EPISODE 291

“MORE THAN MONOGAMY”

The team behind the brand new ethical non-monogamy documentary “More Than Monogamy” Dillon Birdsall is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and content creator, and the founder of All The Birds Productions. Urvashi and Kama are award-winning creators of erotic films and the owners of the Spark Erotic Film Company.

EPISODE 290

GARY BRICK

While having heard, and even read, about polyamory, it always seemed the stuff of fantasy or science fiction, since that’s where Gary Brick mostly encountered it. Having been thoroughly indoctrinated into the norms of monogamy, it never occurred to Gary that any form of consensual non-monogamy was something he could be a part of. And then, life happened. After now practicing polyamory for almost five years, Gary has found the emotional work, honesty, and openness necessary for maintaining more than one romantic relationship has made him a much better partner than he thought he’d ever been.

EPISODE 289

MARIA PALUMBO

Coach and psychotherapist with 15 years of experience, she guides couples and individuals worldwide through love, sex, trauma, and connection—helping them build bold, lasting, and powerful relationships with heart and heat.

EPISODE 288

RYLE KESTANO

Ryel is the co-founder of Kora (a dating and relationship app), ART International (an Authentic Relating training company), The Realness Project (Authentic Relating programs for prison inmates), and Pink Mammoth (creative arts collective). He is the author of “Authentic Relating: A Guide to Rich, Meaningful, Nourishing Relationships”, and is at the forefront of the Authentic Relating movement worldwide.

EPISODE 287

MARIKO SAKAI

Mariko coaches Sovereign Feminine women to become magnets for men who adore and move mountains for them — and guides men seeking true partnership with powerful, self-led women.

EPISODE 286

BART GOLUB

Bart Golub is an interpersonal psychotherapist in San Francisco. After nearly 20 years in corporate America, he earned his MSW from Columbia School of Social Work and specializes in polyamory and ENM.

EPISODE 285

BEN SHAW

I help people radically recreate their bodies and lives by rewiring subconscious patterns around weight, identity, safety, and self-trust so conscious self-recreation replaces struggle and change finally lasts.

EPISODE 284

C.L. AARON

C.L. Aaron is co-author of “The No-Bullshit Guide to Ethical Non-Monogamy” (2025), a practical toolkit for ENM from a married couple’s lived experience. With backgrounds in law, psychology, and education, C.L. shares unflinching tools for jealousy, boundaries, and ethical traps.

EPISODE 283

NATALIE DAVIS

Natalie Davis is a writer, educator, and advocate for normalizing polyamory. She is the author of “Saying Yes: My Adventures in Polyamory,” published on January 13, 2026 and available for all booksellers. She is the editor of the online publication “Polyamory Today”, and her work has appeared in “Heart Affairs”, “Discovering Polyamory”, “Monogamish”, and “The Memoirist”. Her views on polyamory have also been published in “The Washington Post”. She has presented workshops on communication and non-monogamy for the past ten years, from Philadelphia to Phoenix to Portland, at PolyLiving, Southwest Love Fest, and Polytopia. She lives in the Washington, DC, area with her nesting partner and her marvelous metamour.

EPISODE 282

TASH DOHERTY

Tash Doherty is a British-Irish-American writer and author. She is the creator of “Misseducated”, a blog on a mission to help the world be shamelessly sexy. She is about to publish a sex journal.

EPISODE 281

LINDSAY HAYES

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.

EPISODE 280

GEORGE GOULBURN

I’m a mature, straight male escort who left the corporate life behind a few years ago to enter this line of work of being a sex worker. I swapped the boardroom for the bedroom.

EPISODE 279

WENDY NEWMAN

Wendy Newman has spent over 20 years in relationships, has taught 90k+ people, and has identified as ethically non-monogamous since 2013. She is the author of “121 First Dates: How to Succeed at Online Dating, Fall in Love, and Live Happily Ever After (Really!).” In this book that is based on years of research and 121 real-life first dates, relationship expert Wendy Newman dishes up practical wisdom for navigating the online dating trenches with grace, efficiency, and a strong dose of humor.

