The Partnership Lab

Max & Roz
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Relationships
  • Biweekly

What happens when two scientists turn their marriage into a study in love, relationships, and consensual non-monogamy? The Partnership Lab is a relationship podcast exploring open relationships, ethical non-monogamy (ENM), communication, and modern marriage — recorded in real time from the very beginning of our journey into the lifestyle. We’re not gurus. We’re not coaches. We’re not here to tell you how to do it. We’re documenting what happens when a committed couple questions the default settings of marriage — and designs something more intentional. Each episode is a field note. Jealousy becomes a variable. Communication becomes a method. Desire becomes data. Connection becomes something that might expand — if handled with care. You’ll hear the real conversations: the fear, the excitement, the renegotiation, the “are we really doing this?” moments. This podcast is for couples feeling a shift, partners asking “what else is possible?”, and anyone curious about ethical non-monogamy done thoughtfully. We believe openness isn’t the opposite of commitment — it might be a deeper form of it. That’s our hypothesis. Let’s test it out. Topics include: open relationships, ethical non-monogamy (ENM), swinging, communication, boundaries, jealousy, and long-term partnership.

  1. Oct 28

    It's Not Perfect, But We're Doing Really Well 👍

    Field Notes: We went to Scottsdale expecting another chance to explore. We came home understanding a little more about what drives that exploration. We’re back from Libertine Scottsdale—and this one gave us plenty to unpack. There were sexy outfits, pool parties, a lingerie fashion show, more nudity than either of us could possibly keep track of, and one very important question about whether Roz should ask someone else to dance. But underneath the weekend recap was something more interesting. Compared with Toronto, we could see how much more comfortable we’ve become in these spaces. We paced ourselves better. We talked to strangers. Roz pushed herself way outside her comfort zone. We checked in without spiraling. And when something uncomfortable did happen, we were actually able to talk about it. At the same time, Scottsdale helped clarify something we’re still figuring out: being surrounded by sexual energy doesn’t automatically create connection—or even attraction—for us. Maybe we need more time. More reciprocity. More activities that give us something to connect over. Maybe attraction grows for us after we actually know someone. And maybe that’s useful information too. 🧪 In This Episode: Travel chaos before we even made it to ScottsdaleArriving late and walking into a mixer full of complete strangersNeon Cowboy night and surviving our first social battery testPrivacy, being “out,” and why we still protect this part of our livesLace & Restraint night and the request that exposed an insecurity Max wasn’t expectingWhy “sure” and “hell yes” are not the same thingWhat we handled differently than we did in TorontoLearning when to rest instead of forcing ourselves through the itineraryAsking whether we’re “really in the lifestyle” if we aren’t playing with peopleWhy attraction may simply take more time and connection for usWhat Scottsdale taught us about the kinds of people and community we may actually be looking for📚 Next Episode: We genuinely haven’t decided yet. The holiday season is coming, life is getting busy, and the next experiment may be something a little lighter. Whatever it is, we’ll meet you back in the lab. 💬 Join the Conversation: Does attraction happen quickly for you—or do you need time, familiarity, and connection before someone starts feeling sexy? 📩 Email: thepartnershiplabpodcast@gmail.com 📱 Instagram: @the_partnership_lab Disclaimer: These conversations reflect our own observations and experiences and are not professional or institutional advice. They do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of employers, family, or guests, nor imply their approval of the content shared.

