
Playing With Fire
Hosted by Joli Hamilton
Researcher, relationship coach, and TED speaker Joli Hamilton explores compersion, jealousy, and the science of non-monogamy with co-host Ken Hamilton.
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Latest episodes (265 total)

260 ‘I feel seen… but not by you’ – Metamours, Jealousy, and Differentiation
Have you ever wondered what your partner looks like through someone else's eyes? It's a question that can bring up a swirl of emotions—curiosity, insecurity, excitement, maybe even panic. But what if that willingness to wonder is actually…
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259 Getting Unstuck: How a Frozen Imagination Blocks the Relationship You Want
What if the thing that’s really stopping you from changing your relationships isn’t a lack of motivation or willpower, but a frozen imagination? We all hold internal representations of ourselves, our partners, and our relationships in our…
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258 Patterns of Harm Need Patterns of Repair: Rethinking Closure
Ever feel like you're having the same conversation about the same hurt over and over again? Yeah, we’ve been there. And the surprising thing is… that's not necessarily a problem.We just did an episode on conflict and how it can actually…
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257 Conflict as Growth: Deepening Intimacy through Disagreement
When we see conflict as a red flag, we pave the way for dishonest ‘peace,’ people pleasing (where no one is actually pleased at all), and emotional walls that try to protect us but end up leaving us isolated and disconnected.The truth is…
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256 Leaving High-Demand Religion and Exploring Non-Monogamy with Natasha Helfer
Leaving high-demand religion isn't just about changing your Sunday morning schedule. It’s about deconstructing a belief system that touches everything in your life. And when you start pulling on this thread, you might find yourself…
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255 When should we start making agreements in NEW relationships?
Here’s a question we get a lot – at what point in a new relationship should you start making agreements? The answer might surprise you: you already are. From the moment you decide where to meet for a first date, you're making agreements.…
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254 How to Figure Out What You Want and Need: An Insider’s Experience of YOO
Figuring out what your wants and needs might sound simple, but it’s often… really not.To help you navigate this question, we’re bringing you a super special episode in a never-before-seen (and possibly never to be seen again!) format.…
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253 The Shadow of Compersion
Compersion – feeling joy for another person’s joy – is a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to non-monogamy. But, like anything that’s bright and shiny, there’s a shadow side to compersion, and we’ve seen it become a stumbling…
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252 Triad Life in a World of Couples with Margo, Jody & Chris
Relationships are messy, and when you re-imagine life with three instead of two, well, let's just say the complexity multiplies in ways you might not expect, even if you've been practicing non-monogamy for decades. So what does it…
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251 Trailblazing vs Following: The Hidden Dynamic That May Be Creating Resentment
When a couple opens their relationship, there’s almost always one partner who tends to take more initiative – to seek out information, read all the books, listen to podcasts, find a poly-aware therapist, initiate important conversations…
