On this episode of the Back to Human Podcast, I sit down with John Geisheker to expose the barbaric and unnecessary practice of infant circumcision.
John is the pro bono Director and General Counsel of Doctors Opposing Circumcision (DOC), an international nonprofit dedicated to protecting genital integrity, autonomy, and ethical pediatric care. For over 30 years, John has litigated and mediated medical disputes involving unwanted circumcisions and premature, forcible foreskin retraction — which he calls the “gateway drug” to circumcision.
This conversation is packed with history, ethics, psychology, and eye-opening realities most parents have never been told.
In this episode we cover:
00:00 – Intro
01:20 – John’s early deep-dive into the research
03:55 – Attitudes and beliefs regarding circumcision in New Zealand
04:35 – What DOC actually does
08:45 – The obsessive epiphany adult men are confronted with
10:52 – If there’s no medical purpose, why is it still practiced?
13:00 The anatomical design of the penis
16:47 Circumcision was intended as a form of punishment
19:10 Informed consent
28:00 – No regulation & no anesthesia
31:00 – What happens to the foreskin afterward (medical waste, cosmetics, industry ties)
32:40 – Jewish context: humiliation ritual, bris, Bruchim, Beyond the Bris
35:47 – Cognitive dissonance, conformity & the illusion of choice
41:15 – “It’s not a medical system, it’s a marketplace”
43:18 – Why parents avoid acknowledging loss
45:05 – Adamant Father Syndrome
48:47 – Justifications for circumcision (circulation myths, necrotic tissue, cancer claims)
51:39 – How to properly care for an intact penis
55:42 – Forcible retraction
58:19 – Foreskin restoration & reported benefits
1:02:05 – Demonstration of sensitivity & the science of touch
1:08:25 – How many adults are electing circumcision today
1:09:37 – Sign-off & resources
1:13:11 – Jewish support: Bruchim & Bris Shalom
1:15:18 – Your Whole Baby
If you’d like to explore this topic further, here are some helpful resources:
https://www.bruchim.online/
https://www.beyondthebris.com/
https://www.yourwholebaby.org/
https://www.restoringforeskin.org/
https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/
I hope you find value in this episode — even if the subject is uncomfortable — and that you share it with any parent who’s unsure or questioning this practice.Subscribe to stay in the loop for future content.