Consider Before Consuming
- Episodes
- 199
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 11, 2026
About the podcast
Think about all of the things you consider every day to help keep yourself, your loved ones, and your community happy, healthy, and hopeful. Now consider this: There is an ever-growing body of research demonstrating significant negative impacts, for yourself and the ones you love, in the consumption of pornography. It can change the way you think, harm your ability to connect with other people, and can contribute to changing the world in negative ways. Join us every other week as we consider the harmful effects of pornography using science, facts, and personal accounts. Consider Before Consuming is brought to you by Fight the New Drug (FTND). FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative nonprofit that aims to raise awareness on the harmful effects of pornography and its links to sexual exploitation using only science, facts, and personal accounts. Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug.
Episodes 199
Why Men Struggle to Talk Honestly About Porn
Why is it so hard for men to talk openly about pornography? Why do so many men struggle to quit porn alone? And how can friendship, accountability, and peer support help someone break free from unwanted porn …
Show notes
Why is it so hard for men to talk openly about pornography? Why do so many men struggle to quit porn alone? And how can friendship, accountability, and peer support help someone break free from unwanted porn use?
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Jordan sits down with Jace Kendrick, cofounder and CEO of Relay, an app designed to help people overcome pornography through peer support and accountability. Together, they explore why men often joke about porn but struggle to discuss it honestly, how shame and isolation can keep people stuck, and what happens when someone finally opens up about their experiences. They also discuss how to support a friend who wants to quit porn, why setbacks don't erase progress, and the importance of connection in recovery.
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. In November, CBC listeners can try Relay for 30 days for just $1 days by signing up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWhy This Therapist Says Connection Is Key to Quitting Porn
Licensed professional counselor Jarrod Hoffman works with children, teens, and families navigating addiction, trauma, and the challenges of growing up in a digital world. But his understanding of these …
Show notes
Licensed professional counselor Jarrod Hoffman works with children, teens, and families navigating addiction, trauma, and the challenges of growing up in a digital world. But his understanding of these struggles is also deeply personal. After first encountering pornography at age 11, Jarrod spent years trying to quit before seeking counseling at 25.
How does pornography affect the developing teenage brain? Why is it so hard to quit watching porn? Can childhood trauma contribute to porn addiction? And how can parents help a teenager struggling with pornography? In this episode, Jarrod shares his personal journey with pornography and recovery, what he's seeing among young people today, and why overcoming shame and building meaningful connections can be essential parts of healing. He also discusses pornography's impact on young people, the role of counseling and EMDR therapy, and why recovery is possible even after years of struggling.
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 7 days by signing up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay.
Episode Resources:
- Jarrod's Website: Jarrod Hoffman
- Fight the New Drug: Parenting Guide
- Sexaholics Anonymous
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWhat This Child Crimes Detective Wants Parents to Know About the Internet
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of child sexual exploitation, sextortion, suicide, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.Kellye Netz is a detective sergeant who has spent …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of child sexual exploitation, sextortion, suicide, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.
Kellye Netz is a detective sergeant who has spent years investigating crimes against children and is a parent navigating many of the same decisions about technology, social media, and online safety as other families.
How are predators reaching kids through gaming and social platforms? What happens when AI-generated explicit images are used for sextortion? And how can parents protect their kids without simply trying to keep them offline? In this bonus episode, Kellye shares what she’s seeing firsthand in investigations involving sextortion, AI deepfakes, and online exploitation, along with the rules she follows in her own home and why she believes ongoing, open conversations are one of the most important tools parents have.
Episode Resource:
- NCMEC Resource: Into the Cloud
- Conversation Guide: Let's Talk About Porn
- Have Questions? Ask FTND
- FTND Presentations
- Documentary: Brain, Heart, World
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyCrystal Harris on What Really Happened Inside the Playboy Mansion
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse, coercion, exploitation, child sexualization, and other potentially distressing experiences. Listener discretion is advised.Crystal Harris …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse, coercion, exploitation, child sexualization, and other potentially distressing experiences. Listener discretion is advised.
Crystal Harris, author, advocate, and widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, spent nearly a decade inside the Playboy Mansion.
