In this special bonus episode, Whit Missildine interviews Heath Schechinger and Lily Lamboy of the Modern Family Institute @modernfamilyinstitute, collaborators on our six-part miniseries, “The 82%: Modern Stories of Love and Family.” In this conversation we discuss the historical roots of the nuclear family and monogamy, how family and relationship structures have changed over the 20th century, the contemporary landscape of diverse families and Consensual Non-Monogamy, and the future of love and family. 

Dr. Heath Schechinger is a therapist, researcher, and organizer, known for his groundbreaking work within the realm of family and relationship diversity. In addition to his role as Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Modern Family Institute, he serves as the Founding Co-Chair of the American Psychological Association Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-monogamy, and an Affiliate Faculty at the renowned Kinsey Institute. Dr. Schechinger’s work sheds light on the elements that cultivate healthy relationships and the rise of non-nuclear family and relationship configurations. He has authored multiple empirical publications and clinical resources and his work has been featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, Vogue, and Time Magazine.

Dr. Lily Lamboy is a social impact executive, educator, artist, and scholar with over 15 years of experience building complex systems to support human flourishing. She currently serves as the Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Modern Family Institute. Prior to founding the Modern Family Institute, Dr. Lamboy led the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion functions at both Stripe and Blue Shield of California. She received her PhD in Political Science from Stanford University, where she also taught in the Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Rhetoric programs, receiving the Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching, Stanford's top prize for education. She has authored peer-reviewed articles addressing persistent sources of social inequality in publications including Cambridge University Press, Theory and Research in Education, and the International Panel on Social Progress. As an artist, she strives to make pieces that inspire lasting change in how we love, act, and organize our society. 

If you’d like to find out more about the Modern Family Institute, donate to help advance their work, or get engaged, please visit their website, modernfamilyinstitute.org. 

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Producers: Whit Missildine

Content/Trigger Warnings: sexual themes, explicit language

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Intro Music: "Illabye" – Tipper

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