Episode
The One About Polyamory with Em Mortenson
- Podcast
- But For Real
- Published
- Apr 29, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3254
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Summary
So… your partner brings up opening the relationship. 👀 And you’re trying to be thoughtful, open-minded, maybe even a little curious… but there’s also this voice in the background like: “Wait… do I actually want this?” 🫠In this episode of But For Real , we’re sitting down with therapist Em Mortenson to get into the real conversation around polyamory and ethical non-monogamy—beyond the labels, beyond the hot takes, and into what this actually looks and feels like in real life. Because yeah, on paper? It can sound freeing. Honest. Even aligned. ✨ But in practice? It can bring up jealousy, fear, uncertainty—and a whole lot of questions about where your “yes” is actually coming from. We’re talking about what happens when a partner introduces this idea, how to navigate the in-between space of not knowing yet , and why this isn’t something you have to rush to figure out overnight. And we keep coming back to this: It’s one thing to understand something intellectually… and another to feel ready for it in your body. So if you’ve ever found yourself wondering: “Am I actually into this… or am I trying to be okay with it?” “Is jealousy a red flag—or just part of the process?” “How do I explore this without losing myself?” …yeah. This one’s for you. 💬 From there, we unpack: How to tell if you’re genuinely interested in polyamory—or just trying to be “chill” Why jealousy is a normal part of ethical non-monogamy (and what to do with it) The difference between curiosity, pressure, and people-pleasing in relationships What polyamory and open relationships actually look like in real life Why boundaries are essential—and constantly evolving—in non-monogamy Common mistakes couples make when opening a relationship How fear of losing your partner can shape your decisions Why this isn’t a on…