Better Sex

365: Polyagony - Common Mistakes in Ethical Non-Monogamy with Candace Sjogren

Feb 16, 2026
Candace Sjogren, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and transformational leader who wrote Polyagony, shares personal experience and advocacy in ethical non-monogamy. They cover why people open relationships and common mistakes. Conversations explore forming and pacing agreements, consent and power dynamics, handling hinge roles and polyparenting, and managing complex group relationship dynamics.
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INSIGHT

Permission Doesn’t Heal Underlying Issues

  • Allowing sex outside the relationship won't fix deeper issues like self-sabotage or low self-worth that underlie cheating.
  • Permission without inner work often leads to repeated agreement-breaking and harm.
ADVICE

Avoid Saying Yes From Fear

  • Don't agree to non-monogamy just to keep your partner happy or avoid loss.
  • Address people-pleasing and sovereignty before committing to open relating.
ADVICE

Unlearn Monogamy Then Build Agreements

  • Grieve the monogamous norms and unlearn cultural programming before forming new agreements.
  • Build agreements, discuss hopes and fears, and avoid 'winging it' when you begin open relating.
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