Cheers Sexy People!
I am just thrilled to share my latest podcast interview with you that I recently recorded with Dr. Michelle Vaughan whom I met at the amazingly magnificent Beyond The Love conference both last fall, and in 2015 as well. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this fantastic, super intelligent, amazingly friendly and awesome human! We had a spectacular interview discussing how she identifies as pansexual and what that means to her, and how she has identified as polyamorous for about six years now, and has currently four partners (both local and long distance). She also tells us the story of her lightbulb moment of when she was curious about doing relationships differently thinking outside the box, and what a unique and welcoming place she was able to find herself in. She also discusses her approach to her practice and teaching including positive psychology and the psychological strengths, such as finding a sense of belonging in our lives and with our unique family situations, including chosen families.
Some other topics we discuss in this jam-packed interview:
— pansexuality for Michelle meaning being attracted to the same type of person (regardless of gender), such as nerdy people with a self-effacing sense of humor
— polyamory as a means to help us be free to bring up anything in our relationships in a more open way
— how we don’t all have the perfect relationship – including “experts”, we are all figuring it out as we go and the myth of “Poly Perfection”
— how AFGO (Another Fucking Growth Opportunity) shows up for her in her life
— terminology for partners in polyamorous families and relationships
— going for STD screenings and safer sex practices, particularly in the polyamorous community
— metamours feeling like siblings she never had and how rewarding that feels to her
— Book Recommendation: If The Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path by Charlotte Kasl that discusses attachments in relationships
Dr. Michelle Vaughan is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor in the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University. As a researcher, clinician, and supervisor, her expertise centers on LGBTQ+ and consensually non-monogamous people as well as psychological strengths of these populations.
She is also in a non-hierarchical polyfamily from Central Ohio and we will talk about growth, struggle and the strengths they’ve developed along the way.
Thank you Michelle, for being so awesomely generous with your time, for your clinical and educational work in the LGBTQ+ community, and for sharing your thoughts, wisdom and insights with us via the podcast interview! It was informative, inspirational, and so fun! Follow her work and/or email her at michelle.vaughan@wright.edu.
To hear the podcast, go to the Podcast link here and subscribe to the Loving Without Boundaries podcast, and check out Episode 64 with Dr. Michelle Vaughan. Also, please help spread awareness of alternative lifestyles and create more tolerance for consensual non-monogamy in the world at large by Rating and Reviewing the Loving Without Boundaries podcast in iTunes. It only takes a few minutes.
If you would like to be interviewed either in written form or via audio on the podcast, please feel free to contact me and we will set something up. Thank you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
I’m so absolutely thrilled to be participating in a unique event by relationship coach Effy Blue called “Consider This: A Day of Challenging the Status Quo in Sex and Relationships” at the House Of Yes in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, September 16th. I am so incredibly honored to share the stage on a panel with friends and colleagues Dr. Elisabeth Sheff, Tikva Wolf (of Kimchi Cuddles), Effy Blue, and many more super smart, open-minded and courageous folks! Come join the conversation and the fun with us! BONUS: My husband and beloved very well may be with me as well! Come meet them in person!
Wishing you peace, love and happiness,
(and thrilling, fun sex too!)
Kitty
