Lydia Cacho on the Links Between Pornography and Human Trafficking

*This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised. Episode DescriptionSelena is the Associate Program Director of a sex trafficking survivor sanctuary. As a former porn performer and sex trafficking survivor, Selena knows firsthand what the women she is helping have experienced.In this Consider Before Consuming episode, Selena sheds light on the dark realities of the porn industry, the deceptive nature of sex trafficking, and the power of resilience.Episode ResourcesArticle: I Was Fine with Porn and the Commercial Sex Industry, Until I Worked in a BrothelVideo: What Being In Porn Is Really LikeVictim ResourcesHope Rising

Mandy is a women's empowerment and trauma-informed life coach who helps women who have experienced betrayal trauma. In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Mandy shares her personal experience of discovering her partner’s secret struggle with porn addiction, his cheating with porn stars, and the betrayal trauma that followed. She describes the emotional toll, the gaslighting, and the psychological abuse she endured, as well as the healing journey that led her to become a trauma-informed life coach.Episode Resources Article: The Emotional Trauma of Having a Porn-Addicted PartnerMandy's WebsiteConversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn

Timothy Reigle is a coach, author, podcaster, and the founder of Into The Wilderness Ministries. Tim has used his own experience in defeating addiction to help hundreds of men to overcome their addictions to porn and sex.In this Consider Before Consuming episode, Tim shares about the 15 years he spent in a cycle of porn addiction that escalated into destructive behaviors, impacting his marriage and mental health. He shares how he finally broke free, the strategies that helped him find lasting recovery, and how he now helps others do the same.Episode ResourcesArticle: How Porn Can Become an Escalating BehaviorPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 114: Rachel DentonTimothy's Website: Into the WildernessTimothy Instagram: @timothyreigle

Trigger WarningTrigger Warning: The following episode contains discussions of child physical and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Episode DescriptionSeth Gehle is an author and speaker who uses his platform to encourage others to overcome their own challenges and find strength in adversity by sharing his own story of resiliency after a traumatic childhood. In this Consider Before Consuming episode, Seth shares about the years of abuse that shaped his childhood, the role of pornography in shaping his perceptions of relationships, and the path he took to heal.Episode ResourcesVictim ResourcesSeth's Website and BookConsider Before Consuming Ep. 107: Matt and Sarah

Trigger Warning*Trigger Warning: The following episode contains descriptions of disturbing porn themes and discussions of child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised Melinda Tankard Reist is an author, speaker, and the Movement Director of Collective Shout. She's spent many years as a leading advocate against the sexual exploitation of girls and women. In this episode, she shares the impact of porn culture on youth, relationships, and society. She unpacks her latest research on the alarming rise of sexual harassment in schools, particularly toward teachers. She also addresses how boys are being conditioned to see girls as objects through exposure to violent pornography.Episode Resources Article: Porn Impacts Student Sexual Harassment in Schools—Here’s HowVideo: This SANE Nurse Explains How Pornography Inspires Sexual AssaultMelinda Tankard-Reist's WebsiteCollective ShoutSexual Harassment of Teachers Report

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of child sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised.Lydia Cacho is a world-renowned investigative journalist, author, and human rights activist who has dedicated her life to exposing the dark realities of human trafficking, child exploitation, and the intersections of pornography and organized crime. In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Lydia shares her decades-long fight against corruption, the dangers she has faced, and the resilience that keeps her pushing forward.Episode Resources Article: By the Numbers: Is the Porn Industry Connected to Sex Trafficking?Lydia's Instagram: @LydiacachoLydia's Books

*Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of trafficking. Listener discretion is advised.Megan Lundstrom has spent over a decade in this field of anti-trafficking, first as the founder of The Avery Center and now as the Director of the Resilience Fund at Polaris, a direct cash assistance program for trafficking survivors in the United States.In this episode, Megan shares her expertise on OnlyFans, examining its portrayal as empowering versus its exploitation risks. Megan reveals how traffickers use the platform and challenges the platform’s minimal standards for consent and safety.Episode ResourcesArticle: How Porn Can Distort Consumers Understanding of Healthy SexPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 81: Megan LundstromPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 115: Victoria SinisPolaris Resilience FundReport: An In-Depth Financial Analysis of Sex Trafficking on OnlyFans 

Dr. Meagan Tyler is a Senior Lecturer in the Research Education and Development team at Australia’s La Trobe University. With nearly 20 years of experience researching the intersections of pornography, gender inequality, and violence against women, she shares her expert insights.In this episode, she helps us understand how the normalization of pornography has been fueled by cultural shifts, technological advancements, and strategic marketing. Listeners will learn about the ways pornography influences intimate partner violence, its role in shaping unhealthy sexual norms, and how feminist ideals are co-opted to mask exploitation.Episode Resources Article: Does Porn Normalize Sexual Violence in Teen Relationships?Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 25: Carolyn WestPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 90: Taina Bien-AiméCoalition Against Trafficking in Women AustraliaMeagan Tyler's Research Outputs

Sathiya Sam is a recovery coach, speaker, and author who has dedicated his life to helping others overcome pornography addiction and achieve true freedom. After battling his own 15-year struggle with addiction, Sathiya founded Deep Clean, a program designed to address the root causes of compulsive behaviors. In this episode, we explore transformative concepts like healing past wounds and redefining identity.Episode ResourcesPodcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 29: Sathiya SamSathiya's WebsiteSathiya's Book: Free for CBC Podcast Listeners!Conversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About PornGroup-Based Recovery: RelayDocumentary: Brain, Heart, World

Episode DescriptionDr. Frank Anderson is a renowned trauma expert, psychiatrist, and author with over 30 years of experience. In this episode, Dr. Anderson explores how trauma shapes behaviors and relationships, offering practical tools for healing and fostering genuine connections, while providing hope for those on their recovery journey.Episode Resources Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 101: Matthias J. BarkerDr. Anderson's WebsiteDr. Anderson's Newest Book: To Be LovedTrauma InstituteInstagram: Dr. Frank Anderson