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Unashamed Unafraid is a show dedicated to being unashamed about sexual addiction recovery and unafraid of coming unto Christ for healing. Pornography and sexual addiction are not something you are stuck with to manage your whole life. We share real stories of recovery, the best resources, information from experts, and answer anonymous questions with those who know. All to help you on the path of being 100% healed from pornography and sexual addiction.
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In this episode, hosts engage with Hunter and Sarah who share their journey of overcoming pornography addiction. Hunter describes getting hooked on pornography at a young age, his struggles throughout his mission, and how his addiction persisted into his marriage. The couple details the challenges they faced and the turning point when Hunter began …
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James, Sam, Ella, and Chris discuss their experiences and challenges with finding effective therapy, particularly in relation to overcoming pornography addiction and shame. They emphasize the importance of finding a therapist who resonates with the client, addresses issues of shame, and creates a clear plan for healing. The conversation touches on …
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This episode features Katie and Matt and the challenges they have faced due to Matt's struggle with pornography addiction. Katie describes her role in the recovery process, initially trying to control Matt's recovery before realizing she needed to focus on her own healing. Matt shares how he overcame his addiction by taking personal responsibility …
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In this discussion, Chris, James, Sam, and Ella gather to talk about the reality of DIY recovery. Ella's experiences as a woman struggling with sexual addiction are highlighted, prompting an exploration into whether it is possible to recover from addiction without community support. The consensus among the participants is that achieving true recove…
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In this episode, Sam and James engage in a heartfelt discussion with Nick and Anja about their life stories, meeting each other, and the struggles they faced, including addiction, mental health, and personal trauma. They share insights on their relationship dynamics, particularly focusing on honesty, vulnerability, and coping mechanisms. They detai…
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Join James, Sam, Ella, and Chris as they explore how to find humor in the recovery process. From hilarious anecdotes and personal stories to reflections on the nature of recovery, this episode emphasizes the importance of laughter and joy even amidst serious challenges. Hear funny experiences, the value of not taking oneself too seriously, and the …
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In this episode, hosts Sam and Steve, engage in an insightful conversation with Tyler, the founder of Ever Accountable, an app designed to help individuals overcome porn addiction through accountability. Tyler shares his personal journey of creating the app, which monitors and reports browsing activities to chosen accountability partners, helping u…
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In this episode, Chris, Steve and Sam delve into the complexities of discussing pornography and sexual addiction among friends. They explore the shame and fear associated with sharing one's story, the impact of cultural stigma, and the intimate connection between sexuality and identity. The conversation includes practical advice on discerning who t…
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In this powerful episode, Steven and James are joined by Beckie Hennessy, a seasoned therapist with nearly two decades of experience, to delve deep into the intricacies of betrayal trauma. They discuss Beckie's personal journey through betrayal, her professional insights, and the challenging process of recovery and healing. From defining betrayal t…
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In this episode, Steve, Sam, James and Ella discuss the challenges and necessity of reaching out for support. They explore personal experiences and societal messages that discourage people from seeking help, such as beliefs that reaching out is a sign of weakness. They also touch on the roles children often take in families and how these roles affe…
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The episode is a conversation among Sam, Steve, and Chris about Sam's personal journey through addiction, recovery, and healing. Sam shares his story of growing up in a seemingly picture perfect Christian family, facing emotional challenges, and struggling with addiction from a young age. He discusses key moments of realization, the effects of trau…
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Join us in this special episode as we dive into the details of The GLORY Retreat [God's Love Opens the Real You], an interfaith Christian retreat designed exclusively for women. With guests Jayne, Beckie, and Tricia, we explore the retreat's mission to guide you in experiencing the real you, the real God and your real story. Set at the beautiful Lo…
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Join James, Ella, Steve, and Sam as they explore the challenges and benefits of mindfulness practices and how they can aid in emotional healing. They discuss the misconceptions around meditation, often misunderstood as a quick path to calm, and instead highlight its true purpose: being fully present with emotions—whether joyful, angry, or sad. Alon…
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In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Steve is joined by Cameron Staley, a researcher, therapist, and author with deep expertise in the intersection of sexuality and spirituality. Cameron opens up about his journey from academia to clinical practice, revealing how his work on problematic pornography viewing and compulsive behaviors is rooted in a …
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In today’s episode, Steve, Sam, and James are joined by Ella as they take a deep dive into the role of spirituality in recovery. They discuss the balance between spirituality and religion, exploring what it means to seek a connection with something beyond oneself without necessarily aligning with organized religion. Each guest shares their unique s…
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In this episode, Kaleb joins Steve and James for a raw, courageous discussion about his journey through addiction, shame, and recovery after a series of legal consequences and time in jail. Kaleb opens up about facing the labels of "addict" and "sex offender" and the impact they had on his self-image and spiritual life. They emphasizes the importan…
