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

How to find Sunny Megatron:

Website: http://sunnymegatron.com

Facebook http://facebook.com/sunnymegatron

Twitter http://twitter.com/sunnymegatron

Instagram http://instagram.com/sunnymegatron

Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnymegatron

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/sunnymegatron American Sex Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2HroMhWJnyZbMSsOBKwBnk

How to find Kate Loree:

Website http://kateloree.com

Facebook http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithkateloree

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opendeeplywithkateloree

https://www.facebook.com/kateloreelmft

Twitter http://twitter.com/kateloreelmft

Instagram http://instagram.com/opendeeplywithKateLoree

YouTube https://youtube.com/channel/UCSTFAqGYKW3sIUa0tKivbqQ

Open Deeply podcast is not therapy or a replacement for therapy.