EPISODE 191

ALAN MACROBERT and VALERIE WHITE

Alan and Valerie have been polyamory activists since before most people heard of the word. Alan has been running his Polyamory in the News blog for 16 years, covering more than 4,000 articles, radio and TV broadcasts, and new-media coverage. Valerie, who’s been proudly poly since 1964, is president of the Sexual Freedom Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Now they are the president and the treasurer of the new Polyamory Foundation. The Polyamory Foundation was just recently set up to help fund projects that advance public awareness of ethical polyamory and its best practices, as well as projects that support the polyamory community.

After more than a year of getting registered as a nonprofit, gathering funds and setting everything up, The Polyamory Foundation is now taking grant applications and issuing grants to help with your poly-awareness projects.

RELATED LINKS | Polyamory Foundation Website | Sexual Freedom Legal Defense and Education Fund | Polyamory in the News Blog | Alan’s List of Polyamory Events

EPISODE 190

BOMBER and BELLE

Bomber and Belle are a Black married, professional couple that has embraced the sexy swinger lifestyle and are the host of the Black N Kinky Lifestyle Podcast. They use their podcast to help other Black couples who are thinking about exploring non-monogamy or have already dared to traverse the swinger lifestyle and just want to listen to the steamy details of their sexy adventures.

They created this podcast because they felt that the voice of People of Color in general and Black couples in particular has been absent from the conversation about swinging. Although people are people, being Black represents a different experience in a community that is almost predominantly older and White. This podcast may help give a voice to other people of color and White individuals who wish to gain a perspective from a group different from their own.

RELATED LINKS | Website | Facebook | Podcast | Twitter

EPISODE 189

MARIE d’ELEPHANT

Marie grew up in conservative Christianity but is now an active polyam voice within the post-religious community, providing coaching to ENM folx. They began their public work as a means of healing theirself, processing their trauma, and connecting with others who struggle as well. Marie started their own podcast called “Everyone’s Autonomous”, which discontinued in August 2021 and merged into “Marie, Myself, & I”. They continue to guest appear on other platforms, speaking about their activism with toxic dogma, the deconstruction of monogamy, secular spirituality, and all things intrapersonally deconstructive. Marie has been the administrator and facilitator of an ex-religious support group in the Twin Cities since 2015 and has led breakout sessions at MNPolyCon.

RELATED LINKS | Website | Podcast | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter

EPISODE 188

BEA

Bea is a lifelong self-growth enthusiast with a keen interest in human behavior and relationship dynamics. Bea has become part of the Loving Without boundaries community through the Jealousy Survival Guide Coaching Program. As a result of the guided coaching and the persistent and deep inner work, she experienced a quantum shift in her mindset that helped her stepping into living in alignment with her truth. Today, she is an advocate of people living their best lives and she has dedicated to immerse herself in conscious relationship counseling with a focus on healing developmental trauma, transitioning to secure attachment, and supporting sexual and lifestyle freedom.

RELATED LINKS | LWB Workshops | FREE Masterclass

EPISODE 187

STELLA HARRIS

Stella Harris is a Certified Intimacy Educator and Sex Coach who uses a variety of tools to guide and empower her clients and she teaches everything from pleasure anatomy, to communication skills, to kink and BDSM. Stella is the author of two books, “Tongue Tied: Untangling Communication in Sex, Kink”, and “The Ultimate Guide to Threesomes”.

RELATED LINKS | Website  | Threesomes Book | Tongue Tied Book | Instagram | Twitter

EPISODE 186

CHRISTINE LAPLANTE

Christine Laplante is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in sexual and relational health from a trauma informed, not focused, approach. Christine is the author of the book: Sacred, Not Secret: An Integrated Approach to Sexual Health. She brings a collaboration of world view, lived experience and academic studies to her work.

RELATED LINKS | Website  | Book | Facebook | Instagram

EPISODE 185

LEAH MARSHALL

Leah Marshall is a relationship and human dynamics junkie and the founder and leader of the Esther Perel Discussion Group on Facebook, a community of over 12,000 members from across the globe who regularly discuss relationships, intimacy, sex, desire, and infidelity. She’s also the creator of Song Therapy, a video series hosted in partnership with the hiitide app, which breaks down the relationship dysfunction in popular songs.

