Permission To Be Human

Season 5 Announcement: How to Build A Relationship With God

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

101: Andrea at 50: Ease, Flow & Dom/Sub Dynamics in Everyday Life

What happens when you start asking for exactly what you want? Relief! Andrea says relief! Janelle interviews Andrea and they cover dom/sub dynamics, anti-depressants, conscious endings, why she stopped saying "I don't know", and how monogamy is working for her. This isn't just a milestone—it's a midlife metamorphosis, and it comes from a softer, less ruthless place than ever before. And she gets passionate about helping women with mid-life meh do the same. There's a nod to Florence and the Machine, Trader Joes, Sophie Howell's spirit crowns and language empowerment, as well as Andrea Gibson's poetry. You'll hear:

-The wild art of asking for what you actually want

-The bizarre relief of letting someone else decide

-Her release of shame around anti-depressants

-How Andrea stopped saying "I don't know", because she DID know

-Why she really does love to be told what to do

-Her seasons of polyamory and monogamy

-Celebrations of Florence, Trader Joe's, silent discos and rocky mountain trailrunning

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

100: Janelle Talks Soul Love, Romance, Galactic Beings, and The Art of Receiving at Burning Man

Pop the champagne (or light that sage)—Andrea and Janelle are hitting triple digits! In their 100th episode, and on the cusp of their FIFTH season, your favorite duo covers the last 9 months of Janelle's life. We're talking Burning Man dust storms, ineffable teachings, the birth of a church and how FOMO got kicked to the curb. This is a full-blown joyride through divine feminine chaos, galactic embodiment, homeowner woes, poetry on the playa and more. There's a nod to Mary Oliver, Bruce Lyon and Winter Jade Icely. You'll hear:

-Why receiving is not weakness—it's a damn art form

-The difference between soul love and human love

-Why romance doesn't have to look like a RomCom

-How Janelle's thumb turned green

-The hair extensions and acid-dropping hoopla of her 10th Burn

-How building a website can crack you open (who knew?)

-About the Goddess Temple and why you need to visit

-Janelle's liberation from health insurance

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

REPEAT:

83: Part 10/12, Sexual Exploration After 50 Years of Monogamy: How to Talk About Sex Series

Andrea and Janelle engage in a deep conversation with Braveheart and former emergency physician Doug Yeakel about his journey navigating the complexities of love, communication and vulnerability in relationships. He reflects on his own bravery and curiosity to share what's on his heart, explores the idea of love beyond traditional boundaries and the significance of body awareness in understanding one's sexuality. There's a nod to Sam Harris, the book "Cosmo Genesis", RBDSM, full body orgasms and agelessness as well. You'll hear:

--Why naming your sex conversation with humor helps you own it (Doug calls it Book Club)

--How Doug put his vulnerability on a platter

--Why bodily presence is so critical for the hard conversations --Why sharing the last 10% of your desires is so fucking important

--How different types of togetherness can help you feel loved in new ways

--Why aging does not have to limit capacity for love and exploration

--How sexuality, plant medicine and mountain biking can lead to new states of consciousness

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

REPEAT: 82: Part 9/12, The Repair is Where the Juice Is: How to Talk about Sex Series

Janelle and Andrea interview intimacy and relationship coach Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates about their own REPAIR process. Bravehearts, here's the holy-shit-this-is-it, articulate culmination of navigating difficult shit! Hazel Grace explains how Resourcing, Empathy, Permission, Acknowledgement, Impact and Restore create "safety and scaffolding" so you can arrive at complex shared realities, and restore integrity and deep connection. There's a nod to the Esalen Institute, where Hazel Grace is a teacher.

--Empathy isn't just for others--you need it too.

--How to avoid scope-creep and contain the conversation (yes, those are PM words!)

--Why "story hygiene" matters--clean, update, renew!

--The significance of curiosity and reflective listening (I heard this, did I get it right?)

