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

Emma and Fin
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Hi! We’re your hosts Emma and Fin! We’re a married couple in our late thirties and we’ve been exploring non-monogamy in different ways since nearly the beginning of our relationship more than twenty years ago. But, this podcast isn’t about us… We strongly believe there isn’t a “right way” to be non-monogamous or even that non-monogamy is better or more evolved than monogamy or any other relationship style. Every week we interview people from across the spectrums of gender, sexuality, and relationship style to learn from their incredible and powerful personal stories.  Each episode is a unique perspective and personal story… Pick one that sounds interesting and give it a listen! We hope that by sharing the amazing journeys of those who are redefining and pushing the limits of what’s possible in relationships that we can show people that they’re not alone and inspire us all to embrace our true selves so that, together, we can open minds and live authentically without shame.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Ep 431 - Joel

    Joel is in his mid-twenties and has been proudly and openly exploring his pansexuality, non-monogamy, and polyamory for the last few years. During this conversation he takes us through his incredibly powerful and traumatic coming out journey that began when he had to check himself into a psychiatric hospital during his time in the military after becoming suicidal due to the sexual abuse and trauma he experienced during his childhood. He decided that when he got out he was going to live his truth and he has done exactly that. Now, at age 26, Joel feels like he’s finally becoming the person he’s always wanted to be but never knew how to be.  During our interview Joel also takes us through his first ethically non-monogamous partnership, he talks about how he’s building his queer and poly community, and he sticks around to answer some juicy bonus questions! This conversation is so vulnerable, brave, and beautiful… We hope you’re as moved and inspired by it as we are. Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    1h 25m

  2. 4 FEB

    Ep 430 - Crystal

    Crystal has been exploring non-monogamy for almost a decade and over the years she’s tried just about every flavor from swinging to non-hierarchical kitchen table poly, and beyond. Today, friendship is her primary motivation for exploring non-monogamy and she and her partner consider themselves to simply be “open.” Curious what she means by that…? Have a listen! Crystal comes from a heavy evangelical background and has been on a journey undoing the sexual shame and religious trauma through community, pleasure, non-monogamy, kink and also through her work as a queer, neurospicy sex and relationship therapist providing teletherapy to Maryland adults. She specializes in supporting LGBTQ+, consensually non-monogamous, and kink communities. Her clinical work focuses on sexual self acceptance and expression, religious trauma and purity culture recovery, and opening up or restructuring relationships.​ Learn more about Crystal and her work on her website! Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    1h 9m

  3. 28 JAN

    Ep 429 - James

    James has been exploring non-monogamous relationships for over 17 years and has been a proud member of the kink scene for over 11. His journey has taken him around the world through many twists and turns, including a don't ask don't tell-type dynamic at the beginning, to exploring swinging and sex parties, non-hierarchical polyamory, and recently discovering his demisexuality. We dig into it all today in this wonderful interview! One of the things we absolutely love about this conversation with James is how transparent and vulnerable he is about everything he’s learned over the last 17 years, including how he hasn’t always done things in the most ethical way. But, like most of us, he’s always trying to learn and grow along the way. James is all about community and creating space for people to explore and discover their most authentic selves. He's the co-founder of the Festival Of Alternative Relationships (F.A.R.) and co-runs The Open Circle, Australia's largest community of people exploring ethical non-monogamy (ENM). He has lived experience in almost every form of ENM dynamic and has run workshops in ENM and Lifestyle Kink (D/s) in both London and Sydney. He also studied sex and relationship coaching at The Somatica Institute based in San Francisco. You can learn more about James and his work on his website. Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    1h 16m

  4. 23 JAN

    The Power of Play

    We are so excited about this conversation with Gary Ware that is all about the power of play in life and in relationships! Gary is co-hosting our upcoming in-person event May 1-3, 2026 called Relationship Recess! You can learn more and grab your tickets here! Gary 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. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    59 min

