When something isn't working, even if you’ve been practicing non-monogamy for a long time, it’s really easy to default into the monogamous paradigm, which offers only a few set options. But what if there was another way?Reimagining a relationship means creating something new. It's different from de-escalation (which implies undoing a path you've taken) or uncoupling (which implies ending). Instead, reimagining opens space to explore what your relationship could become if you moved beyond your current ideas of what it is or was supposed to be.This process requires courage, patience, and a willingness to step into the unknown together. It's challenging work, but it can lead to beautiful new forms of connection that honor both your history and your ability to grow and change.In this episode, we talk about:— Why reimagining is different from de-escalation or uncoupling, and how it implies continuity rather than ending— The importance of acknowledging that our imagination is our relationship in many ways— How mononormativity limits our options when relationships need to change (stay together, break up, or be miserable)— The necessity of creating a "liminal container" – a dedicated time and space for the reimagining process— Why grief work is essential before you can truly reimagine something new— The challenge of letting go of what was while maintaining connection— How repair work fits into reimagination (hint: you can't skip it!)— The importance of nervous system regulation during times of uncertainty— Why creating new, explicit agreements is crucial for your reimagined relationship— The value of celebrating when you successfully reimagine a relationship into something new— How the language of "reimagining" itself can be empowering and create possibilitiesResources mentioned in this episode:— The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller— Episode 152: How to Take Intentional Relationship Breaks— Episode 172: Grieving ChangeJOIN The Year of Opening community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠Learn the 5 secrets to open your relationship the smart wayAre you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at www.JoliQuiz.comGet the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! Sign up for an Ask Me Anything hereMusic: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

What does it really mean to live and love with integrity? How can we stay in integrity while navigating multiple relationships, agreements, needs, and wants that aren’t always in alignment??The reality is that living in integrity, especially when you’re in multiple non-monogamous relationships, requires awareness, honest self-reflection, and sometimes making difficult choices. That may sound overwhelming, but this episode will help you learn how to create a solid foundation of the skills and habits you need to relate with others—and yourself—with integrity.In this episode, we talk about:— What integrity actually means— Why it's so challenging to maintain integrity when different parts of ourselves want different things— How over-functioning and under-functioning in relationships can get in the way of true integrity— Why self-agreements create the groundwork for integrity in relationships— Why shame often comes up when we realize we're out of integrity— How to work with the nervous system response that arises when we notice we're out of alignment— The importance of examining whether we actually want the agreements we're making— Practical ways to rebuild integrity when we've gotten off track— Why acknowledging when we're out of integrity is the first step back towards it— How to handle situations where we keep breaking the same agreementsResources mentioned in this episode:— Episode 123: Weasel Words and Creating more Intimacy in your Relationships— Episode 149: Relationship Agreements 101JOIN The Year of Opening community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠Learn the 5 secrets to open your relationship the smart wayAre you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at www.JoliQuiz.comGet the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! Sign up for an Ask Me Anything hereMusic: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

Mollena Williams-Haas, a Kink Doula, writer, and performer, dives into the depths of power exchange and authenticity. She explores the multifaceted world of kink, emphasizing self-acceptance and the joy of sexual exploration. The conversation touches on the complexities of race and consent within kink, advocating for healthy dynamics and self-care. With humor and reflection, Mollena highlights the importance of personal narratives in shaping identity and empowerment, encouraging listeners to embrace their kinks and seek community connections.

Sunny Megatron, an award-winning sexologist and kink educator, explores the surprising benefits of embracing toxic attractions for personal growth. She discusses how delving into kink can enhance intimacy, provide emotional healing, and facilitate self-discovery. The conversation also covers the complexities of sexual identity, the importance of setting boundaries, and navigating power dynamics in relationships. Listeners learn how to turn their past experiences into opportunities for psychological development while highlighting the playful side of personal exploration.

What if the monsters within could actually guide you to the life you desire? This lively discussion encourages confronting your inner fears and embracing shadow work. Personal stories reveal how acknowledging darker traits can lead to growth and deeper relationships. The complexities of human emotion are explored, intertwining intimacy and psychological insights. Listeners are invited to join a community for ongoing support, fostering transformation through shared vulnerabilities. Are you ready to meet your monsters?

Explore the fascinating world of attachment theory and its impact on non-monogamous relationships. Discover how rigid labels like anxious or avoidant can limit our understanding of personal dynamics. Emphasize the significance of context and communication in fostering emotional connections. Challenge misconceptions while advocating for a fluid interpretation of attachment styles. Dive into the journey of personal growth and the importance of self-awareness in cultivating healthier relational patterns.

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

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

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

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