--How to get beyond "agreeing to disagree" to deeper understanding

--Why restoration helps the brain rewire and rebuild trust

Learn more about Dr. Hazel-Grace Yates at

Dr. Hazel-Grace

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

REPEAT: 10: Butt Plugs, Tantrikas & Pleasure Pillars: It's an Inside Job, He He

Nope, we're not talking about your favorite type of fellatio. "Pleasure Pillars" are what Janelle requires to ALLOW her to get curious about pleasure. We'll share several juicy parts of her journey as she summoned her own orgasmic spirit from within. Includes stuff about a choir and Brene Brown, a celebration of spirit crowns and an 80s commercial reference.

Some key points in the episode include:

-An experience with a Tantrika

-The mind-body-heart connection

-The beauty of butt-plugs

-Opening the throat chakra

-Why YOU are the Source of your pleasure

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

#99: Part 12/12, Domination, Surrender, and the Delicate Art of Not Lying to Yourself with Adam: Building a Relationship with Yourself Series

Andrea and Janelle sit down with Adam—a man who's navigated and busted his ass through the minefield of marriage, identity, spiritual kink and inner truth without turning into a self-help meme. Together, they talk about what happens when you stop pretending, start feeling, and still somehow try to be sexy while setting boundaries. Warning: A lot of this is counter-intuitive and…you'll likely recognize yourself or your man or your brother or your Dad here. Somewhere. Bravehearts, this episode is a lot like eye gazing, at a tantra workshop with your ex: Pretty intense, uncomfortably honest and deeply moving. You'll hear:

-Why self-love starts with telling the truth, even when it's hideous.

-How alone time changed Adam's life

-Why masculinity may not manifesting without self-surrender

-How honesty could wreck your life, but in a good way.

-Why domination and submission are spiritual practices, not just category tags.

-The freedom is in vulnerability, even though it feels like you're dying

---------------

We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

98: Part 11/12: Holy No, Sacred Yes: Rewriting Your Inner Narrative with Sophie Howell: How to Build a Relationship with Yourself Series

In this episode, spirit-crowned firestarter and language alchemist Sophie Howell drops in to dismantle the narratives that keep us playing small. If you're done self-sabotaging to your own internal past trauma patterns, , Sophie breaks down the real talk on the damage that words can do, the idea that enthusiasm is your birthright and why its all up to you. Apparently, your your inner world is the most badass revolution you can lead. Sophie doesn't just hand you insight—she dares you to change your life.

Get ready to burn the old script and write one that stops your existential kink in its tracks. You'll hear:

-Why eliminating "not", "can't" and won't" from your script changes your life

-The power of the FEMMifest vs. the MANifest

-How rupture isn't failure, its the invitation for change.

-When it comes to questions you ask, tone and energy matter.

-You don't need to hit rock bottom to wake the f*ck up.

-How you can be the muse and the maker of your reality

Learn more about Language of Empowerment and Spirit Crowns at SophieHowell.com.

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/

REPEAT: 3: Being Alone: Honey, I Can't Miss You if You Don't Leave

Yes, that's a quote from Married with Children! No, we don't condone Ed's misogynistic behavior. But alone time is dramatically underrated (even for extroverts). You'll hear our own stories about how we never wanted it….until we got it….and now we love it. When you build a relationship with yourself, your relationship with others gets BETTER.

Some key points in this episode:

-Revisiting the HA model; how to add independence to a relationship structure

-How alone time can benefit extroverts

-Using alone time to tap into creative potential

-Discussing how the capacity to be alone is the capacity to love

Additional resources:

-"Man for the New Millenium" by Osho

Get ready for some real-time relationship woo and wisdom--from the front lines about how breaking rules, blurring boundaries and tossing tradition--along with polyamory and plant medicine--have been catalysts for finding our truth.

The Permission to Be Human Podcast debunks the myths we were told about fairytales and forever, so we can create a new map for life, love, and conscious relationships.

