Rachel Krantz, the author of Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-monogamy joins us as we continue the discussion from the previous episode about grooming in the kink scene. However, in this episode, we broaden the conversation by including non-monogamy and we deepen it by exploring Rachel’s first- hand experience with it. In the past, all three of us, Rachel, Sunny and myself, have been in kink and/or non-monogamous relationships that we came to realize had some toxic patterns of manipulation, grooming, gas lighting, etc. in them. Often such relationships are mixed with amazing highs that keep one hooked and brutal lows that leave one crushed. It is our hope that listeners who are currently in such relationships or healing from one might benefit from the insights in this episode. We start in the thick of it…that time when Rachel was immersed in such a relationship, including the strong emotional tidal pulls that are make such a relationship addictive, sexy, intoxicating, but deeply torturous. And then we can move to the first few years after getting free, followed by where Rachel finds herself now and finally, who she wants to become. Perhaps in doing so, the three of us can provide a road map, some coping tools, or at least some hope for someone who feels lost in this pattern within kink and/or non-monogamy. We hope that you join us for this vulnerable, bold and honest episode as once again, we dare to open deeply. Rachel's Bio: Rachel Krantz is the author of the reported memoir, OPEN: AN UNCENSORED MEMOIR OF LOVE, LIBERATION, AND NON-MONOGAMY, which is a 2023 Lambda Award finalist. She is the host of HELP EXISTING, a new podcast offering help on, well, existing! She is the namer of Bustle, and one of its three founding editors. At Bustle, she served as Senior Features Editor for three years, and Senior News Editor before that. She also worked at The Daily Beast as Homepage Editor, and at the nonprofit Mercy For Animals as Lead Writer. She’s the recipient of the Peabody Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights International Radio Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Radio Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Award for her work as an investigative reporter with YR Media. She was the host of the Bustle podcast Honestly Though, a show about taboo topics recommended by The Guardian. Her work has been featured on New York Magazine’s The Cut, Vice, LitHub, Vox, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, NPR, The Daily Beast, Newsweek, High Times, Men’s Health, AFAR, USA Today, Buzzfeed Books, Publishers Weekly, Salon, Marie Claire, VegNews Magazine, and many other outlets. She is on the advisory board for Sentient Media and the board of directors of Our Hen House. How to find Rachel: Website: https://www.racheljkrantz.com/ Facebook http://facebook.com/rachelkrantz Twitter http://twitter.com/rachelkrantz Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachelkrantz Podcast: https://www.racheljkrantz.com/help-existing-podcast How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithKateLoree YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Sometimes this podcast is about what BLOCKS us from opening deeply. When I heard Sunny's episode on American Sex about grooming within the kink scene, I knew that I wanted to be sure that Open Deeply listeners heard it as well. So we are reposting it here!. Adult grooming is often misunderstood — from what it looks like, to who is most vulnerable, what types of people groom, and why — most assume it can’t happen to them. The fact is, grooming comes in many forms and can happen in any type of relationship – including BDSM dynamics. And because kink often involves power imbalances, it can be especially difficult to recognize in this context. Whether you’re new to kink or a seasoned veteran, this episode will give you the tools to spot unhealthy power dynamics in BDSM and deconstruct preconceived notions of what manipulative abuse looks like, who can do it, and why. You’ll also learn: - The six stages of grooming as they apply to D/s dynamics - How to recognize coercive abuse in BDSM relationships - How pop culture kink stereotypes fuel grooming within BDSM - The end goal of the groomer’s behavior - How my breakable rules analysis can help you spot unhealthy kink & more Sunny's bio related to kink: Sunny began teaching about BDSM in 2010. Her area of expertise is the soft skills--which center around things like ethics, cultivating self-awareness, and strategies for effective communication. She received a FROST Certificate of Gratitude in 2020 honoring her service to the kink community, was voted XBIZ sexpert of the year in 2021, and Kinkly’s sex blogging superhero in 2017. Her alternative sexuality focused podcast American Sex was awarded the AASECT podcast award in 2020. Sunny also creates curriculum about BDSM for sexuality professionals. Some of her most recent projects include designing & teaching the BDSM unit for a well-known sex educator certification program plus a lesson for the Sexual Health Alliance’s Kink Informed Certification Program for therapists and other care professionals. Sunny’s first book, Customizable Kink: A Strategic Guide to Erotic Play is scheduled to be released in 2022. How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Tiktok http://tiktok.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Instagram http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Please know this episode has themes of sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. If you catch yourself becoming emotionally overwhelmed by this episode’s content, please get support. Call a friend, therapist, or an emotional support hotline, such as 988.