Wendy’s 14 Questions for Monthly check-ins in relationships 

EPISODE 278

JESSICA FERN & DAVID COOLEY

Here is her Bio:

Jessica Fern holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution, is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a trained Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner, and an integrative therapist drawing on 25 years of experience in somatic, narrative, psychotherapeutic, and spiritual healing modalities. She is the internationally recognized author of “Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma, and Nonmonogamy“, “The Polysecure Workbook”, and “Polywise: A Deeper Dive Into Navigating Open Relationships”. Through her international private practice, Jessica works with individuals, couples, and multi-partner relationships to break free from reactive patterns, cultural conditioning, insecure attachment, and past trauma — empowering them to embody new possibilities in life and love.

Here is his Bio:

David Cooley is a professional Restorative Justice facilitator, diversity and privilege awareness trainer, and bilingual cultural broker. He is the creator of the Restorative Relationship Conversations model, a process that transforms interpersonal conflict into deeper connection, intimacy and repair. In his private practice, David specializes in working with non-monogamous and LGBTQ partnerships, incorporating a variety of modalities including trauma-informed care, attachment theory, somatic practices, narrative theory, and mindfulness-based techniques.

EPISODE 277

LOLA PHOENIX

Lola Phoenix is an American born writer living in Sweden, working within digital marketing while trying to find an agent to represent their fiction work. Lola is the author of “The Anxious Person’s Guide to Non-Monogamy”, “The Non-Monogamy Journal” and “Supporting Someone Polyamorous” as well as a weekly advice column and podcast called Non-Monogamy Help. Lola is also an amateur Strongman athlete and has a special interest in fitness and nutrition science. When not writing books, Lola is either at the gym, talking walks in nature, learning about sciencey stuff or baking new treats..

EPISODE 276

BETHANY SNYDER & KRIS MAUL

Bethany Snyder and Kris Maul are a queer couple living in Urbandale, Iowa with their amazing 14-year-old kiddo and adorable pets. Bethany grew up in Altoona and attended the University of Iowa, while Kris was born in Illinois and moved to the Madison, Wisconsin area in middle school. They have lived all over the country from Washington, DC, to Minneapolis, to Northern California, before moving to Iowa in 2019.

EPISODE 275

ELLECIA PAINE

Ellecia Paine helps people break free from monogamous conditioning, guiding them through the exciting world of ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, and swinging. She turns challenges like jealousy and insecurity into trust and open communication. As the host of the “Nope! We’re Not Monogamous” podcast, Ellecia champions authentic connections. With a decade of living and coaching non-monogamy, she shares insights that resonate deeply, making her clients feel understood and empowered.

EPISODE 274

SHANNON HAMAKER

Shannon is on a mission to help people shed the layers of misunderstanding around sexuality and intimacy, unlocking the magic that comes with self-discovery and deeper connection. What began as a personal journey to enhance her 19-year marriage has transformed into a movement to support others in embracing their sexual wellness.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S. in Human Ecology (Marriage & Family focus), Shannon is a Certified Sexual Health Promoter and Educator (Indiana University), Certified Sex Coach, and Somatic Practitioner (TCS™ Method). She is passionate about breaking myths around human sexuality through intimacy education and promoting products that support sexual health, especially for those affected by medication side effects, pelvic pain, peri & post-menopause, and cancer treatments.

This is your invitation to reconnect, rediscover, and reclaim your pleasure. Let’s (s)explore together!

EPISODE 273

MIKE BARSAMIAN

For 25 years, Mike has coached, counseled, and pastored teens and families from conflict to connection helping them grow together for a lifetime. He developed the PACE method for parenting and lives in California with his wife and two boys.

EPISODE 272

LAUREN ELISE ROGERS

Lauren Elise Rogers is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy & Relationship Coach, celebrated for her warm and approachable style. Her holistic and embodied approach to education and coaching is deeply rooted in her own pain-to-purpose journey. Lauren brings an empathetic and non-judgmental approach, offering practical tools that empower her clients to take ownership of their pleasure and grow in confidence and connection. She is known for creating shame-free spaces, where she invites individuals and couples to navigate complex topics like long-term partnerships, consensual non-monogamy, life transitions, purity culture and LGBTQIA+ issues.

EPISODE 271

MARLA SCHREIBER

Marla MSW, RSW (they/them) is a white, Queer, gender-defiant, neuro-fabulous therapist, educator, and author who has been practicing polyamory since 2005. They have been offering non-monogamy (NM) workshops and consultations in academic and professional settings as of 2009. Based in Tkaronto (AKA Toronto, Canada), their therapy practice centers the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ and NM identities and relationships. In 2022, Marla introduced @polyamarla as an accessible, anti-oppressive, intersectional resource on social media. PolyaMarla has since grown into a team effort that offers education, training, and consultation for those who are practicing, or interested in understanding NM for personal and professional development. You can find Marla on social media @polyamarla, or check out their programming through polyamarla.com. Most recently, Marla wrote a book about the impact of mononormativity on non-monogamous relationships (they also had the pleasure of narrating the audiobook). “Nonmonogamy and Defying a Paradigm: A More Than Two Essentials Guide” will be released on August 1st, 2025, and is currently available for preorder from Thornapple Press.

