Unashamed Unafraid

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Sam and Austin recount returning to downtown Salt Lake City with their sign reading, “I’m a porn addict in recovery—ask me anything,” this time standing near Temple Square right after an LDS General Conference session. They compare the first outing—where strangers readily engaged and asked blunt questions—to this one, where many people looked away in visible shame, were with family, or may have assumed they were protesters. The hosts discuss how brotherhood matters in recovery, the challenge of church shame, and the importance of making public space feel safe while still inviting honest dialogue. They reflect on owning your story, rejecting the idea that only sober people can speak, note AA’s original reason for anonymity, and commit to doing the sign outreach again with clearer messaging and more supporters. Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:01:09 The Sign01:50 Brotherhood In Recovery02:42 Last Time In Salt Lake03:58 General Conference Context05:41 Pizza Break Daniel06:44 New Crowd New Shame10:40 Fear Of Being Protesters12:16 Camera Mistake Lessons13:02 Why Public Vulnerability Heals15:40 Owning Your Story 8 Mile18:46 Talking Before Youre Sober21:04 Anonymity Origin22:51 Do It Again Invite Others24:02 Jesus Rebel Energy

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Jason Dausses returns to the show to do another session of live therapy with his clients, Sam and Mason, host and co-host of the podcast. Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:01:35 Mason Check In03:49 Sam Wants Sobriety05:15 Calling Sam's Bluff06:38 Finding a Real Why07:43 What Porn Provides09:16 Fear of Choosing Wife10:57 Grief and Letting Go13:11 Admitting You Love Porn15:00 Beyond Morality Pressure16:14 Find Your Real Why17:20 Shame And Honest Confession18:34 Multiple Whys Deeper Sobriety20:15 False Self And Agreements27:01 Acceptance Is Felt Not Thought28:32 Safety And Deeper Vulnerability30:30 Enneagram Three And Control32:14 Silver Bullet Joe33:06 Called Out And Closing Thanks

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, the hosts discuss the “parts of ourselves” we want to kill—especially in sexual addiction recovery—and argue that shame-driven repression and white-knuckling only make things worse. Austin shares how growing up in a conservative culture led him to hide, berate, and try to “kill” his addiction, until he learned to face it with compassion: acknowledging the wounded, trauma-shaped part of himself without feeding compulsive behavior. The group explores identity, pushing back on making “addict” a permanent label, emphasizing being a son of God while distinguishing healthy desires from dark distortions. Using images like “hugging the cactus,” NF’s song “Running,” shadow work, and even Harry Potter, they describe confronting triggers, understanding what behaviors protect us from, and replacing shame and isolation with love, support, therapy, and faith.Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:00:43 Killing Parts of Yourself?01:20 Austin On Shame02:45 Hugging The Cactus03:57 Labels And Identity05:44 NF Running Trauma09:23 White Knuckling Fails09:57 Harry Potter Love12:00 Triggers And Warfare15:33 Shadow Work Advice18:08 Closing And Wrap

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Sam and Josh Bring back Michael from the Heare Bros (returning from a prior episode), who recaps his a spiritual/somatic session where he cast out the “accuser,” broke through a core belief of worthlessness, and felt transformative light and truth, then explains healing as increasing awareness, grieving wounds, and choosing connection over relapse. He discusses the process of healing and explains holotropic breathwork as a tool for accessing deeper consciousness, releasing pain, and connecting breath with spirit and God’s name, and offers resources for his Utah sessions and Hear Bros retreats.Connect with Mike:https://thelightinus.orghttps://hearebros.com/Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:01:58 Why Jesus Had to Die06:37 Meet Michael Again12:41 Repentance Redefined15:36 Guided Healing Session23:10 Infinite Worth Moment26:31 Light Truth Framework31:47 Turning Up the Light36:59 Healing Wounds Over Time39:44 Wounds Keep Surfacing40:16 Worth at the Core40:48 Turning On the Lights41:46 Grief Beneath Anger43:14 Replacing Lies With Truth44:18 Affirmations and Context45:27 Moses and Being Nothing48:42 Eastern View of Nothing50:34 Breathwork as a Tool51:30 Holotropic Breathwork Basics52:47 Theta State and Subconscious57:04 Technique and What to Expect01:01:03 Breath as Spirit and Prayer01:03:50 Name of God as Breath01:07:17 Resources and Retreats

