Ep 417 - Ashton

Ep 417 - Ashton

Author: Emma and Fin November 5, 2025 Duration: 1:20:26
Ashton grew up in a super conservative and religious home, didn't date in high school, and had her first kiss when she was 18... But that was then. Things are a bit different now! Ashton is now in her forties and has been practicing polyamory and non-monogamy for about 15 years. As she describes it, when she found polyamory it was as if the heavens opened up and the angels sang. While she's no longer a member of the fundamentalist church she grew up in, she has been very involved in the United Church of Christ since college and at one point was even a Deacon. Ashton's friendships are often ambiguous as she prefers to let connections find their natural level and she currently has what she calls "a squad of lover-friends." Join us today for this wonderful conversation as Ashton shares with us her journey of exploring her sexual and relationship identities while raising a daughter and being a dedicated member of her local church community. Ashton also helps lead and organize non-monogamy events and groups in the Fargo area. You can find more information here! Check out the full show notes here. Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026! Join the most amazing community of open-minded humans on the planet!   Click here to order your very own NNM shirt! $10 Off - Online STI Testing

Emma and Fin have spent more than fifteen years navigating the landscape of non-monogamy together, and their conversations extend far beyond their own marriage. In their Normalizing Non-Monogamy-Personal Stories of Polyamory, Swinging, and Beyond podcast, they create a space for the kinds of honest, nuanced discussions that often happen only behind closed doors. Each episode is built around a conversation with someone from across the vast spectrums of gender, sexuality, and relationship structure. While you’ll hear from many people who identify as polyamorous or within the swinging community, a significant number of their guests share stories that defy easy categorization-they’ve crafted unique, personal dynamics that work specifically for them. The result is a collection of genuine narratives that highlight the practical realities, emotional complexities, and profound joys found in these varied ways of loving and connecting. By focusing on individual experiences rather than abstract theory, this podcast moves the topic from the realm of taboo into everyday life. Listening feels like sitting in on a thoughtful, compassionate, and sometimes surprisingly ordinary chat between people who are simply figuring out what brings them fulfillment. Emma and Fin’s long-term perspective as a couple provides a steady, relatable foundation for these explorations, making the entire series feel grounded and accessible whether you’re deeply familiar with these concepts or just curiously learning.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Normalizing Non-Monogamy -  Personal Stories of Polyamory, Swinging, and Beyond
Podcast Episodes
Ep 458 - Victoria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:02
This week we talk with Victoria about her relationship history and the different paths that led her to non-monogamy, from early experiences with infidelity to exploring swinging and an open marriage with her ex-husband.…
Ep 457 - Forrest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:38
Forrest has been together with his wife, Joanne, for over 25 years, and about six years ago they decided to open their relationship after navigating mismatched libidos for much of their partnership. Throughout our conver…
Ep 456 - Amanda (The Kink Consultant) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:36
This fascinating interview with Amanda is a bit kinkier than usual and it comes with a twist… Amanda and her partner are actually monogamous at the moment. Gasp! We have a wonderful conversation about her current 24/7 D/…
Ep 455 - Bekki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:43
In this lovely episode, Bekki shares their journey of embracing non-monogamy and how, for them, it extends far beyond romantic relationships to include community, career, parenting, and the many meaningful commitments th…
Ep 454 - Cat + Natalie + Joshua [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:57
This week we’ve got our fourth and final (for now) interview with the team from the Kink Collective! In this conversation we bring together the two founders, Joshua and Cat from Episodes 451 and 452, along with Natalie f…
Ep 453 - Natalie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:51
Natalie shares a ton of incredible insights about her sexuality, relationships, power exchange, and personal growth in this beautiful conversation. She’s been kinky her whole life and “officially” entered the kink scene…
Ep 452 - Cat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:06
The mid-nineties were a time of powerful transformation, self-discovery, and healing for Cat. After getting sober, she had a bit of a reckoning with her sexuality, first thinking she was a lesbian before realizing she wa…
Ep 451 - Joshua [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:03
In this beautiful interview with Joshua he shares how his family, culture, and upbringing helped shape his ideas and approach to masculinity, sex, power, and intimacy. As he describes it, he was a habitual cheater who wa…
Goodbye For Now... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44
We'll be back soon! 😘
Ep 450 - Kalah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:33
Kalah has lived a life full of incredible experiences, partners, and adventures as well as a life full of love, intimacy, and pleasure… And she just turned 40 last year! While our conversation today definitely has plenty…