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250 Relationship Re‑Imagination: The Framework
To celebrate hitting 250 episodes of Playing With Fire, we’re diving deep into something we've been asked about constantly since our first episode on it over a year ago: Relationship Re-Imagination.We introduced this concept back in…
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[Replay] 194 Re-Imagining Relationships
When something isn't working, even if you’ve been practicing non-monogamy for a long time, it’s really easy to default into the monogamous paradigm, which offers only a few set options. But what if there was another way?Reimagining a…
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Older episodes (253)
- 249 Is Your Non‑Monogamy Actually Just Two Monogamies?Jun 20, 2026
- 248 Beyond People-Pleasing: Practicing Healthy Autonomy in RelationshipsJun 13, 2026
- 247 Non-Monogamy, Mono-Mind: The Invisible Scripts Running Your CommunicationJun 6, 2026
- 246 We Opened up Too Fast. What Do We Do Now?May 30, 2026
- 245 Check-Ins That Actually WorkMay 23, 2026
- 244 But I Feel like I’m Gonna Die: What Happens When Agreements Meet Attachment PanicMay 16, 2026
- 243 Making Decisions Together: Permission, Consultation, and Notification in RelationshipsMay 9, 2026
- 242 Betrayal Repair in Non-MonogamyMay 2, 2026
- 241 Betrayal & Non-Monogamy with Eve Rickert Mar 7, 2026
- [Replay] 222 The Greater the Tension, the Greater the Potential: Individuating in Relationships Feb 28, 2026
- 240 The Alchemy of Erotic Jealousy & Compersion: A Reverse-Interview with Dr. Marie Thouin & Dr. Joli HamiltonFeb 21, 2026
- [Replay] 229 Shadow Work in Relationships: What We Keep From Ourselves Feb 14, 2026
- [Replay] 177 Shadow Dance: Navigating Projections in RelationshipsFeb 7, 2026
- [Replay] 105 Shadow Work: What if your monsters were trying to help you live the life you always wanted?Jan 31, 2026
- [Replay] 164 I HATE THIS: Get Unstuck with Existential Kink (A shadow work method) Jan 24, 2026
- 239 Radical Relating with Mel CassidyJan 17, 2026
- 238 Thriving in Long-Distance Relationships Jan 10, 2026
- 237 The Art & Practice of Shedding Mono-NormativityJan 3, 2026
- 236 Co-Creating Magnificent SexDec 27, 2025
- 235 I Think I'm Polyamorous, But I'm in a Monogamous MarriageDec 20, 2025
- 234 How to Figure Out What You Want (And Why It’s So Damn Hard)Dec 13, 2025
- 233 The Case for ‘Boring’ PolyamoryDec 6, 2025
- 232 How to Keep Going When Non-Monogamy Feels Too HardNov 29, 2025
- 231 The Holiday Survival Guide for Polyamorous PeopleNov 22, 2025
- 230 Can Trauma Survivors Do Non-Monogamy?Nov 15, 2025
- 229 Shadow Work in Relationships: What We Keep From OurselvesNov 8, 2025
- 228 “I Only Get the Hard Parts”: Living with Asymmetry in Polyamory and LifeNov 1, 2025
- 227 Transforming Shame into Love with Jessica Fern and David CooleyOct 25, 2025
- 226 The Secret Sauce of Happy Non-Monogamy: Exquisite Transition ManagementOct 18, 2025
- 225 Fears, Hopes, and Aftercare: Preparing for Polycule GatheringsOct 11, 2025
- 224 Relationship Anarchy with Dr. Nicole ThompsonOct 4, 2025
- 223 Recovering From Purity Culture with Lauren Elise BarnesSep 27, 2025
- 222 The Greater the Tension, the Greater the Potential: Individuating in RelationshipsSep 20, 2025
- 221 The Art of Reassurance: Relating Through Doubt and FearSep 13, 2025
- 220 How to Finally Hear Each Other: Low vs. High Context CommunicationSep 6, 2025
- 219 A Patient Path into Non-Monogamy with Laura & BillAug 30, 2025
- 218 What will opening up do to us?Aug 23, 2025
- 217 Jealous right now? Listen to this.Aug 16, 2025
- 216 Helping Your Partner Through an Intense Moment of JealousyAug 9, 2025
- 215 Nurturing Established Relationship EnergyAug 2, 2025
- 214 Defying Mononormativity with @PolyamarlaJul 26, 2025