What was life inside the Playboy Mansion actually like? How did an environment marketed as glamorous and empowering affect the women living within it? And what happens to intimate images when the people depicted no longer have control over where—or how—they're used?
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Crystal joins us to discuss entering the Playboy world at 21, the control and abuse she says she experienced inside the Mansion, the sexualization of young women and girls, similarities she sees between Playboy and platforms like OnlyFans, and her ongoing fight to protect private images in Hugh Hefner's archives from being digitized. She also shares how her understanding of consent has evolved, her concerns about AI and image ownership, and what healing has looked like as she's worked to reclaim her identity and voice.
Episode Resources:
- Article: “Secrets of Playboy” Docuseries Exposes Decades of Alleged Exploitation and Abuse by Hugh Hefner
- Victim Resources
- Crystal's Instagram: crystalmharris
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWhat the Cornell Case Says About College Sexual Culture
What does sexual assault prevention actually look like—and are we starting the conversation early enough?In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Elisabeth and Jordan discuss recent cases involving …
Show notes
What does sexual assault prevention actually look like—and are we starting the conversation early enough?
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Elisabeth and Jordan discuss recent cases involving college students at Cornell University and the University of Florida, and the broader problem of sexual violence on college campuses. How can pornography and peer culture shape ideas about sex, consent, and rejection? And what everyday actions can help prevent harm before an assault ever occurs?
They explore these questions and practical “micro-preventions” that can help create a safer, healthier culture.
Episode Resources:
- Article: Does Porn Fuel Rape Culture and Sexual Assault on College Campuses?
- FTND College Presentations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWhy Quitting Porn Took More Than Olympic-Level Discipline
Freddie Woodward is an Olympian and former Team Great Britain diver who began viewing pornography as a young teenager. Despite the extraordinary discipline it took to reach the 2016 Olympic Games, Freddie found …
Show notes
Freddie Woodward is an Olympian and former Team Great Britain diver who began viewing pornography as a young teenager. Despite the extraordinary discipline it took to reach the 2016 Olympic Games, Freddie found himself unable to simply use that same discipline to quit porn.
Can you be addicted to porn and not realize it? Why is it so hard to quit porn? How does porn affect motivation, relationships, and mental health? What actually helps someone stop watching porn for good?
In this episode, Freddie shares how his porn use became a daily habit, how it escalated into other online sexual behaviors, and what happened when intimate content of him was leaked online in 2017. He also reflects on using porn to cope with difficult emotions, life after the Olympics, years of unsuccessful attempts to quit, and the tools that ultimately helped him change. Today, Freddie says he's more proud of quitting porn than becoming an Olympian.
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 7 days by signing up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWhat Happens When Pornography Use Keeps Escalating?
*This episode includes discussions of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Listener discretion is advised.Kellye Netz is a detective sergeant who has spent years investigating sexual offenses against children …
Show notes
*This episode includes discussions of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Listener discretion is advised.
Kellye Netz is a detective sergeant who has spent years investigating sexual offenses against children and interviewing individuals arrested for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Through those investigations, she says she has repeatedly encountered offenders whose behavior did not begin with CSAM, but progressed after years of pornography consumption and increasingly extreme content.
How can pornography use escalate into more extreme material? What do offenders say about how they ended up viewing CSAM? And how has technology changed the way illegal sexual content is accessed and investigated? In this episode, Kellye shares what she has observed firsthand, including why some offenders seem relieved when they're finally caught, how mainstream social platforms can become part of the pathway to illegal material, and what her work has taught her as a parent about talking openly with kids about pornography and online safety
Episode Resources:
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 159: Dr. Alexandra Bailey
- Article: Letter From a Sex Offender: I Went from Watching Adult Hardcore Porn to Kids
- Get Help: Join Relay
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyTeens Say Porn Is Teaching Them About Sex. What Are They Learning?
Dr. Michael Robb is a developmental psychologist and Head of Research at Common Sense Media. In this episode, he joins us to unpack findings from two major Common Sense Media studies: Teens and Pornography …
Show notes
Dr. Michael Robb is a developmental psychologist and Head of Research at Common Sense Media. In this episode, he joins us to unpack findings from two major Common Sense Media studies: Teens and Pornography, which explores how teens are exposed to and engage with online pornography, and Teens in the AI Era: Pornography and Sexual Content, which examines how AI-generated explicit content is creating new challenges for young people.
