How To Love Forever

A Cheeky Little Holiday Message From Us

Spreading a little holiday cheer from Heather & Marco your friends at How To Love Forever.  And why are Santa's cheeks red?

SEX ON THE STREET! America Exposes Itself On Las Vegas Boulevard

(Warning: Explicit Sex Talk, Very NSFW)
IN THIS EPISODE, we engage in a daring social experiment
We travel to The Fabulous Las Vegas Strip to chat with complete strangers about sex and love
We put random tourists on the spot by asking them seriously personal and intimate questions
We learn what they consider to be the most important aspects to a healthy romantic relationship
We study their comments to take the general temperature of the American Romantic Landscape
We each disclose our personal story about losing our virginity
And we even hear about one guy’s awkward experience with a prostitute… and a plastic bag
Ah, real life stories

OPEN RELATIONSHIPS EXPLAINED: Nonmonogamy, Polyamory, Swingers, + What It All Means

We discuss the recent media meltdown after shocking sexual revelations by beloved Hollywood sweethearts Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith.
We share bits of a conversation Nico Tortorella & Bethany Meyer shared on the show Red Table Talk about Ethical Nonmonogamy (ENM).
We do a deep dive into the diverse world of alternative relationships to demystify and clarify our preconceptions.
We do an overview of the most common alternative relationship structures, what defines them, how they work, and what their benefits might be.
We disclose the eye-opening results of multiple scientific studies which reveal the impacts these types of relationships can have on our lives.
And we play with POLYCULES!
 
Some online resources we discussed in the show:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/compersion
 
https://www.askmen.com/dating/dating_advice/what-is-compersion-and-how-to-foster-it-in-your-relationship.html
 
https://level.medium.com/will-and-jada-pinkett-smith-taught-me-relationships-arent-one-size-fits-all-e286effb48f8
 
https://shrimpteeth.org/structures/
 
RELATIONSHIP BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURES?
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407514529065
For instance, in qualitative studies, the majority of individuals engaged in CNM reported that their marriage improved https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407514529065
and that they felt increased warmth, closeness, and love toward their partner as a result of their CNM lifestyle https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407514529065#
Moreover, individuals engaged in CNM reported less jealousy than those not engaged in CNM https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407514529065#and often described feeling positive about their partner’s relationship(s) with others https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407514529065#
(THAT’S  COMPERSION)
 
Qualities such as deep commitment, a high level of satisfaction and trust, heightened intimacy, with a low level of jealousy. Which is particularly fascinating, because those in a secure relationship are less likely to cheat and also enjoy sex with their partner more
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407514529065#
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-polyamorists-next-door/201407/7-different-kinds-non-monogamy
Studies by Rubin and colleagues and Levine and colleagues both found that 4 to 5 percent of the population of the United States was currently involved in a CNM relationship, and Fairbrother and colleagues found the same ratio for Canadians. And keep in mind that more people try CNM at some point in their lives than are currently in a CNM relationship at any given time.
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1133&context=psychology_articles
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10508-018-1178-7
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2019.1580667
 
 

ABUSE IS NOT LOVE: Identifying Abuse & Getting The Help You Need, + Interview With Beth Flory of Safe House NV

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS THE TRAGIC TRUTHS OF ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
WE DISCOVER JUST HOW COMMON ABUSE IS IN OUR CULTURE AND IN OTHERS
WE ESTABLISH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DYSFUNCTIONAL AND AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
WE HAVE A LONG CHAT WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER
WE GAIN SERIOUS INSIGHTS, HEAR SOME TRAGIC TALES, AND SHARE RESOURCES FOR GETTING HELP
Here are some quick links to help you find out more:
 
https://www.thehotline.org
24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline   1.800.799.7233
 
National Network Against Domestic Violence 
https://nnedv.org/
 
S.A.F.E. House (Southern Nevada)
Emergency Shelter
-24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 702-564-3227
Advocacy and Counseling
-Office: 702.451.4203
All Services Free 
Spanish Speaking Employees on Staff and Translation Services Available via Language Line 
 
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/programs/family-violence-prevention-services/programs/ndvh
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)
 
https://safenest.org
SafeNest: Temporary Assistance for Domestic Crisis, Nevada
 
The Power & Control Wheel Explained:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OrAdC6ySiY
 
https://www.domesticshelters.org/.../statistics/what-are-the-power-and-control-wheels
The Power and Control Wheel.
 
