Podcast Interview: Lindsay Hayes, Communications Expert & Couples Therapist

Hello, Loving Without Boundaries (LWB) community!

I am very excited to share my latest podcast interview with Lindsay Hayes, a communications expert and couples therapist. What a lovely, easy-to-talk-to, intelligent and heart-centered person I found Lindsay to be. Having been in the CNM / polyamory space for over two decades now myself, it truly warms my heart to see young people taking such a strong interest in furthering their own educational, academic, and research pursuits studying and learning about consensual non-monogamy, and the lived experience of polycules. There has never been a better time for us to expand into this area, and serve more beautiful humans, so that they feel validated, seen, heard, and represented – while reducing stigma and misconceptions. Thank you, Lindsay for taking the torch and running with it. I’m excited to hear about your ongoing research, especially on best practices for polycules. 

Here is her Bio:

Lindsay Hayes holds dual master’s degrees in Communication and in Couple and Family Therapy. Her graduate research focused on the lived experience of being in a polycule, a project she has since expanded into a longitudinal study, interviewing the same participants since 2022. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Counseling Studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland (primarily by distance), where her scholarship continues to explore the dynamics of consensual non-monogamy. Alongside her academic work, Lindsay works part-time as a therapist and resides in Denver.

Some topics we discuss in this highly interesting, informative, and thought-provoking interview:

• The social and emotional structure of a polycule.
• Four pillars of community within the polycule: membership clarity, bi-directional influence, integration and needs fulfillment, and shared emotional connection. 
• Maintaining cohesiveness when the group dynamics and roles change in a polycule.
• Normalizing ethical non-monogamy within therapy.
• How opening her relationship deepened her intimacy through vulnerability and honest communication.
• Helping clients unlearn monogamy assumptions and create secure non-monogamous bonds. 
• Viewing consensual non-monogamy as a way to expand emotional openness and personal growth.
• Tune in to listen to this fantastic podcast episode!

Thank you, Lindsay, for being so wonderfully generous with your time, and for sharing your work and life with us via the podcast interview! It was enlightening, interesting, and so fun! You can learn more about Lindsay on Instagram.

To hear the podcast, go to the Podcast link here and subscribe to the Loving Without Boundaries podcast, then check out Episode 281 with Lindsay Hayes. 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 LWB 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!

ANNOUNCEMENT — GUEST PODCAST APPEARANCES