EPISODE 270

CORY WAGNER

Cory Wagner is an artist and entrepreneur from the middle of nowhere in Wyoming and lives in Houston, TX. He convinced his wife to do the LWB program to save his marriage, and instead, ended up saving his sanity and gave himself a chance at happiness and a new life.

EPISODE 269

SUSAN MORGAN TAYLOR

Susan Morgan Taylor, MA, is a leading somatic sex therapist who helps couples deepen their intimacy and create lasting, fulfilling connections. With over 25 years of experience in somatic healing, she developed The Pleasure Keys Process™, a powerful approach to reigniting sexual and emotional harmony in relationships. After a personal awakening from a sexless marriage, Susan became passionate about helping others remove obstacles to pleasure, love, and orgasm. She is also the creator of the Pleasure Keys Retreats and host of the Sex Talk Café Podcast. When not working, she enjoys hiking and singing karaoke in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

EPISODE 268

ROBERT DALBOL

Rob Dalbol was married for 10 yrs in a typical relationship before they decided to open their marriage. Ultimately, the inability to communicate effectively and differences in their values led them to separate. The tools in Kitty’s coaching Program have taught Rob that he is capable of providing more in his future relationships and show up as a more confident and emotionally mature man without letting fear or trauma come between him and his happiness.

EPISODE 267

ZARA SHAH

Zara Shah is a Pakistani-Canadian queer sex worker. She uses her unique immigrant experience and perspective as a way to draw an intersection between race, cultural background, and sexuality. Being a non-monogamous sex worker has allowed her greater control and freedom in both her social and professional life, and her book, “Nonmonogamy and Sex Work: A More Than Two Essentials Guide,” explores that in detail.

EPISODE 266

ARIEL ANDERSSEN

Professional submissive BDSM performer and author of the memoir “Playing To Lose – How a Jehovah’s Witness Became a Submissive BDSM Model.”

Here is the brief description of her book: 

In this bold and intimate memoir Ariel Anderssen charts her journey from a strict religious upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness to her current position as one of the most widely recognized BDSM performers in the world. 

Her route between the two includes a period as a wretchedly miserable, teenage political activist, a phase touring with a Christian theatre group, and accidentally discovering a talent for posing for art nude photography. This surprising and unconventional career path led her to a life-altering introduction to BDSM-themed erotic artwork and a whole world she never imagined existing.

This is a book about BDSM, and about sexuality, but most of all it is about one woman’s struggle for self-acceptance and the rewards that come from confronting who you are with honesty and compassion.

EPISODE 265

JESSE DEAN

Jesse Dean is a Master clinical Hypnotherapist, Certified Mastery Coach, creator of Hypnothera, the “Emotion-Quotion Course” and, the “BOUNCE Methodology”. He is the founder of the Open Window Institute for Emotional Freedom, which is dedicated to educating people about the power of their unconscious mind to develop healthy Emotional Freedom. Jesse Dean can help you open the window to your unlimited potential to change unconscious behaviors, limiting thoughts, and emotions that cause misery and are preventing you from driving your life in the direction that is stronger, wiser and filled with Absolute Joy.

RESOURCE LINKS provided by Jesse:
Buddhability.org – a gateway to Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo
Alisa Stone Podcast Interview on Open Window Institute, on healing with psychedelics.

EPISODE 264

DR. TAMMY NELSON

Tammy Nelson, PhD is a sex and relationship expert, an international speaker, an author, and a licensed psychotherapist with almost thirty years of experience working with individuals and couples. In private practice, she focuses on helping people of all ages, orientations and genders find love, healing, and passion. Tammy Nelson, Ph.D. is the Director of the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute and has been a licensed sex and relationship therapist in practice for over thirty years. She teaches at several Universities, is a TEDx speaker, and is the host of the podcast The Trouble with Sex. She is a Board Certified Sexologist, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Imago Relationship therapist, and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. She is the author of “When You’re The One Who Cheats, Ten Things You Need to Know”, “The New Monogamy; Redefining Your Relationship After Infidelity”, and “Getting the Sex You Want; Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together” as well as “What’s Eating You: A Workbook for Teens with Anorexia, Bulimia, and other Eating Disorders”, and her most recent project “Integrative Sex & Couples Therapy.”

