Description:
Rachel Krantz, the author of Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-monogamy joins us as we continue the discussion from the previous episode about grooming in the kink scene. However, in this episode, we broaden the conversation by including non-monogamy and we deepen it by exploring Rachel’s first- hand experience with it. In the past, all three of us, Rachel, Sunny and myself, have been in kink and/or non-monogamous relationships that we came to realize had some toxic patterns of manipulation, grooming, gas lighting, etc. in them. Often such relationships are mixed with amazing highs that keep one hooked and brutal lows that leave one crushed. It is our hope that listeners who are currently in such relationships or healing from one might benefit from the insights in this episode. We start in the thick of it…that time when Rachel was immersed in such a relationship, including the strong emotional tidal pulls that are make such a relationship addictive, sexy, intoxicating, but deeply torturous. And then we can move to the first few years after getting free, followed by where Rachel finds herself now and finally, who she wants to become. Perhaps in doing so, the three of us can provide a road map, some coping tools, or at least some hope for someone who feels lost in this pattern within kink and/or non-monogamy. We hope that you join us for this vulnerable, bold and honest episode as once again, we dare to open deeply.
Rachel’s Bio:
Rachel Krantz is the author of the reported memoir, OPEN: AN UNCENSORED MEMOIR OF LOVE, LIBERATION, AND NON-MONOGAMY, which is a 2023 Lambda Award finalist. She is the host of HELP EXISTING, a new podcast offering help on, well, existing!
She is the namer of Bustle, and one of its three founding editors. At Bustle, she served as Senior Features Editor for three years, and Senior News Editor before that. She also worked at The Daily Beast as Homepage Editor, and at the nonprofit Mercy For Animals as Lead Writer.
She’s the recipient of the Peabody Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights International Radio Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Radio Award, and the Edward R. Murrow Award for her work as an investigative reporter with YR Media.
She was the host of the Bustle podcast Honestly Though, a show about taboo topics recommended by The Guardian. Her work has been featured on New York Magazine’s The Cut, Vice, LitHub, Vox, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, NPR, The Daily Beast, Newsweek, High Times, Men’s Health, AFAR, USA Today, Buzzfeed Books, Publishers Weekly, Salon, Marie Claire, VegNews Magazine, and many other outlets.
She is on the advisory board for Sentient Media and the board of directors of Our Hen House.
How to find Rachel:
Website: https://www.racheljkrantz.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/rachelkrantz
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachelkrantz
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rachelkrantz
Podcast: https://www.racheljkrantz.com/help-existing-podcast
About the Hosts:
Sunny Megatron is an award-winning sexuality educator and media personality. She’s the host and executive producer of the Showtime original television series, SEX with Sunny Megatron, plus co-hosts American Sex Podcast and Open Deeply Podcast.
Voted XBIZ 2021 Sexpert of the Year, Kinkly’s Sex Blogging Superhero of 2017, and named one of the 6 most savvy sexologists in North America, Sunny has been featured in Cosmo, Playboy, Buzzfeed, CNN, and more. She is also a contributing editor of XBIZ Premiere Magazine and a regular columnist for Sexual Health Magazine.
In her sell-out sex and kink workshops, Sunny’s unique brand of “edutainment” seamlessly combines her humorous lecturing style, interactive exercises, and the latest sexuality research. Sunny’s passion is helping people become their authentic, sexual selves by learning to overcome shame and shed inhibitions. As a lifestyle BDSM enthusiast, much of her work centers around normalizing alternative sexual practices and ending sexual stigma.
Website: http://sunnymegatron.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sunnymegatron
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron
American Sex Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk
TV Show, Sex with Sunny Megatron: https://www.sho.com/sex-with-sunny-megatron/season/1
Kate Loree, LMFT is a sex-positive licensed marriage and family therapist with a specialty in kink, sex worker, LGBTQ and non-monogamous communities. In addition to her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, she is also an art therapist, and has a second Masters in Business Administration (MBA). She has been practicing psychotherapy since 2003 and has additional training in EMDR and the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) for the treatment of trauma, such as sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Her first book on compassionate, conscious non-monogamy will be published in April of 2022. She has been featured in Buzzfeed videos, has been a guest on Playboy Radio, and many podcasts such as American Sex, Sex Nerd Sandra, and Sluts and Scholars. She has spoken at universities, such as UCLA, and written for Good Vibrations and Hollywood Magazine. Privately, she has been connected to poly, swing and kink communities since 2003 and understands the hurdles, massive emotional growth, and amazing joy these worlds can provide. Her private practice resides in Encino, CA. For more information, please visit her on the web at KateLoree.com.
Website: http://kateloree.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateLoreeLMFT/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft
Instagram: https://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ
Open Deeply podcast is not a replacement for therapy or therapy. Please know this episode has themes of sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. If you catch yourself becoming emotionally overwhelmed by this episode’s content, please get support. Call a friend, therapist, or an emotional support hotline, such as, 800-273-talk (8255).