Human Beings, being human

being in the In-Between

In this episode of Human Beings, being human, I’m not sharing a story I’ve already walked through—I’m sharing the one I’m living right now. Earlier this year, I left behind a secure but soul-numbing federal job. After nearly a decade of “counting sheep and goats,” the comfort had become confinement, and I knew I couldn’t grow there anymore. So I quit—without a plan, only a leap of faith into the unknown.  What followed was messy: financial anxiety, sleepless nights, doubts about my worth, even ruptures in my relationship. But breakdowns became breakthroughs as I learned to face the fears I’d spent years avoiding. Instead of pushing them away, I began listening—discovering that on the other side of fear is often the very desire I’ve been longing for.  I share what it’s been like to sit with shadow, to give up alcohol and feel what I used to numb, and to let therapy and mirrors of connection hold me through the hardest parts. And I share the hope and clarity that’s begun to emerge—the trust that my worth isn’t something I have to prove, but something I can remember and return to.  If you’re in your own season of transition—between jobs, identities, relationships, or versions of yourself—I hope my story helps you feel less alone. You’re not broken, you’re not behind. You’re becoming.  I’d love to hear from you: What have your seasons of in-between looked like? What challenges have you faced, and what did you learn by walking through them?  Let’s keep becoming—together.

being Non-Monogamous

What does it really mean to live and love beyond traditional rules? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Sky to explore the messy, beautiful, and deeply human experience of being non-monogamous. Together we talk about what drew us into this path, the challenges and breakthroughs we’ve faced, and how non-monogamy has changed the way we see ourselves, our partners, and love itself. This isn’t a “how-to” guide. It’s a conversation about the real stuff—the fear of being vulnerable, the courage it takes to tell the truth, the joy of deep connection, and the heartbreaks that shape us along the way. Sky shares stories that are raw and relatable, while I reflect on my own journey of learning how to communicate, negotiate, and love in ways I never thought possible. At its heart, this episode is about more than just relationship structures. It’s about being human together. About what it means to feel seen, held, and heard in our relationships, and how leaning into honesty—even when it’s uncomfortable—creates space for intimacy, freedom, and belonging. If you’ve ever wondered about non-monogamy, or if you’re just curious about how people make meaning of love in their own lives, this conversation is for you. My hope is that you leave this episode not only with a window into non-monogamy, but also with permission to ask deeper questions in your own relationships—and to trust that the hard conversations can lead to more connection, not less. Come as you are. Leave a little more human. If you loved Sky and would like to work with her, you can contact her here.  https://www.erikalabuzanlopeztherapy.com/meet-sky-counseling-intern-couplestherapy-marriagecounseling-leaguecity-houston-texas

being in Relationships

In this intimate episode, I trace my personal relationship journey—from shy teenager, to married and opening up, to embracing many loves, and finally calling in my current primary partner. It’s a story about learning what love means when you stop following default rules and start creating relationships with intention.  I share the awkwardness of my early years, when I barely spoke to the girls I liked, and the sweetness of my first love at 15—a connection that planted the seed for the kind of intimacy I’d always seek. I talk about the long stretch between then and my marriage, where I often found myself drawn to people who were unavailable in some way, and how that shaped my early understanding of love.  When I got married, I knew about non-monogamy but hadn’t practiced it. We eventually opened our relationship, and while it brought new possibilities, it also brought every insecurity and fear to the surface. That experience taught me what doesn’t work for me—and pushed me to start asking better questions about what I actually want.  Post-divorce, I dove into learning: books like More Than Two and The Ethical Slut, relationship coaching, and a lot of trial and error. In 2019, I found myself in three concurrent relationships that felt surprisingly easy and connected—none of us trying to be each other’s “everything.” I realized that variety wasn’t a lack; it was richness.  When the pandemic hit, one of those relationships deepened. I said yes to it even knowing it might end, because endings can be just as sacred as beginnings. That conscious ending made space for what I truly wanted: a primary partner.  That’s when Ziona came into my life. Introduced through mutual friends, we connected immediately. We chose to be monogamous for our first couple of years, building a foundation of trust, safety, and communication. Now, with that foundation in place, we’re expanding again—slowly, intentionally, and with joy for each other’s joy. That’s compersion: finding pleasure in your partner’s pleasure.  This episode explores:  * Why I no longer believe in one person meeting all my needs * How conscious endings can be deeply healing * The importance of starting with friendship and moving at the pace of your nervous system * Why there’s no “better” between monogamy and polyamory—only what works for those involved * The role of intention and communication in every relationship style If you’ve ever questioned your relationship model, felt torn between tradition and curiosity, or wondered how to build something that truly fits you—this episode is for you. It’s not about choosing the “right” structure; it’s about being in relationship in a way that feels aligned, alive, and authentic.   💬 Reflection prompt: What’s your relationship style—really? And what would you choose if you set aside everything you were told was “right” or “normal”?