EPISODE 263

TESSA & AMIR

Tessa & Amir have been experimenting and finding growth in Open Relating as individuals and together as a married couple for 20 years of their 36 year partnership. They continue to hold their families in the highest of priorities. They nurture intentional family time and holiday celebrations, as well as precious one-on-one time with their adult children. They believe that, having allowed the kids the space to grow, this gives Tessa & Amir the opportunity for karmic payback! Their erotic blueprints differ in vast ways and yet their path is uniquely suited to them as adventurers of life. They both work and play in different arenas, and now with three adult kids and a first grandchild, they find new ways to openly discuss their ACT 3 and time for giving back! Now in it’s fifth season, their popular podcast addresses life in the OPEN, rather than empty, NEST!

EPISODE 262

AASHA T

Aasha T. is the Author of “The Empath is the Narcissist,” and an emotional and energetic intelligence expert. She has gone through her own experience with push/pull dynamic as both the avoidant and the anxiously attached to realize this is all about one thing: SOUL Vibes. This is where you become magnetic fast, and align to your desires (whatever those may be).

EPISODE 261

EMMA PLEASURE

Emma Pleasure is your pleasure coach, a yoga, meditation and tantra teacher and trainee sexologist. Emma’s work combines spiritual ideology and practices with evidence-based knowledge and treatments into innovative, doable, pleasure-filled tools. Working with Emma in private sessions, events, and courses, you’ll be held in a soft, sassy embrace that activates the highest vision for your most pleasurable, sexy and sensual life.

EPISODE 260

DEAN ROBERTSON

Dean Robertson is a retired evangelical minister. He has spent his entire adult life in Christian ministry in various capacities, including Senior Pastor, Church Planter, Mission Director, Evangelist, Denominational Superintendent, and keynote Convention Speaker. He is also a studious Biblical scholar. He has a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Studies, and his International Ministry has taken him to many areas of the world. He is the author of “Sex Was God’s Idea: An Honest Look at Biblical Sexuality and the Rightful Role of Women.”

EPISODE 259

KATHY LABRIOLA

Kathy Labriola is a nurse, counselor, and hypnotherapist in Berkeley, California. She has provided affordable mental health services to alternative communities for over 30 years. Kathy is author of four books on consensual non-monogamy: “Love in Abundance: A Counselor’s Advice on Open Relationships”, “The Jealousy Workbook”, “The Polyamory Break-up Book: Causes and Survival”, and “Polyamorous Elders: Aging in Open Relationships”. She has been a card-carrying bisexual and polyamorist for over 50 years. She is extra crunchy, rides a bike, lives in a housing cooperative, grows organic vegetables, and raises chickens.

EPISODE 258

HELENA GOTO

Helena Goto founded Goto Solutions in 2013 and works with companies to support their people in navigating conflict in the workplace. With Master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Conflict Resolution, Helena’s background gives her the combined benefit of understanding how a successful business functions, as well as the human dynamics that motivate people to work well together

Recently Helena has applied her dispute resolution skillset at home as her marriage was coming to an end. As a result, throughout the process, she has been able to successfully navigate keeping her family intact. Her book, “A Modern Family: Keeping the Family Intact when the Marriage is Over” was published in early 2024, and it shares her personal journey and is essentially a workbook to support others going through the process.

Helena lives in Los Angeles with her three sons, ex-husband, and two rescue dogs.

EPISODE 257

CHRIS VEASEY

Chris Veasey is an adventurer, non-traditionalist, and a lifelong storyteller. His uncompromising New York core can be found beneath layers of mountain-calmed temperament and reverence for the English language. Always taught to be practical, he gave up trying to make a profession of entertainment soon after college and opted for safe desk jobs and relationships in our nation’s capital. Catching a foul whiff of 30 years old, Mr. Veasey packed his bags and walked away from it all for an entirely impractical hobo epoch.

After a lifetime of normalcy, the liberation taught him that living an unorthodox life is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, this is where his newfound happiness stemmed from. Discovering that there is no direct correlation between playing it safe and contentment is what compelled Chris to write the very book you’ve come across.