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, the hosts discuss healthy, non-compulsive sexuality in recovery and emphasize that sex isn’t the problem—shame is. They share experiences of growing up with little guidance, early sexual curiosity and experimentation, exposure to pornography in the internet age, and how silence and shame intensified addiction. The conversation reframes sexuality as sacred and God-given, meant for connection and creation, while warning that misuse can damage relationships with God and others. They stress normalizing frank, respectful conversations, creating safety and boundaries in marriage, and seeking help through therapy and resources like Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. They explore six types of intimacy, explain how unmet emotional needs become sexualized, and challenge listeners to ask what sex means to them and if married, what their spouse hears when they request sex.Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:00:43 Is Sex The Problem?01:04 Early Shame And Silence03:46 Internet Porn And Shame06:10 Talking With Kids08:14 Sex Sacred Not Secret11:23 Healthy Sex And Humor13:32 How To Start The Conversation15:22 Resources And Cultural Shame17:25 Utah OnlyFans Joke17:49 Therapy Reframes Sex18:56 Five Month Reset20:29 Asking Without Shame22:58 Six Types of Intimacy26:06 Needs Behind Desire31:11 Safety and Boundaries34:27 Receiving Pleasure35:23 Sex Reveals Healing36:52 Challenges and Wrap Up

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, the hosts welcome Reuben Aiton, founder of Arise & Heal Recovery, who shares his background in addiction recovery coaching and his focus on helping teens and LDS clients move from external “kindling” motivations to internal, heart-based reasons for change. Reuben discusses his own story, including a pituitary tumor that delayed puberty, later struggles with pornography, and learning that sobriety can exist without true healing. He explains addiction as a disconnection issue where pornography is a “medication,” emphasizing connection with God, self, and others to raise awareness rather than fighting thoughts with more thoughts. Reuben describes a panic and claustrophobia crisis on a plane that led to new insights about stillness, surrender, and processing emotions without fixing them, and he outlines practical “primal” movement drills and daily habits to reboot the frontal lobe and reduce shame-driven relapse cycles.Take advantage of Reuben's resources here at https://ariseheal.org/Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:56 Meet Reuben Aiton04:05 Why Teens Are Hard06:06 Kindling Versus Log08:24 Porn Is Not Problem10:43 Reuben's Recovery Story16:49 Panic Attack Flight20:46 Alligator Thought Spin22:53 Turning On The Light25:21 Shame And God27:44 The Atonement Is For You29:04 Breaking Shame Goggles30:20 Identity And Limiting Beliefs32:34 Integrating Parts And Resistance34:51 Process Emotions To Heal Beliefs36:22 Urges As Pain Signals43:46 Surrender Not Willpower49:35 Resources And Contact Info50:33 Eye Of The Tiger Wrap

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Sam, Chris, Joshua, and Austin discuss sexual addiction recovery and why healing requires honesty, transparency, and coming unto Christ rather than hiding behind a so-called “noble lie” that hiding the truth somehow protects others. They praise Austin’s courage for disclosing a relapse after seven months and explore how lying creates unmanageable pain, escalates into a destructive web, and erodes trust in marriage by forcing a spouse to live in an untrue reality.  They emphasize that sobriety without transparency becomes “white knuckling,” recommend reaching out to brotherhood first after relapse to manage shame and take accountability without excuses, and note rare cases where disclosure may require professional guidance. They challenge listeners to identify where they don’t feel safe and take responsibility for creating safety rather than continuing to lie.Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:00:43 Podcast Welcome and Banter01:21 Relapse Courage and Noble Lie02:08 VeggieTales and Pinocchio Lies04:39 Why Lying Feels Safe But Isn't05:50 Transparency Builds Recovery06:32 Spouse Reality and Betrayal10:31 Accountability and Brotherhood12:34 Disclosure Safety and Coaching14:22 Shame Versus Shaming Quote16:35 Create Safety and Challenge18:21 Call to Action and Wrap Up