Common Sense Media’s research found that the average reported age of first exposure to pornography was 12, while 30% of teens reported seeing pornography during the school day. And as AI-generated sexual content becomes increasingly common, 44% of teens say they’ve encountered it, with about 1 in 4 of those teens seeing AI sexual content depicting themselves or someone they personally know.
Why do teens watch porn? What are teens learning from pornography about sex? And how is AI-generated porn changing what young people encounter online? Dr. Robb discusses differences in how boys and girls engage with pornography, why so much exposure happens accidentally, what teens themselves say they're learning from porn, and what parents and trusted adults should know about explicit deepfakes and AI-generated sexual content.
Episode Resources:
- Article: Nearly Half of Teens Exposed to AI-Generated Sexual Content
- Article: How Many Students Watch Porn at School?
- Common Sense Study 2023: Teens and Pornography
- Common Sense Study 2026: Teens in the AI Era
- Conversation Guide: Let's Talk About Porn
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyI Joined OnlyFans at 18. Here’s Why I Left
Madyson is a former OnlyFans creator who spent three and a half years creating pornographic content before leaving the industry. After first being exposed to pornography at seven years old, Madyson says she …
Show notes
Madyson is a former OnlyFans creator who spent three and a half years creating pornographic content before leaving the industry. After first being exposed to pornography at seven years old, Madyson says she began imagining a future in the porn industry by age 12 and started creating content shortly after turning 18.
What is it really like to be an OnlyFans creator? How much money do OnlyFans creators actually make? And is OnlyFans really empowering for its creators?
In this episode, Madyson shares how the promise of easy money and empowerment compared with her experience of increasing subscriber demands, shifting personal boundaries, body-image struggles, and objectification. She also discusses why leaving wasn't as simple as deciding to stop, how her content continues to affect her years later, and what she wishes young people considering OnlyFans understood before joining.
Episode Resources:
- Article: The “OnlyFans Era” and What Pop Culture Gets Wrong About Selling Sexual Content Online
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 153: Taylor
- Conversation Guide: Let's Talk About Porn
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWhat Gen Z Really Thinks About Porn
What is it like to be the first generation to grow up with smartphones, social media, and internet pornography?In this bonus episode, we unpack new survey findings about Gen Z's experiences with pornography …
Show notes
What is it like to be the first generation to grow up with smartphones, social media, and internet pornography?
In this bonus episode, we unpack new survey findings about Gen Z's experiences with pornography, relationships, and consent. They discuss how online pornography became many young people's first exposure to sex, why social media has become a major source of exposure, and what today's young adults say they wish had been different.
Episode Resources:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyHow to Stop Watching Porn
Joseph Alto is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the Head of Growth at Relay Health, a recovery app designed to help individuals overcome compulsive pornography use through accountability, community …
Show notes
Joseph Alto is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the Head of Growth at Relay Health, a recovery app designed to help individuals overcome compulsive pornography use through accountability, community, and evidence-informed support.
How do you quit pornography? Why is it so difficult to stop, even when you genuinely want to? What actually helps people experience lasting recovery?
In this episode, Joe shares practical, compassionate guidance for anyone trying to quit pornography. Drawing from both his clinical experience and his own recovery journey, he explains why willpower alone often isn't enough, how to identify the emotions and patterns driving pornography use, what to do after setbacks, and how accountability, community, and healthier coping strategies can support long-term recovery.
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 7 days by signing up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay.
Episode Resources:
- Article: How to Actually Quit Porn This Year
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 152: Chris Chandler
- Conversation Guide: Let's Talk About Porn
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyBonus: 53 Men Sued Over AI Deepfake Porn Scheme
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses AI-generated explicit imagery, nonconsensual intimate images, sexual exploitation, and image-based abuse.Can someone create fake pornography using your Instagram photos? …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses AI-generated explicit imagery, nonconsensual intimate images, sexual exploitation, and image-based abuse.
Can someone create fake pornography using your Instagram photos? Are AI OnlyFans models replacing real creators? What happens if someone makes explicit deepfakes of you without your consent?