- 213 Psychedelics and Non-Monogamy with Dr. Nicole ThompsonJul 19, 2025
- 212 Repair SkillsJul 12, 2025
- 211 The Drama Triangle: How to Get Unstuck From Your Sticky FightsJul 5, 2025
- 210 Non-Monogamy Firsts: Managing Emotions When Your Partner Explores New ExperiencesJun 28, 2025
- 209 Transitioning from Swinging to PolyamoryJun 21, 2025
- 208 Relationship Anarchy: Tailor-Making ALL Your Relationships with Annie UndoneJun 14, 2025
- 207 Turning Goals into Self-AgreementsJun 7, 2025
- 206 The Grief of JealousyMay 31, 2025
- 205 Hierarchy or Priority?May 24, 2025
- 204 Liminality: Your Key to Relationship Paradigm ShiftingMay 17, 2025
- 203 Money & Non-monogamy: Skip This Episode at Your Own PerilMay 10, 2025
- 202 How do we maintain the relationship renaissance after opening up?May 3, 2025
- 201 Lots of fish in the sea, how do I find mine?Apr 26, 2025
- 200 Episodes Strong: What We've Learned About Love, Business, and GrowthApr 19, 2025
- 199 Why Verbal Agreements Suck (And Why We Still Use Them)Apr 12, 2025
- 198 Why does jealousy freak out the nervous system?Apr 5, 2025
- 197 I Want What They’ve Got: Feeling Envy Towards Your PartnerMar 29, 2025
- 196 Envy: How to Use It and How to Lose ItMar 22, 2025
- 195 Help, I’ve Struck Gold: Handling NRE in Two RelationshipsMar 15, 2025
- 194 Re-Imagining RelationshipsMar 8, 2025
- 193 Beyond Good Intentions: Building True Integrity in RelationshipsMar 1, 2025
- 192 [Replay] What would you do with your full power? A conversation about kink, power exchange, and everyday life with Mollena Williams-HaasFeb 22, 2025
- 191 [Replay] Turn your Toxic Attractions into Psychological Growth with Sunny MegatronFeb 15, 2025
- 190 [Replay] Shadow work: What if your monsters were trying to help you live the life you always wanted?Feb 8, 2025
- 189 [Replay] Can my attachment style do non-monogamy?Feb 1, 2025
- 188 [Replay] Justice JealousyJan 25, 2025
- 187 [Replay] Imago Dialogue: Transforming Conflict into ConnectionJan 18, 2025
- 186 Polyamory in the Second Half of Adulthood with Kathy LabriolaJan 11, 2025
- 185 Conscious UncouplingJan 4, 2025
- 184 Q&A Quickie: Why get married?Dec 28, 2024
- 183 Pelvic and Sexual Health for Every Body with Dr. Ariana CesareDec 21, 2024
- 182 Q&A Quickie: What should I do when my partner wants gender-based rules in non-monogamy?Dec 14, 2024
- 181 Q&A Quickie: Privacy vs. Transparency—How do I feel safer?Dec 7, 2024
- 180 Hyper-Individualism vs Healthy Autonomy: Am I The A**hole?Nov 30, 2024
- 179 One Kid’s Reflection on Being Raised by Polyamorous ParentsNov 23, 2024
- 178 The One to Share with Your Concerned Family MembersNov 16, 2024
- 177 Shadow Dance: Navigating Projections in RelationshipsNov 9, 2024
- 176 Dismantling Defensiveness Nov 2, 2024
- 175 Coming Out as Non-Monogamous: Risks, Rewards, & How To Get ReadyOct 26, 2024
- 174 Social Monogamy: The Impact of Maintaining Your Mono-ImageOct 19, 2024
- 173 Getting off the Relationship Escalator (Or Choosing Not To)Oct 12, 2024
- 172 Grieving Change: A Crucial Relationship SkillOct 5, 2024
- 171 Why Self-Agreements Will Make or Break Your RelationshipsSep 28, 2024
- 170 Jealousy & Attachment PanicSep 21, 2024
- 169 Q&A Quickie: Why am I having such a hard time sticking to my agreements?Sep 14, 2024
- 168 Ethics, Responsibility, and the Changing Landscape of Non-Monogamy with Eve Rickert and Andrea ZaninSep 7, 2024
- 167 Unfuck Your Monomind, Part 2Aug 31, 2024
- 166 Q&A Quickie: How do I deal with my anxiety when my partner is on a date?Aug 24, 2024
- 165 Monogamy, In This Economy? with Laura BoyleAug 17, 2024
- 164 I HATE THIS: Get Unstuck with Existential Kink (A shadow work method) Aug 10, 2024
- 163 Playfulness, Vulnerability, and Parenting with Abbey & Liam from Evolving LoveAug 3, 2024
