Opening Up

Explicit content warning

03/21/23 • 31 min

More and more women are seeing multiple partners outside of their marriage without lying to their spouses. While an open marriage may not be an affair in the traditional sense, it is another way for women to explore what they want and need from a partner without the lying and subterfuge.

This week's guest "Alice" craved new bodies, new excitement, new experiences, and like many of the women we've talked to in previous episodes, she decided to step out on her husband to find what she wanted. But after Alice had her first sexual encounter outside of her marriage, she chose to tell her husband the truth – and ask him if she could do it again. Now, Alice and her husband are in an open marriage. So, can open marriages be the answer for some women who are considering having an affair? Jo is also joined by Dr. Ashley Thompson and Dr. Lori Gottlieb to weigh in on the positive impact that communication can have on a relationship.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previous Episode

Are Affairs the New Self-Care?

In the past couple of years the media has positioned women’s exploration of sex, passion, and desire, as a form of "self-care" -- a wellness practice that helps them feel better about themselves. Today's guest "Michelle" breaks down how her affairs, particularly one with a sexy personal trainer, have become a form of self-care for her. She says they make her feel better and take better care of herself.

So, can an affair be another form of self-care, like yoga, meditation, or dry brushing? Is an orgasm with someone who isn't your spouse an actual wellness practice, or do women just need to justify their desires as self-care in order to fully realize those desires without shame? Alexandra Fine, sexologist and creator of Dame, a pleasure products company, weighs in.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next Episode

Affairs in the Digital Age

3 Recommendations

Twenty years ago you'd need to meet someone in person to cheat. Now, technology has enabled women to carefully curate and select available men on any number of digital dating or social media websites, and hide their indiscretions through a number of different tools. Affairs can be conducted in real life or entirely virtually.

In this episode, technology and relationship expert, Dr. Jaclyn Cravens Pickens, explains all the different ways women use technology to step out on their husbands – and why technology makes the boundaries of what it means to have an affair blurrier than ever before. We also talk to "Olivia" who had an affair with a former work colleague that took place entirely over her phone, often with her husband sitting right beside her.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She Wants More - Opening Up

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:03.959

Sex outside my marriage is maybe more playful. It has new relationship energy with it. It's kind of like buyer worky and crazy and like tickley and exciting. That's Alice and she loves sex. Alice isn't her real name, but everything else she told me is true. I generated a lot of energy and a lot of joy from interacting with other people, and that includes romantic land sexually. And she loves to play and try new things. My sexual needs and desires