My Husband Hates Monogamy | Ask Nick

October 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

When "I Do" Means "I Don't": A Marriage Without Intimacy

A 35-year-old woman named Mandy called in with a situation that sounds almost designed to test the limits of relationship advice. She's been married for four years, has two small children with her husband plus a 12-year-old from a previous relationship, and she hasn't had sex with her husband in two years. He told her outright that "monogamy does nothing for him." He's admitted to a porn addiction, phone sex with other women, and was publicly exposed on a "cheaters of San Antonio" Facebook page. And yet she's still there, choosing to stay for the kids.

The Discovery and the Decision to Stay

Mandy found out about her husband's infidelities while she was 20 weeks pregnant with a baby doctors had told her was terminal. The pregnancy was expected to end in stillbirth, and during that devastating experience, her phone started blowing up with messages from baseball moms, coworkers, and acquaintances who had seen her husband's name on a local cheating page. The humiliation came from every direction and just kept coming.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Episode Opening & Sponsor Messages** - Host Nick Viall delivers ads for Palm Wonderful super teas, ADT home security, and introduces the first caller.
2 (01:48) **Caller 1: Isabel, 30 – "Am I Delulu for Chasing a Man?"** - Isabel introduces her situation: dating a 32-year-old man for a couple of months who has never been in a serious relationship and is a "slow burn."
3 (06:16) **The "Exclusive but Not Dating" Confusion** - Isabel explains the confusing label situation where her boyfriend said he wanted to be exclusive but isn't ready to call her his girlfriend.
4 (09:00) **The Conflict and Its Aftermath** - Nick analyzes the incident where Isabel's boyfriend discovered her flirty conversation with an ex.
5 (14:18) **Nick's Advice: Take the Lead and Be Direct** - Nick advises Isabel to stop playing games and waiting for him to lead, and instead initiate a clear, vulnerable conversation about her feelings.
6 (25:54) **Final Advice on Trust and Directness** - Nick reinforces that being direct is not being pushy, and that Isabel needs to stand up for the truth while acknowledging her error.
7 (30:41) **Mid-Episode Sponsors** - Ads for EllaOla kids' multivitamins and GLD jewelry.

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Show Notes

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Ask Nick edition!

Our first caller wonders why her partner is pulling away from her. Our second caller seeks advice about staying with her husband for their kids' sake, even after he admits he no longer wants a monogamous relationship. Our third caller asks if she's "delulu" for chasing a man.

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