RELATED LINKS | RelateFest (use Coupon Code LWB50 to get $50 off the registration fee)  | Esther Perel Discussion Group

EPISODE 184

KEITHAN and DEANNA

Keithan and Deanna have been together for 8 years and married for 5 years.  Keithan is originally from St. Louis, MO and Deanna is from Queens, NY. They are now located in Fredericksburg, VA. They are a blended family with 4 children and also have 1 grandson.

They came to the Loving Without Boundaries program after having tried everything. They were on the verge of divorce and desperate. Deanna felt their marriage “was doomed” due to broken trust after infidelity that left her feeling insecure, and spiraling down into a manic depressive state. She had difficulty managing her emotions and communicating respectfully due to her upset. Keithan was struggling with guilt and shame due to his past inappropriate behavior and lack of trustworthiness. They were attempting to live a polyamorous lifestyle, but just didn’t have the tools to do it well, which led to violations of their agreements time and time again. They needed help and found it within the program which involved them committing as a couple and individually to the hard work and using the tools the program provided them with. Keithan and Deanna have since graduated the LWB program with tremendous results and are now focused on living the life they always wanted together.

RELATED LINKS | LWB Workshops | FREE Masterclass

EPISODE 183

RACHEL KRANTZ

Rachel Krantz is the author of OPEN: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy. She is a journalist and one of the founding editors of Bustle, where she served as senior features editor for three years. Her work has been featured on NPR, The Guardian, Vox, Vice, and many other outlets. She’s the recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Radio Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Peabody Award for her work as an investigative reporter with YR Media.

RELATED LINKS | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Book

EPISODE 182

TONYA and ZACK

Zack and Tonya have been together now for 11 years and married for 6, 10 years of which were practiced in a monogamous fashion. They both grew up in religious households in Colorado before starting a family and getting married, then moving out to South Carolina about 3 years ago. When they first decided to open their marriage, they struggled with old ideals they felt were no longer serving them. They reached out to us here at Loving Without Boundaries for support. Throughout their journey they have had many struggles and many breakthroughs and have felt more connected, more in love, and express the deepest gratitude for having stripped away the bullshit, the barriers, and the habits that often cloud their ability to have fulfilling relationships. They are here to share their story, and hope others can find value in it.

RELATED LINKS | LWB Workshops | FREE Masterclass

EPISODE 181

JIM FLECKENSTEIN

Jim Fleckenstein became a relationship coach and educator because of his own life experiences. After the end of his 25-year marriage in 2000, he put the skills he’d gained from his successful non-profit career and his insatiable curiosity to work on relationships. He began a rigorous self-education process that included reaching out personally to leading researchers. His efforts quickly bore fruit. He created an organization that focuses on self-education, scientific research, and helping people have successful relationships. Along the way, Jim developed a unique approach to relationships based on proven methods he encountered over his years of study. Ultimately, he formalized this approach as his Affirmative Intimacy(tm) method. His book, “Love That Works: 38 Awesome Hacks for Amazing Relationships” came out in December 2019.

RELATED LINKS | Company Website | Book Webpage | Facebook

EPISODE 180

RUSS HAYWOOD

Russ Haywood is a social systems innovator, and has a Philosophy BA and Political Theory BA from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Hamline University. Russ is also co-founder of Unveil Social, a Minneapolis B-corp that just launched CanWe – Your dating guidance app. CanWe’s mission is to help daters cut out the frustration of modern dating with researched guidance.

RELATED LINKS | CanWe App Website

EPISODE 179

AMY BOND

Amy Bond is the Founder of Pole & Dance Studios, a network of pole dance studios across the Pacific NW. She is the co-star of the recently released Netflix documentary, “Strip Down, Rise Up” and author of a memoir called “Becoming California”, about leaving the Mormon church and the porn industry.

RELATED LINKS | Author Website | Company Website | Instagram

EPISODE 178

JHEN of MONOGAMISH

Born and raised in Jamaica, Jhen is a pansexual, polyamorous romance novel enthusiast who is passionate about music. She is the creator and host of Monogamish Pod, and co-host of The Blachelorettes and Stacked podcasts. She is also a bookstagrammer and a sensitivity reader for Queer, Caribbean and Polyamorous content.

RELATED LINKS | Website | Monogamish Pod Twitter | Have You Met Jhen Twitter | Have You Met Jhen Instagram | Monogamish Pod Instagram | Facebook

EPISODE 177

WENDY ROSE BERRY AND EUGENIA MARSHALL

Wendy Rose Berry and Eugenia Marshall are LA based employed entrepreneurs, mothers, and besties both juggling and balancing demanding corporate jobs and running their own intimate skincare brand as co-founders of conditionHER. This natural moisturizing cream is scientifically formulated for your external intimate area. It effectively maintains pH balance, slays ingrowns, fights chafing issues, nourishes skin, and softens hair down there! conditionHER is female owned and operated, including the biochemist and packaging designer.