It’s time to transition to season three! In season one, the United States’ climate of suppression, led us to create a podcast designed to amplify voices that are often suppressed. We brought on the most impactful sex positive social justice leaders and icons that we know from many walks of life. Each guest got two episodes. The first is an intimate deep dive in which each guest tells their life story from traumatic struggle to purpose and power. The second episode is even more intimate as we interview guests regarding the previous episode. We were surprised to discover how similar each person’s struggle was despite each person being very different demographically. Despite season one having such profound heart, once that was revealed, it was time for season two. Season two is about love that gets pushed into the shadow; kinky love, non-monogamous love, neurodiverse love and love between two porn performers. These communities are often seen by the masses in a de-humanizing way and in an overly sexualized way. Focusing on love is one of the best was to humanize these amazing populations. We accomplished that! Now, we are ready for season three. Open Deeply has always been about striping away our social conditioning and shame (especially sexual shame). Anything that keeps us small, constricted and disconnected like a flower tight in the bud. This podcast is simultaneously, also about discovering our sexual truth, our authenticity, and anything that allows us to open deeply into our human potential. As Anais Nin says, “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” In season three, we will continue to discuss sexual authenticity and anything that blocks sexual authenticity, but we will also branch out into other topics, like plant medicine and animism. Upcoming guests might speak on topics such as autoimmune diseases or naturopathy, any topic that might allow us to heal and reconnect to what really matters. Furthermore, we will continue to try to give you tools, so that you will feel strong enough to keep waking up into your full sexual, mind, body, and spirit potential. We hope that you will join us as we expand our process and continue to open deeply. How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. If you catch yourself becoming emotionally overwhelmed by this episode’s content, please get support. Call a friend, therapist, or an emotional support hotline, such as the national emotional support hotline, 988.

Season two is about love that our culture pushes into the shadows and this episode is about love between two porn performers, Jetsetting Jasmine and King Noire. When we asked other porn performers what couple they felt are the best example of a healthy, amazing love, Jetsetting Jasmine and King Noire were always the reply. So often our culture projects bigoted, two-dimensional stereotypes onto porn performers. In contrast, this episode, which is all about their love, helps to humanize and get closer to the truth. When asked how our culture might love porn performers better, King said, “Just realize that we are humans.” That shouldn’t be a big ask, but in America, unfortunately, it is. Their epic love is just a part of this episode. In addition to being performers, Jasmine is a psychotherapist and King is a musician. Both of them have a heavy social justice focus. Over ten years ago, their fans, who were mostly Black and Brown people would ask, “Why aren’t we (Black and Brown people) shot well? Why aren’t we ever shown kissing? Why is it so bad.” And so, through their production company, Royal Fetish Films, King and Jasmine give their fans the corrective experience they have been asking for. This episode is not just about the relationship between to porn performers, but also their relationship with their fans and our culture. It’s an episode about breaking down bigotry and creating art and beauty through porn. We hope you join us for another episode of Open Deeply, where again, we feature amazing humans who are shifting culture towards a more open and loving world. Jet Setting Jasmine is a licensed clinical therapist with a strong emphasis on Intimacy Post Injury and Post Illness. She is co-owner, with partner King Noire, of the Award Winning, “Royal Fetish Films” and has over 20 years of experience as an adult entertainer, educator, and Master Fetish Trainer. King Noire is an accomplished writer, artist, MC and global activist using the proceeds of his album ‘Music Is My Weapon’ to build a school, fresh water well, and medical clinic in Guin-E Bissow, West Africa. How to find Jetsetting Jasmine and King Noire: Royal Fetish Films: https://royalfetishxxx.com/ Jetsetting Jasmine's website: https://www.jsjlinks.com/ King Noire's website: https://www.kingnoire.com/ Royal Fetish Radio Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/royal-fetish-radio/id1633894650 King's IG: http://instagram.com/therealkingnoire Jasmine's IG: http://instagram.com/jetsettingjasmine How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithKateLoree YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Season two is about love that gets pushed into the shadows and this episode is about neurodiverse love, specifically, ADHD, with our guest, Anne Hodder-Shipp. In this episode, we cover the whole range of experiences related to love and ADHD. This scope includes how she was loved as a child, how she fought to get love as a young woman, and how she and her partner, who is also neurodivergent, have learned to have compassion for one another, but also appreciation for their unique cognitive wiring. We explore the challenges that come with this sort of neurodiversity, including getting upset when a live in partner disrupts focus. We also unpack the gifts, such as visionary, creative thought. Anne not only discusses the experience of loving a person with neurodiversity on an individual level, but also how society can love and respect people with neurodiversity better, such as by being more accepting and inclusive. This is a zeitgeist shifting episode that may change how you think about neurodiversity, so please join us when we once again dare to Open Deeply. Anne Hodder-Shipp, CSE, ACS, (she/they) is an award-winning certified sex and relationship educator dedicated to providing accurate, expansive, and compassionate care. They are the founder and lead educator at Everyone Deserves Sex Ed, a sex ed and professional development organization, and they work with people and couples of almost any age to help build skills, knowledge, and confidence around identity, pleasure, relationships, and communication. Most recently, Anne wrote the groundbreaking expansive love language ebook, Speaking from the Heart: 18 Languages for Modern Love, and its accompanying guide, The Speaking from the Heart Workbook: A Practical Guide to the Modern Love Languages. How to find Anne Hodder-Shipp: Website: https://annehoddershipp.com/ EDSE website: https://everyonedeservessexed.com/ The Modern Love Languages website: https://www.themodernlovelanguages.com/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/theannehodder Facebook: http://facebook.com/annehodder-shipp Twitter: http://twitter.com/theannehodder Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theannehodder How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Season two is about love that gets pushed into the shadows and this episode is about kinky love as experienced by ex-Pro Domme turned kink coach, Hudsy Brooke. Hudsy starts out by telling her amusing kink origin story with her first surprise Dom. This initial experience created a sub frenzy within her that catapulted her down a kink rabbit hole which led to many discoveries including her first kinky love. Here she felt truly seen. This path led her to becoming a professional Domme while she was concurrently a singer at Disneyland. All of these experiences inspired an amazing kink musical, From Vanilla to Kink. This super fun musical begins with her being in a monogamous marriage and through humor, sexiness and song reveals the psychological reasons that BDSM was such a draw for her. In this episode, Hudsy goes on to describe what it means for a Dom to love their sub well, for a sub to love a Dom well and finally, how a kinky person can love and take care of themselves well. It’s a wonderful episode filled with heart and spankings. Please join us. Hudsy Brooke’s many careers have ranged from professional singer, kink lifestyle coach, to yoga instructor. Her journey From Vanilla to Kink, and from singing at Disneyland to the Dungeon, eventually inspired a kink musical and later her V2K (that’s Vanilla to Kink) Coaching practice. Her vast knowledge has been featured in Men’s Health Magazine, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, E! Entertainment, Storage Wars and Buzzfeed. Her training and personal experiences in the BDSM lifestyle have helped to shape the therapeutic direction of her classes and coaching sessions. When she’s not working with clients, you might find her teaching yoga, or singing at a supper club. Hudsy Brooke is currently working on her upcoming memoir, “Sing Spank Scrub.” How to find Hudsy Brooke: Website: https://www.singspankscrub.com/home Facebook: https://facebook.com/singspankscrub Instagram: https://instagram.com/singspankscrub From Vanilla to Kink musical clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAB1fCWVsJg How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

