Normalizing Non-Monogamy - Personal Stories of Polyamory, Swinging, and Beyond

Join us as Pandora and Chesed share their explorations in polyamory, dating, kink, play parties and so much more. They've been sex friends since 2023, and like to use the term “otter partners” to describe their playful, cuddly connection. Throughout our conversation it's clear how adventurous they both are and how they seamlessly weave the kinky and sexy side of things into their everyday lives.

Since 2025, Pandora and Chesed have been collaborators at SlutStack, a blog and podcast for overthinking sex and relationships (and sharing stories of wholesome degeneracy). They also co-organized the first SlutCon in 2025 with Aella. SlutCon is a multi-day sexuality education conference and celebration of SlutHood.

Pandora (aka Dr. Bimbo) is a Berkeley-based blogger with about a decade of ethical non-monogamy experience. She writes at SlutStack about sex, kink, dating, and polyamory. After completing her PhD in engineering, she left academia to try out life as a full-time slut. Lately, she had been enjoying leaning into kitchen table polyamory, including navigating life in a group house with her boyfriends.

Chesed (aka little otter) is an East Bay-based writer and collaborator at SlutStack. She also has a day job in healthcare, and will be raising her first kid by the time this episode airs. Chesed is best described as "surprisingly agentic for a sex doll." She is married, and she and her husband live with two other ethically non-monogamous couples. She is one of the most poly “not poly” people you’ll meet.

Check out the full show notes here.

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It’s been almost exactly four years to the day since we last talked with Anna back on Episode 231 and it’s no surprise that our conversation today is just as incredible as the last! No need to go back and listen to their first episode to get a ton out of this one, but we definitely recommend checking it out afterwards!

It’s been a big few years for Anna… We talk about some changes in their partnership and living situation, we have a beautiful conversation about their journey of exploring and figuring out gender, we dig into their relationship with kink, and so much more! Anna has also recently experienced some heartbreaking losses which led to a powerful and moving conversation about loss, grief, and healing.

Oh... And if you stick around for the bonus episode as part of the Premium Subscription Anna tells some mind-blowing orgasm stories! Wait, are the orgasms mind-blowing or the stories? Perhaps both... Join us to find out!

Anna Baxter is the owner, director, and supervisor at Love Positive Counseling. They are incredibly passionate about providing a safe space for individuals and families to find their innate potential and achieve their dreams, regardless of gender, orientation, race, religion, neurotype or love-style. You can learn more about Anna and their work over on their website!

Check out the full show notes here.

Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026!

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For a long time Liz felt like she was broken. She kept expecting to have a crush, form a relationship, and then stop having new crushes because she was just so in love. Instead, she would have a crush, fall in love, and then have another crush, and then another, and another. Liz eventually tried an open relationship with her high school boyfriend and even though she never did anything other than having lots of crushes, she felt so free!

After high school, societal pressure crept in and Liz didn’t revisit the idea of non-monogamy until her thirties when she and her husband opened their relationship about a year into their marriage. After exploring kitchen table polyamory together for about a decade, Liz and her husband separated but currently still live together with their kids as well as with her ex-husband’s partner and her kids.

Join us for this powerful interview as Liz takes us on her journey of figuring out what actually works for her and what she wants in life. We have fantastic conversations about hierarchy, the relationship escalator, dating, jealousy, and we get to hear what happens when Liz actually tries to pursue all her crushes all at once!

Liz is also a dating and relationship coach who primarily helps highly sensitive, intuitive women find deep, soul-aligned love — without settling, burning out, or pretending to be someone they’re not. If dating has ever felt overwhelming, disappointing, or like you had to hide your heart just to get by… you’re not alone and Liz is here to help! You can learn more about how to work with Liz on her website!

Check out the full show notes here.

Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026!

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Join us today for this powerful interview with Mischa as he takes us through his journey and evolution of exploring love, dating, relationships, and his own sexuality. Mischa shares about his experiences navigating hookup culture in New York during his twenties before diving into polyamory and the play party scene after moving back to San Francisco in his thirties. Mischa also talks about his more recent 2-year celibacy journey and how his faith and devotion to God have helped guide him in getting clearer on how he shares his love and energy with everyone in his life rather than often focusing it on sexual and romantic connections. We also dig into the nuances of communication and consent, the challenges of pushing against the societal and familial expectations of who we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to be doing, and we get a bit philosophical about sex during the bonus questions!

Mischa Byruck is a sexual integrity and accountability coach who’s helped support hundreds of men in transforming their own relationships to sex and success. You can learn more about Mischa and all of his work by visiting his website at evolve.men.

Check out the full show notes here.

Join us at Relationship Recess in May 2026!

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We first talked with Mariana just over two years ago on Episode 313 and we're excited to have her back today with an update! When we asked if she wanted to come back on the show she was thrilled and told us “A lot has happened but not a lot has changed.”

Specifically, a lot has happened internally for Mariana even though the structure of her relationships, who her partners are, and how she does polyamory hasn’t really changed since we last talked. Join us today as Mariana shares what’s shifted for her over the last few years as she’s found herself in a much calmer, more peaceful, and less anxious place while continuing to explore what types of relationships work best for her!

Mariana is also a designer who has created some incredible games to help people design their own relationships, sexuality, and community! The three of us actually play her games during the bonus episode for premium subscribers and you can go grab your own copy of all of her games over on her website. Plus, you can get yourself a discount when you use the code EMMA at checkout! 

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!

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