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This episode dives deep into the role of grace in addiction recovery. Sam joins hosts Steve and James in a candid conversation about how grace not only fosters personal healing but also helps bridge the gaps in relationships harmed by addiction. The episode unpacks the depth of grace, its transformative power, and its ability to inspire positive ch…
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Steve and Lisa dive into exactly how to respond to compulsive sexual behavior in your home, especially as a parent. There are now more resources than ever to help families have healthy conversations that appropriately frame sexuality without shame. Steve offers specific language for loved ones starting the conversation with their significant other …
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*This is a reposted episode from The Lisa Show Podcast* byuradio.org/the-lisa-show In this special episode, Steven joins Lisa for a conversation about recovery, outlining seven critical aspects of the healing process. They discuss the the most common pitfalls that keep people from healing and recovering, including the "try harder" fallacy, and outd…
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In this episode, Steve, James and Sam take a new approach discussing the topic of shame. They explore how shame thrives in secrecy and judgment, acting as a tool of negative forces to undermine self-worth. Through personal experiences, they reveal how recognizing and addressing shame—through therapy, spiritual retreats, and open communication—can h…
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In this episode, Steve and James are joined by the Therapy Brothers, Tyler and Brannon, who are both experienced therapists specializing in marriage, family therapy, and recovery from shame and trauma. They discuss their podcast 'Therapy Brothers' and the retreats they host aimed at helping men and women reclaim their identity and heal emotionally.…
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In this episode of Live Unashamed, hosts bring on their friend, Sam, to discuss the differences between sobriety and recovery. They explore the challenges and misconceptions surrounding these concepts, emphasizing that sobriety is about abstaining from undesirable behaviors, while recovery involves deeper healing. Personal stories highlight struggl…
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In this episode we invite Rhoda, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and seasoned podcaster to discuss critical aspects of couples therapy and relationships. Rhoda shares her extensive experience in the mental health field, emphasizing the importance of hard conversations, self-honesty, and long-term thinking for relationship recovery—especial…
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*This is a reposted episode from The Therapy Brothers Podcast* therapybros.com In this special episode, Steve is interviewed by Tyler and Brannon Patrick, hosts of the Therapy Brothers Podcast. Steve shares his powerful and raw personal journey of addiction, recovery, and the reclamation of his own heart. He opens up about his struggles with addict…
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In this episode hosts Steven and James are joined by their friend Josh. They answer questions sent in by Josh and in doing so, they dive into a personal and candid discussion about recovery, touching on themes such as discipleship, shame, and the concept of being 'broken.' The conversation includes a deep dive into what it means to be 'recovered' v…
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In this episode, Steve and Chris embrace the power of vulnerability as they introduce Gavin, a guest who courageously shares his journey through addiction, shame, and recovery. The candid conversation goes into the deeper, poignant narrative of Gavin's experiences from teenage struggles with pornography and masturbation, through tumultuous high sch…
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In this episode of Unashamed and Afraid, Steve welcomes Melanie, Michelle, and Sally to discuss their experiences with Heart of a Woman, a transformative Christian retreat designed to help women reconnect with God and themselves. Melanie shares the origins of Heart of a Woman, revealing how a call to create a dedicated retreat for women led to a de…
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In this heartfelt episode, join hosts James and Steven as they welcome Ian and Niccole to the studio to share their profound journey of overcoming addiction and codependency through faith and mutual support. From their first meeting in college to their struggles with addiction and codependency, the couple provides an authentic narrative of their ba…
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Jennifer suffered every type of abuse as a child. She was assaulted by her father, then by all the men that her mother brought home over the years. She came to feel that she was worthless, only there to make other people happy, and was filled with guilt. Years later, a therapist recommended she go get a massage to learn that not all touch was sexua…
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In the final episode of 'Codependency', the hosts discuss the intricacies of codependent relationships. The episode delves into the definition of codependency, its symptoms, and the difficulty individuals face in maintaining self-esteem, setting boundaries, and experiencing healthy intimacy. Through personal anecdotes and discussions, the team expl…
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Having already defined codependency, the team now addresses how to break out of its cycle. The first step is to recognize what our codependent behaviors even are. We cannot choose a different path if we don’t see the choices that are there. Furthermore, if we want to stop manipulating others into meeting our needs, we have to make peace with the fa…
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The concept of codependency can be difficult to grasp and identifying it within ourselves or our relationships can prove challenging. In this episode, we break down the definition, assess its relevance, and offer strategies for recognizing and addressing it. If you’ve grappled with resentment in a relationship or felt compelled to manage someone el…
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We’re thrilled to welcome Marc Pimsler back for another episode! Marc, a lover of God, is a therapist, seeker, and a teacher with the heart of a student. He's in long-term recovery and he's here to talk about making repair. Whether we refer to it as making repair, making amends, setting things right, or repairing relationships, there are ineffectiv…