- 162 Non-Monogamy & Community: Real Stories from YOOJul 27, 2024
- 161 Adopting a Polyamorous Lens with Alex Alberto, Author of EntwinedJul 20, 2024
- 160 Getting Your Needs MetJul 13, 2024
- 159 Q&A Quickie: How can I handle my resentment that my partner isn’t into what I want?Jul 6, 2024
- 158 Desire Discrepancy: What to Do When Your Wants Don’t AlignJun 29, 2024
- 157 What Is Compersion? with Author Marie ThouinJun 22, 2024
- 156 Betrayal Trauma & Non-MonogamyJun 15, 2024
- 155 Q&A Quickie: How do we rebuild from lost trust?Jun 8, 2024
- 154 Research-Backed Therapy for Non-Monogamous People with Dr. River FarrellJun 1, 2024
- 153 Limerence vs. New Relationship EnergyMay 25, 2024
- 152 How to Take Intentional Relationship BreaksMay 18, 2024
- 151 Justice JealousyMay 11, 2024
- 150 Asymmetric Agreements: How much balance should we strive for?May 4, 2024
- 149 Relationship Agreements 101Apr 27, 2024
- 148 Can my attachment style do non-monogamy?Apr 20, 2024
- 147 How to Build Healthy DifferentiationApr 13, 2024
- 146 Will non-monogamy make it possible to stay together?Apr 6, 2024
- 145 How can I handle dysregulation in my relationships?Mar 30, 2024
- 144 Handling Polyamory Problems: Q&A with Polywise Authors Jessica Fern and David CooleyMar 16, 2024
- 143 Consent, Stronger Relationships, and Hotter Sex in a Changing World with Author Dr. Eric FitzMedrudMar 2, 2024
- 142 Enmeshment: Are you over-functioning in your relationship?Feb 17, 2024
- 141 Being Polywise with Jessica Fern and David CooleyFeb 3, 2024
- 140 [Replay] Balancing Individuation & Secure Attachment with Polysecure Author Jessica FernJan 20, 2024
- 139 Hinge Skills Part 2: How to Go From Squeaky Hinge to Skilled Tapestry WeaverJan 13, 2024
- 138 How can I be a better hinge partner?Jan 6, 2024
- 137 Handling the Stress of Relational GrowthDec 23, 2023
- 136 Help, I got poly-bombed!Dec 16, 2023
- 135 Veto Power: The Good, the Bad, and the UglyDec 9, 2023
- 134 Agreements, Boundaries, and ConsequencesDec 2, 2023
- 133 Doing the Relationship WorkNov 25, 2023
- 132 Why am I not enough?Nov 18, 2023
- 131 De-Escalating Relationships with CareNov 11, 2023
- 130 Turn Your Toxic Attractions Into Psychological Growth with Sunny MegatronNov 4, 2023
- 129 Imago Dialogue: Transforming Conflict into ConnectionOct 28, 2023
- 128 Unfuck Your Mono-MindOct 21, 2023
- 127 Comperstruggle: When Jealousy & Compersion Collide with Dr. Marie ThouinOct 14, 2023
- 126 Finding Your People with the Hosts of Normalizing Non-Monogamy, Emma & FinOct 7, 2023
- 125 The Jealousy RoadmapSep 23, 2023
- 124 Are you ready to bring your whole quirky self to your relationships? with Rachel WrightSep 9, 2023
- 123 Weasel Words and Creating More Intimacy in your RelationshipsAug 26, 2023
- 122 Get The Skills to Build your Own Relationship - With Guest Expert Carrie JeroslowAug 19, 2023
- 121 Am I cut out for non-monogamy? Finding safety during your explorationAug 12, 2023
- 120 How do I break through relationship stagnation?Aug 5, 2023
- 119 Soft Cock Week with guest expert Michelle ReneeJul 22, 2023
- 118 Are there quick and easy ways to manage stress? A: Yes. With guest experts Elisabeth Kristof, Melanie Weller, and Matt BushJul 15, 2023
- 117 Business and pleasure with Beth HankesJul 9, 2023
- 116 Mindful Dating with guest expert Marie ThouinJul 1, 2023
- 115 The Nature of Relating with guest expert Megan BhatiaJun 17, 2023
- 114 Non-monogamy is a psychological growth lab: Are you ready?Jun 10, 2023
- 113 How to do hard things & build exceptional love with Neuro-Somatic Intelligence expert Elisabeth KristofJun 3, 2023
- 112 Sex clubs and more with Ashley Weller from What's Your Position podcastMay 27, 2023
- 111 Build Your Relationship Toolkit with guest experts Dedeker, Emily & Jase of the Multiamory podcastMay 20, 2023