Freedom is, in fact, the new F word. We can do hard things!

If you're seeking permission to choose your own path, and want to feel less alone along the way, we've got you.

With heart-shaped sunglasses,

Janelle & Andrea

Follow, subscribe, share and download wherever you get your podcasts!

Learn more about us at: permissiontobehuman.live

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY

Shout out to SpiritCrowns.com

97: Part 10/12, Get In Your Body, Mama: Self-Discovery Through Somatics: Building a Relationship with Yourself Series

In this juicy and soul-stirring episode, Becca Dollard dives deep into what it really means to have a relationship with yourself—especially when you're navigating the identity-melting, heart-expanding rollercoaster of motherhood.

Because here's the truth: knowing yourself isn't optional—it's your superpower. Motherhood can crack you wide open in the most glorious (and sometimes messy) ways, and that's where the growth lives. Becca shows us that the journey back to self isn't linear—it's embodied, emotional, and wildly personal. Through the power of somatics, you reconnect not just to your body, but to your truth. Boundaries become acts of love, not just protection. Relationships stop being formulas and start becoming sacred dances. You get to love what you love, ditch what doesn't fit, and let your emotions be the fuel that moves you. Growth isn't a destination—it's a ride. And you're worthy of enjoying every twist, turn, and revelation. You'll hear:

-Why most of us don't actually know who we are (hint: society's been messing with us) -Why the sacred power of somatics helps us reconnect with our bodies -How contrast and chaos in relationships are actually pure gold for personal clarity -Why boundaries are the ultimate act of self-love—and not just buzzwords on Instagram -Plus, some simple-but-potent homework to help you find out what lights you up (and what's gotta go)

To reach Becca, find her on IG Becca•Somatic Practitioner•Life Coach (@themotherhoodmentor) or email her at [email protected]

And as promised, here is a list of Somatic Sensory Words:

Temperature Sensations

Warm

Cool

Hot

Cold

Burning

Icy

Tingly warmth

Chilled

Feverish

Movement/Flow Sensations

Buzzing

Tingling

Fluttering

Pulsing / Throbbing

Vibrating

Wavelike

Swirling

Expanding / Contracting

Floating

Trembling

Twitchy

Quivering

Rippling

Undulating

Density/Weight Sensations

Heavy

Light

Dense

Airy

Weighted

Sinking

Floating

Pressured

Buoyant

Grounded

Hollow

Empty

Full

Swollen

Bloated

Tension & Release Sensations

Tight

Tense

Gripping

Clenched

Bound

Braced

Knotted

Aching

Sharp

Cramping

Stiff

Locked

Loose

Relaxed

Soft

Open

Melting

Unwinding

Energetic/Emotional Somatic Qualities

Numb

Charged

Electric

Alive

Activated

Buzzing

Spiky

Smooth

Radiating

Tinged (e.g., "tinged with sadness")

Jittery

Grounded

Solid

Fragile

Leaky

Dissolving

Effervescent

Other Unique Somatic Descriptors

Prickly

Crawling

Sticky

Dry

Wet

Slippery

Velvety

Rough

Gritty

Levitating

Collapsing

Shimmering

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We're Andrea and Janelle--two midlife mavericks sharing openly about our own experiences--messy AF and no regrets----with marriage, divorce, polyamory and pleasure.

You'll hear from relationship experts, meet real life Bravehearts and get intimacy skills.

Truth: When we're brave enough to ask for what we want, honor our boundaries and have the hard conversations--with partners, friends, family and, most importantly, ourselves--magic happens and happiness ensues.

If you're seeking permission to create a new map for relationships and want to feel less alone along the way, we got you.

With glitter and radical acceptance, Janelle & Andrea.

Follow, subscribe and share!Learn more about us at: https://www.permissiontobehuman.live/

Music: "Running Wild" by LVDY https://www.lvdymusic.com/