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What kind of legacy are you leaving in your home? For many men, this question cuts deep. They're physically present but emotionally absent—buried in work, numbed by addiction, or simply disconnected from their own hearts. Meanwhile, their families feel the void: wives longing for connection and children navigating life without the emotional safety they desperately need.

In this powerful conversation, Aaron Tagert sits down with Joel Warneking, Executive Director of 423 Communities, who shares his journey from sexual addiction to wholeness. Joel's story follows a familiar pattern—childhood exposure to pornography that developed into a full-blown addiction lasting through Bible college and ministry positions. Living a double life of public ministry and private shame eventually led to a breaking point that became his pathway to healing.

The heart of this episode explores how men's healing transforms entire family systems. When fathers engage with their own emotional wounds and develop sexual competency, they create safe spaces where rupture and repair can happen naturally. Joel explains how understanding our physiological responses to stress—what happens in our bodies when we feel triggered—allows us to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively to our spouses and children.

Perhaps most powerful is the discussion about parenting teens through sexual development. Before parents can effectively guide their children through conversations about sexuality, they must first do their own work. Creating an emotionally safe home where children can bring their struggles without shame becomes the foundation for healing across generations.

Whether you're struggling with your own unwanted sexual behaviors, trying to build a healthier family system, or wanting to guide your children through today's hypersexualized culture, this episode offers both hope and practical wisdom. The journey begins with allowing yourself to be fully known so you can be fully loved—by God, others, and even yourself.

Resources:

• 423 Communities  
• Awaken Retreat 
• Sacred By Design Retreat
• Treading Boldly

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

Ever feel completely exhausted despite getting enough sleep? There's a reason for that—and it goes beyond physical fatigue. In this second episode on rest, we dive deep into four often-overlooked forms of restoration that are essential for wholeness and recovery.

Continuing our exploration of Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith's seven types of rest, we move beyond the physical, mental, and emotional to discover spiritual, social, sensory, and creative rest. Each offers a unique pathway to restoration that many of us desperately need but rarely recognize.

For anyone on a recovery journey or supporting a loved one through betrayal trauma, these forms of rest aren't luxuries—they're essential practices for healing and growth. Join us as we discover God's multifaceted invitation to find rest for our weary souls.

Ready to experience deeper restoration? Subscribe now and discover which form of rest might be your missing piece.

Resources:

Sacred Rest

Rest Quiz

Healthy, Holy Alternatives from Awaken 360

Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend

Lectio Divina

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

What if the missing piece in your recovery journey isn't more discipline or accountability, but specific kinds of rest you've been overlooking? 

Dr. Sondra Dalton-Smith's concept of "sacred rest" offers a framework for understanding why many of us remain stuck in cycles of unwanted sexual behavior despite our best efforts. Kyle Bowman and I explore how three distinct types of rest—physical, mental, and emotional—directly impact our ability to heal from sexual brokenness.

This conversation challenges the subtle Gnosticism that pervades Christian thinking—the idea that physical limitations are spiritual weaknesses rather than divine design. Even Jesus slept! Your recovery journey might transform not through trying harder but through resting more intentionally in the ways your body, mind, and heart truly need.

Resources:

Sacred Rest

Rest Quiz

Healthy, Holy Alternatives from Awaken 360

Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend

Lectio Divina

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

Recovery fatigue is a rarely discussed but a common experience for men trying to rebuild after betrayal. What happens when all the meetings, check-ins, and recovery work start to feel overwhelming or—worse yet—like they're not making a difference?

Dan Drake, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex addiction therapist with over 20 years of experience, joins us to unpack this challenging reality. He shares insights on how recovery motivation makes all the difference: "If I'm checking boxes trying to do these things to get my wife back and stop her from pestering me, that's going to be a different motivation than 'I get to do these things to thrive and become a better human being.'"

Resources:

Awaken Retreat

The Intimacy Pyramid

Kintsugi Recovery Partners (Find a Disclosure Guide)

Books:

Surviving the Holidays

Building True Intimacy

Full Disclosure (For the Disclosing Individual)

Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal Vol 1 (For Partners)

Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal Vol 2 (For Partners)

Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal Vol 3 (For Partners)

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

Caught between exploding and imploding? You're not alone. This episode uncovers the hidden connection between acting out (through behaviors like porn, alcohol, or overworking) and acting in (through withdrawal, passive-aggression, and emotional shutdown). What looks like self-control on the surface might actually be self-contempt in disguise.

