Have you ever felt that pornography doesn’t just feel uncomfortable… it feels dark?

Not awkward.
Not “just a habit.”
But heavy — in a way that’s hard to explain.

Welcome to this thought-provoking episode of Fight For Love, where host Rosie Makinney takes us on a deep dive into a question many have felt but struggled to articulate: Why does pornography feel so dark? In this episode, Rosie explores the roots of this uncomfortable instinct, tracing it back through history, ancient ritual, and Scripture. You'll discover how sex has always held profound spiritual and formative power—not just as an act, but as something that shapes trust, identity, and destiny.

Drawing on stories of ancient pagan deities like Baal, Asherah, and Ishtar, Rosie reveals how sexual acts were central to worship, community, and personal security thousands of years ago. She explains how these patterns have quietly woven themselves into modern life, often hiding behind normalization and habit rather than loud rebellion.

This episode isn’t just about history—it’s about understanding the spiritual weight behind our cultural practices today, especially those that take something sacred and turn it into spectacle, consumption, and control. If you’ve ever felt uneasy about the presence of pornography and wondered if you’re overreacting, this conversation will validate your instincts and equip you with a richer perspective.

Join Rosie as she gently but powerfully shines a light on the unseen war that pornography wages—not by shaming, but by restoring clarity, truth, and hope.

In this powerful new chapter of Fight For Love, host Rosie Makinney reframes the battle against pornography as a war on truth itself. Through the timeless fairy tale of the Princess and the Pea, Rosie explores the deep spiritual sensitivity of betrayed wives, likening their discomfort and intuition to a holy birthright rather than fragility. She challenges cultural narratives that minimize the impact of betrayal, and encourages women to honor their discernment as part of their royal identity in Christ. This episode is a call to courage, truth-telling, and reclaiming covenant dignity in a world eager to numb it.

This week's episode is an intimate conversation between Rosie Makinney and her husband, Mark, as they dive straight into the spiritual heart of pornography addiction. No punches are pulled in their conversation as they tackle the spiritual root of addiction, and the need for individuals to fully surrender control and rely on God for recovery. Drawing from their own crazy story, their love for the stories of C.S.Lewis, and many years of working in the trenches with couples in recovery, Mark and Rosie reframe this painful and difficult journey as a potential source of unexpected and tremendous blessings. This is one to enjoy with your partner!

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Are you concerned about how to raise your children in today's hypersexualized culture? In this episode of "Fight For Love," host Rosie Makinney welcomes guest Barb Winters, an expert in promoting healthy relationships. They dive deep into the challenges parents face, such as discovering their children's engagement in undesirable behaviors like sending nudes,  and watching pornographic videos. Barb and Rosie acknowledge the difficulties parents encounter and emphasize the importance of setting boundaries and consequences while being present and available for their children. They shed light on the alarming reality that children are not only preyed upon by the pornography industry but are also victims. To confront this issue, the conversation turns to the significance of starting conversations about the dangers of pornography from a young age. They discuss the importance of understanding the devices children have access to and having calm conversations about their behavior to alleviate fear of judgment or punishment. Barb shares a personal story about her son's involvement with pornography and the steps they took as a family to address it.  Barb's book Sexpectations is a valuable resource, providing insights into what a healthy relationship looks like and practical advice for what to do when your kids have been exposed to porn. Share this episode with the parents of your children's friends as an easy way to open up the discussion and get on the same page.

Are you struggling to understand your husband's behavior and suspect that he may have a mood or personality disorder? In this episode, Rosie is joined by Julie St.Onge, an expert on mental health and addiction, to dive into the importance of mental health screenings and how they can impact the journey of recovery from addiction. Julie discusses the different types of mood and personality disorders, including sociopathy, histrionic behavior, narcissism, borderline personality disorder, and ADD, and also explains how these disorders can affect behavior, emotions, and attachment styles. Listening to this episode will provide you with valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the potential underlying issues that may be contributing to your husband's actions. Julie offers practical advice on navigating these complex challenges, including the need for long-term therapy and the importance of comprehensive evaluations, such as psych evaluations and MMPI tests.  Today's episode is all about giving you the clarity and tools you need to support your husband and make informed decisions about your future. 

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Today, Tim Muehlhoff, author, speaker and professor of communication at Biola University, joins Rosie on the show to delve into the fascinating topic of Spiritual Warfare in marriage, especially in marriages struggling because of a pornography addiction. In this episode they discuss the tactics of Satan and look at all the ways he attempts to discourage and divide us. Praying warfare prayers does have to be complicated or scary, it's all a matter of understanding your authority, or rather whose authority you represent.  Grab your sword, and your coffee, and take a listen! 

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For those of you who grew up in purity culture but have never connected the dots to your current situation, this is going to be a powerful and potentially emotional listen. Back on the show by popular demand is Sheila Wray Gregoire to discuss the harmful teachings of purity culture and the impact it has had on women. In her new book She Deserves Better, Sheila explores the damaging messages around modesty, consent, and respect, highlighting how these teachings have led to blame and shame for women, many of whom are now in abusive or traumatic relationships. In this conversation we touch upon problematic resources within Christian literature, such as "Secret Keeper Girl," and discuss the concerning messages it sends to young girls, and how it's legacy is still permeating into children's and youth ministry today.  Share this episode with all your mamma friends! 

Joining Rosie today to tackle the bewildering and overwhelming topic of having your husband arrested for illegal sexual acting out are Jen, Rebecca and Lynn.

In this extended episode we cover how to:

• Cope in the early days following a shocking, and often public, discovery,
• Make the decision whether to stay in the relationship,
• Deal with people talking about you and giving unwanted advice. 
• Manage day to day when your husband is not around,
• Best help your children.
• Create a recovery plan after release. 

And even though it is hard to listen to the pain and devastation that this addiction causes, the hope and faith that these ladies share towards the end of the episode is truly redemptive and beautiful.

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If you feel like your sexual identity has been shattered following betrayal, it's hard to imagine ever feeling positive towards sex again. Here to help us tackle this sensitive and painful topic is author/coach/founder of StrongWives,  and co-host of the popular Sex Chat for Christian Wives Podcast,  Bonny Burns.  In today's conversation we look at how betrayal ruptures our sexual identity and the steps you can take to reclaim it. 

Sexual Clarity Group with Bonnie

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When you are dating someone who is struggling with pornography evaluating whether you have a long term future together is complex and tricky. 

To help us tackle this difficult decision we have broken it down into 3 parts:

Step 1 - Evaluating your own Struggle with Singledom

Step 2: Understanding the reality of marrying a porn addict 

Step 3 - Assessing the strength of your partner's recovery and long term likelihood of sobriety. 

Joining Rosie on the show today to explore step 1 is the founder and director of SheRecovery.com, Crystal Renaud Day who has written the immensely helpful guide to singleness and dating Dating Done Right. Written as the guide she had always searched for as a single Christian living in the aftermath of the purity culture, Crystal shares the value of pursuing contentment right where you are, which will in turn give you the best chance of discerning exactly who the right husband is for you.

If you would like to be considered to be part of the next podcast panel sharing your experience of dating a porn addict,  whether you decided to go ahead and get engaged/married or not, we would love to hear from you. Email [email protected] and leave a brief voice mail telling her what you think women in this situation need to hear.