becoming Kinsey

What’s in a name? For some of us, everything. In this intimate episode, Kinsey shares the deeply personal and transformative journey of becoming Kinsey—from growing up with a name that never quite fit, to a life-altering moment at an acroyoga retreat in Costa Rica that sparked a naming journey rooted in truth, identity, and embodied resonance. This isn’t just a story about gender or pronouns or even names—it’s about the ache of living misnamed, the courage it takes to claim your authentic self, and the slow, beautiful integration of becoming whole. With humor, honesty, and raw vulnerability, Kinsey recounts the layered process of moving from Paul to Myra to McKinsey and, ultimately, Kinsey—a name that clicked not just cognitively, but soul-deep. We explore what it means to be seen before we can see ourselves, how community can hold us through change, and how naming isn’t just linguistic—it’s spiritual, social, and existential. Along the way, Kinsey reflects on the influence of Alfred Kinsey and the radical idea that human experience exists on a spectrum—of gender, of sexuality, of being. Whether you’ve changed your name, thought about it, or never questioned yours, this episode invites you to reflect on identity, resonance, and the stories we carry in the words we’re called. What parts of you have waited to be named? What would it feel like to hear a name that makes your whole body say yes?

being Genderfluid

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of my gender journey—how it began years before my divorce, long before I even had the language to describe it. From a pivotal moment at a swingers convention in New Orleans, where I first met someone embodying a nonbinary expression, to the early childhood memory of being told that “boys don’t paint their nails,” this episode traces the quiet awakenings and bold experiments that brought me home to myself. I talk about what it was like to swing between masculinity and femininity, trying on names, clothes, voices, and ways of being—all in search of what felt true. At one point, I performed femininity just as I had performed masculinity, unsure where my real self ended and the performance began. But over time, with the support of chosen family, trans support groups, and my own willingness to feel the discomfort of growth, I found something even more honest than either extreme: I found the middle. The fluid, alive, ever-shifting space between. This episode explores: * The difference between performing gender and expressing it * Early moments of gender suppression and their lasting impact * The emotional turbulence of trying on new identities * How a supportive partner and community helped me navigate unknowns * The importance of play in discovering our truth * The power of naming, and why “Myra” still lives within me * How I came to embrace being both masculine and feminine—and neither entirely. If you’ve ever questioned your gender, your identity, or the roles you were handed—this episode is for you. If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between boxes that don’t quite fit—this is for you. And even if your journey looks different, my hope is that by sharing mine, you’ll feel a little more seen, a little more invited to be curious about your own truth. I also introduce the term “gender fluid” as the label that resonates most with me—not because it’s fixed, but because it gives me permission to flow. I share how I now express my femininity in ways that feel embodied and joyful—painted toenails, skirts, sensuality, softness—and how that expression no longer needs to prove anything. This episode is a love letter to the middle space. To the part of us that doesn’t need to explain, only express. To the people who helped me see myself more clearly, and to the younger version of me who just wanted to be free. ⚡ Mentioned in this episode: my first experiences with makeup, going by Myra, navigating family conversations, and how gender identity evolved alongside relational growth. ✨ Listen in if you’re seeking: * Representation for gender exploration and nonbinary identity * Hope during a transition or identity shift * A mirror for your own becoming * Permission to play, to try, to feel, and to not always know 💬 Prompt for reflection: How do you currently express your gender? Does it feel aligned with who you are—or who you’ve been told to be? Thank you for listening to Human Beings, Being Human. May this story help you feel more at home in your body, more alive in your truth, and more connected to your own beautiful becoming.