Reimagining the Future of Rose

This episode of the Truth includes strong language and adult situations Pruth So yeah, this is me Oh, yeah. Nice building. Yeah ooks even nicer inside. Oh, ye. Oh, you mean Yeah. So you want ye. Okay. Is your husband? He's on his own day tonight. Right, of course that makes sense. Totally up to you Well, let's let's do it. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Y wife, she knows you're here, right? Yeah. Yeah. I mean she doesn't know specifically here, but she knows I' on a date. Okay That's a good Yeah, she went on a date last night. Right? I'm on a date. we're on the same page Yeah. 'causeuse you seem, I don't know. you sure? Yeah, ye yeah Okay, then. Owards and upwards. Okay why I can't. No. It's not you. I'm sorry, I've had a great time. I just I wased I'm sorry I wasted your time. I'll just wait, wait, hold on. I'm really sorry. Here's the thing. I have had plenty of dates go sideways, but I don't think I've ever had anyone look stricken at the thought of having sex with me That's not why I'm stricken. Are you in crraisis? No, notothing like that. Okay Do you need me to call anyone or U no, no, u There is one thing you could do. Okay Yeah. So I don't want to have sex with you. gotot that. but Could I say I did Whoa, run that by me again. I don't wanna have sex with you. But do I have your permission to tell my wife that I had sex with you tonight Oh shhit Congratulations, Jeff. I mean, I thought you were just cute, but it turns out you're interesting You wantan to go somewhere and talk We all know what an affair is, right? It's a clandestine sexual relationship with someone other than your long term partner But that definition has broadened a little bit over time. We also talk about emotional affairs and work spouses, there's all kinds of affairs because there's so many ways to fall in love. This is the Truth, I'm Jonathan Mitchell, and this is a story about trying so hard to avoid something that you run straight into it Every episode of the Tuth is a collaboration between our writer, actors and me. And the writer creates the story, the actors bring it to life And I handle everything else. 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I'm here at the office and we just dropped some really fun new summer colors in the Fow Y styles If you're like me, you've loved the Flow Y Tank and bra for years, and as of this year, it also comes in a dress and a crop tank These are made in our buttery soft Nouu fabric, and my favorite part is the built in bra It makes it super easy to wear for yoga or honestly as an everyday basic. You can find Flow Y sttyyles in store or online at lullemon. com And now back to Let's not and say we did Have you had the cop salad here? No, ' I'm not a fed Pancakes. Okay I want to know every poor life choice that led to the favor you asked me for tonight. How far back do you want to go? I don't know, mayaybe start with how you and your wife What's her name? Ingrid. How you and Ingrid got into this whole ethical nom monogamy scene in the first place? Yeah. Well, we were kind of at a low point. Sounds about right? I mean, we did great all through COVID, even in that tiny little apartment. Wait, Jeff, you know what's weird? I actually don't really mind only seeing you and no other humans ever. You know what's weird? I also don't mind that, but about you? Oh, well, look at us. Look at us. Yeah Our jobs decided to keep us working from home after and that's when things started to go bad. Okay, if I have headphones on, that means I'm literally at work, which means I can't answer questions. Really? 'use you have no problem interrupting me when I'm at work. Oh God, pllus it's a colossal sex killer, right? Seeing each other all day long. Yeah I mean, yeah, we tried to keep it interesting, you know I'll just try it. I promise I'm not to laugh. No,' I'm not great with accents. No, it's not about a different voice, it's more about a different ona I don't know what that means. And it just kept getting worse until One night we were C I guess I mean, it's pretty specific. You hung out with friends who told you they'd opened their marriage. Yes, that's exactly what happened. How yeah, Dave and Shaana. Dave and Saunna, hanging off each other like teenagers, telling you how they cracked the code to light. We barely made it back to the car before we lost them. Oh my Godd. Did you know that was coming? No, I had no idea. What did they call it? It was like that ridiculous acronym? ENM ethical non mononogamy. ENM. Right. Yes, it's like they joined a cult. like, have you heard the good news? but like for sex with Randos? Monogamy is actually a very recentent idea. It's actually an economic construct designed for a pre industrial society. ENM actually brought us closer together and you guys should try back party right there It was like, o. Can' you tell us about your revelation without trying to recruit us? I know. We're good Of course, everybody sort of has Yeah, it's normal. It's normal to. You see someone at a work event? or just down the street? Yeah, but you don't. Yes, it's just Ths So a