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

The Enneagram is a personality and motivation assessment. It is one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others at a deeper level. At its core, the Enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable assistance on our path to self-knowledge.   For this 3-part series, we've partnered with Enneagram coach Kelsia from Expansive Connection to help us understand our Enneagram types better. This three part series mirrors the Enneagram Experience she offers to anyone looking to understand themselves and those around them better.   Part 1 Kelsia explains the nine different personality types and then dives into the details of our specific numbers. We get into an emotional conversation about how all of the behaviors and motivations she describes are incredibly accurate and how they play out for us in our lives and relationships.   Part 2 Kelsia explains how we adapt in times of stress and times of calm. Our Enneagram numbers don't change but we take on traits from other types. The three of us talk about what this looks like for us specifically and how we can help support each other in times of stress and ironically, even in times of calm.   Part 3 Kelsia digs into the centers of intelligence and how to tap into yours. Listening to your body is incredibly important. She walks through an exercise with us to help us understand this better.   Check out the full show notes here. Sign Up For The Enneagram Experience With Kelsia Kelsia's Email: kel@expansiveconnection.com Expansive Connection The Enneagram diagram we reference The website to take the $12 Enneagram test (not an affiliate link, just a regular link) 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/

Sarah is in her early thirties and has been exploring ethical non-monogamy for about five years. As she puts it, she just always had a feeling that monogamy didn’t feel right for her but it took her a while to figure out what to do about it. After a few attempts at opening relationships that didn’t work out, she finally feels like she is in a healthy open relationship and she’s loving it. Of course, it hasn’t always been easy and there have been growth opportunities. Throughout our conversation, Sarah shares with us how she has navigated difficult situations and worked to find security and balance in her life.   Sarah is on a mission to help people have the sex life they truly want through writing, activism, & education. Check out all of her work here and also sign up for her Alternative Relationship Summit on January 13-14!   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/

Brittany and Chad have been together about three and half years but were best friends for almost seven before that. They got together after getting out of unhealthy relationships and decided to start exploring the idea of opening their relationship as a way to encourage Brittany to explore her bisexuality. We have great conversations about owning who you are, the evolution of non-monogamous dynamics over time, how comfort levels and rules change, and so much more. We love this conversation... Enjoy!   Brittany and Chad also host the Tangled Up Together podcast where they share more about their adventures in exploring the swinging lifestyle and ethical non-monogamy. Check it out and support the work they do!   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/

Michaela and Paul have been together about three years and actually met while Michaela was exploring non-monogamy with her ex-husband. After they officially got together they closed their relationship down for a bit to establish some security and now are back out on the journey together. We have some amazing conversations about transitioning relationships, bisexual men in the swinging lifestyle, sexual health, and of course a few bloopers! 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/

Misha has been exploring non-monogamy in varying forms since she was in her twenties when she kind of fell into a spontaneous triad. Since then, the journey has allowed her to explore sex parties, kink, and polyamory. We have some amazing conversations about attachment and what it means to be in a relationship and have a partner. We also get some bonus tips on creating better sex parties.   Misha also co-produces Bonobo Network with William Winters. Alongside William, she is passionate about supporting sex positive community and helping people create more pleasure for themselves. She teaches and consults individuals and communities to develop their consent culture with a harm reduction and transformative justice lens. Her private practice, Clearing Conversations, focuses on conflict resolution and communication coaching and she loves supporting the sex positive community of the Bay Area and beyond in creating sustainable, long-term relationship building.   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/

Michaela is 27 and has been exploring non-monogamy for a little over three years. She is an acrobat and does acro-yoga and acro-burlesque. Two things we didn't even know existed until we talked to her!   Bryson is 28 and also an acrobat and acrobatics instructor. He's been exploring non-monogamy since he met Michaela about two and a half years ago.   This conversation we have with them is so incredible. They talk about their individual struggles over the years and how they have grown together. They also talk about how their relationship has changed over the last few months and how it led them to really look hard at what it means to be a partner and how they make their partnership work. There are so many amazing conversations in this interview.... Don't skip it. You'll thank us, we promise!   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/

Luna is a 31 year old queer, polyamorous, kinky, badass who is on a journey to answer the question: How can software help people build meaningful relationships? She's been exploring non-monogamy for the last few years and shares with us what draws her to this approach to relationships and how it influences all aspects of her life. She also talks about how non-monogamy inspired her to develop an app called Bloom to help people build community. Bloom is a sex-positive and consent-forward dating and social community. We highly recommend you download the app and check out the incredible work that Luna and her team are doing. 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/

"Your life doesn't stop at age 60!" Judie is emphatic about this as she moves through her sixties and Eldon, his seventies. This interview is beautiful and covers a lot things we don't often get the chance to talk about... Everything from infidelity to Eldon waking up one day and walking away from religion after being a minister for 20 years.   Judie is an unashamed badass who seizes life everyday. It's amazing. A few months back Eldon brought the idea of opening up their marriage to her and well, as you can imagine, she has fully embraced it. They both have... Enjoy!   Judie also hosts her own podcast called Plus Size Polyamory. Check it out and support the work she is doing there.   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/

Daev is in his early forties and has been exploring non-monogamy in various ways since about 2014. He was on the show about a year ago with his partner Shannon on Episode 166. Since our last discussion, a lot has changed... For one, Daev and Shannon are no longer together. His personal journey into solo polyamory has been very impactful for him in the last few months. We have a great conversation with him about the role having an open relationship played in their relationship ending plus how he has handled grieving the loss of the that relationship and how he is moving forward.   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/

Jenna and Wendi have known each other about eight years and have been married for three. Jenna is polyamorous. Wendi is not. These two share so much love, laughter, and life together and it is beautiful. In this amazing conversation they talk about navigating the imbalances in their "mono-poly" relationship, confronting insecurities, and how much respect they have for one another and their individual relationships. We absolutely love this conversation and 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 November Virtual Meet and Greets! Join Our Patreon Community! $10 Off - Online STI Testing https://www.normalizingnonmonogamy.com/