Porn addiction is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to how it actually develops in the brain and what real recovery looks like. In this episode, licensed clinical counselor and CSAT Chris Chandler breaks down the science behind compulsive porn use, why young brains are especially vulnerable, and how stress and porn can create a powerful cycle that’s hard to break.

Chris also shares why porn addiction can mirror substance addiction in the brain, the role of emotional pain and loneliness, why relationships don’t automatically “fix” the problem, and what a realistic recovery process truly involves.

This episode is sponsored by Relay, a secure peer-support app that connects you with a small group of people who understand what you’re going through and help you stay accountable on your journey to quit porn. CBC listeners can try Relay free for 30 days when they sign up at http://joinrelay.app/consider.

Episode Resources:

• Article: How Porn Can Contribute to an Unhealthy Cycle of Stress
• Relay: CBC Listeners get one month free
• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 126: Relay Panel
• Ted Talk: My Stroke of Insight

Ryan Ridgway is a mental health educator and former addiction support specialist from the UK. In this episode, he talks about his 20-year struggle with pornography use, OCD, and substance abuse. He explains how porn became his main way to cope with stress and mental illness, how that habit slowly took control of his life, and what recovery has looked like since. Ryan also discusses the connection between porn and self-esteem, body image, and mental health, and why honest conversation about these issues matters.

Episode Resources:

• Article: Watching Porn May Be Negatively Impacting Your Mental Health
• This episode is sponsored by Relay: CBC Listeners get 40% Relay in November with code FTND40
• Follow Ryan on Instagram

Trigger Warning: This episode contains brief references to childhood sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised

Toni Collier is a speaker, author, and founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, a global women’s organization helping people process brokenness and find hope. In this episode, Toni shares how being exposed to pornography as a child led to addiction, shame, and struggles with identity—and how she’s now creating a healthier, more open environment for her kids.

She also talks about the power of community and connection in healing and parenting, reminding us that even when life feels messy or broken, beauty and growth are still possible.

This episode is sponsored by Relay, a secure peer-support app that connects you with a small group of people who understand what you’re going through and help you stay accountable on your journey to quit porn. Try it today for 20% off! 

Episode Resources:

• Article: Why Fighting Porn Must Include Fighting Shame
• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 83: Myunique
• Toni's Website
• Bark: Fighters get a free month!

Kyle was first exposed to pornography at a young age, and it quickly became a coping mechanism that followed him into adulthood. In this episode, he and his wife, Maddie, share openly about how pornography impacted their marriage, shattering trust, creating betrayal trauma, and forcing them to confront hard truths about honesty and healing. Maddie offers her perspective as a partner navigating broken trust and the painful process of rebuilding safety in the relationship, while Kyle speaks to the challenges of recovery and overcoming shame. Together, they discuss what healing looks like in real time, showing both the difficulty and the hope that can exist when couples confront pornography’s impact head-on.

Episode Resources:

• Video: Our Experience on Porn Recovery and Betrayal Trauma
• Recovery Resources

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence, trafficking, and child sexual abuse material. Listener discretion is advised.

OnlyFans is often marketed as a quick path to money and empowerment, but the reality tells another story. While a small fraction of creators earn millions, most make very little, and many feel pressured into increasingly extreme stunts to stand out—some involving hundreds or even thousands of partners, or content marketed as “barely legal.” At the same time, teens report being targeted with invitations to join the platform or consume its content, fueling harmful ideas about sex, consent, and exploitation.

In this episode, Natale and Elisabeth look at the myths and realities of OnlyFans, the risks for creators and consumers, and how trafficking and child sexual abuse material have found their way onto the platform.

Episode Resources:

• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 140: Victoria Sinis
• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 78: Jane Doe, Girls Do Porn Trafficking Survivor
• Recovery Resources
• Reuters Series: OnlyFans Exposed
• Share Your Story
• Episode Citations

*This episode contains discussion of sexual violence, strangulation, deepfakes, and image-based exploitation. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, we dive into the connection between pornography and sexual violence. From the prevalence of strangulation porn and its influence on real-world abuse, to the rise of AI deepfakes and image-based exploitation, to how social media is exposing kids to harmful content earlier than ever, this conversation highlights why awareness and action are so critical. Together, Natale and Elisabeth unpack the data, stories, and cultural trends shaping how pornography impacts individuals, relationships, and society, and how each of us can be part of the solution.

Episode Resources:

• Episode Citations
• Shop: FTND Store
• Image-Based Sexual Abuse Resources
• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 96: Valiant Richey

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, nonconsensual image sharing, racism, and fetishization. Listener discretion is advised.

Kaila Yu is the author of the new memoir, Fetishized. In this episode, Kaila opens up about her personal journey navigating fetishization, media exploitation, and a sexual assault that was recorded and shared without her consent. We explore how pornography and media have distorted perceptions of Asian women, stripping away individuality and fueling harmful stereotypes that echo far beyond the screen. Kaila’s story highlights both the personal toll of these narratives and the urgent need to challenge them.

Episode Resources:

• Kaila's Book: Fetishized
• Kaila's Instagram: @Kailayu
• Article: 6 Marginalized & Vulnerable Groups of People Porn Fetishizes
• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 125: Melanie Thompson

Mike Lemon is the founder of Cyber Safe School and a former Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigator. After decades spent tracking down online predators, he now dedicates his work to helping parents, educators, and students prevent online exploitation, especially sextortion. In this episode, Mike explains how predators are targeting youth, why sextortion cases are rapidly increasing, the role of AI in these crimes, and what families can do to protect kids in today’s digital world.

Episode Resources:

• Article: Why Financial Sextortion Is Targeting Teens and Spreading Fast
• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 138: Shannon and John
• Newsletter: Cyber Safe School
• Facebook Group: Cyber Safe Families

*This episode contains a detailed discussion of child abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

Dr. Suamhirs Piraino-Guzman is a behavioral neurologist, clinical psychologist, human trafficking survivor, and international human rights advocate. In this powerful episode, he shares his story of surviving severe childhood abuse and trafficking, navigating the foster care and immigration systems, and turning his trauma into a lifelong mission to support other survivors. Now working globally with the United Nations and providing trauma-informed care to thousands of trafficking victims, Dr. Piraino-Guzman sheds light on the complex realities of exploitation, the importance of healing-centered systems, and why boys and men must be included in conversations about trafficking and sexual violence. Even after experiencing the worst of humanity, he chooses to lead with hope, trust, and compassion, and invites us all to do the same.

Epiosde Resources:

• National Survivor Network
• Survivor Alliance
• Victim Resources
• Dr. Piraino-Guzman's LinkedIn
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Article: 15 Facts About Human Sex Trafficking
• Article: Parents—If You Don’t Teach Your Kids About Sex, Porn Sites Will

Lorna was just 17 years old when a photoshopped, explicit image of her began circulating online, marking the beginning of a years-long nightmare involving deepfakes, stalking, and online blackmail.

In this episode, Lorna shares how someone used her image to create fake profiles and explicit deepfakes, leading to relentless harassment that spilled from the internet into her everyday life. She opens up about her experience reporting the crime to police, the long road toward justice, and her personal journey of healing.

Episode Resources:

• Article: The Alarming Rise of Deepfake Porn and Its Devastating Effects
• Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep.88: Victoria Galy
• Victim Resources