Ep 429 - James

Ep 429 - James

Author: Emma and Fin January 28, 2026 Duration: 1:15:39
James has been exploring non-monogamous relationships for over 17 years and has been a proud member of the kink scene for over 11. His journey has taken him around the world through many twists and turns, including a don't ask don't tell-type dynamic at the beginning, to exploring swinging and sex parties, non-hierarchical polyamory, and recently discovering his demisexuality. We dig into it all today in this wonderful interview! One of the things we absolutely love about this conversation with James is how transparent and vulnerable he is about everything he’s learned over the last 17 years, including how he hasn’t always done things in the most ethical way. But, like most of us, he’s always trying to learn and grow along the way. James is all about community and creating space for people to explore and discover their most authentic selves. He's the co-founder of the Festival Of Alternative Relationships (F.A.R.) and co-runs The Open Circle, Australia's largest community of people exploring ethical non-monogamy (ENM). He has lived experience in almost every form of ENM dynamic and has run workshops in ENM and Lifestyle Kink (D/s) in both London and Sydney. He also studied sex and relationship coaching at The Somatica Institute based in San Francisco. You can learn more about James and his work on his website. 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 431 - Joel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:43
Joel is in his mid-twenties and has been proudly and openly exploring his pansexuality, non-monogamy, and polyamory for the last few years. During this conversation he takes us through his incredibly powerful and traumat…
Ep 430 - Crystal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:24
Crystal has been exploring non-monogamy for almost a decade and over the years she’s tried just about every flavor from swinging to non-hierarchical kitchen table poly, and beyond. Today, friendship is her primary motiva…
The Power of Play [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:02
We are so excited about this conversation with Gary Ware that is all about the power of play in life and in relationships! Gary is co-hosting our upcoming in-person event May 1-3, 2026 called Relationship Recess! You can…
Ep 428 - Ms. WillowKat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:12
Ms. WillowKat is all about living the one life we get to the fullest and zer zest and passion for life is infectious! We cover a lot of topics in this fantastic interview… Growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, leaving the c…
Ep 427 - Natalie: Round 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:27
Natalie and her husband have been in an open relationship of some sort for over 25 years and about four years ago her husband’s partner moved in with them. We first had the pleasure of talking with Natalie a little over…
Ep 426 - Rashid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:45
Rashid is in his early thirties and first learned about non-monogamy in his mid-twenties while in a monogamous partnership that lasted about a decade. Like so many of us, he thought something was wrong with him because h…
Ep 425 - Marcia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:56
When Marcia’s high school boyfriend left for college they decided to try opening their relationship… However, it was the late nineties in Georgia so there weren’t many resources or support available for anyone exploring…
Ep 424 - Jill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:57
Jill is in her mid-forties and has just come through a really big transition in life after recently ending her longterm partnership and marriage. Non-monogamy is fairly new for her as well and while she feels that it’s p…
Ep 423 - Megan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:25
Megan has been exploring various flavors and styles of non-monogamy for most of her adult life and one of the things we love about her story is that it hasn't been a linear path. Like many of us, she grew up surrounded b…
Ep 422 - Kevin: Round 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:25
When we first talked to Kevin on Episode 45 he’d been married for over a decade and he was in a handful of new-ish relationships. Nearly seven years later, he’s been married over 20 years and describes himself as being i…