And we're talking a bit about everything... Pregnancy, pandemics, parenting, polyamory, potato famines... I made that last one up. Or did I? Only one way to find out. We also talk about why poly isn't the best flavor of ethical non-monogamy for Marla, how she balances her life, her relationships, and most importantly... Herself. Get in here and listen and then go sign up for Sex Down South using the offer code EMMA to save $15... Bonus, you support our podcast when you do. Thank you! Marla is a professional sexologist, intimacy/relationship/sex coach, speaker, and author. She is the owner of Velvet Lips, a sexuality education company, as well as Contract Liberation, a company focused on research for non-profit groups. As a Lecturer at Clayton State University, she teaches Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies. As the Co-Founder of the Sex Down South Conference, Marla aims to bring diverse groups together to learn and share their experiences in the essence of being authentic and fostering sexual liberation across communities. Marla has studied human sexuality for over 19 years, has educated over 20,000 people in over 13 years, given over 400 workshops, and have served over 100 clients in her private practice, all around the world. She has had her influence in the media, as well; she has written over 200 articles, featured in over 20 magazines and books, and has been on over 50 podcasts and independent television shows. She was featured on Netflix’s Trigger Warning with Killer Mike and VH1's Love & HipHop Atlanta. In addition, she also sits on the Boards for SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW! and is on the Community Advisory Board of the Diverse Sexualities and Research Education Institute. She also co-wrote her first book, The Ultimate Guide to Seduction & Foreplay (2020) with Dr. Jessica O’Reilly and co-edited An Intersectional Approach to Sex Therapy (2021). See all of her work at www.velvetlipssexed.com. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Melissa and Tim are kind of a first for us on the show and we're super excited about it! They are in their mid-forties and have been together for about five years. What's unique about that? Well, Tim has been with his nesting partner for almost 30 years and Melissa identifies as solo poly. We love hearing how their individual origin stories come together for the beautiful relationship they have built together. Melissa got her start in non-monogamy during a previous relationship via swinging. Tim and his nesting partner slowly opened their relationship into a mono/poly dynamic over a decade ago. Over the last few years they have explored various aspects of polyamory together as well as what they lovingly refer to as "sex friends." We have so many amazing conversations in this episode... We hope you enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Serena and her husband are newly married and starting to explore a bit of what opening their relationship to non-monogamy could look like for them. Serena has a history of being in monogamous relationships but a few years back she took a break from dating and relationships to figure herself out. When she got back in the game, she realized most of the people she was drawing in were non-monogamous, including her now husband. He came to the relationship with a polyamorous background but they have intentionally kept their relationship closed to build security and determine how they want to do it in their own way. At the moment, Serena identifies most closely with being monogamish... They dabble and are open to exploring but it's still new and perhaps a bit scary at times. Serena is also a sex and relationship coach with Sex and Love Co. She has been coach for a few years and is excited to weave her personal experience and journey into her coaching work. Her approach to life is as beautiful and peaceful as the birds chirping in the background during this recording... Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Alli + Gaylen have been "happily unmarried for 21 years" and were friends for a handful of years before they got together. They've also been living on a 37 foot sailboat for the last two years as they travel and play music together. These two have a beautiful energy between them and this conversation is about so much more than non-monogamy. It's about life. They started exploring swinging when Alli came out as bisexual but they quickly found traditional swinging wasn't really their vibe. Instead, they've been creating a flavor of non-monogamy that blends swinging and polyamory into something that feels best for them. Check out their work and follow them as they serenade their way around the world over at www.sailbumsmusic.com. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