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Alcoholics Anonymous' Dr. Bob's response to Bill Wilson after he complained that no one showed up for a meeting he spent the day organizing— "But you didn't drink today" — speaks volumes. In this episode, Steve, James, and Chris recognize the challenges of forming real connections and a supportive community while providing uplifting advice. Tune in…
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Christian was born the middle of eight children and felt that he had to act out to get noticed. In his early adolescence he experimented with opiates, alcohol, a cigarette, and sex. Kelle met Christian during their senior year of High School, the two started dating, and were quickly married after he returned home from his LDS mission. A few years a…
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Just as we establish clear boundaries in our relationships with other people, we must also set boundaries in our relationship with digital media, especially when we consider that media use is the "most undiagnosed addiction behavior by a mile." It consumes massive chunks of our time on its own, and can lure the recovering porn addict back into full…
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Julie Forbes is a healer of souls. In this episode, we discuss her practice of helping people heal through spiritual connection with and in the presence of horses - Equine Assisted Learning. She has worked professionally in this field for over a decade in the St. George, Utah area. Julie shares the success she has witnessed in her work with trouble…
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"I absolutely know with every fiber of my being that [God] loves me for who I am." Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process. Each person may define their recovery journey in terms of what resonates with them personally. Recovery is as much about self-awareness and growth as it is about overcoming addiction and the journey from “recovering” to “r…
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David Thompson is a marriage and family therapist, a certified sex addiction therapist, and half of the Two Therapists Talking podcast. In today’s episode he is invited to share whatever message “lights him up,” and he chooses to speak on the tremendous power of empathy. He even states that “empathy is the key that unlocks every door.” Of particula…
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If porn is a paycheck and I’m getting $200 a week and you tell me to just stop - the math doesn’t add up because I’m broke. You have to give them hope - “what if I give you $500 a week in recovery.” And that $500 is hope. This episode uncovers the understanding of unconditional love from God in talking with others and seeking God. Brother and Siste…
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Matt and Natalie were high school sweethearts, but unknown by her, Matt had been struggling with pornography since he was a boy. His struggles continued through high school and a church mission, and into their marriage, but he had never shared any of this with his parents, church leaders, or with Natalie. After their first year of marriage, she ope…
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Changing our state is a good practice when dealing with life’s stressful events – but getting outside and connecting to nature resets our minds. Chris, Steve, and James share what works best for them from hiking, sitting by a fire, or getting on a boat to help reset their state of mind. The episode ends with a challenge to get outdoors and dive int…
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Jacob and Trichelle, married for 32 years, both serve on the staff of Desert Solace, a pornography and sexual addiction treatment facility in St. George, Utah. In this episode, they recount their transformative journey from what they once described as 'soul sucking' to something they now see as 'beautiful'. Jacob's addiction overshadowed the first …
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In this episode, Steve, James, and guest Kurt Francom explore the role of a higher power in addiction recovery. Recognizing the diversity of perspectives surrounding this topic, the trio transcends conventional definitions, offering insights grounded in their collective experience. The conversation touches on crucial themes, including wounds, surre…
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Chris discusses his 15 years of sobriety and how it is defined with the group. Rather than a focus on abstinence from lust and acting out, recovery is a new way of life we walk with Christ. They also discuss the analogy of a marathon runner who trips up on mile 24 and how he doesn’t have to restart the race, he gets up and keeps on running. What is…
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“When you are at rock bottom, you are super hard on yourself and you are just going to keep going further down - but when you finally have hope - you see the light and desire to keep going.” Brian and Alicia met in middle school, served missions for their church and got married. On returning home from South Africa, Brian got a smartphone and quickl…
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Recognizing that we have behaviors that are detrimental to both ourselves and others brings up some important questions. We wonder whether these actions classify as addictions, transient behaviors, or merely bad habits. More questions come up when we find that we can't easily stop the behavior. In this episode, we explore the reasons we even ask th…
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Today, Bryce is known among his friends as genuinely happy, and capable of putting an entire room at ease upon entering it. But it was only a few years ago that he reached out for help from the edge of despair. He had hit rock bottom in a lifestyle of porn and sex that was wreaking havoc in his life. Breaking free from shame and his destructive hab…
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“Music can give me empathy like nobody around me can.” Join us in a shorter 20-minute episode as Steven, James, and Chris share how music has helped them see God differently. Not just Christian music, but anything that uplifts, inspires, takes you to a sad place, or otherwise moves you into a place of reflection and learning. Music is an amplifier …
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At the age of 9, Kaylawnni began a challenging journey with sexual compulsion. Her struggle is marked by confusion and damaged self-confidence. A lyric from her favorite song boldly highlights the cause, "The devil lies, and twists the truth." She always assumed she'd take her secrets to the grave, but then, a close friend bravely disclosed his own…
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