 

SIGNS OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP: If Your Relationship Is Like This, You’re Doing A Great Job!

In this episode we talk about positive signs that suggest you’re in a healthy relationship 
We explore 10 hallmarks of healthy relationships & make some suggestions for putting them into practice 
We compare dysfunctional relationships to the Star Trek mirror universe (like total nerds)
We reveal the single greatest factor that determines relationship satisfaction.
 
Some online resources for your benefit: 
Signs of a healthy relationship, inlcuding dome of Prof Chris Leeth's quotes:
https://www.insider.com/healthy-relationships
40%/50% or marriages end in divorce
https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce-child-custody#:~:text=They%20are%20also%20good%20for,subsequent%20marriages%20is%20even%20higher.
Emily Jordan Jensen, PhD, https://ccaps.umn.edu/emily-jordan-jensen a licensed marriage and family therapist and professor of behavioral health at the University of Minnesota https://twin-cities.umn.edu/  says "Intimate relationships are all about finding a balance between 'I' and 'We',"
National Academy Of Sciences Studies link in the show description along with the there links) that partner appreciation is one of the key predictors of whether couples enjoy relationship satisfaction. https://www.pnas.org/content/117/32/19061
2019 study http://www.scielo.br/pdf/paideia/v29/1982-4327-paideia-29-e2919.pdf shows that problem solving together as a couple creates higher likelihood of relationship satisfaction.
A 2020 review https://www.pnas.org/content/117/32/19061 of 43 different studies discovered that the single greatest factor determining relationship satisfaction is the feeling that ones partner is committed to you &  the relationship.

AM I IN A DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP? How To Identify Signs Of A Bad Relationship

In this episode We share our impressions of an article by a veteran relationship counselor and clinical psychologist
we explore the most common forms of relationship dysfunction
We learn how common relationship dysfunction actually is
We establish the difference between dysfunction and abuse
We banter on about going to Mars vs. going to the beach
We disclose how relationships are like video games
We go gaga over each other’s big giant words!
 
Some online resources for you to check out:
Most common forms of dysfunction- Randi Gunther Ph.D.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/randi-gunther-phd
Rediscovering Love
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love
According to Dr. Randi Gunther,“More men than women fear exile
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/fear
A good investigation by psychology today:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201401/is-your-relationship-dysfunctional
 
 
 
 

THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES EXPLAINED: A Basic Roadmap To Relationship Styles

IN THIS EPISODE, we explore the 5 Love Languages!
We share the history of the book and the author’s success after its publication.
We explain each of the 5 Love Languages and have a conversation about how they relate to our own love life.
We identify the love languages that work best for us, the ones that don’t.
We share other friends’ experiences around the 5 Love Languages and invite you to share your own.  
We make a bit of fun of ourselves.
& We curse a little.
 
Some online sources for you to check out:
https://www.5lovelanguages.com/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/click-here-happiness/202009/what-are-the-5-love-languages-definition-and-examples
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/understanding-the-five-love-languages/
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-5-love-languages-explained
 
 

WELCOME TO OUR WEIRD & WONDERFUL SHOW! Introduction & Mission Of HOW TO LOVE FOREVER

We welcome our dear listeners to our new podcast, and open up quite a bit about our own formative experiences which led us to where we are today.  We unveil our mission for this project, and lay down a sneak peek at some things you can expect in this premiere season.  We also make super darn sure you have our social media info  :-)

HOW TO LOVE FOREVER Season Premiere Teaser

Welcome to How To Love Forever, a fun & irreverent podcast series exploring the wide world of relationships, romance and sexuality.This is our teaser reel, wherein we introduce ourselves and our mission with a little saucy repartee.