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Elisabeth and Scott discuss a recent lawsuit alleging that dozens of men used AI to generate explicit images of unsuspecting women, sell that content online, and even teach others how to do the same. They explore how these schemes work, why everyday social media users are increasingly being targeted, and what this says about the growing demand for exploitative AI-generated content.
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyMy Students Spread an AI Nude of Me Throughout the School
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexually explicit AI-generated images, sexual harassment, exploitation, suicidal thoughts, and image-based sexual abuse. Listener discretion is …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexually explicit AI-generated images, sexual harassment, exploitation, suicidal thoughts, and image-based sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
Angela Tipton spent more than 20 years teaching middle school before discovering that students had created and shared a sexually explicit AI-generated image depicting her. What began as one fake image quickly spread throughout her school, reached her own children, escalated into fake social media accounts meant to make the image seem real, and ultimately changed the course of her career.
How convincing are AI-generated nude images? What happens when students create and share AI nudes of a teacher? Why do fake explicit images cause real harm? How should schools respond, and what role does pornography play in shaping the way some young people think about consent and other people?
In this episode, Angela shares the emotional toll of becoming the target of deepfake abuse, why the effects continue years later, and what she believes parents, educators, and communities need to understand as AI becomes more accessible. She also offers hope and encouragement for anyone who has experienced image-based sexual abuse or is supporting someone who has.
Episode Resources:
- Victim Resources
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 132, Melinda Tankard Reist
- Sexual Harassment of Teachers Report
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWhat Human Trafficking Really Looks Like
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of human trafficking and exploitation. Listener discretion is advised.Preston Goff is the Vice President of Global Communications at The Exodus Road, a global …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of human trafficking and exploitation. Listener discretion is advised.
Preston Goff is the Vice President of Global Communications at The Exodus Road, a global nonprofit organization working to prevent human trafficking, support survivors, and bring traffickers to justice.
Preston has spent years working alongside investigators, survivor advocates, and law enforcement around the world. In this conversation, we discuss the connection between pornography consumption and demand for commercial sexual exploitation, how social media is changing the landscape of trafficking, and why prevention is just as important as intervention.
What is human trafficking, and does it always involve kidnapping? Is there a connection between pornography and sex trafficking? How are traffickers using social media to recruit victims? Can platforms like OnlyFans contribute to exploitation? Preston helps unpack these questions while exploring why retrafficking happens, how to talk with young people about exploitation without creating shame, and what each of us can do to become part of the solution.
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 7 days by signing up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay.
Episode Resources:
- The Exodus Road
- Stop The Demand
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 137: Louie Greek
- Conversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyInside the OnlyFans Mansion Trafficking Investigation
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, physical violence, coercion, and abuse. Listener discretion is advised.A recent trafficking investigation involving …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, physical violence, coercion, and abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
A recent trafficking investigation involving an OnlyFans content operation has sparked headlines across the country. Authorities allege that teenage girls were recruited with promises of money and independence, only to face coercion, violence, and exploitation behind the scenes.
In this bonus episode, Elisabeth and Scott break down the details of the case, discuss why it challenges common assumptions about platforms like OnlyFans, and explore the broader connection between pornography, exploitation, and demand.
What is the Bellevue OnlyFans mansion case? Is OnlyFans linked to human trafficking? How do content creators get recruited into the adult industry? And can viewers know whether pornographic content was created consensually?
Through the lens of this case, they discuss why exploitation can be difficult to identify, how social media and online platforms can normalize the industry, and what it means to address not only the abuse itself, but the demand that makes it profitable.
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyHow Algorithms Are Shaping Sexual Expectations
This episode contains discussions of sexual violence and child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Clare McGlynn is a professor of law at Durham University and an expert on violence against women and …
Show notes
This episode contains discussions of sexual violence and child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.
Clare McGlynn is a professor of law at Durham University and an expert on violence against women and girls.
Clare has spent years researching the ways pornography, technology, and online platforms shape culture, influence sexual norms, and contribute to harmful attitudes and behaviors. In this conversation, we discuss how algorithms influence what people see on porn platforms, why certain themes and behaviors have become increasingly common in mainstream pornography, and what that means for how people understand sex, consent, and relationships.