RELATED LINKS | Website | Twitter | Company Instagram | Eugenia’s Instagram | Wendy’s Instagram | Facebook

EPISODE 176

ROSIE WILBY

Rosie Wilby is an award-winning comedian, author, podcaster and activist from the U.K. Through her books “Is Monogamy Dead?” and “The Breakup Monologues”, she’s trying to spread awareness of more conscious ways of connecting and disconnecting whether we are mono, poly or somewhere in between.

RELATED LINKS | Twitter | Instagram | Is Monogamy Dead? | The Breakup Monologues

EPISODE 175

MARTHA KAUPPI

Martha Kauppi is a therapist, author, speaker, and educator specializing in complex relational therapy, sex issues, and alternative family structures. She trains therapists all over the world, and is the author of the groundbreaking new book “Polyamory: A Clinical Toolkit for Therapists (and Their Clients)”.

RELATED LINKS | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Book | YouTube | Website

EPISODE 174

MEGAN STUBBS

Megan Stubbs, Ed.D., is a sexologist, relationships expert, and body image specialist. With her degrees in biology and human sexuality, she is able to combine two of her favorite things, science and sex, into a cohesive platform to impact her audience. She is mindful of inclusion and brings a sensitivity to ethnic diversity rooted in her own complex heritage. She believes that sex should be fun and uses her lighthearted, intelligent, and humorous delivery to make it happen.

RELATED LINKS | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Playing Without a Partner Book

EPISODE 173

LEIGH MONTAVON

Leigh Montavon (they/she) is a holistic sex and relationship coach who specializes in working with queer, non-monogamous, and kinky clients. They are also a writer for Hustler Magazine online, and co-host of the podcast “Queers Next Door”. Leigh is passionate about body liberation, dismantling the white cis-hetero patriarchy, and combating shame.

RELATED LINKS | Instagram | Website

EPISODE 172

JEFF ABRAHAM

Jeff Abraham is the CEO of Absorption Pharmaceuticals, whose lead product, Promescent, is addressing a global need for men suffering from Premature Ejaculation and Erectile Dysfunction. He and his team are dedicated to bringing innovative products to market that solve sexual performance issues for both men and women. With over 10-years experience in the field of sexual wellness, Jeff has seen and heard from thousands of couples and is a great thought leader in the space.

RELATED LINKS | Twitter | Promescent Website

EPISODE 171

HEATH SCHECHINGER and AMY MOORS

Dr. Heath Schechinger is a licensed psychologist based in California, where he maintains a private practice in addition to his position as a Counseling Psychologist at UC Berkeley. Heath is also the Founding Co-Chair of the American Psychological Association’s Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-monogamy, Co-Founder of the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition, and Advisor to the Kinsey Institute’s Haslam Collection on Polyamory.

Dr. Amy C. Moors is a psychologist who researches and teaches about LGBTQ+ issues, consensual non-monogamy, gender, and inclusion in higher education. Amy is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Faculty Affiliate in Engineering at Chapman University. She is also a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and Co-Chairs the American Psychological Association’s Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-monogamy. Amy’s goal is to use science to address social issues, such as discrimination, with the hope of moving up and onward (the name of her lab).

RELATED LINKS | Amy’s Twitter | Amy’s Website | Heath’s Twitter | Heath’s Facebook | Heath’s Website | Committee Website

EPISODE 170

DILLON BIRDSALL

Dillon Birdsall is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and founder of All The Birds Productions. His first feature film “V-Card” won the best documentary feature at Cinekink, the premier film festival for sexuality and adult content. Dillon is a graduate of Florida School of the Arts, and is well versed in documentary film, narrative, online content, and podcasting. You can see his content on YouTube at Unlimited Free Time, or listen to his podcast with co-host Warren Chao, called Pop Culture Part People.

RELATED LINKS | Instagram | Twitter | More than Monogamy Film | VCard Film | Website | Crowdfunding Campaign

EPISODE 169

CLAIRE LOUISE TRAVERS

Claire Louise Travers is founder and regular host of the Poly Pages podcast, with higher degrees from four European Universities, including in Philosophy and History of Ideas, and a double Masters in International Humanitarian Management. Claire uses the labels queer, pansexual and solo-poly and cannot remember a time when she felt monogamy was for her. Claire often joins the podcast remotely, as she works globally in the humanitarian aid sector.

