*Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
Rachel was first exposed to pornography at seven years old and went on to develop an addiction to porn for the next thirteen years. Despite getting treatment for anxiety and depression as a young girl, she never felt like she could tell others about her struggle with porn because it was something that "girls didn't struggle with." Rachel discusses the shame she felt from being a girl struggling with porn, how being exposed to violent pornography from such a young age caused her to be desensitized to an abusive relationship, and why she now encourages people to talk about their struggle in order to break from the shame that so often keeps them struggling.
This episode is a re-release. It was first released in July of 2023.
Episode Resources:
Victoria Sinis is the founder of Creating Gems, an organization created to help young women break free from harmful narratives about themselves. Victoria used to work for an OnlyFans agency, recruiting creators, curating their social media presence, and managing marketing funnels designed to drive traffic to explicit content. In this episode, she shares what made her walk away from an industry she once believed was empowering.
This episode is a re-release. It was first released in June of 2024.
Episode Resources
Article: Why So Many Teen Girls Are Planning on Becoming OnlyFans Stars
Article: What Porn, Loneliness, and OnlyFans Have To Do with Men Buying Sex
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming, Ep. 109: You Asked, We Answered
Victoria's Website: Creating Gems
Rosalia Rivera is a consent educator and abuse prevention specialist who works to help parents break cycles of abuse through empowered, proactive conversations. In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, she shares her personal experiences with pornography, the dangers of leaving sex education to the internet, and how parents can build safe, shame-free spaces for their children to learn about consent and autonomy. She also dives into how pornography plays a role in grooming, the rise in child-on-child sexual abuse, and why media literacy and digital safety are more important than ever.
Episode Resources
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 17: Heidi Olson
Book: I Said No by Kimberly King
Trigger Warning
This episode includes topics of child sextortion and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
Episode Description
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Shannon Heacock and John Burnett share the deeply personal and devastating story of their son, Elijah. Recently, at just 16 years old, Elijah became a victim of sextortion — a form of online exploitation where predators manipulate and blackmail their victims using threats and explicit imagery, sometimes even using AI-generated content. Tragically, the manipulation and fear led Elijah to take his own life. John and Shannon’s courage in telling Elijah’s story is rooted in their hope that it can prevent other families from facing the same heartbreaking loss.
Episode Resources
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call or Text "988"
NCMEC Resource: Take it Down
Article: Understanding Sextortion: A Growing Threat and How to Protect Yourself
Louie Greek is a Training Specialist with Truckers Against Trafficking, who has spent more than a decade fighting human trafficking, using his expertise in law enforcement and military service to train people on how to recognize, respond to, and ultimately prevent exploitation. In this Consider Before Consuming podcast episode, Louie shares eye-opening insights on the realities of trafficking, the role of demand in fueling exploitation, and the actions we can take to stop it.
Episode Resources
Truckers Against Trafficking: Resources
Article: How You Can Spot, Report, and Prevent Human Trafficking
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 96: Valiant Richey
Conversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn
*This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised.
Selena 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 Resources
Article: I Was Fine with Porn and the Commercial Sex Industry, Until I Worked in a Brothel
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 Partner
Conversation 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 Resources
Article: How Porn Can Become an Escalating Behavior
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 114: Rachel Denton
Timothy's Website: Into the Wilderness
Trigger Warning
Trigger Warning: The following episode contains discussions of child physical and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
Episode Description
Seth 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 Resources
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 How
Video: This SANE Nurse Explains How Pornography Inspires Sexual Assault
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: @Lydiacacho
*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 Resources
Article: How Porn Can Distort Consumers Understanding of Healthy Sex
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 81: Megan Lundstrom
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 115: Victoria Sinis
Report: 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 West
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 90: Taina Bien-Aimé
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 Resources
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 29: Sathiya Sam
Sathiya's Book: Free for CBC Podcast Listeners!
Conversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn
Group-Based Recovery: Relay
Documentary: Brain, Heart, World
Episode Description
Dr. 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. Barker
Dr. Anderson's Newest Book: To Be Loved
Instagram: Dr. Frank Anderson
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, we host a panel featuring four individuals deeply involved in the fight against pornography addiction. Chandler, Co-founder and CEO of Relay, shares his personal journey of overcoming pornography and how his experience led to creating a digital platform for recovery. Chris, a licensed professional counselor and certified sex addiction therapist, offers expert insights on the psychological effects of pornography and addiction recovery. Matthew and Dayne, both in recovery from long-term porn addiction, open up about their personal experiences, challenges, and victories in their healing journeys. Together, the panel discusses the power of connection in recovery, the importance of vulnerability, and how community plays a crucial role in breaking free from addiction.
Episode Resources
Article: How Porn Can Change the Brain
Article: Why the Opposite of Porn Addiction Isn’t Only Sobriety—It’s Real Human Connection
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 93: Chandler
Book: The Body Keeps the Score
Melanie Thompson is a survivor of sex trafficking and prostitution, as well as a dedicated speaker and activist in the global fight against commercial sexual exploitation. Trafficked at just 12 years old, Melanie was later arrested and placed in foster care, where she began her advocacy journey at 14. She now serves as the Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator at the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International.
In this episode, we delve into Melanie's powerful story and explore the complexities of trafficking, the misconceptions surrounding platforms like OnlyFans, how pornography promotes violence and harmful stereotypes, and the urgent need for awareness and systemic change.
Episode Resources
Article: How Mainstream Porn Normalizes Violence Against Black Women
Article: How Porn Can Misrepresent and Fetishize LGBTQ+ Individuals and Relationships
Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 90: Taina Bien-Aimé
Melanie's Podcast: Exit Wound
Breanna and Brandon Vales are Directors and Founders of Red Light Rebellion, which exists to educate young people about the dangers of child sex trafficking.
In this episode, they cover how their experiences influence their work and how they aim to empower youth to recognize the red flags of grooming and exploitation. They also share about Brandon's recovery journey from porn addiction, the impact of pornography on relationships, and how unresolved childhood trauma often leads to addiction.
Episode Resources
Article: How You Can Spot, Report, and Prevent Human Trafficking
Red Flag Cards: Text REDFLAGS to 602-922-1040