In this story episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, guest Paul Claverie opens up about navigating profound life crises, career shifts, personal accountability, and emotional healing. From managing his daughter’s cancer diagnosis to dealing with an unaddressed congenital deformity and performance-driven shame, Paul shares how pornography became an isolated coping mechanism—and how taking ownership of his health, finances, and personal agency ultimately helped him rebuild his life on solid ground.Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:00:00 – Podcast intro and mission02:10 – Early career and background06:15 – Overwhelming work and school08:30 – Daughter's cancer diagnosis10:45 – Losing heavy equipment job16:20 – Pressure in aviation career23:34 – Marital intimacy struggles25:10 – Corrective surgery for deformity28:30 – Overcoming pornography dependency31:15 – Physical fitness in recovery36:42 – Miscommunication regarding spiritual advice38:50 – Accidental discovery of email44:20 – Financial overhaul and independence48:30 – Deciding to pursue divorce52:08 – Song: Love Me At My Lowest by Nash Blackwood

In this episode of Unashamed, the hosts welcome back Austin and discuss sexual addiction recovery while working away from home. Austin shares that directing a demanding summer camp for 12–15-year-olds led to multiple relapses because he had no personal space, minimal sleep, and struggled to maintain safety and connection with God, while he stayed sober once home. The conversation explores why travel and high-pressure work often trigger acting out, the need to build a recovery lifestyle through structural changes, boundaries, and meeting basic needs like rest, food, and water. They reframe relapse as information rather than shame, discuss disciplined ways to “check out” safely, and emphasize listening to the body’s warning signals. Josh adds how losing 80 pounds and fitness improved his mental health and recovery. The episode ends with questions for listeners and a personal example of acting out due to lacking a plan at a family reunion.Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:00:43 Austin Returns to Unashamed01:04 Inside the Summer Camp Mission03:05 Recovery Update After Summer05:56 Why Travel Triggers Acting Out08:30 Building Boundaries and Alone Time13:06 Relapse as Data Not Shame14:34 Numbing Out and Healthy Rest17:13 Listening to Your Body Needs19:57 Fitness, Dopamine, and Discipline22:45 Listener Questions and Takeaways23:22 Closing Story and Wrap Up

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Sam interviews Curtis Morley, who shifted from tech CEO and entrepreneur to “Emotionologist” after personal upheaval and a difficult divorce. Curtis explains his framework of “counterfeit emotions,” including shame as the counterfeit of guilt, misery as the counterfeit of pain, and sobriety as the counterfeit of recovery, emphasizing that recovery measures “how deep” rather than “how long.” He discusses dopamine dependence, why the problem is the need for pornography rather than pornography itself, and a bus metaphor for witnessing emotions and choosing authentic counterparts. Curtis outlines additional dyads (love/lust, kind/nice, excellence/perfectionism, joy/pleasure) and offers hope through his Be Whole method, plus shares the origin of his song “Whole Again,” inspired by his daughter’s healing after a rare blood disease.- - - Sign up or book a call with Curtis! www.counterfeitemotions.com/recovery- - - In the sobriety world you often hear the saying it’s only a matter of time until… you have another relapse. In the recovery world it’s only a matter of time until… you overcome this for good. Sobriety from pornography is only the first step, but most programs end there. It turns out that sobriety is actually the counterfeit of recovery. A false sense of security with blockers and filters but without curing the underlying issues. People have believed for decades that willpower and white knuckling is enough. That’s where the trap is. Sobriety is a life of fear and misery whereas recovery is full of joy and refined. There is so much hope for full recovery. Is possible. People are overcoming the struggle for good.  Freedom from the grind feels amazing to wake up every day with peace and hope. Make a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH!  For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! [email protected]:00:43 Sam's Recovery Check-In02:00 Meet Curtis Morley - Emotionologist02:59 Entrepreneur Dream Life04:45 Divorce And Counterfeits08:14 Pain Joy Breakthrough10:47 Sobriety Versus Recovery17:04 Digging Up The Demons22:25 Lapse As A Gift25:54 Identity Trap And Hope28:39 Four Drivers Of Urges30:58 What Recovery Really Means32:38 Dopamine Cycle Explained35:38 Rewriting Triggers for Peace38:29 Emotional Bus Metaphor39:28 Guilt vs Shame Research43:20 Counterfeit Emotion Dyads46:41 Authenticity and Peace47:56 Hope and Be Whole Method52:44 Whole Again Song Story