couple nights later, we're in bed. She's reading, I'm playing a phone game. went out of nowhere, I stopped playing and sat up. A okay What do you think Dave and Sean are doing tonight? Oh, thank God, can we talk We did it just like they tell you online, right? Four months of immunizations, discussions, sessions with any AM therapists. You know that nobody checks if you did the four months, right? Yeah We even watched our profiles together. I'm kind of nervous. If we hate it, we'll stop. Right And Profile Live Pfile life So wait, is tonight your first time out? Third, Third, actually. Oh yeah. Oh wow. So the other two of you you also I also tank them. I mean, if you didn't want to. No, I did, I thought I did. but I mean, listen, I've been fantasizing about sleeping with other women for years But when it actually happens, when I actually touch someone I think maybe I'm monogamous So tell her, I can't. Why not? It's working for her. You know, when she comes home from a date, she's like lit up. She even likes me better. Well, that is the goal. But then the other night, she was just telling me this whole like sexy saga and I had to I had to tell her that I tanked my second date in a row Oh no, she just What did she say Jeff What We are both doing this, right Oh fucking ouch. Right? She's out there meeting all these new guys. She seeing all the other options out there, she comes home and then what does she see? a guy on the couch, some schlub, who's just waiting for his wife to come back from a date. And I'm suddenly understanding why you made that request. Yeah. I mean, you could just tell her you slept with me. She's not gonna call me or anything. Well, I'm not gonna do that. No. notot without your permission. Sheee she knows your name. Jv Relax. perermission granted. Thank you. Thankk you. I really appreciate it. How are you gonna tell her? What are you gonna say? I don't know, we Okay, well, I guess we went to dinner. we went back to your place. Okay what does my place look like? it What does your place look like? Yeah? Why't you told me? No, no, not my real place, The place in your story. It's two different things. Yeah Well, sure, yeah, okay. mayaybe you have one of those lava lamps? No one over twenty has a lava lamp. Right. ye. Okaykay. so okay, maybe you have plants. How about like those heart shaped leaf plants with the squigglyiny ones know people have them over their. No no idea what they're called, but yes, I know exactly what you're talking. I can see it in my head. and that's exactly what you want. You want vivid shit you'll remember What do you say when I comment on them? Maybe that your husband never remembers to water them? No. No. It's just that you the husband doesn't do his chores trope. it's overdone. So you want something, you know unique, like a little spin, give it a little spin, something like He said, you can have plants, but just know you'll be solely responsible for their survival. He said he has plant blindness Well, hey, I'm on his side. Now remember, one of the characters in this story is you. You need to sound like you. Okay, I don't like the way you said that. Okay. Well, no, but I mean, like maybe you're filibustering sex and you just keep babbling, like how you did with me. So now I'm babbling. trying to remember anything I know about housepls. Oh my gosh, I overt my eyes. I wasn't even there. And Leslie takes my hand in both of hers and she says Jff Relax. This doesn't have to be special It was horrible. It kind of broke the ice, you know? madeade it feel like we could kiss and everything sort of flowed from there. Okay, well, I'm not gonna ask a ton. I'm like not sure how much I want to know at this point, but how did you like it? I should say it was great, right? Or should I say it was bad? Neither. Remember, Ingrid already knows what it's like I mean, I liked it. It was sex, but sort of detached, you know? L it was exciting, but also distant. Yes, Yes, exactly. exxciting, but distant. Ttally. Ooh, you know what would really bring this plane in for a landing? S honestly, more than anything, I'm just glad to be home I'm glad you are home. Come here U Hi, Lesl, it's Jeff rom the diner. Yeah, yeah, no, Jeff. I remember you. I just didn't think I was gonna hear from you again. Oh yeah, I'm not Yeah, no, just called I was just calling to let you know how it went and to say thank you. Wait, it worked. Thank Leslie it worked? Yeah. I said everything just like we talked about. went great. She liked it. Andgrreid liked it. She liked it. She was really happy for me. It was so wild So yeah, I couldn't have done it without you. Oh my Godd, that is so cool. Yeah. All right, so I'll let you go. I'll take it from here. I just wanted to again, just say thank you. Take L from here. You know, like if I need to come up with another them more days for Fake Lesley? Yeah, right. I mean, I have the tools now, so I think We're a second woman You think I need a second woman? Well, I mean, like how many men is she seeing? like the three over the past six months or so? Oh, so you need at least two. Do think? That's just m. Oh, shit. You