You may not find it surprising but we talk about non-monogamy, relationships, sex and related topics A LOT, especially when we are driving or travelling.

We were having one such conversation recently and decided to record it as we felt our listeners would find it helpful to hear as we work through and discuss a situation that arose for us personally around possible STI exposure and how we might handle sharing how we feel about upcoming plans with friends.

In this episode we cover:

• The importance of regular testing and how often we get tested.
• What you need to test for.
• How you can contract certain STIs and how to reduce your risk.
• The science behind testing frequency and the incubation periods for some common STIs
• The concept of acceptable risk as it relates to sexual activities.
• How to incorporate sexual health and STI testing into your relationship agreements.
• How to share your personal boundaries around testing and agreements with possible partners.

We encourage you to do your own research, inform yourself, talk to your doctor, talk to your partners and figure out what’s right for you!

And as we asked during the podcast are these things you’ve considered and/or has this podcast changed what you think about wanting to be non-monogamous or in the lifestyle? Let us know in the comments!

Show Resources:

• Black Friday Poly Newbies Digital Course Offer at $27 for 6 months of access - ⁠https://courses.letstalkpolyamory.com/polynewbiesblackfriday⁠
• Health Line article on STI incubation periods - https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-for-std-to-show-up
• Understanding Risk By Sex Act - CATIE - https://www.catie.ca/safer-sex-guide/understanding-risk-by-sex-act
• T&A Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/taraandandre/⁠
• Looking for therapy? Reach out to host André Turcotte and book a consultation call at andreturcottepsych@gmail .com
• Struggling and need support? Reach out and book a free call with us: ⁠https://go.taraandandre.com/relationshiprescue⁠
• Let’s Talk Polyamory Facebook Group & Community - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkpoly⁠
• Find out more about us and services, programs and more at ⁠⁠https://taraandandre.com/

Talking to kids about topics like non-monogamy, sex, intimacy, kink and relationships can sometimes feel daunting parents. It's easy to worry about saying the wrong thing, making things awkward, or just plain messing it up.

In this episode, we sit down with sexuality educator Ms. Ashley Robertson for a deep dive into guiding these conversations with kids of all ages—from toddlers to teens and beyond!

Together, we share practical tips, advice, and recommended approaches for discussing these topics at every stage. We cover what the focus should be, how to approach these subjects, which words to use, and even how long these conversations should go.

We also discuss what not to say, how to avoid oversharing, and ways to build a “scaffold” of knowledge that helps your kids climb layer by layer without falling off.

We touch on essentials like when and how to introduce non-monogamy and partners to kids, what to say if a partner is no longer in your life, and how to manage those moments when kids bring up people from your past that you’d rather forget. And we explore concepts like “chosen family,” the “onion” and “buffet” analogies, being an “askable adult,” consent and how kids are “bystanders”, the “skipping stones” strategy for teens and more!

Plus, we answer questions from our Let’s Talk Polyamory community.

And… spoiler alert ...a lot of these tips are great for adult conversations, too!

Tune in for practical advice, a few laughs, and all the insights you need to make these talks a little less intimidating and a lot more meaningful!

You’re going to love it!

Resources:

• Black Friday Poly Newbies Digital Course Offer at $27 for 6 months of access - https://courses.letstalkpolyamory.com/polynewbiesblackfriday
• Website Ms. Ashley Robertson: https://www.msashleyrobertson.com/
• Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/msashleyrobertson
• Ms. Ashely's booklist - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WaZGbek31WYEbHcdPB3NJd4CKj5dIUhmjmmOL3zheAM/edit?usp=sharing - The 2 books mentioned in our conversation: Penny and the Plain Piece of Paper by Miri Leshem-Pell and Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson
• DSM - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We specifically referred to the DSM-5 - This is an article that might be helpful - https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/fetishes-and-dsm-v-when-is-kink-mental-health-issue-0829138
• T&A Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taraandandre/
• Looking for therapy? Reach out to host André Turcotte and book a consultation call at andreturcottepsych@gmail.com
• Let’s Talk Polyamory Facebook Group & Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkpoly
• Find out more about us and services, programs and more at ⁠https://taraandandre.com/ ⁠

In this two-part series we take a deep dive into one of the most essential—and sometimes challenging—aspects of relationships: TRUST!

Recently many our the Let's Talk Polyamory private Facebook group and in our individual coaching and therapy practices have raised TRUST as an issue they are currently facing in their relationships.

For some it is because of a specific situation that occurred, like a betrayal, while for others, the issue of trust goes a bit deeper and stems from past experiences in relationships with previous partners, friends or family.

In this special series we explore the ins and outs of building, maintaining, and restoring trust, whether in monogamous or non-monogamous relationships.

In Part 1 we cover:

• What is TRUST?
• How people approach trust in relationships.
• Signs of trust issues and what might be behind this for you.
• How to build a foundation for trust in your relationships from the start.
• How trust might be broken in relationships with some specific examples related to unique dynamics of non-monogamous relationships.

In Part 2, we will tackle the tough topic of rebuilding trust after it’s been lost.

Whether you’re looking to set up a rock-solid foundation or need tools to heal from trust setbacks in your relationship or yourself, this series has you covered.

This is the perfect starting point for anyone navigating trust challenges and looking for practical, compassionate advice to create more secure, resilient relationships.

Comment with your stories of trust or loss of trust and if this episode resonated with you!

Please 💖comment, ✅subscribe, ➡️share and 📝write a review so others can find us! We really appreciate it!

Show Resources:

• Poly Newbies Digital Course - https://courses.letstalkpolyamory.com/polynewbiesspecialoffer
• Struggling and need support? Reach out and book a free call with us: https://go.taraandandre.com/relationshiprescue
• Let’s Talk Polyamory Private Facebook Group & Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkpoly
• Find out more about us and services, programs and more at ⁠https://taraandandre.com/ ⁠
• Episode 27: From DADT To All the Juicy Details - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4nrCqhyEG4kWwUNyJoIKg0?si=8Q77o-L3Q7WvdSK6-qf33Q
• Episode 8: How is My Attachment Style Impacting My Relationships - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KUuTKZQKRNHBISBeynIvq?si=olltBVI7S6in5XPIwzMUAQ
• Episode 3: Combating Jealousy and NRE with Awesome Communication - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cRoyUXHdgpWMWlgAb3q8w?si=q3TPfFpOSzehJrCPx3BYxA