- 110 How surrogate partner therapy works with guest expert Brian GibneyMay 13, 2023
- 109 We Opened Up & EEK! What to do when exciting beginnings turn scaryMay 6, 2023
- 108 What would you do with your full power? A conversation about kink, power exchange, and everyday life with Mollena Williams-HaasApr 29, 2023
- 107 Power dynamics for non-kinksters (part 2) How to share power when you were raised to be an entitled jerk & a martyrApr 17, 2023
- 106 The conversation that will change your life: Power dynamics for non-kinkstersApr 8, 2023
- 105 Shadow work: What if your monsters were trying to help you live the life you always wanted?Apr 1, 2023
- 104 Help! What can I do with all my feelings when my partner is on a date?Mar 25, 2023
- 103 How to successfully ask your partner to explore non-monogamyMar 11, 2023
- 102 How to find, create, and enjoy non-monogamous community with guest expert Libby SinbackMar 4, 2023
- 101 Three ways of being polyamorousFeb 25, 2023
- 100 Finding relationship happiness through creative projectsFeb 18, 2023
- 99 Balancing individuation & secure attachment with Polysecure author Jessica FernFeb 11, 2023
- 98 You're *too much*Feb 4, 2023
- 97 Jealousy and sexual arousal: getting off on the green-eyed monster!Jan 28, 2023
- 96 Which is better: To open from the start or to establish couplehood first?Jan 21, 2023
- 95 Envisioning Your Dream RelationshipJan 14, 2023
- 94 Romantic Friendships: Subversive & AwesomeJan 7, 2023
- 93 [MOST POPULAR EPISODE replay] Relationship agreements in the wildDec 31, 2022
- 92 Finding help and hope during your shift from monogamy to polyamoryDec 24, 2022
- 91 How to deal with criticism so it doesn't ruin your relationships with Dr. Jessica HigginsDec 17, 2022
- 90 How to make exciting relationship changes less scaryDec 10, 2022
- 89 Which relationship style is right for you? Learn the taxonomy of non-monogamyDec 3, 2022
- 88 How do I build sensual & sexual desire?Nov 26, 2022
- 87 Is polyamory practical? with guest Laura BoyleNov 19, 2022
- 86 Stop compromising in your intimate relationships.Nov 12, 2022
- 85 How can I feel more compersion? with Dr. Marie ThouinNov 5, 2022
- 84 How to have happier relationships using Neuro-Somatic IntelligenceOct 22, 2022
- 83 How to heal from jealousy and envy Oct 15, 2022
- 82 Choosing an individuation relationship with or without your partnerOct 8, 2022
- 81 Here's why we are Playing with Fire!Oct 1, 2022
- 80 Creating conscious, compassionate, open relationships with guest author Kate Loree, LMFTAug 28, 2022
- 79 Expansive Intimacy with Jim Young, The Centered CoachAug 21, 2022
- 78 How, When & Why to Visit a Pleasure-Centered Shop with Beth Hankes from Earth & SaltAug 14, 2022
- 77 Naturally attract the partners you long for with guest Allana PrattAug 7, 2022
- 75 Leaving purity culture for a life you love - with guest Lauren Elise BarnesJul 24, 2022
- 74 Why is my partner so weird? Wait, why am I so weird?Jul 17, 2022
- 73 How to start building a designer relationshipJul 10, 2022
- 72 How to be a classy visitor to a strip club with expert guest Elle Stanger, CSEJul 3, 2022
- 71 Doing what you said you'd do: When accountability works and when it doesn'tJun 26, 2022
- 70 Guest Expert Megan Bhatia: Choosing Polyamory While Raising a FamilyJun 19, 2022
- 69 The Year Of OpeningJun 12, 2022
- 68 Train Your Nervous System to Transform Your Relationships with Elisabeth KristofJun 5, 2022
- 67 Exploring **Potential** KinksApr 24, 2022
- 66 Who Started It? The Decision to Open UpApr 17, 2022
- 65 Relationship Agreement Skills - Shared Values & Relationship PurposeApr 10, 2022
- 64 Trust: Building and RebuildingApr 3, 2022
- 63 Relationship SabotageMar 27, 2022
- 62 Wounds & ApologiesMar 20, 2022
- 61 Relational Individuation: On becoming your SelfMar 13, 2022