want any help Uh yeah. I mean, I don't I cannt ask you. No, I mean, it's cool. It's cool I want to P So okay, here we go. woman number two. All right, I have a lot of ideas. Okay, what's her name? Her name. You're gonna need a name when you're telling Ingrid about her. You can't just call her nice lady. You know what? I'll just look at Instagram and find a name, a random name. Steph. Perfect, Steph. tellell me about her. Okay, picture it. Steph Nice home life. She's got two kids. Oh, interestnting. Why? I was reading this article, apparently, a lot of couples with young kids are doing the ENM thing. But why specifically to? She's two kids? Apparently. She can do this on top of that? You my sister has two and she can barely get through the day. Well, according to Steth, that's kind of why she's doing it You know, withith her first kid, she She just sort of went full caregiver to sure. twenty four seven, all about the kids. She just kind of lost herself for a couple years. Okay, okay, I see the angle. Steph wants to do things differently with her second kid, maintain her identity as a sexual adult. but her husband's in the trenches with her. He's got the same puke on his clothes. He can't be her escape You can. Lucky me So wait, if she has kids, where did you guys go? Crap I' thought of that. 'acause she's not gonna take you back to a toy landfill with two screaming kids to smash. Yeah that just leaves a hotel, right? Maybe that's part of it. She said that was part of it. Like how pristine the hotel room Tally. Yep, there's no diapers, no family clutter. Yeah, I get it. But the best part for stuff The best part for Steph was she wouldn't have to clean it up after.ike we could just destroy the place and leave. I feel like that maybe turned around more than the sex. And did you? Did we what? Did you just try it? Remember, if you don't know what to say, be vague. What a rotophil What do you think? Yeah, I bet you did. I bet you left in your momments Yeah. For real? Maybe the best everet. Yeah feel gross. About the best sex you've ever had? No about how I got it. Well, I mean, did you not know what you were asking for? I thought we were just I should stop, right? Stop? Well, we can't do this anymore, right? I mean, I guess if you want tocept I can't stop 'cause everybody's gonna want to keep hearing about Steph and fake Leslie because if they were real, wed'd keep dating him. Yeah what am I gonna do I'm sorry. I'm sorry, this is my problem. Don't mind helping out Really? Yeah. I mean, what am I gonna do? G home and talk to my husband? your husband But you know, we are going need to maintain two ongoing ENM relationships. It's going to get complicated fast. We need to be able to write stuff down. What about a spreadsheet, like a shared spreadsheet? No, that's perfect. And we're going to need to talk more often, you know, keep the brainstorm going Tricky. Me and Ingrrid both work from home. Will you never work from a coffee shop over or It would be a big change I'd neither reason. Or we could come up with something And we will continue in just a moment too hear all of our stories ad free. Go to the truth podcast that' supportingcast. F app. Study and play! Come together on a Windows eleven PC. And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds. Get the unreal college deal, everything you need to study and play with select Windows eleven PC's. 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How about a creamy moocha Rappuccino drink? or a sweet vanilla? Smooth caramel maybe, orr a white chocolate mocha. Whichever you choose, delicious coffee awaits. Find Starbucks Rappuccino drinks wherever you buy your groceries And now back to. Let's not and say we did Mk insists on having these anime backgrounds behind him while he's presenting on work Zoom? Yes, literally, like client facing public calls. It's like completely A you going towhere Oh yeah, I was thinking I might work at the coffee shop a couple days a week. Oh my Godd, I'm so sorry. I'm annoying you. I'll stop talking. No, no, no, no, no, no, N notot at all. no. I just feel like we're in such a better place, you know recently with new Indeed. Yeah And I don't want us to go back to when we were getting on each other's nerves all the time. And one thing this experience has taught me. And one thing this experience has taught me is that there's something kind of neat about us being apart and then together All right, I'm in the spreadsheet. I need to log back into work in like half an hour. We'll be quick. I had an idea on fake, Leslie. Has Inngid ever brought guys back to your place? I think twice. Okay. I wasn't there. Beacause I was thinking you always go to her place and that could get annoying. She should ask if you can switch it up. But I can't bring her to my place. She doesn't. You definitely won. It's more to tell Inngid that she asked Okay, yeah, ' it makes fake Leslie seem most fake. Exactly. You need some boundary issues happening for authenticity. Wait, why is there a new row on the spreadsheet? Oh should I meant to talk to you about that. It' Rse. It's just so brainstorm I had. I've