<p>Radical relating isn&#39;t just about who you&#39;re dating—it&#39;s about dismantling systems of power and creating community. In this episode, we welcome Mel Cassidy, somatic relationship coach and author of &quot;Radical Relating: A Queer and Polyamory-Informed Guide to Love Beyond the Myth of Monogamy.&quot;</p><p>Mel shares their journey from blogger to coach to author, and how their work challenges the foundations of mono-normativity. We explore how white supremacy culture, colonization, and Christianity have shaped our understanding of relationships, and how we can break free from these restrictive patterns to create more authentic connections.</p><p>This conversation goes far beyond the typical focus on sex in non-monogamy discussions. Instead, we dive into how resource sharing, conflict resolution, and community building can help us create more liberatory forms of love—whether we&#39;re in monogamous relationships, polyamorous networks, or anywhere in between.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we talk about:</strong></p><p>— How white supremacy culture, colonization, and Christianity have shaped monogamy as the default relationship structure</p><p>— The concept of &quot;anarcule&quot; as a way to understand relationships beyond sexual connections</p><p>— Why perfectionism in relationships is a harmful aspect of mono-normativity that prevents authentic communication</p><p>— How the nuclear family was designed as a political tool to counter feminism and socialism</p><p>— Ways to practice resource sharing even if you&#39;re not interested in having multiple romantic partners</p><p>— The importance of decentering sex in our understanding of relationships and asking &quot;what does sex mean to you?&quot;</p><p>— Why Google calendars might actually <em>hide</em> conflict rather than resolve scheduling issues</p><p>— Practical approaches to conflict resolution, starting with low-stakes issues to build capacity</p><p>— How our nervous systems &quot;time travel&quot; during conflict, bringing up old wounds and patterns</p><p>— The value of understanding who you become during conflict and how to work with different conflict styles</p><p><strong>Resources mentioned in this episode:</strong></p><p>— Mel Cassidy&#39;s new book: <a href="https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/radical-relating/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Radical Relating: A Queer and Polyamory-Informed Guide to Love Beyond the Myth of Monogamy</a></p><p>JOIN The Year Of Opening® community for a full year of learning &amp; support. Registration is open now at <a href="http://www.theyearofopening.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠</a></p><p>Learn the <a href="https://www.jolihamilton.com/salon" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">5 secrets to open your relationship the smart way</a></p><p>Are you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at <a href="http://www.joliquiz.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">www.JoliQuiz.com</a></p><p>Get the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! <a href="https://www.jolihamilton.com/ama" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Sign up for an Ask Me Anything here</a></p><p>Music: Dance of Felt by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/242798" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Blue Dot Sessions</a></p>