The story he tells is one of nonconformity and trust in the universe, written as a hope that you too will be able to find your own “unstuck” self.

EPISODE 256

ALI PRESS

Trapped in a repeating daily nightmare of their own making, Ali quit drinking for good in April 2017.

Drinking away their needs, desires, and wants to be whatever people around them expected, had been their “go to” for far too long. Quitting meant embracing “not being like the others” and addressing a lifetime’s boundary-less people-pleasing.

7 years on, and through numerous deep dives into their core wounds, Ali has changed how they show up in the world, what they do, and how they date and relate.

Ali now supports others through therapeutic coaching to make changes for themselves, and build lives they no longer want to numb out.

EPISODE 255

NITA MARIE

Nita Marie is a women’s empowerment coach who focuses on helping women release their inner goddesses by tapping into their sexuality and pleasure center. She also loves helping women become financially independent, which translates into business coaching in various modalities including adult online modeling. Nita works with women to elevate their adult online modeling careers while also building a “safe for work” social media presence that they can monetize. As an entrepreneur herself with her rags-to-riches story of going from $20 in her bank account to a multi-millionaire in three years, she now owns six successful businesses and a foundation to help raise money for nonprofits.

EPISODE 254

ANDREA ZANIN & EVE RICKERT

Eve Rickert is a Gen X, queer, solo polyamorous, relationship anarchist, neurodivergent cis woman living on unceded WSÁNEC and Lekwungen territory on the west coast of the place currently known as Canada. She is the curator of the More Than Two Essentials series and the nonmonogamy resource site morethantwo.ca, the founder and publisher of Thornapple Press, and the founder and mastermind of the science communications firm Talk Science to Me.

Andrea Zanin, MA, is a white, nonbinary, middle-aged queer writer who lives in Tkaronto (Toronto, Ontario), on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. Andrea is the author of Post-Nonmonogamy and Beyond, part of the More Than Two Essentials series, and has written for the Globe and Mail, The Tyee, Bitch, Ms., Xtra, IN Magazine, Outlooks Magazine and the Montreal Mirror. Andrea blogs at sexgeek.wordpress.com, where they created the 10 Rules for Happy Nonmonogamy and coined the term “polynormativity.”

EPISODE 253

HOLLY

Holly is a children’s performing artist and educator who is passionate about families of all shapes and sizes. Over the past ten years, she’s become a mother through years of fertility treatments, and is still coping with the loss of seven miscarriages along the way. Through it all, her husband, “bonus hubby,” and support system has been there. She and her partners are now raising their living children and supporting each other as they work towards furthering their careers and learning to navigate an alternative family structure in the conservative south. While she is currently the Stay-at-Home Parent, in her free time, Holly still performs onstage and in classrooms. She’s also a passionate advocate for reproductive rights and education, infertility/pregnancy loss awareness, and creating parental rights for non-biological family structures.

EPISODE 252

BREE MILLS

Bree Mills is an award-winning adult film director, writer and producer. She is head of Gamma Films Group and Chief Creative Officer for Adult Time, a leading streaming platform for adult audiences. Adult Time offers an unparalleled adult streaming experience on the AdultTime.com streaming network, with more than 400 channels, 60,000 scenes, and 8+ new releases per day, along with unlimited access to their streaming platform’s catalog of quality award-winning content.

EPISODE 251

ALLY ISEMAN

Ally Iseman is the Founder of Passport2Pleasure.com and has been a speaker, community organizer, and non-monogamy educator and practitioner since 2016. As a certified consent and communication specialist, she uses her proprietary framework The Non-Monogamy Blueprint™ to help curious couples and individuals build the most mutually fulfilling, sustainable relationships with the highest probability of longevity.

EPISODE 250

MARIE THOUIN

Marie Thouin, PhD is the author of “What is Compersion? Understanding Positive Empathy in Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships,” the first-ever comprehensive scholarly book on compersion. She has been featured in several magazines and podcasts, including ELLE, the Savage Lovecast, Multiamory and our very own Loving Without Boundaries. Marie has also published seminal research studies, the first encyclopedia entry on compersion, and is the creator of www.WhatIsCompersion.com, a popular website that features her research, blogs, and a list of resources on the topic of compersion. She is also the Founder of Love InSight (www.LoveInSight-Dating.com), a Mindful Dating & Relationship Coaching practice where she supports and guides people of all backgrounds and relational orientations to create intentional and vibrant love lives.