never talked about a third woman. Right right, but I was thinking it doesn't ring true that fake Leslie and steuff just keep seeing you. So what? like one of them breaks up with me? You them relationships end all the time, Jess A you speaking I'm just saying we should have someone on deck. Okay So, who is Rose? C you tell me? Okay, I'm gonna jump in the shower.. You What do you mean? Well, you're not typing and you're not looking at your screen. If it's none of my business. Oh No, I was gonna tell you something. Okay. Leslie, you know Leslie? Well I don't know her, but she was saying, why do I always go to her place? Why don't we ever come here? but yeah, I don't think. She can come here if she wants as long as I'm out Really? you'd be okay with that? Yeah Yeah, I guess we'll see I didn't think we were around today? we weren't, but listen, I've got a minute Ingrid's in the shower, so I gotta be quick. but I had an idea about Rose. that's really been pounding in my head. Okay, intntriguing. Fit me. Yeah, okay, so I got this image in my head of a woman whose husband left her, right? like several months ago, unexpected. Then why would she need to do EN M to just date? That's the thing. She needs the E andM structure because she's holding ono the hope that they're going to work things out that he's gonna to come home I see. like she wants companionship, but in a way where she can believe it's only temporary. Right, yeah. she wants to keep feeling married. So she's going out, she's hooking up, but in the back of her mind, She's slowly realizing he's not coming back. I don't hate this. Right? Yeah, no. Well, we can flesush it out more when we're in person. When will that be? When can I see you again? When think the next date Jff Yeah, sorry. I just bought a conditioner and I left it in the kitchen. Can you bring it to me? On it? Sorry, I gotta go, but yeah, I'll find out. Okay, see you then I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm late. Jesus, are you okay? Yeah, There was a whole cluster fuck getting here, I'm sorry. It's okay. Take a breath. A shit. It's all good. drrink some water. I'll talk, okay? Yeah. So I was noodling on your idea for Rose and I was thaninking. really. Yeah. She got stuck in my head too. But a lot of this backstory we have is just is stuff she wouldn't talk about on her state So it doesn't give you anything to tell Innggrid, right But a lot of it would come through in her demeanor how she asks questions, what subjects she avoids. Jeff. Hey, Jeff What's going on I screwed up the schedule. Me and Ingrid ended up leaving for our dates at the same time. It's fine, forget. And it turned out her real date was on the same subway line as my fake one. So she said, let's ride together. Okay, wow, that's a new one. So I had to get off at Astra Place, run all the way to the other side, then ride all the way back here. It's fine. I don't care. You're here now. But I did care Oh. I was furious at her for making me late Po whole ride downtown I kept thinking this is is coming out of my time with Leslie Jeff. We're doing this for her You don't have to feel bad. This is all for her Right? I have to tell you something. Jesus, Jeff But if I turn a light on in here or I'm doing something Stehan Leslie don't exist What or not the leslie you know Wait, sorry, sorry, sorry What who doesn't exist? Steph and Leslie Of course they exist. You've been seeing them for what? four months? None of that was real joking I'm not good. No, I'm not joking Hold on. No. No, no ' you've told me all these like detailed stories. It was made up. all of it Steph and Leslie They don't Exist Not the Leslie, you know. What does that mean? What do you mean by that What other Leslie is there So she left and now she's at her sister's place in Hudson. said she needs space to get her I don't know, yeah. so So she knows all of it Yeah. She knows about me You couldn't it anymore. Oh, yeah, you couldn't take it I don't get it you? And I guess it didn't occur to you to check with me first Why would I check with you first I thought you'd be relieved. now you don't have to my think to just. Yeah, but it's my Y me We made this together. You didn't just send it for you. you ended it for both of us. Leslie, this is my marriage Y, good luck with that Oh Hey Uh, you're you're back starting to freak out my sister's kids. Wh have you eaten? No I've been trying to pinpoint exactly why I'm so angry. I'm really sorry. He would just come to me and said, C I tell you some made up stories to turn you on Would you would you be into that? I just don't understand why you had to like Do it with some else? Like, why couldn't you just make up these stories yourself? Yeah, they wouldn't be good enough. Good enough for what? G She She sees the things I don't see. I see the things. She doesn't see We're better together. Okay, well, you know how that sounds, right? Aie say that? Yeah, but no, it's not listen, it's not love I've only ever loved you. And why couldn't you just tell me All right, well, u, okay Do you remember what you said when I told you about tanking my second day in a