Whether you're opening up an existing relationship or beginning a relationship with someone who is new to polyamory, it can be challenging to know the best way to encourage them to feel safe venturing into the world of non-monogamy. In this episode we explore different challenges and discuss what we've found to be the most effective strategies and tools for making that experience a positive one. This has been a commonly requested topic and we're excited to finally have a resource for people in this situation, which is a very common one! We've all been there before.

This week we are tackling the complicated task of deconstructing desire. In life, we often set our sights on accomplishing a particular goal or attaining a particular obejct or status, and the same is true with relationships and sex. In this episode, we dig into the reasons why we want the things that we want, often through socialization, comparisons to other people, and our perceptions of what will make us happy.

In this very special live show, the Multiamory crew digs into the day-to-day foibles of having non-normative relationships in a hetero-mono-normative world. We discuss the uncomfortable consequences of having few outlets and even fewer role models, needing to stay in the closet in order to protect your job or family, and the endless assumptions and misconceptions. But not to fear -- we also cover strategies to help you cope and thrive in a world that may just not understand your weird love life.

Multiamory is happy to have author, podcast host, and pegging enthusiast Cooper S. Beckett back on the show! Cooper came on our show way back in the early days to discuss his memoir, <a href="http://coopersbeckett.com/books/my-life-on-the-swingset-adventures-in-swinging-polyamory/">My Life on the Swingset</a>, and this week we are discussing his brand new novel, <a href="http://coopersbeckett.com/books/approaching-the-swingularity/">Approaching the</a> <a href="http://coopersbeckett.com/books/approaching-the-swingularity/">Swingularity</a>. Join us for a discussion on sexy, swinging vacations, the intersection of swingers and polyamorists, and the delights of pegging.

This week, we are discussing privilege and polyamory -- the different advantages and disadvantages that we often forget about when approaching non-traditional relationships. This is a hot-button topic that often sparks emotions and defensiveness, but we wanted to open up the conversation, daunting as it is. In this episode, we discuss many different factors that affect privilege -- race, class, skin color, gender identity, disability, just to name a few in a very long list.

Multiamory is very excited to sit down with philosopher Carrie Jenkins, author of the newly released book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L6SLKJ4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1"><em>What Love Is and What It Could Be</em></a><em>.</em> Carrie has been polyamorous for a number of years, and after having her relationships accused of not embodying "real love," she was inspired to get to the bottom of the age old question: what is love? In this episode, we deconstruct our preconceived ideas of love and commitment, and also why it is important for people in non-monogamous relationships to examine the nature of romantic relationships.

This week, the Multiamory crew tackles a divisive and controversial subject: the Red Pill movement. The Red Pill movement, in our estimation, is equal parts men's rights and pick-up artistry, sprinkled with a dose of good old-fashioned misogyny. But a growing number of men are finding community, understanding, and confidence in the Red Pill's tenets. Is there anything good that could possibly come from this movement? Or is it really the sexist cesspool it seems to be on the surface?

If you've hit a particularly sticky bump in your relationship, or if you're interested in doing some preventative maintenance and exploration, it is extremely helpful to seek professional guidance. Speaking with a therapist, counselor, or coach can provide many opportunities to open up and uncover deep-seated habits and patterns, plus really giving yourself and your relationships much-needed clarity. In this episode, we explain the many different varieties of mental health professionals, as well as our recommendations for the best places to find kink- and poly-friendly therapists and counselors. Check out the KAP directory here: <a href="https://ncsfreedom.org/resources/kink-aware-professionals-directory/kap-directory-homepage">https://ncsfreedom.org/resources/kink-aware-professionals-directory/kap-directory-homepage</a> Check out The Open List here: <a href="http://openingup.net/open-list/">http://openingup.net/open-list/</a>

We talk a lot about jealousy in the polyamory scene -- how to manage it, how to de-program it, how to communicate with your partners about it. But in this episode, we are going to be deconstructing jealousy -- categorizing specific triggers and their causes. If you have the tools to identify your jealousy triggers, it can open up a lot more happiness and freedom in your relationships.

Unicorn hunters (heterosexual couples seeking to add a bisexual woman to their relationship) get a bad rap in the polyamorous community. But is it possible to defy this stereotype and add a third to your relationship in a way that's ethical, kind, and groovy for all parties involved? In this special live show recorded in Los Angeles, the Multiamory crew discusses the ins and outs of making sure that your unicorn is ethically raised and sourced.

Multiamory is in Portland! In this special, live-audience episode, we explore solo polyamory. The solo poly crowd is an often-misunderstood, yet significant portion of the non-monogamous community at large, and this week we uncover the many different ways solo polyamory can be practiced, examine couple privilege, and learn all about amatonormativity.

The Multiamory West Coast tour brought the crew to Seattle on February 14th. On this very traditional romantic holiday, we spent some time discussing how people in non-traditional relationships can use this as a time to reflect on the unique qualities each relationship and each partner brings to the table. We also discuss the slightly creepy origins of Valentine's Day itself.

This week's episode was recorded during Multiamory's very first stop on their West Coast Tour 2017! Every seat in the house at Octopus Literary Salon in Oakland, California was full as we presented a talk on the 7 habits of highly effective polyamorous people. Drawing inspiration from our mentors and role models, we break down the key qualities found in the happiest and healthiest non-traditional relationships.

