“Multiamory” podcast hosts Jase Lindgren, Emily Matlack, and Dedeker Winston want the world to know it’s okay to talk about challenges present in romantic relationships, whether traditional or non-traditional. The show takes a sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes humorous look at the realities of relationships; and while the title suggests a focus on polyamory, the majority of the podcast’s content applies to people in any type of romantic relationship.
Launched in 2014, Multiamory is a weekly podcast about relationship advice, sex, dating, and communication presented from a non-monogamous perspective, but keeping a monogamous audience in mind. The hosts inspire people to look forward to the future of relationships instead of maintaining the status quo of the past. Conventional relationship advice is toxic and outdated, say the hosts, who believe healthy relationships begin when everyone has agency in their relationships.
While the podcast’s name and theme may cause concern among those who assume that the show is pushing non-monogamy, the show simply offers relationship resources for anyone in a romantic relationship, inclusive of those who choose to be in non-traditional relationships. The podcast helps listeners cope with frustration, failure, and conflict to create happy, healthy, and passionate relationships whether they are single, married, new to non-monogamy, a practiced polyamorist, recovering from a breakup or divorce, or anywhere in-between.
“At the end of the day, whether you practice polyamory or monogamy in your relationship, it’s still a relationship! The advice and tools we give for deepening intimacy and improving communication are effective regardless of whether you’re non-monogamous or not,” says co-host and relationship mediator Emily Matlack. Emily is a longtime vegan with a passion for feminist activism and animal welfare. She has spoken on panels regarding both subjects, and works to spread awareness of animal rights, feminism, and mindful relationships.
The show has netted over 1 million downloads since it launched 4 years ago, with listeners in 129 different countries.
One of the Podcast’s most popular episode is “Polyamory: The Most Common Questions” https://www.multiamory.com/podcast/152-polyamory-most-common-questions?rq=The%20Most%20Common%20Questions Other episodes focus on self-sabotage in relationships, infidelity, loss, dating, toxic relationships, legal challenges, trust, sex, self-esteem, communication, interracial relationships, religion, cross-cultural dating, and many more diverse topics that may strike a chord of discomfort in some listeners, while addressing real-life challenges.
The percentage of Americans who practice consensual non-monogamy is the same percentage as those who identify as LGBTQ (4.5%). Like the LGBTQ community, many people who identify as non-monogamous face stigma, discrimination, and backlash, in addition to suffering a lack of workplace protections and legal rights.
Co-host Dedeker Winston says, “Many of our listeners have identified as polyamorous for years, but still can’t share the show on their social media for fear of being ‘outed’ to work colleagues or receiving backlash from family or friends. We had to create a private discussion group for our listeners to be able to have access to a community where they could be themselves and talk about their relationships without that fear.” Dedeker is a relationship coach, writer, and an advocate for polyamory and non-traditional relationships. She has been consulted as a polyamory expert for Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and many other news and media outlets. She is is the author of The Smart Girl’s Guide to Polyamory: Everything You Need to Know about Open Relationships, Non-Monogamy, and Alternative Love, published by Skyhorse Press.
The hosts combine the knowledge from years of personal and coaching experience with the best information available to offer ideas and practical advice for multiple forms of love.
Lindgren, Matlack, and Winston started the podcast because they were tired of having to explain and defend their relationships. At the time, the 3 hosts were in a polyamorous “quad” relationship together (the 4th person opted out of hosting). They were also frustrated with a lack of accessible resources for relationship advice and communication tools that weren’t just tailored to people in monogamous relationships.
Co-host Emily Matlack says, “The show has offered the three of us the opportunity to ask difficult questions about how we conduct ourselves in our own relationships. Through research, trial and sometimes failure, we have continued strengthening our own interpersonal relationships while encouraging and guiding others to do so as well. We strive to help guide others as much as the show has helped us guide ourselves.”
Co-host and modern dating authority Jase Lindgren says, “The conventional advice on most dating and relationship shows are based on assumptions, habits, and outdated ideas. The fact is that relationships have changed since 100 years ago, whether they are monogamous or not. Being able to question those assumptions has allowed us to create tools for healthy and happy relationships that actually work today.” Jase is a non-monogamous dating coach, healthy masculinity educator, and sex-positivity advocate. He has worked with the government and celebrities on HIV public awareness in Russia, and helps people improve their communication skills and define each relationship on its own terms.
The quad broke up 9 months into production of the show. Despite the breakup, the hosts decided to keep producing the show, talking openly about their tactics for navigating the complexities of their individual relationships.
Today, Winston and Lindgren are in a romantic relationship, and they each maintain romantic relationships with other partners as well. Matlack, former partner to both Winston and Lindgren, is now in a monogamous relationship. Matlack being in a monogamous relationship inspired the three to make a show that would be inclusive of a wide variety of relationships, not just polyamory or monogamy.
Originally based in Los Angeles, the podcast is now based in Washington state and has held live shows in over 10 cities across North America (a West Coast tour in 2017 and a North American tour in 2018). All three hosts have presented at various conferences and speaking engagements across the States, including a 2018 Talks@Google presentation on reducing workplace hostility toward people in non-monogamous relationships.
In the end, the show is less about love between several people and more about coping with the challenges of interpersonal relationships. The show’s creators believe that curiosity fosters understanding; and while all listeners will benefit from the podcast’s advice, the show’s theme may help ease the social stigma associated with polyamorous relationships.
The “Polyamory: The Most Common Questions: episode is available here: https://www.multiamory.com/podcast/152-polyamory-most-common-questions?rq=The%20Most%20Common%20Questions
For more information on the show’s hosts, coaching services and relationship resources, visit https://www.multiamory.com
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Company Name: Multiamory
Contact Person: Jase Lindgren
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Country: United States
Website: https://www.multiamory.com