    It's Not Perfect, But We're Doing Really Well 👍

  2. Oct 14

    Do We Have to Decide BEFORE We Go? ✈️

    Protocol: What if exploring together also means learning how to want things separately? Scottsdale is almost here, and this time we’re trying to go in with less pressure, more honesty, and a much clearer idea of what success actually looks like. In this episode, we talk through our boundaries, what still feels exciting, what still feels uncertain, and how much our expectations have changed since Toronto. We’re realizing that the biggest shift isn’t necessarily what we’re willing to do—it’s how we’re communicating about what we actually want. That leads us into a bigger conversation about individuation, self-editing, and the ways we both tend to manage each other’s experience instead of simply saying what we want and letting the conversation happen from there. We also talk through what we’re looking forward to at Scottsdale, what we’re willing to skip, and how we’re trying not to “spin the f**k out” this time. Somewhere along the way, the pre-trip protocol becomes pretty simple: go at our pace, listen to ourselves, and tell the truth sooner. 🧪 In This Episode: Why we’re defining success differently for ScottsdaleWhere our boundaries actually are right nowWhat kissing, touching, and same-room play look like for us at this stageWhy we may simply not be “one-night-stand people”The fantasy of being desired without needing anything to happenRoz’s goal of listening to herself instead of shrinking when she gets uncomfortableMax’s realization that he often gives up what he wants before even saying it out loudLearning to separate “what I want” from “what I think my partner wants me to want”Building more honesty and individuation into the weekendWhat we’re most excited about on the Scottsdale scheduleHow we plan to handle overstimulation, social fatigue, and mismatched energy📚 Next Episode: The fieldwork begins again. Next time, we’ll be back from Scottsdale and breaking down what actually happened, what surprised us, what moved, what didn’t, and whether our revised protocol survived contact with the real world. 💬 Join the Conversation: What’s harder for you: figuring out what you want—or saying it out loud once you know? 📩 Email: thepartnershiplabpodcast@gmail.com 📱 Instagram: @the_partnership_lab Disclaimer: These conversations reflect our own observations and experiences and are not professional or institutional advice. They do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of employers, family, or guests, nor imply their approval of the content shared.

    Do We Have to Decide BEFORE We Go? ✈️

  3. Sep 16

    Microdosing Our Way Forward 👅

    Protocol: What if growth doesn’t have to come from one huge leap—but from a hundred smaller experiments? In this episode, we catch up on the surprisingly large number of small things we’ve been doing lately as we continue figuring out what open relating looks like for us. We talk about preparing for Scottsdale, attending a bisexuality workshop, taking a Kinsey-style sexuality quiz and an ENM placement quiz, and thinking more seriously about how labels can be useful without having to become identities we’re locked into. Then we get into an idea that tied the whole episode together for us: microdosing ENM. Instead of treating growth like a series of giant tests, what happens if we focus on smaller experiences that stretch our comfort zones, expand our capacity, and teach us something without completely overwhelming us? 🧪 In This Episode: Our latest Scottsdale prep—and what we want to do differently this timeWhy Roz is focusing more on comfort, connection, and being herselfWhy attraction, experience, and identity don’t always line up neatlyHow differently we experience emotions in our bodiesOur aura photos—and what our couple’s photo unexpectedly revealed🔬 Resources Mentioned: Expansive Connections - https://www.expansiveconnection.com/enmblogMonogamish Marriage - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-monogamish-marriage/id1586549659Kinsey sexuality quiz - https://www.idrlabs.com/kinsey-scale/test.php?srsltid=AfmBOorQlGLIOCOEWd2VhNrtUibYKvFm9lFUgxU6wAYBE-P4oJ1ocQOaENM Placement Test on FetLife - https://enmtriangle.netlify.app/?poly=11.38&swinger=11.38&kinky=11.88Aria Diana somatic relationship coaching - https://www.ariadiana.com/Nervous-system masterclass - https://youtu.be/2POelrlfPJI?si=eqSRjcmTMXovvtVaHack Your Nervous System card deck - https://hackyournervoussystem.org/Aura photography - https://hauswitchstore.com/collections/aura-photosNext Book Club Book (Wild Love Theory) - https://a.co/d/02HamK6D📚 Next Episode: Scottsdale is almost here. Next time, we’ll talk through our mindset going into the trip, what we learned from Toronto, the smaller goals we want to set for ourselves, and how we’re trying very hard not to spin the f**k out this time. 📩 Email: thepartnershiplabpodcast@gmail.com 📱 Instagram: @the_partnership_lab Disclaimer: These conversations reflect our personal experiences and are not professional advice.

