The Brutal Truth About Open Relationships, Ep. 125

Curious about open relationships but tired of the Instagram highlight reel version?

This episode gets real about what it actually takes to make non-monogamy work — the messy feelings, the constant negotiations, and the communication skills you didn’t know you needed until it was too late.

As a relationship coach, I’ve seen the glossy fantasy and the gritty reality. Spoiler: opening your relationship isn’t a shortcut to freedom — it’s a crash course in radical honesty, emotional intelligence, and navigating fears you thought you buried years ago.

Whether you’re just poly-curious or already in the thick of it, this episode will give you the clarity and tools you need to decide if non-monogamy is really for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The different types of non-monogamy (open relationships, swinging, polyamory, relationship anarchy) and why defining your terms matters.
• The 4 brutal truths about open relationships, including constant renegotiation, jealousy, networked heartbreak, and social stigma.
• Why rejection hits different when you haven’t dated in 10+ years (hello, modern dating apps 👀).
• The communication skills that make non-monogamy sustainable — like weekly relationship check-ins, compersion practice, boundaries, and building a “couple bubble.”
• Research insights: how CNM couples report commitment and satisfaction rates on par with monogamous couples.

https://elleciapaine.com/call