  5. 21 JAN

    Ep 428 - Ms. WillowKat

    Ms. WillowKat is all about living the one life we get to the fullest and zer zest and passion for life is infectious! We cover a lot of topics in this fantastic interview… Growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, leaving the church, getting married at 19 and exploring non-monogamy for the first time, having kids, going back to the church, leaving the church again, diving into kink and power dynamics, creating the polycule and chosen family of zer dreams, and so much more! This is truly a beautiful and inspiring conversation and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Ms. WillowKat also does incredibly powerful work alongside Dossie Easton (co-author of The Ethical Slut) at their 501c3 called Navigating Consent where their stated goal is to move forward from wherever we may be today into a safer, saner, sexier, and more consensual future. Additionally, WillowKat does work through The Alive Programs to address violence at all levels of intensity and ways of manifesting; physical, emotional, mental, verbal, and sexual. Please visit the Navigating Consent and The Alive Programs websites to learn more and to get involved. Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    1h 22m

  6. 14 JAN

    Ep 427 - Natalie: Round 2

    Natalie and her husband have been in an open relationship of some sort for over 25 years and about four years ago her husband’s partner moved in with them. We first had the pleasure of talking with Natalie a little over two years ago on episode 304 and now she’s back to talk all about living with her husband and metamour in their “Resident V” or “Nested V” relationship. This is a fabulous interview and we have so many incredible conversations with Natalie throughout! We have fantastic chats about being out as polyamorous, what relationship anarchy means to Natalie, and how her relationship with her metamour doesn’t fit neatly into one box. Natalie also talks about how they slowly worked towards all living together and the reality and logistics of how they do it. Natalie shops for groceries, her metamour cooks, and her husband does the dishes… But is it always that easy? Join us and find out! Natalie is also a writer, presenter, and the author of her brand new memoir Saying Yes - My Adventures in Polyamory! You can find all of Natalie’s work and learn more about her on her website, but definitely go grab a copy of her new book so you can hear even more of Natalie’s incredible adventures! Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    1h 7m

  7. 7 JAN

    Ep 426 - Rashid

    Rashid is in his early thirties and first learned about non-monogamy in his mid-twenties while in a monogamous partnership that lasted about a decade. Like so many of us, he thought something was wrong with him because he’d often find himself attracted to others and having crushes. After ending that relationship during the pandemic Rashid moved across the country multiple times, tried out monogamy again, and lived in a van while traveling the country before meeting someone who introduced him to relationship anarchy. They began dating and Rashid dove into a whole new world… Join us today as Rashid takes us through pretty much his whole relationship and life journey over the last decade in this beautiful interview. We have powerful conversations about loss, grief, jealousy, platonic friendships and life partners, and how we’re all imperfect humans who are trying to do our best and learn along the way. Enjoy! Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    1h 14m

  8. 31/12/2025

    Ep 425 - Marcia

    When Marcia’s high school boyfriend left for college they decided to try opening their relationship… However, it was the late nineties in Georgia so there weren’t many resources or support available for anyone exploring non-traditional relationships or their sexuality and queerness. But that didn’t stop her! It’s now been over 25 years and Marcia still hasn’t been in a monogamous relationship unless you count that time she was forced into it by the pandemic.  One of the main themes of Marcia’s story is her focus on friendship as the foundation for all of her connections. Over the years Marcia has explored many different relationship styles and dynamics as she’s deconstructed norms and figured out who she is and what she wants. This conversation is full of powerful wisdom and insight Marcia has learned along the way. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did. Marcia Baczynski is an internationally-recognized coach, writer and presenter on sexual communication, boundaries, consent and desire. Her primary mission is to help adults who want more connection and intimacy to overcome shame and get in touch with what they truly want – romantically, sexually and relationally – even if it’s off the beaten path. You can learn more about Marcia and all of her work by checking out her website! Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

    1h 20m
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Hi! We’re your hosts Emma and Fin! We’re a married couple in our late thirties and we’ve been exploring non-monogamy in different ways since nearly the beginning of our relationship more than twenty years ago. But, this podcast isn’t about us… We strongly believe there isn’t a “right way” to be non-monogamous or even that non-monogamy is better or more evolved than monogamy or any other relationship style. Every week we interview people from across the spectrums of gender, sexuality, and relationship style to learn from their incredible and powerful personal stories.  Each episode is a unique perspective and personal story… Pick one that sounds interesting and give it a listen! We hope that by sharing the amazing journeys of those who are redefining and pushing the limits of what’s possible in relationships that we can show people that they’re not alone and inspire us all to embrace our true selves so that, together, we can open minds and live authentically without shame.

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