Not only do you get to stay with your lover, you also get to have sex and romantic relationships with other people!  Including your ex! In the last episode of this season, we talk about how restrictive the classic script on romance is and why we think breaking down those rigid barriers actually can create an even more stable and communicative relationship. In short, there's no one way your relationship has to be for it to be valid and healthy.

This episode has been a long time coming because it's the main way in which both co-hosts really go against the societal grain in true villain fashion. Even among millennials, rates of non-monogamy are below 10%, despite the fact that we are the most open to non-monogamy than any previous generation in American history. Overall, about 1 in 5 people report having been in a non-monogamous relationships at some point in their lives based on the US Census. So tune in if you want to hear how the other fifth lives!

Links:

Alain de Boton's video "On Romanticism": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPOuIyEJnbE&t=2s

Bell Hooks' book "All About Love": https://www.harpercollins.com/9780060959470/all-about-love/

PDF Version of "All About Love": https://www.docdroid.net/goTB7E8/124493278-bell-hooks-all-about-love.pdf

A very cute, very long Wait But Why illustrated explainer on the issues with the traditional marriage script: https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/09/marriage-decision.html

Study showing rates of non-monogamy and openness to non-monogamy by generation: https://ifstudies.org/blog/national-survey-reveals-generational-differences-in-consensual-nonmonogamy-

1 in 5 people have been in non-monogamous relationships: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-polyamorists-next-door/201905/updated-estimate-number-non-monogamous-people-in-us

The song this episode title is referencing (50 Ways to Leave Your Lover): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXtWqmArUU

Music is The Beauty of Maths by Meydän.