Why has choking become so common among young people? Does pornography influence attitudes toward consent? What is "sleep porn," and why is it allowed on mainstream platforms? How are AI chatbots and deepfakes creating entirely new forms of abuse? Clare helps unpack these questions while exploring the broader cultural impact of pornography and emerging technologies.
We also discuss the growing popularity of "barely legal" content, the normalization of rough sex, and why technologies like AI and virtual reality may be amplifying harms that already exist online.
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyA School Principal's Story of Porn, Escalation, Arrest, and Recovery
Brian Schillingburg is a former school principal and recovery coach who spent 25 years working with students before his own struggle with pornography escalated into behavior that ultimately led to his …
Show notes
Brian Schillingburg is a former school principal and recovery coach who spent 25 years working with students before his own struggle with pornography escalated into behavior that ultimately led to his arrest.
Drawing from decades in schools, Brian shares what he's seen as pornography and sexualized content have become increasingly accessible to young people. He discusses the realities of early exposure, how pornography can shape expectations around relationships and sexuality, and why many parents underestimate what young people are navigating online today.
Brian also shares his personal story, including his first exposure to pornography as a child, how it became a coping mechanism for stress and pain, and how years of use eventually escalated into buying sex. He opens up about the arrest that changed his life, the impact it had on his family and career, and what accountability, recovery, and rebuilding have looked like since.
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 7 days by signing up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay.
Episode Resources:
- Article: What 25 Years in Schools Taught Me About Early Porn Exposure
- Article: When Porn Use Shatters Trust: A Therapist Explains Betrayal Trauma
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 162: Chris Bennett
- The 9th Inning Project
- Demand Disruption
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyI Was Drugged and Assaulted By My Husband For Years
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.What happens when the person you trust most is secretly violating that trust for years?In this …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.
What happens when the person you trust most is secretly violating that trust for years?
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Zoe Watts shares her story of discovering that her husband had been drugging and sexually assaulting her while she slept. Zoe opens up about the confusion and disbelief she experienced, why it took time to fully understand what had happened, and the emotional and physical toll the trauma left behind.
Zoe also discusses how abuse within marriage is often minimized or misunderstood, the harmful cultural messages that blur the lines around consent, and the disturbing online communities built around sharing and consuming nonconsensual “sleep content.”
After her story became part of a major CNN investigation into online sexual exploitation, Zoe founded End Eye Check, an advocacy movement focused on raising awareness around drug-facilitated sexual abuse and supporting survivors.
In this episode, we discuss how sexual abuse can hide within long-term relationships, why some survivors struggle to recognize abuse right away, how online communities normalize exploitative content, and what healing can look like after trauma.
Episode Resources:
- Victim Resources
- End Eye Check: Join The Campaign
- CNN Article: Exposing a global ‘rape academy’
- Article: She Was Asleep While It Happened: Gisèle Pelicot and the Disturbing Rise of “Sleep Porn”
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 163: Amanda Stanhope
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOur Real Reaction to the AI Deepfake Crisis in Schools
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Elisabeth and Scott bring you into a conversation they’ve found themselves having often behind the scenes.As Fight the New Drug’s social media manager and …
Show notes
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Elisabeth and Scott bring you into a conversation they’ve found themselves having often behind the scenes.
As Fight the New Drug’s social media manager and presenter, Elisabeth is constantly immersed in current events, research, and the realities young people are facing online. Scott, who works more behind the scenes, intentionally keeps some distance, but hears about these stories secondhand. This episode is an opportunity to bridge that gap and bring listeners into that same conversation.
Using a real case involving AI-generated explicit images at a small U.S. school—where 347 images were created of 59 minors—they break down what happened, what it reveals about the world young people are navigating today, and what parents and communities need to understand right now.
Episode Resources:
- FTND Live Presentations
- Conversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn
- Documentary: Brain, Heart, World
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyHow Porn Affects Connection in Relationships
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, we’re joined by Dr. Nicholas Lawless, a clinical psychologist and couples therapist, to explore how pornography can impact connection in relationships.Does porn …
Show notes
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, we’re joined by Dr. Nicholas Lawless, a clinical psychologist and couples therapist, to explore how pornography can impact connection in relationships.
