On the Matchmaker Mentor Podcast, host Arlene Washburn, an award-winning ethical-matchmaking advocate and mentor, invites industry pros to sharpen their tools and debate modern relationship realities. In a recent voice-only episode, Arlene sat down with George, co-founder of The Group and Managing Member of The Resort, for a candid, practical tour through ethical non-monogamy (ENM), client care, and what “safe, upscale, private” really means when the stakes are high.
The Host and Her Mission
Arlene frames the conversation the way she runs her practice: direct, educational, and stigma-free. From the outset, she positions the episode for aspiring and experienced matchmakers and “anyone in the love industry,” tying the topic to her pedagogical work (Love Pro Mastermind) and her long-running focus on ethics, consent, and client outcomes—not voyeurism.
“Great sex starts between the ears, not the thighs.”
-George
The Guest’s Arc: from Wall Street to Curated Communities
George describes a journey that many high-performing clients will recognize: a post-divorce reset that, after some self-aware humor, evolves into building meticulously curated social settings for open-minded professionals. Over two decades, he’s hosted private dinners, parties and destination weekends that prize fit, finish, and service as much as sexual compatibility. What differentiates his model is not the novelty of ENM itself, but the quality of the container: vetted guest lists, discreet venues, and culture rules that make elegant experiences possible.
ENM, Stripped of Hype
Much of the episode demystifies ENM for practitioners. George keeps the definition simple—anything outside traditional heterosexual monogamy—then builds it out in practice: transparent boundaries, explicit consent, and the unglamorous reality that one hour of play can require a hundred hours of conversation with your partner. Arlene presses on jealousy triggers, testing norms, and privacy; together they emphasize veto power, disclosure, and consent as operational guardrails rather than aspirational slogans.
What Matchmakers Should Take Away
Several moments feel tailor-made for the intake form. Arlene argues that questions about sexual values, ENM openness, and same-sex curiosity aren’t optional—they’re core to compatibility. George underscores the market reality: many sophisticated clients are already ENM-curious (or practicing) but under-served by generic funnels, seedy venues, or “rush to the bottom” events. The professional edge, they suggest, is building pipelines and partnerships that respect safety, discretion, and standards—and knowing when to refer to specialists who serve ENM clients well.
How Curation Scales
The Group: a long-running, traveling community built around in-person vetting, most notably Just For Dinner, five-course dinners in ~70 cities where hosts meet every guest face-to-face. It’s not about dictating desire; it’s about screening for social fit, respect, and discretion so the room itself becomes the amenity.
The Resort: a newly acquired five-star, members-only property in Jamaica that adapts the private-club hotel model (think Soho House) to a vetted ENM audience. Entry is via membership or as a member’s guest. The value proposition isn’t only the rooms, it’s who you’ll meet at the pool, which is why curation is treated as seriously as design.
Why This Episode Matters Now
Arlene’s audience hears this drumbeat weekly: clients live longer, build second (or third) chapters, and want relationships that fit their values and bandwidth. ENM isn’t a fad; it’s a structure some clients will thrive in—so the question for professionals is whether your process, paperwork, and partnerships are ready. From screening prompts and boundary-setting to health protocols and aftercare, this conversation builds a pragmatic blueprint for doing it ethically and excellently.
A Personal Note from George
As shared on the show, George is committed to providing safe, welcoming spaces for people in consensually non-monogamous relationships, to expanding the public’s knowledge base about ENM, and he’s open to future interviews that advance thoughtful, evidence-informed dialogue. If you host a podcast, lead a mastermind, or speak to professionals in the love industry, feel free to reach out and propose a segment.
Listen & Read
🎧 Audio: Exploring Ethical Non-Monogamy: How Matchmakers Can Support Diverse Relationship Models — Matchmaker Mentor Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Full Transcript: English