Ready for transformation? Join us for the men's Awaken retreat (October 3-5) or the women's Sacred by Design retreat (November 7-8). Space is limited, so reserve your spot today through the link in our show notes.

Resources:

Retreat links

Dr. Nathanson on Shame

Minwalla Model

Brene Brown's Ted Talk on Shame

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

What if your recovery from unwanted sexual behaviors could be strengthened by simple physical practices you've overlooked? In this episode, we dive into often-forgotten physical disciplines that transform spiritual recovery. From breathing techniques that calm the nervous system during moments of temptation to the profound impact of proper hydration on decision-making, we explore how our bodies are designed to function optimally through specific practices.

Whether you're just beginning your recovery journey or have been walking it for years, these physical disciplines offer practical tools for creating the optimal conditions where spiritual transformation can flourish. 

This is part 2 of this podcast, and we encourage you to listen to part 1 if you haven't already.

Resources:

Harvard Prof Arthur Brooks

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

Have you ever considered that your body might be your greatest ally—not your enemy—in recovery from unwanted sexual behaviors? Many of us approach healing as primarily spiritual or psychological, overlooking the role our physical existence plays in transformation.

Your body isn't just a vessel carrying your spirit through life; it's an integrated part of who God designed you to be. From the very beginning, Genesis shows humanity as formed from dust and brought to life by divine breath—we are simultaneously matter and spirit. This isn't incidental to your recovery journey—it's foundational.

In this episode, Josh Glaser and James Craig explore five physical disciplines that God has woven into our design as assets for healing: breathing, hydration, eating, sleeping, and exercise. These aren't merely biological necessities but theological realities that point to our dependence on our Creator. Each discipline, when practiced intentionally, helps regulate our bodies and minds, creating space for healthier choices and emotional stability.

Resources:

Harvard Prof Arthur Brooks

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

What if the solution to overcoming pornography addiction isn't found in behavior modification but in healing your heart? In this episode, Sathiya Sam shares how addressing the root causes of unwanted sexual behavior leads to genuine freedom that behavior-focused approaches simply can't deliver.

Sathiya, the architect behind Deep Clean—a program that has helped thousands of men overcome pornography addiction—reveals his personal 15-year battle with porn that began at age 11. His journey from struggle to freedom led him to develop an approach combining biblical wisdom with scientific research that targets what lies beneath the surface of compulsive sexual behavior.
Ready to move beyond surface solutions? Listen now to discover how true freedom begins below the waterline.

Resources:

Man Within Podcast

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

The world has a plan for your formation—are you consciously designing your counter-strategy? In this episode, we continue our conversation about developing a "rule of life" that helps us resist the powerful current of cultural formation pulling us away from Christ-likeness.

We tackle one of the most common obstacles to spiritual disciplines—the subtle belief that these practices earn God's favor rather than create space for relationship. When morning prayer becomes an obligation rather than a connection, we've missed the point entirely. Instead, we explore how disciplines function as training exercises that prepare us for lives of love.

Resources from this episode:

• Rule of Life Workbook
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
• Daily examen

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a text

Freedom doesn't happen by accident. Whether we realize it or not, our daily routines, habits, and patterns are shaping who we're becoming—either drawing us deeper into wholeness or reinforcing cycles of brokenness.

The practice of a "rule of life" offers hope and structure for those struggling with unwanted sexual behaviors. 

From scripture reading and prayer to solitude, fasting, and physical exercise, we discuss practical disciplines that support recovery from sexual struggles. Rather than one-size-fits-all prescriptions, we discuss how to personalize these practices to match your unique needs, personality, and circumstances.

Jesus himself demonstrated a pattern of spiritual practices: early morning solitude, regular community worship, and intimate relationships with close disciples. His example invites us to consider what practices might create space in our busy lives to be with Him, become like Him, and do what He did.

Resources from this episode:

• Rule of Life Workbook
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
• Daily examen

For more information or to join click one of the links below.

Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.

Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust.

Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today!

Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole

👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional
👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)
👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)