NAUGHTY GYM SHOW - Building Stronger Non-Monogamous Relationships

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Podcast by April and Scott

NAUGHTY GYM SHOW - Building Stronger Non-Monogamous Relationships

Naughty Gym Show is a podcast about non-monogamy, open relationships, swinging, polyamory, and the skills of building strong relationships beyond traditional monogamy. Hosted by Scott and April Shirley, the show explores how couples and individuals can create honest, ethical, and emotionally strong non-monogamous relationships. Each episode dives into the real work of modern love, communication, jealousy, autonomy, intimacy, trust, and personal growth. At the center of the show is a simple but radical idea: relational freedom. The belief that love grows strongest when it is chosen freely, supported by honesty, autonomy, and mutual respect rather than control or fear. These conversations draw from the broader framework behind Wild Love Theory, a modern philosophy of relationships built around authenticity, autonomy, and expansive connection. If you’re curious about ethical non-monogamy (ENM), exploring open relationships, navigating polyamory, or simply trying to build a more honest and resilient partnership, this show offers the conversations and skills most people were never taught. At Naughty Gym, relationships are treated like something you train for. We talk about the philosophy, psychology, and practical skills required to build relationships that are strong enough to hold freedom, truth, desire, and real intimacy. Expect deep conversations, practical insights, and honest stories about love, sex, commitment, and the future of relationships. Welcome to the gym.
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Latest episodes

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03 March 2026

Angry Feminist Era Activated: Unlearning Purity Culture & Defensive Masculinity

This week on The Naughty Gym Show, April takes the wheel for a real-time life update that starts with a chaotic wine-night incident (yes—April fell down 13 of 15 stairs in plush slippers… and Scott’s first response was to laugh 🙃) and turns into one of your most honest conversations yet. From there, you unpack what’s been swirling behind the scenes: launching your Patreon (with tiers starting at $3/month), opening bookings for your November retreats (aka “Naughty Gym Month”), and the stress of college + military academy decisions as your youngest son heads toward a major next chapter. Then the episode shifts into the deeper work: purity culture, sexual trauma, voice, righteous anger, and what it looks like to unlearn the systems that shaped both of you—especially in a conservative Southern context. You talk masculinity/femininity language, the “man box,” emotional labor and the invisible mental load, and why “just tell me what to do” isn’t partnership. Scott shares what he’s learning in therapy (and how even saying “I helped you” can quietly reinforce old roles), and you both name the goal: a relationship where men do their own inner work, women don’t have to carry the whole emotional burden, and both partners get to feel freer—and closer—because of it. Plus: you tease an After Chat on Patreon that allegedly tops the infamous “pissing on the couch” story (and may permanently lower Scott’s sex appeal, according to April). Listen, laugh, and maybe get a little wrecked—in the best way.

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17 February 2026

The Spectrum of Compersion: From Neutrality to Joy, Without Toxic Positivity, w/Dr. Marie Thouin

What if the goal is not to erase jealousy, but to stop letting it drive the car? Dr. Marie Thouin joins April and Scott to define compersion in clear, grounded terms, and to explain why it can show up as an emotion, an attitude, or even simple supportive neutrality. They talk about the spectrum from “I can handle this” to genuine joy, the “second arrow” of self-inflicted suffering, and the conditions that make compersion more likely: security in self, security in the relationship, supportive community, and more. The episode also explores how autonomy and trust intersect with boundaries, when “training wheels” help, and how to tell the difference between growth discomfort and self-abandonment.