Initially begun as a podcast in 2018, by 2020, the Poly Pages platform was launched  to advocate for the inclusion of non-monogamous and alternative relationship strategies in social research and public policy. In 2021, Poly Pages launched events – cutting edge conversations tailored for the academic and non-monogamous communities. Today, the Poly Pages platform critically enables academia, polyamory and social justice to come together through the podcast, resource hub, and events.

RELATED LINKS | Instagram | Poly Pages website

EPISODE 168

AXEL BLUMENBERG, Ph.D.

Axel D. Blumenberg, Ph.D. doesn’t live exclusively with his wife, in more than one joyful, happy, non-traditional relationship. He is a passionate advocate of ethical non-monogamy and personal freedom. He loves traveling, Japanese rope bondage, and embracing the delicious cuisine in Spain, the country that he has made his home. Coming from a professional background as a lawyer, he knows how to find unusual paths to happiness.

RELATED LINKS | Facebook | Marriage and Beyond

EPISODE 167

LAUREL SCHROCK

Laurel Schrock, a network engineer for Verizon Communications, hails from Mount Vernon, NY. She’s an Army Vet, a graduate of Georgetown University and also a small business owner, making her love for candles into what she calls a “hobby that now pays for itself.”  Laurel has always identified as monogamous but a little over two years ago, she began dating an awesome guy who happened to be poly.  Earlier this year (2021), she began to experience intense and debilitating insecurities. Although it was gradual, she was struggling and she knew she needed help.

RELATED LINKS | LWB Workshops | FREE Masterclass

EPISODE 166

KATHY SLAUGHTER

Understanding how abuse happens, how to recover from it, and how communities can prevent abuse and respond to harm in life-affirming ways forms the basis of Kathy’s passion. Grounded in Social Work values and paradigms, Kathy has spent 15 years working on healing trauma and uncovering pleasure, agency, and safety in the consulting room. Currently, she leads a team of six at Soaring Heart Counseling, a sex-positive, queer-affirming, trauma-informed therapy practice in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In pursuit of liberation, Kathy enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, dancing, hiking, and planning outdoor adventures with friends at regional Burning Man festivals.

RELATED LINKS |  Twitter | Instagram | Website | YouTube

EPISODE 165

MARIE THOUIN

Dr. Marie Thouin is a Mindful Dating & Relationship Coach who supports people of all backgrounds and relationship orientations to create intentional love lives. Her PhD research investigated the experience of compersion in consensually non-monogamous relationships.

RELATED LINKS |  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Compersion Website | Coaching Website

EPISODE 164

ELISABETH SHEFF

Dr. Elisabeth “Eli” Sheff is a researcher, expert witness, coach, speaker, and educational consultant. With a PhD in Sociology (University of Colorado, Boulder, 2005) and certification as a Sexuality Educator from the AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, 2012), Dr. Sheff specializes in gender and sexual minority families, consensual non-monogamy, and kink/BDSM. Sheff is the foremost academic expert on polyamorous families with children, and her 20+ year Polyamorous Family Study is the only longitudinal study of poly families with children to date.

RELATED LINKS |  Twitter | Facebook | Website | The Bonding Project

EPISODE 163

SAGAN MORROW

Sagan Morrow is a romantic comedy novelist (with a focus on polyamorous relationships), productivity strategist for multi-passionate creatives, and host of the Indie Author Weekly podcast.

RELATED LINKS | Twitter | Instagram | SaganMorrow.com

EPISODE 162

CLIVE SILVATICUS

Clive Silvaticus is an IT professional, communicator, musician, anarchist, and former soldier from Herefordshire, UK. Clive’s introduction to Loving Without Boundaries came from his life partner, convinced as she was that he could be more aligned with his best life, and more involved in the polyamorous community. She had a point. Clive has always been polyamorous by orientation, always been uncomfortable with the ideology behind monogamy, and the structures that support it, and is working to help bring awareness and acceptance to polyamorous relating. Today, his focus is on understanding the communicative tools and skills necessary to make positive, supportive, polyamory accessible to all.