    Microdosing Our Way Forward 👅

  4. Aug 19

    Tell Me Something I Don't Know 🤔

    Sometimes the best conversations start with a question you’ve somehow never asked each other, even 20 years in. This week, Roz brings a question game neither of us has seen ahead of time, and we let it lead us. What starts with childhood dreams, favorite meals, and questionable music choices eventually gets us talking about the beliefs we’ve outgrown, places that changed us, the lives we still imagine for ourselves, and the small ways we make each other feel cared for. No worksheets. No relationship theory. No big experiment. Just two people who have been together a long time discovering there are still things left to learn about each other. Come hang out with us. Join the Conversation: What’s something you recently learned about someone you thought you knew really well? Or, better yet, what question should we ask each other next time? Instagram: @the_partnership_lab Email: thepartnershiplabpodcast@gmail.com Disclaimer: These conversations reflect our own observations and experiences and are not professional or institutional advice. They do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of employers, family, or guests, nor imply their approval of the content shared.

    Tell Me Something I Don't Know 🤔

  5. Aug 7

    TPL Book Club 2 ☕: The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen

    Our second Partnership Lab Book Club turned into something we weren't expecting. We thought The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen would be a collection of stories about extraordinary friendships. Instead, it became an invitation to question the relationship blueprint we inherited. Rather than reviewing the book chapter by chapter, we explore the assumptions each story challenged in us—from the idea that marriage should fulfill every emotional need, to why deep male friendship feels so uncommon, to what actually defines a family, a partnership, or a successful relationship. By the end, we realized the biggest takeaway wasn't about friendship at all. It was about imagination. We talk about: Why friendship may be carrying far more weight than we realizeSeparating attraction, romance, sexuality, caregiving, and commitmentDesigning your own relationship blueprint instead of inheriting oneDeep male friendship, masculinity, and emotional intimacyWhat actually makes a familyBuilding community before you need it Why institutions often lag behind the ways people actually loveMeasuring relationships by how they change us—not just how long they lastResources The Other Significant Others — Rhaina CohenComing Up Next After a few deeply reflective conversations, we're ready to lighten things up. Next time, Roz is taking the reins for a fun, playful episode exploring fantasies, curiosity, and a few surprises. Join the Conversation Have thoughts about the book? Agree with us? Completely disagree? We'd love to hear your perspective. We'd also love recommendations for future Book Club episodes. thepartnershiplabpodcast@gmail.comInstagram: the_partnership_labDisclaimer These conversations reflect our own observations and experiences and are not professional or institutional advice.

    TPL Book Club 2 ☕: The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen

  6. Jul 22

    Are We Built for Compersion? 🧐

    Protocol Entry: Compersion This week, we’re back in Protocol Entry mode with a worksheet, some scores, and a lot of feelings about what the data actually says. After completing Marie Thouin’s Your Compersion Worksheet, we sit down to compare our results and talk through what surprised us, what didn’t, and what it reveals about where we are in this experiment. Before we get into the results, we catch up on family travel, reaching 400 downloads, joining the chat for our next lifestyle event, a very successful Erika Lust detour, and Max’s experience coming off an antidepressant. What we found was pretty clear: our relationship foundation feels strong, but the individual work is still very real. In This Episode: why we put intimacy, self-care, and connection nights on the calendardiscovering new turn-ons through Erika Lustanxiety, medication changes, and receiving care from a partnerMarie Thouin’s definition of compersioncompersion outside the lifestylemetamours and what kind of “other relationship” would feel good or hardwhy the foundation feels strong, even when the individual work is still realResources: Marie Thouin, Your Compersion Worksheet:https://mariethouin.com/store/p/your-compersion-worksheetNext Episode: We'll be doing our second Listener Lab Book Club with: The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen. Read along and send your thoughts—we’ll be breaking it down next episode. Join the Conversation: Email: thepartnershiplabpodcast@gmail.comInstagram: @the_partnership_labDisclaimer: These conversations reflect our personal experiences and are not professional advice.