Our own Dedeker Winston's book, The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory comes out internationally today and we are so excited to be able to interview her about the book and share our own experiences with reading it. Dedeker talks to us about the importance of creating a book that empowers women to have agency in their relationships and shares some of the insights she gained and experiences she had during the two-year process of writing this comprehensive guide to Polyamory for the modern world. Though the book may be aimed toward women, it's inviting and accessible to anybody regardless of gender. 10/10 Would Recommend!

This is a very special live presentation by the Multiamory crew that took place in Santa Monica on January 20th, 2017. In this episode we are discussing the various ways polyamory and non-monogamous relationships are portrayed in fictional movies, TV, and webseries. From hilarious to touching to bizarre, we explore what stories are currently being told in our mainstream media, including clips from <em>House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Futurama</em>, and many more.

This week we are very pleased to speak with Eri Kardos, international speaker, coach, and author of the newly released book <em>Relationship Agreements. </em>Eri takes us through the basic philosophy of using agreements to strengthen your relationships, whether you are polyamorous or monogamous. We also learn how a small, blue, furry monster named Fred can help change the way you think about your romantic relationships. Eri's book will be released on Tuesday, February 24th. You can download it for FREE, but only on the release date! You can find more info here: <a href="https://goo.gl/VJ85zy">https://goo.gl/VJ85zy</a> If you want to learn more about Eri and her book, check out www.RelationshipAgreements.org.

If you've ever been in a relationship with a human being, chances are you've encountered some emotions within yourself and the other person. Until the day we are dating Vulcans or robots, our relationships will continue to be sticky, emotional, and not always rational. But all is not lost -- a healthy dose of emotional responsibility can go far! In this episode we deconstruct exactly what emotional responsibility is, and how it can bring clarity and calm to moments of conflict. We explore what it looks like if there's not enough emotional responsibility in a relationship, as well as what it may look like if there's too much!

This week on Multiamory, Jase and Emily get all Gender Non-Specific with our special guest, professional cuddliest and dominatrix, Tate Ashley! Tate helps us explore queer theory, gender "extremes" vs. gender "middle ground," and language and its inefficiency when referring to gender non-conformity. The three of us also reveal the childhood experiences that helped shape our own personal gender identity and sexuality. You can find out more about Tate Ashley, their work, and their writing at <a href="http://www.tateashley.com/">http://www.tateashley.com</a>.

It's Multiamory's 100th episode! It's a new season! It's a new year! And that means....New Year's Resolutions. Download the <a href="https://multi-amory.squarespace.com/s/NewYearsResolutionsWorksheet.pdf">worksheet here</a> to use in your own relationships! In this episode we are discussing how to make resolutions for your relationships in 2017. However, this isn't your typical discussion on goal-setting. We are going to be taking you through a process to dig deeper into your relationships and uncovering what will be the best driving force for you and your partners in the coming year.

2016 was a challenging year, but the Multiamory crew is tired of all the doom and gloom. In this episode, we review the good parts of 2016. A lot of great things happened for the Multiamory podcast, for the polyamory community, and for all three of us! Join us in generating some positivity to combat all the crap that happened in 2016.

The holidays are upon us, and so is the holiday stress! This week we are talking about all the aspects of the holidays that makes us fall into a temporary stress-induced insanity. We also give insights on managing the holidays with multiple partners and how to tackle coming out to your family members. But most exciting of all, we play a very special Christmas edition of Two Truths and a Lie.

This week we are discussing a unique communication system to try out in your relationships: agile scrum. The agile scrum system was originally developed to be applied to software development, but writer Alanna Krause adapted the system to become <a href="https://medium.com/@alannallama/running-agile-scrum-on-our-relationship-9b2085c5d747">a new system for communication in her relationship. </a>The Multiamory crew tested out holding monthly scrum meetings with our partners, and today we're going to tell you all about the results!

This week we are excited to speak with Jackie Stone, director of the poly-themed web series, <em>Compersion</em>. Jackie shares with us her inspiration to tell the story of a monogamous couple opening up their marriage, and her commitment to bringing gritty realism to her storytelling. We also open up the discussion surrounding race, diversity, and representation of people of color within the media and within the poly community itself. You can get started with <em>Compersion</em> episode 1 by clicking here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rsCdxctICE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rsCdxctICE</a> You can contribute to <em>Compersion </em>Season 2 by visiting their Indiegogo page here: <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/compersion-let-s-make-season-2-drama#/">https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/compersion-let-s-make-season-2-drama#/</a>

This week the Multiamory crew is very excited to intereview sex educator and podcast host for <a href="http://nerdist.com/">The Nerdist,</a> <a href="https://sexnerdsandra.com/">Sex Nerd Sandra</a>! Sandra takes us through the complex world of consent within relationships and sexual encounters. We discuss the education about consent, the ways that men and women both respect and violate consent differently, and also about how delicious FRIES are.

This week we welcome very special guest Billy Procida, host of <a href="http://manwhorepod.com/"><em>The Manwhore Podcast: A Sex Positive Quest for Love.</em></a>We dig into all kinds of topics in this one: sex positivity, sex party etiquette, being a single hetero man in the swinging scene, quick fixes for handling jealousy at a play party, and just a little bit about butt stuff.