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03 February 2026

Reframing Jealousy: Why The Word "Reclaiming" Gives Us The Ick

Jealousy isn’t always about fear of losing your partner. Sometimes it’s about losing yourself. In this episode, April and Scott share a real, recent story from their open-relationship journey that completely reframed what jealousy can mean—and it leads to a breakthrough concept they call “imposed burdens.” After Scott goes on a separate date (with April’s full consent and clear emotional parameters), April is surprised by a familiar “pit in the stomach”… but it isn’t abandonment, comparison, or panic. It’s something quieter and more revealing: envy of the freedom Scott has to play, explore, and dream—because she’s carrying the invisible weight of life logistics, emotional labor, and household admin. The conversation turns into a powerful (and practical) exploration of how “freedom” in a relationship can be technically true while still being impossible to access. They also unpack why the phrase “reclaiming your partner” gives them the ick—and why “reclamation sex” can sometimes smuggle in ownership, control, or reassurance-seeking disguised as intimacy. Instead, they share what reconnection looks like for them (spoiler: it’s more about presence, honesty, and nervous-system safety than performing a ritual). If you’ve ever felt jealous and couldn’t explain why… if you’re doing “the work” but still feel stuck… or if you’ve wondered whether rules are helping you heal or just helping you avoid… this one will hit. Plus: a behind-the-scenes update on their upcoming Wild Love Theory book release, the new Wild Love Book Circle, and their April retreat in the Smoky Mountains.

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28 January 2026

Two Keynotes LIVE From Hedonism Resort: Luna Matatas & Ashley Manta

In this live event recording, sex educator Luna Matatas breaks down why kink can feel so electrifying by exploring the psychology of power, risk, and taboo and how “eroticism” is really the felt sense of being lit up in mind and body. She offers a practical way to translate fantasy into real life by focusing less on props and more on the feelings and “flavors” you want to create, building a clear container of consent, and asking the two questions that change everything: How do I want to feel? How do you want to feel? Then sexologist and coach Ashley Manta introduces Internal Family Systems (IFS) as a powerful tool for relationships and non-monogamy: learning to notice your “parts,” stop speaking from them, and start speaking for them. With vulnerable, funny stories and concrete steps, she shows how to work with jealousy, fear, and insecurity without outsourcing your safety to your partner, and how self-energy (calm, curiosity, compassion, clarity, courage) turns conflict into repair, intimacy, and better sex.

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21 January 2026

BBBB 2026 Recap At Hedonism Resort: Doctor Strange, Gum Hair, & A Coma In The Hot Tub!

April and Scott recap Be Better at Being Bad 2026 at Hedonism—day by day—covering the themes, the workshops, the connection circles, and the parties that made this year’s week feel like the best yet. From Rave Bingo and fundraising for the Hedo Foundation to the Glow Party, foam party chaos, and the Superheroes & Villains night where “Professor X” somehow became “Doctor Strange,” they share the funny, the sexy, and the surprisingly meaningful moments that built real community. Plus: Wild Love Theory retreat updates, the Toronto X Club Pride weekend announcement, and why “Irish goodbyes” might be the secret to surviving a full takeover week.

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15 January 2026

LIVE From Hedonism (2/2): THE FREEDOM MANDATE - Scott's Keynote BBBB 2026

This week’s second special episode is Scott’s opening keynote from Be Better At Being Bad 2026 at Hedonism II Resort: The Freedom Mandate: The Ethical Case for Relational Freedom. Scott unpacks Wild Love Theory’s seven-word thesis, “Maximum relational happiness requires maximum relational freedom,” and asks the question that can feel both inspiring and terrifying: If your partner’s happiness matters to you… do you owe them freedom? From there, he draws a crucial line between true boundaries (inward-facing choices for self-protection) and what most couples call “boundaries” but are actually imposed limits designed to manage fear. He explains why rules can be necessary early on, but only as scaffolding: temporary supports meant to loosen as trust, regulation, and repair become load-bearing. The talk ends with a raw, personal story from Scott and April’s relationship: the moment Scott kissed April goodbye as she got ready for a date with no rules, and what that taught him about control, courage, and what it means to build a relational cathedral two free people can actually live inside. Next week we’ll release our full recap of BBBB 2026. If this keynote brings up questions or reflections, email Scott anytime at naughtygymonline@gmail.com.

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