    Are We Built for Compersion? 🧐

  7. Jul 13 ·  Bonus

    The Dream That Gave Us The Ick 🤢

    Bonus: The Dream That Gave Us the Ick After a long and heavy Toronto recap, we’re back with a shorter bonus episode about something that started as a random dream and turned into a surprisingly useful conversation. Max had a lifestyle dream that felt a little too real: a house party, a card game, someone from his past, Roz disappearing without a check-in, and a wave of jealousy that stuck around even after waking up. So we used it the way we use most things in this experiment — as data. In this bonus episode, we talk about what the dream revealed about jealousy, communication, compersion, context, partner vetoes, and why headspace matters. We also wander into Love Is Blind, laughter as a compatibility test, listener feedback, making local lifestyle friends, horror movies after becoming parents, and what we’re building for listeners as we keep learning in real time. These conversations reflect our own observations and experiences and are not professional or institutional advice. They do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of employers, family, friends, or guests, nor imply their approval of the content shared.

    The Dream That Gave Us The Ick 🤢

  8. Jul 8

    Butterflies, Kisses & Too Many Inputs 💋

    Field Notes: Toronto 2026 In this Field Notes episode, we’re unpacking our Naughty Gym Toronto weekend: our first time at a lifestyle club, our first real sex-club environment, Toronto Pride, a pool party, a first kiss with someone new, naked swimming, sexy outfits, dancing, overstimulation, unexpected emotions, and one shower conversation that changed the entire perspective of the weekend. Going in, we thought the big question was whether we were ready for parallel play, soft swap, or some kind of first sexual experience with other people. What we learned instead was that our bodies were still catching up to our brains. This episode is about recalibrating expectations, recognizing smaller wins, learning what safety and arousal actually feel like in a new environment, and realizing that success does not always look like escalation. Sometimes success is telling the truth, taking a break, staying on the same team, and deciding that the experiment is still worth continuing. In this episode, we talk about: having sex at our first sex clubToronto Pride, brunch, sexy shopping, and a drag showRoz’s first kiss with a lifestyle friendredefining what “pushing boundaries” actually meanswhy social battery, sensuality, and environment matterwhat this taught us going into future trips like HedoThese conversations reflect our own observations and experiences and are not professional or institutional advice. They do not reflect the thoughts or opinions of employers, family, friends, or guests, nor imply their approval of the content shared.

    Butterflies, Kisses & Too Many Inputs 💋
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

What happens when two scientists turn their marriage into a study in love, relationships, and consensual non-monogamy? The Partnership Lab is a relationship podcast exploring open relationships, ethical non-monogamy (ENM), communication, and modern marriage — recorded in real time from the very beginning of our journey into the lifestyle. We’re not gurus. We’re not coaches. We’re not here to tell you how to do it. We’re documenting what happens when a committed couple questions the default settings of marriage — and designs something more intentional. Each episode is a field note. Jealousy becomes a variable. Communication becomes a method. Desire becomes data. Connection becomes something that might expand — if handled with care. You’ll hear the real conversations: the fear, the excitement, the renegotiation, the “are we really doing this?” moments. This podcast is for couples feeling a shift, partners asking “what else is possible?”, and anyone curious about ethical non-monogamy done thoughtfully. We believe openness isn’t the opposite of commitment — it might be a deeper form of it. That’s our hypothesis. Let’s test it out. Topics include: open relationships, ethical non-monogamy (ENM), swinging, communication, boundaries, jealousy, and long-term partnership.

Information

  • Creator
    Max & Roz
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Sexy Scientists 2026
  • Show Website
    The Partnership Lab

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