RELATED LINKS | LWB Workshops | FREE Masterclass

EPISODE 161

PHOENIX MANDEL

Certified Sexuality Educator Phoenix Mandel has been a sexuality educator and consultant since 2006, workshopping on sex and body positivity, kink, ethical nonmonogamy, and LGBTQIA+, alongside other areas of sexual health and sexual rights. Phoenix teaches classes internationally and currently resides in Los Angeles. They have an intersectional and activist approach, with a mission to make sex education more queer.

RELATED LINKS | Twitter: @MandelPhoenix | Instagram: @phoenix.mandel | Linktree | Patreon

EPISODE 160

MICHAEL LOVE

Michael Love is an advocate of ethical non-monogamy who has been actively non-monogamous since 2010. He co-habitates with his wife and girlfriend in a Poly V living arrangement. Together, along with a team of creative contributors, he has produced a wonderful magazine for the non-monogamous community called ENM Magazine.

RELATED LINKS | Instagram: @enmmagazine | website: ENM Magazine

EPISODE 159

IAN JENKINS

Dr. Ian Jenkins is the author of “Three Dads and a Baby: Adventures in Modern Parenting”, a debut memoir about his experiences trying to have a baby as part of a polyamorous gay “Throuple.” The three men wanted to have a child, but the road to having a baby took them through embryo adoption, IVF and surrogacy, dealing with lawyers and doctors, enormous medical bills, questions about polyamorous parenting, and legal battles to get all 3 dads listed on the birth certificate (they were the first to do so). The book will be published March 9 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.

RELATED LINKS | Instagram: @three_dads_and_a_baby | Book: Three Dads and a Baby

EPISODE 158

JOANNA ANGEL

Joanna Angel is an adult film star, director, producer, author, and owner of the BurningAngel Empire, the company known for the emergence and prevalence of tattooed women in the adult film industry. “Club 42” is her second choose-your-own erotic fantasy book. Her first, “Night Shift,” received much praise for being sex positive, gender inclusive, open minded, and diverse.

RELATED LINKS | Instagram: @joannaangel | Facebook | FanPage 

EPISODE 157

LEAH MARSHALL

Leah Marshall is a relationship and human dynamics junkie and the founder and leader of the Esther Perel Discussion Group on Facebook, a community of over 12,000 members from across the globe who regularly discuss relationships, intimacy, sex, desire, and infidelity. She’s also the creator of Song Therapy, a video series hosted in partnership with the hiitide app, which breaks down the relationship dysfunction in popular songs.

RELATED LINKS | YouTube Channel | Esther Perel Discussion Group | Leap Cast Life Blog | Song Therapy Video Series | Instagram: @msleahmarshall

EPISODE 156

ALISON ASH

Dr. Alison Ash is a trauma-informed sex and intimacy coach and educator, lecturer at Stanford University, author, and founder of TurnON.love. As a sociologist with a PhD from Stanford, Dr. Ash has a comprehensive understanding of the complex societal challenges that often lead to unsatisfying and disempowering sexual experiences. Dr. Ash designs workshops, courses, and retreats and offers individuals and couples coaching to give others the tools to discover their desires and confidently pursue them. She invites you to TurnON pleasure, intimacy and love at www.TurnON.love

RELATED LINKS | TurnON Love | Facebook and Instagram: @turnon.love

EPISODE 155

DAN and DAWN – “the polyamory dating guide”

Dan and Dawn have been partners since 2001 and have presented at over 100 events around North America. They are the authors of the “Polyamory Toolkit” and “The Polyamory Dating Guide”, co-host of the Erotic Awakening podcast, and referenced in a number of books, articles, and other media.

RELATED LINKS | Erotic Awakening | The Polyamory Dating Guide | Facebook and Instagram: @eroticawakening | Twitter: @dananddawn

EPISODE 154

TESSA and AMIR

Tessa & Amir are the original open nesters who host a unique podcast called The Open Nesters. They are a wildly creative couple who have been married for 31 years, half of which they have been polyamorous. They chose to be in an open relationship, agreeing to ethical non-monogamy both emotionally & physically, and you will hear of some alternative practices—outside and inside the bedroom through their interviews with inspiring individuals, partners & experts, including their process of ‘coming out’ to their adult kids. The podcast also opens pathways toward exploring physical, spiritual & intellectual passions and tackles the topic of ageism in our society.

Together, Tessa & Amir have explored many different pursuits and launched interesting businesses, and during non-COVID-19 times, they travel extensively.

RELATED LINKS | theopennesters.com