Welcome to Hiatus Week 1 . Even while I'm taking some time off , I wanted to continue showing up for you and pursuing my passion , which is to help people break free from societal norms and rethink everything they know about relationships .
I truly believe there's a new paradigm for relationships being birthed , one grounded in the concept and foundations of relationship diversity . So , to keep the conversations alive , I've taken a look back at my two years of episodes and noticed some exciting themes emerging .
Each week during my hiatus , I'll post a specially curated playlist of episodes centered on a specific topic . Then you'll find links to those episodes in the show notes to help you dive deeper into areas that might resonate with where you are in your journey . Let's continue exploring , growing and embracing the expansiveness of relationship diversity together .
This week's focus is relationship diversity foundations and exploration . There are clearly so many episodes I could list under this theme , because that's what this podcast is about , but here are some of my favorites . We'll start with episode one . What is relationship diversity ? Could it really be the answer to fulfilling intimate relationships ?
In this first episode , you'll learn more about me and my history with relationships , and it's a journey with many twists and turns . I'll also define relationship diversity . Why this way of relating is so important to me and why I think it may be the new paradigm of conscious , intentional relationships .
Next up is episode two , exploring diverse relationship structures . In this episode I explore four basic intimate relationship structures as a jumping off point for the whole discussion . These four basic structures include soloamory , monogamy , open relationships and polyamory . I also explore the idea of labels , the positives and the negatives of these concepts and ideas .
The goal is to find , explore and live into our own unique identity . Then next is episode three wounded versus healed expression in diverse relationships . In this episode I explore both the wounded expression and the healed or true expression with each of the four basic relationship structures Again soloamory , monogamy , open relationships and polyamory .
I hear from so many people statements like that structure just doesn't work . However , when you dive in deeper to look at what's underneath that statement , you may find that it's not the structure that isn't working , but instead it may be where the person is coming from while in the structure .
The next one is episode 34 , what determines if a relationship is a success . So in this episode I look at societal views about what determines whether a relationship is successful or not . This is really important to look at and dive into , because this idea of a successful relationship is very limited in the current paradigm of intimate relationships .
So , within the context of relationship diversity , the qualifier of a successful relationship becomes am I being my true self in this relationship and am I honoring my needs and desires while honoring my partners ? Like I said , this is foundational in relooking at our relational subconscious beliefs .
The next episode in this playlist is episode 59 , transcending monogamy and polyamory a deep dive into relational freedom with Dr Jorge Ferrer . What if we gave ourselves the freedom to move beyond the labels of monogamy and polyamory and instead focus on the diverse and complex nature of relationships themselves ?
In this episode , I engage in an incredibly thought-provoking conversation with Dr Jorge Ferrer , a renowned clinical psychologist and author who shares his advocacy for relational freedom .
We dive into the heart of relationship diversity , challenging the entrenched binary thinking and fueling a discourse that encourages fluid identities and a more open-minded approach to relationships . He's coined the term Novogamy as a new paradigm of relationships that transcend the monogamy polyamory binary , and I'm going to give a bonus episode here .
So if you'd like to hear how Novogamy is playing out on a personal level , then check out episode 120 , living More Consciously and Wisely in your Relationships with Waking Youth's Carlotta Geddesh , where she talks about her thoughts on novogamy and why that term resonated so deeply with her . Next episode I'm going to tag is episode 74 , a PSA . You are unique .
Why are you trying to fit your relationship into a box ? One of the common themes that has emerged over the past two years has been that every relationship is as unique as you are , so encouraging people to design a relationship structure most aligned with who they are .
If you've been searching for permission to be your unique self in your unique relationships , check this one out . And finally , to give you an idea of an outside the box structure , check out episode 109 , the Monopoly Relationship Challenges and Solutions with Dr Elizabeth Sheff .
Dr Eli demystifies this structure where one person wants monogamy and the other desires polyamory . It can work for many people , but it takes education , support and a continual questioning of self-judgments and out-of-date relational beliefs . That's it . Happy listening and remember to stay curious .