The One About Polyamory with Em Mortenson

The One About Polyamory with Em Mortenson

From But For Real by Valerie Martin & Emerson Ryder

April 29, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 43

About this episode

The episode explores the complexities of polyamory and ethical non-monogamy with therapist Em Mortenson.

So… your partner brings up opening the relationship. 👀 And you’re trying to be thoughtful, open-minded, maybe even a little curious… but there’s also this voice in the background like: “Wait… do I actually want this?” 🫠 In this episode of But For Real , we’re sitting down with therapist Em Mortenson to get into the real conversation around polyamory and ethical non-monogamy—beyond the labels, beyond the hot takes, and into what this actually looks and feels like in real life. Because yeah, on paper? It can sound freeing. Honest. Even aligned. ✨ But in practice? It can bring up jealousy, fear, uncertainty—and a whole lot of questions about where your “yes” is actually coming from. We’re talking about what happens when a partner introduces this idea, how to navigate the in-between space of not knowing yet , and why this isn’t something you have to rush to figure out overnight. And we keep coming back to this: It’s one thing to understand something intellectually… and another to feel ready for it in your body. So if you’ve ever found yourself wondering: “Am I actually into this… or am I trying to be okay with it?” “Is jealousy a red flag—or just part of the process?” “How do I…

People in this episode

Hosts: Valerie Martin, Emerson Ryder

Guest: Em Mortenson

Topics covered

  • polyamory
  • ethical non-monogamy
  • jealousy
  • relationship dynamics
  • self-exploration

Keywords

  • polyamory
  • ethical non-monogamy
  • jealousy
  • relationship
  • self-discovery
  • communication
  • boundaries

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