How do you sext? What does sexting actually look like? How do I get it started? What do I say? How do I say it? When do I say it? How do I keep it going? Well, you've guessed it... Today we're talking all about sexting with our amazing guest, sex and kink educator, Bex Caputo! From his website, www.bextalkssex.com: Bex Caputo is a sex educator, blogger, speaker, podcaster, and professional pervert. He’s been a proud and undeniable kinkster ever since he insisted on being served his meals in a dog bowl at the age of 8. He’s a Virgo, a Hufflepuff, and a transmasc queerdo who grew up to be the pop punk skater boy he had a crush on in high school. He’s also a huge nerd with ADHD, so every new interest he discovers comes with a strong desire to learn everything about it that he possibly can. As you’ve probably guessed, sex and kink were two of his earliest fascinations–and the more he learned about them, the more apparent it became that the rest of the world still had a lot to learn, too. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Tom has been exploring polyamory for about the last 15 years, but has recognized it is who he's been his whole life. He was always forming deep friendships and relationships with the people around him but things never seemed to quite fit. A few years after having children, he brought up the idea to his wife and they gave it a try. He got his start back in the Craigslist days and it was a bit of a bumpy beginning but he and his wife have found a groove that works for them. As he says in the interview, their relationship is in the best place it has ever been. Tom is also the creator of the Colorado Poly Weekend. To learn more and find out how you can get involved, check out www.coloradopolyweekend.org. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Today's conversation with Maria gets into the weeds on breaking codependencies, rebuilding a relationship after an infidelity, sexual health, loving yours, and so much more. Maria and her husband redefined their relationship a few years back after she cheated on him. Part of that rebuilding was to open their relationship and begin exploring non-monogamy and polyamory. We hope you enjoy this beautiful conversation. A bit more about Maria from her personal bio: Maria Palumbo has her Master's of Social work. She began as a psychotherapist in community mental health. She studied trauma and its impact on creating an “eat your heart out” life and then took her findings and started her own business. She began creating programs that awaken the sex and heart. She is passionate about people owning the impact of trauma and creating a life of vitality and rich intimacy. Since beginning her business, Maria has helped hundreds of people (both virtually and in-person) realize that their vulnerability and truest turn on, makes them irresistible. She leads workshops in person called Follow Your F*ck and has a luxury retreat coming up in October. Check out all of her work at www.mariapalumbo.com. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Kate's journey into non-monogamy kicked off almost 20 years ago when she came home from work and her partner at the time proposed the idea of swinging to her. Since then, she has spent two decades figuring out and exploring what works best for her. Like many, a strict label of "swinger" or "polyamorous" doesn't really seem to fit. As Kate shares, the best label she has found for herself is simply "fluid." We hope you enjoy this deep dive into her personal journey. Kate Loree, LMFT, is a sex-positive licensed marriage and family therapist with a specialty in non-monogamous, kink, LGBTQ, and sex worker communities and the author of Open Deeply: A Guide to Building Conscious, Compassionate Open Relationships. In addition to her master’s in marriage and family therapy, she also has an MBA and is a registered art therapist (ATR). She is an EDSE certified sex educator and an EMDR certified therapist with additional training in the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) for the treatment of trauma. She has been practicing psychotherapy since 2003. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Sunny has always questioned just about everything in their life. They realized they were bisexual by age 15 and by age 17 had started exploring their relationship to gender. Now, at the age of 25, Sunny is a delightful queer, non-binary human who has never had a monogamous relationship and is on a journey to be the happiest version of themselves! We love this wide-ranging conversation that covers so many beautiful topics. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jessica is a curator of brave spaces for people to own their power and awaken to their most expansive selves. Through her work as a coach and retreat facilitator, she realized it was people’s relationships that needed healing the most. That’s when she decided to launch her podcast, Open Late, a look at relationships through her lens of consensual non-monogamy. She wants to inspire people to create designer relationships filled with truth, vulnerability, intimacy and play. In this amazing conversation she takes us on the journey of opening up her marriage about seven years ago. We get into so many fantastic topics including strategies around confronting shame, falling in love, evolving relationships, blending casual swinging-ish relationships with polyamory, and even the prospect of having a baby while in a triad. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jude is a queer, neurodivergent, non-binary, badass. They learned about non-monogamy roughly eight years ago and started exploring is for themselves a bit over a year ago. After much self-discovery, Jude is feeling the pull to move back toward monogamy but wants to bring what they learned along the way with them. This conversation is fantastic and covers so many topics in a beautiful way. We talk about communal living, life partners, labels, gender identity, self acceptance, Jello wrestling, and living a life that just feels good to you. Jude is definitely doing life their own way and this episode is an inspiration in doing the same. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

