Finding the Light: My Journey from Addiction to Freedom from Pornography

Robert’s porn consumption escalated into an addiction while he was in the military. In this episode, Robert shares how the culture of pornography in the military had a profound impact on his consumption habits. He also talks about how pornography affected his relationships and personal well-being. After realizing the negative effects of his addiction, Robert made the decision to quit pornography and is now well on the path to recovery. He emphasizes the importance of seeking help and support and encourages others to explore their own emotions as a starting point for overcoming addiction.Episode ResourcesArticle: Your Answer Guide to “What Does Porn Kills Love Mean?” and Other Fighter Gear QuestionsArticle: Benefits of Quitting Porn According to 90 Real PeoplePodcast: Consider Before Consuming, Ep. 110: John Foubert

*Trigger Warning: This episode contains brief discussions of sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.Bailey was first exposed to porn in high school by her boyfriend, whose porn consumption fueled her abuse and led to her own porn addiction. Once Bailey started to realize the harmful effects of porn, she was able to understand the role porn played in her experience and now publicly shares her story to help others understand the negative impacts of porn. Bailey discusses the importance of having conversations in order to shift the conversation around porn and reject its normalization.Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug.Episode ResourcesArticle: Does Porn Normalize Sexual Violence in Teen Relationships?Article: 3 Ways Porn Culture is Becoming Normalized in Every Day SocietyPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 9: Rachel

Dr. John Foubert is the Dean of the College of Education at Union University and the principal of Dr. John D. Foubert, LLC. Dr. Foubert worked for 20 years to apply research to rape prevention programs on college campuses, in communities, and in the military.In this Consider Before Consuming Podcast interview, Dr. Foubert helps us understand the correlation between pornography and sexual violence, highlighting over 50 studies showcasing their connection and the ways this is impacting today’s youth. He also discusses his newest book, Protecting Your Children from Internet Pornography: Understanding the Science, Risks, and Ways to Protect Your Kids,  which helps parents and caretakers understand the harms of porn and how to navigate conversations about this with children.Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug.Episode ResourcesJohn's Books: Protecting Your Children from Internet Pornography and How Pornography HarmsVisit: John's WebsiteArticle: Parents—If You Don’t Teach Your Kids About Sex, Porn Sites WillPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep.4: John Foubert, Ph.D.Resource: Get help with Fortify

In our latest episode of Consider Before Consuming, we delved into the questions posed by our amazing Fighters on social media. The thoughtful inquiries ranged from the effects of partners' pornography consumption to the concept of "ethical porn" and beyond.Throughout the episode, Natale and Parker navigate a wide array of topics, offering insights into pornography's harm on individuals, relationships, and society. Central to their discussion is the necessity of fostering open dialogue and the importance of removing shame. They also share helpful resources for support.Episode ResourcesArticle: 1 in 4 Sextortion Victims Are 13 or Younger, Survey FindsArticle: If You’re Stressed, Bored, or Lonely, is Watching Porn a Healthy Escape?Article: Watching Porn to Escape Negative Emotions like Stress Linked to Compulsive UseArticle: Can Internet Porn Fantasies Affect Your Sex Life In Reality?Article: The Growing Popularity of AI Porn and DeepfakesArticle: Let’s Talk About “Ethical Porn”Article: Your Partner Just Told You They Struggle with Porn. Now What?Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 35: Nicholas KristofVideo: Jane Doe Sex Trafficked by GirlsDoPornLive Presentation ProgramConversation BlueprintFTND Resources

Katie Bulmer started Truth For Your Twenties to be the person she needed when she was younger. She mentors young women, shares advice on her podcast, and speaks nationwide.In today's Consider Before Consuming episode, Katie shares wisdom on navigating the dating world. She suggests setting realistic expectations and having constructive conversations about pornography. Additionally, she discusses different types of intimacy that can exist in relationships, romantic or otherwise, and stresses that porn should not be used as a substitute for genuine intimacy.Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug.Episode ResourcesArticle: Has Our Culture’s Obsession with Porn Changed Dating Expectations?Article: What Are the Risks of Choking a Partner During Sex?Visit: Truth for your Twenties

The following podcast episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, violence, and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised.Matt and Sarah founded She Is Not Your Rehab and launched the concept in Matt’s 2019 TEDx talk.In this Consider Before Consuming episode, Matt shares how his vulnerability around his personal history of abuse and porn consumption helped other men in his barbershop to open up about their experiences. And Sara shares how her work in the anti-trafficking space led her to establish strict boundaries around pornography consumption and fight to create homes free from violence.Their work to combat domestic violence, through an invitation for men to acknowledge their own childhood trauma and take responsibility for their healing, has reached millions.Episode ResourcesVisit: She Is Not Your RehabMatt and Sarah's Book: She Is Not Your RehabArt Prints: Who Is She?Watch: Matt's Ted TalkArticle: What Are the Risks of Choking a Partner During Sex?Article: 10 Reasons Why You Should (Not) Be Cool With Your Partner Watching Porn

Paul was exposed to pornography at a young age and realized in college that his porn consumption had escalated to the point that it was impacting his sleep, his relationships, and his mental health.During this Consider Before Consuming Podcast episode, Paul shares how he was able to retrain his brain away from porn consumption through healthy practices. He also shares about his work as the Teams Coordinator for an organization in Mexico, which focuses on prevention, intervention, and restoration for survivors of trafficking. Paul encourages our listeners not to give up and reminds us that there is always hope.Episode ResourcesArticle: 7 Reasons to Add Quitting Porn to Your Self-Improvement ListArticle: Why Do Some People Fight Against Sex Trafficking and Also Support Porn?Video: Paul's StoryPodcast: How the Porn Industry is Connected to Sex TraffickingVisit: El Pozo De Vida

Trigger warning: The following podcast episode contains discussions of abuse and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised.Julie Whitehead is a survivor of many years of abuse and sex trafficking. As a survivor, Julie shares her story in her book Shadowed: How I Became the Sex Trafficked Mother Next Door. She also serves on a survivor advisory board for the Malouf Foundation.This episode of Consider Before Consuming is part 1 of our 2-part interview. In it, Julie shares about leaving her abusive marriage, only to begin being sex-trafficked on the weekends by a man she thought would help her.Julie bravely shares her story in the hopes that other trafficking victims see that there’s hope on the other side of their experiences.Episode ResourcesPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 104: Julie Whitehead, Pt. 1Julie's Book: Shadowed: How I Became The Sex-Trafficked Mother Next DoorVisit: On Watch

Trigger warning: The following podcast episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.Julie Whitehead is a survivor of many years of abuse and sex trafficking. As a survivor, Julie bravely shares her story in her book Shadowed: How I Became the Sex Trafficked Mother Next Door. She also serves on a survivor advisory board for the Malouf Foundation.This episode of Consider Before Consuming is part 1 of our 2-part interview. In it, Julie shares about the child sexual abuse she experienced at home, as well as the emotional and psychological abuse she endured by her husband in their 12-year marriage, before meeting the man who would sex traffic her.Episode ResourcesVisit: The Connection of Porn and Sex TraffickingArticle: How Pornography Can Worsen Cases of Domestic ViolenceJulie's Book: Shadowed: How I Became The Sex-Trafficked Mother Next Door

There are hundreds of studies from years of research showing how pornography is negatively impacting individuals, relationships, and society. In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, we hear from many experts on how pornography harms.To learn more, check out Truthaboutporn.org. Truth About Porn is a current, ever-growing database dedicated to research on the harmful effects of pornography.Videos: Truth About Porn InterviewsArticles: Get The Facts