row? Yeah, and by that, you mean your second like real day with real human? Yeah, o. Yeah. You said, Jeff, we are both doing this, right? Yeah. Yeah. Why what? What did you get from that Well, that you saw me as pathetic, likeike were you were doing it. I wasn't doing it. You were gonna eventually get tired of me, get sick of it. No. Are you serious? Well what else Yeah, you mean at all? I meant like I mean, like if we're both doing this, then we're both doing this. Like it's something we're doing as a couple, but if it's just me doing this, then I feel like I'm like then that feels like I'm cheating. That's why I said that. That's how you felt? I just don't want to feel like I'm like being unfaithful to you. No, no, never. No I never thought that. I can't believe I would We gott to get our shit together. This is a mess. Look I don't want to sleep with other people. I just I just want you But you're okay with me going out because I like not being everything for you I like being something for you. I like that more You are something for me Here's something for me But I need to have my other thing too Okay Tell me Thanks for coming. I wasasn't sure? No, no, I'm glad you called. I want to explain about the last time. Don't worry about it. it's fine. Just let me talk. Okay. Okay. Okay So my husband and I We got into the ENM scene thinking it would make us want each other more a two years later and now we're like ships in the night. so Yeah, he hasn't left me like poor made up roose, but he doesn't exactly live with me either. Oh God, I don't know. It's fine. Whatever, right? Whatever I need, I can get. I can get it elsewhere. I have permission except It doesn't work. I I've tried everything and And I've tried every one and none of it. It's It's the thing they don't tell you. Freedom can get really lonely. I'm sorry. creating Creating these women for Innguid with you is the first time I've felt like, you know, part of something. in yours I knew on some level it couldn't last, but losing it all of a sudden like that just really messed me up And I said some things that I want us to keep working on Rose I keep thinking about her. You know, this quiet, unassuming woman who's diving in all these romantic adventures to run away from realizing that her marriage is over. Wow. I wake up at night and make notes about her. Jeff, there's no Rose without anggrid. I don't think that's true. Or Stah, or fake Leslie, they only existed for her. I mean, you can't tell a story Without an audience. I mean, I think you tell a story because you have to, right What would we even be making if it's not for Ingrid? I don't know. You w to find out? I think we've caused enough trouble as it is Yeah, you're right. I'll try to get the check. Plus, your angles shit My ankle is Yeah, it's shit. She's running away from realizing her marriage is over. That's so I mean, it sucks. Who wants to spend weeks or months ranking that? You got a better idea? Rose shouldn't be running away from a realization. she should be running toward one. Okay. The guy she's dating, the place she's going, the sex she's having She thinks it's all a big lark, like an interim, but it's not. That's her new life. It's already started. That's a story worth telling. I like it. Okay, It's yours. Go with God. But how would I show her realizing that? Okay, first thought, you'd need to have some kind of extended sequence where in the middle of it, she can realize she hasn't thought about her husband in a long time. Yeah. Yeah, like a trip. maybe like a beach trip. likeike one of the guys takes her to the beach for a while., Okay, but not the beach. It should be another city. More events, more distractions. New Orleans. That's the one someomewhere that feels, you know, wild, like another world. Right if I take some notes So day one, they do all the basic touristhip. you know, the fresh quarter A We make this show independently. and premium subscriptions directly support the writers and actors who bring these stories to life. You can subscribe to our ad free feed at the trruthpodcast. supportortingcast. f. There's a link in the show notes Let's not and sayay We D was written by Mac Rogers and directed the sound design by me Jonathan Mitchell was performed by Dennis Pacheo as Jeff, An Carr as Leslie and Julia Schroedder as Ingrid. And we currently have just ten copies left of our special vinyl record of our storyies Moon Graffiti and Sylvia's Blood. When these copies are gone, they're gone. We won't be pressing anymore. They're fifty dollars and every purchase helps us pay our writers, actors and production costs. You'll find a link in the show notes or visit our website and click shop I'm Jonath Mitch And you have been hearing Truth. Pandora jewelry brings the sparkle to your summer. Now with even better prices. Enjoy up to fifty percent off select styles, from personalized pieces to must have favorites made for the summer Timeless designs that shine with you through every moment. whereerever the summer takes you. Sop in store or online. now through july sixth. Terms and addnditions apply. Visit pandora. net for details