William's first conversations and exposure to non-monogamy happened around 2003 while he was living in Louisiana. A few years later he and his partner moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and by 2014 the San Francisco Chronicle named William Winters the "de facto king of the East Bay polyamory scene." In this wonderful conversation, William brings us along with him on the full journey from discovering and beginning to explore ethical non-monogamy (ENM) to founding the Bonobo Network and building an incredible sex-positive community, We love this conversation and the work the Bonobo team are doing! We hope you do as well! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Meshai and her husband have been married for 17 years but only in the last few years have they explored non-monogamy. For them, they oscillate between more of a casual swinging approach and something that looks more like polyamory. We have amazing conversations with her about living life to the fullest, how non-monogamy forces you to see yourself, and how she sort of ended up exploring her sexuality without really recognizing there was anything to explore. At least until everything clicked! Meshai also comes from a very religious background and she talks with us about how she approaches non-monogamy and religion. This is an amazing conversation and we hope you enjoy it! Meshai is dually licensed and certified in both Trauma Therapy and Sex Therapy. She believes in the power of living as one’s authentic self, and the freedom that comes from changing perspectives. She loves putting the puzzle pieces together of a couple's sexual energy and aiding them in positive and explorative movement. Her coaching work implements creative synergy, openness, self-expression, and the confrontation of challenges through self-determination. She helps individuals from diverse populations move forward with their goals while being fully aware that trauma can play on the whole person. To learn more about how to work with Meshai, head over to Expansive Connection. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

We are so excited about this conversation with Gary that is all about the power of play in life and in relationships! Gary Ware is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off on an adventure with his wife Courtney and son Garrett. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Pam and Jim are nudists who live in Florida and have been exploring non-monogamy together since they met about three years ago. Jim is 83 and started exploring his sexuality a few years ago and identifies as a pansexual who loves crossdressing! He leans more towards the polyamorous side of things. Pam is 69 and enjoys things a bit more casual. She identifies as the monogamous half of their mono-poly dynamic. However, it's not so simple... Pam and Jim go to orgies together every few weeks and have an absolute blast! During this conversation they share with us how they ended up starting to explore non-monogamy in their sixties and seventies, and why it was the right time for each of them. They also dig into challenges they have faced along the way and how much closer swinging together has brought them. This interview is absolutely incredible, as are Pam and Jim. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Anna is amazing in so many ways! They have been exploring non-monogamy and polyamory for over 12 years after coming from a background of serial monogamy and codependency. They're super honest and transparent about the work that had to be done there to show up in a more authentic way. We also have a great conversation about control in relationships that is quite impactful. Anna is also the President of Atlanta Polyamory and the owner of Love Positive Counseling. They're passionate about providing a safe space for individuals, couples, poly units, and families to find their innate potential and achieve their dreams, regardless of gender, orientation, race, religion, or love-style. They feel called to help people find internal and external peace by living and loving more authentically. Anna's experience includes 19+ years practicing BDSM, 12+ years loving polyamorously, and 9+ years of gender exploration. They received their Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kennesaw State University and a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Argosy University (Atlanta). They also received their LPC license in 2018 and my CPCS in 2020. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

CJ and her husband have been together for over 18 years, she has kids, a great job... She had it all. But, as she described it, she had it all and had a bit of a "mid-life crisis" around age 30! For the last few years, she and her husband have been slowly opening their relationship. During this wonderful conversation she shares the whole story along with some amazing strategies for how they approach difficult conversations, navigating boundaries, and bringing intentionality back to your relationship. She also leaks some spoilers for her new book "Into The Open." Enjoy this fantastic interview and then go grab a copy of her book! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

