The Power of Play

The Power of Play

Author: Emma and Fin January 23, 2026 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 learn more and grab your tickets here! Gary is the Founder of Breakthrough Play, a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker, certified coach, and self-proclaimed Creative Catalyst. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Being a multifaceted individual Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theatre. After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off on an adventure with his wife Courtney and son Garrett.   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 421 - Elaine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:53
When Elaine first started dating she fell in love with multiple people pretty much right away and felt so much shame about it that it drove her to end the relationship she was in. She tried serial monogamy for a while an…
Ep 420 - Jacob + Josh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:06
Jacob and Josh are both from Puerto Rico and met about 17 years ago while working together on a film project and began dating… Sort of. As you’ll hear, they’ve spent a lot of their relationship exploring the grey zones o…
Ep 419 - Nicole (Modern Anarchy) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:30
Nicole was raised inside conservative and fundamentalist Christianity and can remember feeling her first inklings of her own queerness in elementary school but knew she had to shut it down and hide it. The fear and shame…
Ep 418 - Matt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:09
Matt was first introduced to non-monogamy about 15 years ago when he moved to the San Francisco area and saw how his friends were exploring open relationships and polyamory… He’d sort of naturally been loving everybody i…
Ep 417 - Ashton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 bee…
Big Event Announcement! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:10
Join us May 1-3, 2026 in Florida for our biggest in-person event ever! Check out the Relationship Recess webpage and get your ticket here! Check out the launch video here!
Ep 416 - Rachel: Round 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:11
It’s been about two years since we last talked with Rachel on Episode 307 and a LOT has changed… As always, no need to go back and listen to get a ton out of this conversation! Rachel has been non-monogamous for about 15…
Ep 415 - Ryan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:57
Ryan first started experiencing a cognitive dissonance with regards to relationships pretty much from the beginning of dating in high school. In many ways, relationships just didn’t make sense to him in his twenties so h…
Ep 414 - Eileen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:32
"It's funny... I was monogamous for nine years with a man and now I'm a lesbian and I'm polyamorous... So, life can really take you by surprise." There really isn't a better synopsis than that of what our conversation to…