- 60 Making FUN happen in long term relationshipsMar 6, 2022
- 59 What do I do with unrequited hots?Mar 1, 2022
- 58 Anxiety when you are consensually non-monogamousFeb 20, 2022
- 57 Affection and Non-sexual IntimacyFeb 13, 2022
- 56 Creative MonogamyFeb 6, 2022
- 55 Parenting While PolyamorousJan 30, 2022
- 54 Where do we learn the skills of adult friendships?Jan 2, 2022
- 53 How to be happier when big changes threaten your marriageDec 26, 2021
- 52 Sex parties? Yes, sex parties.Dec 19, 2021
- 51 Let's optimize our sex lives!Dec 12, 2021
- 50 Where is envy secretly kicking your ass?Dec 5, 2021
- 49 Using love languages to make the gift-giving season more pleasurableNov 28, 2021
- 48 Keeping sex hot over the long termNov 21, 2021
- 47 Nuanced Conversations in Polyamory: Secondaries, Solos, and Couple's PrivilegeNov 14, 2021
- 46 How, when, and why to CELEBRATE!Nov 7, 2021
- 45 Silent agreement - One person's perspective on a sexless marriageOct 31, 2021
- 44 Three ways porn has brought us closer togetherOct 24, 2021
- 43 The missing ingredient in boundary work with guest Melissa HiteOct 17, 2021
- 42 It's normal to be a messy human in messy relationships. Really, it is.Oct 10, 2021
- 41 Emotional regulation and co-regulationOct 3, 2021
- 40 How to have a productive consensual non-monogamy conversationSep 26, 2021
- 39 I want to be consensually non-monogamous: how do I talk to my partner?Sep 19, 2021
- 38 How jealousy was the best thing that ever happened to meSep 12, 2021
- 37 Summer's over... negotiating how we handle getting back to the grindSep 5, 2021
- 36 Vacation sex at homeAug 29, 2021
- 35 How not to let your relationship agreement screw up your relationshipAug 22, 2021
- 34 Three ways masturbation improves your relationshipAug 15, 2021
- 33 Individuation Accelerator: What if we don't keep the same beat in our relationship?Aug 8, 2021
- 32 What do I do when my partner's family is driving me crazy?Aug 1, 2021
- 31 Threesomes... what to consider before the funJul 25, 2021
- 30 How to go from off-the-rack to custom-designed relationshipJul 18, 2021
- 29 Letting your partner grow at their own paceJul 4, 2021
- 28 Showing up for your partner during heartbreak & griefJun 20, 2021
- 27 Relationship agreements in the wildJun 6, 2021
- 26 Doesn't this person ever leave?May 9, 2021
- 25 No, really, who IS this person I love?Apr 25, 2021
- 24 Do I really want my lover to see me?Apr 18, 2021
- 23 Magic marriage ingredient: PlayMar 28, 2021
- 22 Relationship flags - red, green, and otherwiseMar 21, 2021
- 21 A secret weapon for relationship satisfactionMar 14, 2021
- 20 What an open relationship *might* look likeMar 7, 2021
- 19 The shame of a messy beginningFeb 28, 2021
- 18 Shame & secrecy (and sex!)Feb 21, 2021
- 17 Sexual FantasiesFeb 14, 2021
- 16 Relationship agreements and polyamory (or monogamy!)Feb 7, 2021
- 15 What does intimacy look like if you are non-monogamous?Jan 31, 2021
- 14 Why polyamory?Jan 24, 2021
- 13 Celebrating and still learningDec 29, 2020
- 12 Feel like a failure when a relationship ends? 3 tools to help ease life's big transitionsDec 24, 2020
- 11 Making money talk-aboutable Dec 22, 2020
- 10 Navigating drastically different communication stylesDec 18, 2020
- 9 Fighting with love...how we relearned how to argueDec 15, 2020
- 8 Sex reimagined...with one questionDec 10, 2020
- 7 How to get what you want for the holiday (or any day!)Dec 8, 2020
- 6 The courage to wantDec 3, 2020
- 5 Relationship resilience for the holidaysDec 1, 2020
- 4 Who the heck IS this person I love? Nov 26, 2020
- 3 Boundaries at the holidaysNov 24, 2020
- 2 Empowered relating & holiday stressNov 18, 2020
- 1 Wanting more in love (even at the holidays!)Nov 17, 2020
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