Playing With Fire

Joli Hamilton
Playing With Fire

Welcome to Playing With Fire, the podcast for people who are ready to custom-build their love. We’re talking about non-monogamy–however you design it–as an individuation opportunity. Want to leave the default and make your life spectacularly you? You’re in the right place.

  1. 189 [Replay] Can my attachment style do non-monogamy?

    FEB 1

    189 [Replay] Can my attachment style do non-monogamy?

    Attachment theory has been all the rage recently, and hey, we get it - it’s a super helpful tool that comes up a lot in our work! But we’ve also been noticing some common pitfalls that are easy to stumble into while exploring the world of attachment styles. Labels like anxious, avoidant, or disorganized can feel quite restrictive, especially when people start to assume them as an identity. Here’s the thing: you are a whole, complex, multifaceted person, and every relationship you have is going to be a little (or a lot!) different when it comes to attachment. That’s why, in this episode, we break down a fresh perspective on attachment, focusing on our tendencies instead of rigid labels. We discuss the importance of context and nuance within conversations about attachment, especially when it comes to non-monogamous relationships. Plus, we talk about why there's a real need for more research in this area – and nope, it's not just because I'm a total research nerd! JOIN The Year of Opening community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠⁠ Learn the ⁠5 secrets to open your relationship the smart way⁠ Are you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at ⁠www.JoliQuiz.com⁠ Get the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! ⁠Sign up for an Ask Me Anything here⁠ Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions

    43 min
  2. 188 [Replay] Justice Jealousy

    JAN 25

    188 [Replay] Justice Jealousy

    Some kinds of jealousy can just feel totally overwhelming. They may even make you feel rage. Justice jealousy is definitely one of them. Justice jealousy—a term that was coined by Jessica Fern (one of our favorite authors and recurring PWF guest)—can happen when your partner wasn’t able to provide something for you in the past, and then you witness them providing that same thing to one of their other partners. Ouch! The feelings that come up in these situations can be strong. So we’re here to give you strong frameworks, ideas, and tools that can help you understand, unpack, and work towards finding a resolution. (Spoiler alert, resolution might not look like what you had in mind when justice jealousy is in the picture!) In this episode, we talk about: — Why it’s important to know the difference between jealousy and envy — What underlying issues can fuel strong feelings of justice jealousy — Why it may be more helpful to focus on empathy and understanding instead of strict ideas of fairness — The complexities of relationship repair in situations of justice jealousy — Communication, forgiveness, healing, and the tools that can help you work through justice jealousy and its related issues Resources mentioned in this episode: ⁠Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Non-Monogamy⁠ by Jessica Fern ⁠Imago Dialogue: Episode 129 of Playing With Fire⁠ Are you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.JoliQuiz.com⁠⁠ Get the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! ⁠Sign up for an Ask Me Anything here⁠ Read the transcript of this episode ⁠here⁠ Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

    53 min
  3. 187 [Replay] Imago Dialogue: Transforming Conflict into Connection

    JAN 18

    187 [Replay] Imago Dialogue: Transforming Conflict into Connection

    Conflict happens. Especially when differentiation and individuation are parts of your personal and relational journeys. And that’s a good thing! Enter Imago Dialogue, a communication tool created by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt. Not only can it transform your communication, using Imago Dialogue can transform conflict into more connection. Whether you’re practicing Imago Dialogue with a romantic partner, family member, or friend, the core idea behind it is something a lot of us have talked about before: I want to feel understood. I want you to understand me! We walk through the steps of Imago Dialogue, but we also go deeper and talk about how you can set yourself up for success. We talk about practical tools, like emotional regulation techniques, to use before and after your conversation, and we walk through an entire real-life, real-time example of using Imago Dialogue. Learn more about Dr. Harville Hendrix’s and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt’s work here: ⁠www.HarvilleAndHelen.com⁠ JOIN The Year of Opening community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠⁠ Learn the ⁠5 secrets to open your relationship the smart way⁠ Are you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at ⁠www.JoliQuiz.com⁠ Get the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! ⁠Sign up for an Ask Me Anything here⁠ Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions

    1h 22m
  4. 186 Polyamory in the Second Half of Adulthood with Kathy Labriola

    JAN 11

    186 Polyamory in the Second Half of Adulthood with Kathy Labriola

    For too long, conversations about polyamory have centered on younger people. But what happens to open relationships as we get older? Kathy Labriola, author of many groundbreaking titles including The Jealousy Workbook, joins us to explain why age doesn’t have to mean the end of polyamory. In fact, non-monogamy can actually become more valuable as we age. It is so important for our community to have access to non-monogamous representation and stories. As someone who has been a polyamorist for 50 years, Kathy is a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, and stories. In this episode, we talk about: — Why polyamory can be an especially resilient model for aging — How having multiple partners can provide emotional and practical support in later years — The unique perspective of poly elders who've been practicing consensual non-monogamy for decades — Why some people discover and embrace polyamory later in life — Common concerns for older folks exploring non-monogamy (like family reactions and healthcare) — The evolution of resources and support for the polyam community — How relationship needs and desires naturally shift with age — Why traditional models of coupling may become less appealing in later years — The wisdom poly elders have gained from decades of experience — Ways that disability and changing abilities impact relationships — The importance of having multiple support systems as we age Resources mentioned in this episode: — Polyamorous Elders: Aging in Open Relationships by Kathy Labriola — Kathy Labriola's website — Kathy’s other books including The Polyamory Breakup Book, Love in Abundance, and The Jealousy Workbook JOIN The Year of Opening community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠ Learn the 5 secrets to open your relationship the smart way Are you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at www.JoliQuiz.com Get the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! Sign up for an Ask Me Anything here Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

    52 min
  5. 185 Conscious Uncoupling

    JAN 4

    185 Conscious Uncoupling

    Navigating the endings of relationships doesn't have to be a disaster. When it comes to consciously uncoupling, it’s about so much more than “breaking up nicely.” We want to help you reimagine what’s possible, honor what was, and create space for what comes next, even when it feels incredibly challenging. In this episode, we talk about: — Why conscious uncoupling requires specific ingredients, including time, willingness to grieve, and self-awareness — The importance of creating rituals to mark relationship transitions and help process grief — How the legal system's adversarial nature can complicate conscious uncoupling efforts — The challenge of letting go of the desire for apologies or accountability from former partners — Why gentleness needs to be balanced with honesty and clear boundaries — The value of making "meta-agreements" about how you'll make future agreements, especially with co-parents — How to handle ambiguous grief when the person is still present in your life — The importance of having the right support system that won't fuel adversarial dynamics — Why creating closure might look different than you initially imagined — The balance between showing grace to yourself and your partner while maintaining healthy boundaries Resources mentioned in this episode: — Soul Broken: A Guidebook for Your Journey through Ambiguous Grief — Learn more about Imago Dialogue JOIN The Year of Opening community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠ Learn the 5 secrets to open your relationship the smart way Are you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at www.JoliQuiz.com Get the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! Sign up for an Ask Me Anything here Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

    1h 3m
4.9
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

Welcome to Playing With Fire, the podcast for people who are ready to custom-build their love. We’re talking about non-monogamy–however you design it–as an individuation opportunity. Want to leave the default and make your life spectacularly you? You’re in the right place.

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