This conversation with Evita is amazing from start to finish. She has been exploring non-monogamy for about 10 years. She is incredibly honest with us about the challenges and the huge benefits that transitioning from monogamy to swinging to polyamory has brought her. This is one of those conversations that sticks with you for a while and that can so easily be applied to any relationship regardless of whether or not it is open. We talk about jealousy, transitioning relationships, boundaries, hilarious bloopers, and much more! After listening, go follow Evita on Instagram and Facebook for more amazing content and to work with her as a coach. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Layla was so focused on her business and other aspects of life that sex and relationships fell off the radar completely. She woke up one day after three and a half years of not having sex, with a plan... She came up with a bucket list and a one year plan to check as much off of it as she could. Her one year plan started six years ago and stuck. Not only did it stick, it transformed the way she approaches relationships and all aspect of her life. She shares with us how she came up with her plan, how it played out, and what she learned along the way. She's incredibly honest and transparent about everything and it's really refreshing. After you listen to this interview, head over to check out her podcast, The Curious Girl Diaries, where she goes even deeper into her experiences. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Jon met his current wife toward the end of his previous marriage after he and his ex-wife began exploring non-monogamy together. He and his current wife have been working together to slowly open their relationship as well. Jon talks about how different security levels and attachment styles shape the two relationships. We also have an amazing conversation about how relationships ending or transitioning doesn't mean the relationship was a failure. Jon is also the author of a new novel, I Am My Beloveds, that has non-monogamous themes throughout and is influenced partly by his own journey. This is an amazing conversation. Join us! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Today we're talking all about compersion with Marie! What is compersion? Where did this word even come from? Can we foster compersion? Is it possible to have a healthy relationship without compersion? Marie answers all of these questions and more in this amazing conversation! Dr. Marie Thouin is the founder of Love InSight, a Mindful Dating Coaching practice where she helps people of all ages, genders, and sexual/relationship orientations navigate the path of intimate love—including couples transitioning to non-monogamy and/or alternative relationship structures. Marie completed her doctoral dissertation on compersion in consensually non-monogamous individuals in the East-West Psychology department at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. She also serves as Editor at the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, a leading peer-reviewed publication in the fields of transpersonal and whole-person psychologies. Learn more on her website: www.whatiscompersion.com Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

We're excited to bring Kate and Liam from the Monogamish Marriage back on the show for an update! The last time we talked to them on the podcast was for Episode 20 and so much has changed since then! Kate fell in love... Liam dove into exploring his sexuality.... They launched a podcast to accompany their amazing blog. We talk about it all and they even dish about that time the four of us met in person for the first time almost exactly four years ago. Definitely don't skip this one and after you're done, head over to their website, themonogamishmarriage.com, and check out all of their incredible work and beautiful photos! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Hilly is in her mid thirties and as far as she can remember, her only "traditional" monogamous relationship was in high school and lasted about two months. She has explored a wide range of different relationship dynamics including swinging and polyamory. She's also very involved in the kink scene and is the first age play advocate we have had on the show. She talks to us about how her dynamic works, what she's learned along the way, and shares with us a bunch resources for anyone who is interested in learning more. Hilly is also an author, content creator, and runs a Facebook support group for people interested in age play. All of the links to find her work can be found in the show notes link below. Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/

Hannah and Greg have been together for 13 years and actually took a unique approach to opening their relationship pretty early on. They would spend summers apart and during that time they gave one another the freedom to explore. They talk a lot about that experience and trying to navigate an open relationship without resources or a solid understanding of what they were doing or how to do it. More recently they have revisited the idea of non-monogamy and over the last few years have slowly opened their relationship in a much more tactical way. It hasn't been an easy road and they have learned a lot. We love how vulnerable they both are during this conversation. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Click here to learn about our upcoming in-person events! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/