Ep 115 - Rapunzel + Colin

Noa and her partner met in 2008 and were initially friends and roommates during college. Their romantic partnership grew out of their foundation of friendship and often included sharing stories of their sex-positive and flirty adventures. As their relationship deepened, they were mostly monogamous but also kept a bit of the flintiness and openness with others.  Noa shares with us the beautiful journey of self-discovery and growth that she has been on through the last 15 years, both with her partner and on her own. We have really incredible conversations about how she has had to rethink boundaries for herself, her relationship to change and the fear of change, and how she and her partner are currently in a place of redefining the container of their relationship to hopefully reduce hurt and disappointment. You will also hear throughout her story the huge impact that finding a community where she feels she belongs has had on her life. Speaking of community… Noa is the CEO of the Bloom Community App! Bloom Community is the social and community building app for sex-positive and edge-of-culture communities (non-monogamous, kinky, queer, etc) that helps you meet people organically through shared events. We have been using Bloom for a few years and absolutely love their mission. As you will hear, it’s not just a job… Noa is incredibly passionate about community. We hope you enjoy this conversation and that you will check out Bloom! We’ll see you over there! Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

3 Jan 20241h 13min

Rose and Spade met in middle school and have now been together for over 30 years, and married for more than 20 of them! They've had open minds and communication since very early on. Even back in high school they would throw kissing and hot tub parties. They "officially" got into the swinging lifestyle about 17 years ago, when they were in their early twenties. They were quite active for a few years and then life got in the way.... They had kids, they each went back to school, they had jobs, and life was busy. Their swinging adventures naturally faded away for about a decade and then a few years ago, life eased up a bit and they got back into it. However, things are a bit different the second time around and a decade later and we get to hear all about it! We hope you enjoy this lighthearted and beautiful conversation.  Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

27 Des 202353min

Meshai and Fin team up together to answer amazing listener questions every fourth Friday of each month!   Today's questions are about advice for a couple who is considering a polyamorous quad with their best friends who just opened their relationship AND curiosity about making comparisons in non-monogamy.   If YOU have a question, we'd love to hear it! Please, ask us anything by clicking here!   You likely know me (Fin) from over 300 episodes of Normalizing Non-Monogamy. Just in case you don't, I cohost the podcast with my partner Emma and we have been in an open relationship together for over 15 years. I am also working towards completing a sex and relationship coaching program through the Somatica Institute and will be finished in late spring 2024.   We are super excited to be partnering with Meshai for the Ask Us Anything episodes! She first appeared on the podcast on Episode 233 and we're honored to have her back!   Meshai is relationship coach with the team at Expansive Connection. She believes in the power of living as one’s authentic self, and the freedom that comes from changing perspectives. She loves putting the puzzle pieces of a couple's sexual energy together and aiding them in positive and explorative movement.   Her coaching work implements creative synergy, openness, self-expression, and the confrontation of challenges through self-determination. She helps individuals from diverse populations move forward with their goals while being fully aware that trauma can play on the whole person.   Meshai is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and is certified in both Trauma Therapy and Sex Therapy, and she is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.   Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

22 Des 202340min

Evita is back after almost 100 episodes and we're so excited! She's been exploring non-monogamy for over a decade and brings so many different experiences and perspectives to this interview. Evita originally got into non-monogamy while swinging with her former husband. One of the main themes of this conversation is around how her approach to non-monogamy and relationships has shifted as a solo person without an anchor partner. She speaks vulnerably about the tenderness and care she needs to give herself on this journey to protect herself physically and emotionally. She also speaks to the power that comes from advocating for yourself and how hard it often is to do. Evita has also just released a new book! A Polyamory Devotional: 365 Daily Reflections for the Consensually Nonmonogamous is available now! Please grab yourself a copy and check out all of Evita's work and coaching on her LinkTree. Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

20 Des 20231h 12min

Sarah and George are back after more than two years! The first time they came on was on episode 169 under the pseudonyms Alice and Sam. But, never fear... You don't HAVE to go listen to that episode in order to get a ton out of this powerful conversation. They've been living together for over seven years and their relationship was open from the beginning. Non-monogamy was new to George when Sarah introduced him to it on one of their first dates. Since then, the journey of non-monogamy has taken many forms over the years. Today, they've arrived in a place where they're both exploring polyamory in their own way. This conversation digs into the really powerful work they have done to deepen their connection, while at the same time, fostering and supporting autonomy for one another. We absolutely love this conversation and hope you do as well. Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

13 Des 20231h 12min

Jo and her husband have been together for 18 years and have been exploring swinging for 17 of those years. They initially opened their relationship as a way for Jo to explore her bisexuality and things evolved from there. They're primarily exploring the swinging lifestyle and yet, swinging has always been about way more than just sex for them. We love this conversation for a few reasons... The first is that we get a really incredible look at the early days of what getting into swinging looked like for Jo and her husband. At the same time, we get to see what the evolution has looked like for them over nearly two decades. And, lucky us, we also get to have an incredible discussion about the shifts and growth they're both in the middle of right now. Jo is also the host of The Confident Swinger podcast and she's a confidence and lifestyle coach who loves helping people turn their dreams into a reality. Please check out her podcast and work over at www.theconfidentswinger.com. Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

6 Des 20231h 13min

This interview with Beth and Mark is such a delight! They met in college on a blind date and have now been married for over 30 years! They decided to open their marriage about five years ago, but it wasn't a fast or easy process. During our conversation they take us inside their process in a really vulnerable way. They share openly about what they wish they had done different and how they worked together to heal and repair their relationship, and themselves, along the way. Today, they primarily spend their time exploring the swinging lifestyle, but as you will hear, life is a journey of exploring growth edges for these two. What it looked like five years ago is much different than today, and tomorrow is a new day full of possibilities. Mark is also a relationship coach who works with couples and individuals to help them explore what they need in their partnerships and to find their own path to opening up, if that's the path they choose. You can learn more about Mark and his work at www.openingus.com. Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

29 Nov 20231h 13min

Meshai and Fin team up together to answer amazing listener questions every fourth Friday of each month!   Today's questions are about advice for someone who's transitioning from only exploring non-monogamy within couple to exploring as a solo person after ending a partnership AND what do we do when our metamours aren't treating our partners the way we think they should be.   If YOU have a question, we'd love to hear it! Please, ask us anything by clicking here!   You likely know me (Fin) from over 300 episodes of Normalizing Non-Monogamy. Just in case you don't, I cohost the podcast with my partner Emma and we have been in an open relationship together for over 15 years. I am also working towards completing a sex and relationship coaching program through the Somatica Institute and will be finished in late spring 2024.   We are super excited to be partnering with Meshai for the Ask Us Anything episodes! She first appeared on the podcast on Episode 233 and we're honored to have her back!   Meshai is relationship coach with the team at Expansive Connection. She believes in the power of living as one’s authentic self, and the freedom that comes from changing perspectives. She loves putting the puzzle pieces of a couple's sexual energy together and aiding them in positive and explorative movement.   Her coaching work implements creative synergy, openness, self-expression, and the confrontation of challenges through self-determination. She helps individuals from diverse populations move forward with their goals while being fully aware that trauma can play on the whole person.   Meshai is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and is certified in both Trauma Therapy and Sex Therapy, and she is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy.   Check out the full show notes here.   Submit a question for our Ask Us Anything Episodes! Click here to join our upcoming Virtual Meet and Greets! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Check out our weekly peer support groups!   Skip the ads and sign up for the Premium Feed!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

24 Nov 202333min