This is the last episode in our six part series on consensual non-monogamy (CNM). In this episode, Kate Loree, specialist in CNM and licensed psychotherapist, discusses with Sunny Megatron the topic of coming out as non-monogamous. First, we discuss our own personal stories of coming out. Then, we discuss the benefits of coming out, whether you should come out, emotional care before, during and after coming out to someone and finally considerations when coming out to children. Please join us for this cutting edge episode. In this episode, Sunny mentions the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom's (NCSF) Kink Aware Professionals (KAP) Directory. Here is the link: https://www.kapprofessionals.org/ How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

This is episode five in our six part series on consensual non-monogamy (CNM). In this episode, Kate Loree, specialist in CNM and licensed psychotherapist, discusses how to maintain a connection while practicing CNM. Four threats to maintaining a connection are discussed: NRE, typecasting, greater attunement with the new lover and technology. Three pillars to maintain in order keep any CNM relationship strong are explored, including an intellectual, emotional and sexual connection. Reconnection rituals are covered. And finally, we discuss tantra and BDSM as a means to stay connected in a long term relationship. Please join us for this cutting edge episode. How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Please join us for part four in our series on non-monogamy. This episode is all about how mood disorders and personality disorders can impact non-monogamous relationships. According to NAMI, one in five American adults experienced mental illness in 2020. When we couple this fact with the knowledge that consensually non-monogamy pokes at our unresolved attachment injuries more than monogamy, it makes sense to look this bear straight in the eyes. For more on CNM and open relationships, check out Kate’s book, Open Deeply: A Guide to Conscious, Compassionate Open Relationships which can be purchased wherever books are sold. In this episode, we referenced episode seven entitled, "Overgivers to Change Agents". If you want to know more about the concept of overgivers, check out this episode. How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.

Please join us for part three in our series on non-monogamy. This episode is all about how to handle difficult emotions, such as jealousy, envy, insecurity or feeling disempowered along with managing what may trigger you within your non-monogamous relationships. We discuss why it’s important to be in your “resilient zone” during difficult non-monogamous conversations and how to stay there. Finally, we discuss Kate’s EPIC communication model in more depth. For more on CNM and open relationships, check out Kate’s book, Open Deeply: A Guide to Conscious, Compassionate Open Relationships which can be purchased wherever books are sold. How to find Sunny Megatron: Website: http://sunnymegatron.com Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk How to find Kate Loree: Website http://kateloree.com Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft Instagram YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.