Does porn affect relationships? Can porn change how you see your partner? Is watching porn considered cheating? Why does porn sometimes feel like a betrayal?
Dr. Lawless shares what he’s seen in both research and real-life couples—how shifts in attention and expectations can lead to disconnection over time, and what it looks like to rebuild connection.
If you’re wondering whether porn is affecting your relationship, or how to reconnect if something feels off, this episode offers a clear, practical perspective.
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 7 days when they sign up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay
Episode Resources:
- Articles: How Porn Can Impact Relationships
- Documentary: Brain, Heart, World
- Dr. Lawless' Practice: DRT Psychology
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyWe Read The Comments So You Don't Have To
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Natale and Elisabeth take you behind the scenes of managing Fight the New Drug’s social media and the kinds of comments that come with it.From someone …
Show notes
In this bonus episode of Consider Before Consuming, Natale and Elisabeth take you behind the scenes of managing Fight the New Drug’s social media and the kinds of comments that come with it.
From someone sharing, “I started viewing porn at 11 and didn’t even distinguish between adult and child porn,” to debates like “nobody is forcing you… you’re choosing to be that person,” this episode highlights the wide range of reactions these conversations bring up.
Together, they unpack what these responses reveal about how porn is understood today, and why the way we respond matters. From early exposure and normalization to addiction and recovery, this conversation explores how empathy and education—not shame—can lead to more meaningful change.
- Core Articles: Get The Facts
- YouTube: CBC Playlist
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 160: Hunter Clark
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyI Was Losing My Memory and Didn’t Know Why
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.Amanda Stanhope was recently featured in reporting by CNN on drug-facilitated sexual abuse, where she …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.
Amanda Stanhope was recently featured in reporting by CNN on drug-facilitated sexual abuse, where she shared her personal story—part of a broader conversation gaining attention after survivors like Gisèle Pelicot helped bring this issue into the spotlight.
What began as an intense relationship quickly shifted. Amanda started experiencing memory loss, confusion, and physical symptoms she couldn’t explain, at one point believing she might be developing Alzheimer’s. Over time, she came to realize she had been being sexually assaulted while unconscious.
In this conversation, Amanda shares how the relationship unfolded, what made the abuse so difficult to recognize in real time, and the challenges she faced in seeking help and reporting what happened. She also speaks to how trauma can show up in the body, and why greater awareness of this kind of abuse is critical.
Episode Resources:
- Victim Resources
- CNN Article: Exposing a global ‘rape academy’
- Article: She Was Asleep While It Happened: Gisèle Pelicot and the Disturbing Rise of “Sleep Porn”
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyI Lived A Double Life of Porn Addiction and Affairs
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual addiction, infidelity, and suicide attempts. Listener discretion is advised. Chris Bennett is a life coach who helps individuals and couples work …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual addiction, infidelity, and suicide attempts. Listener discretion is advised.
Chris Bennett is a life coach who helps individuals and couples work through sexual addiction, shame, and compulsive behaviors. But long before he was helping others, he was living a double life—hiding years of pornography use and engaging in multiple affairs during his marriage.
In this episode, Chris shares how his relationship with pornography began at a young age and escalated over time, eventually leading to real-life behaviors that deeply impacted his wife and family. Even after being caught and entering recovery, he struggled to fully commit to change, continuing patterns he knew were harmful.
We talk about the role shame played in keeping him stuck, why partial honesty wasn’t enough to create real change, and what finally shifted when he chose to fully disclose everything. Chris also opens up about how unresolved pain and early experiences influenced his behavior, and how learning to process emotions and meet his needs differently became a turning point in his recovery.
This episode explores questions many people are asking: Does porn addiction escalate over time? Does Porn Addiction Lead to Cheating? And what does it actually take to change?
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 7 days when they sign up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyHow Young People Are Learning About Sex (And What They're Getting Wrong)
This episode includes discussion of sexual violence, coercion, and experiences of assault among young people. Listener discretion is advised.In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, we sit down with Chanel …
Show notes
This episode includes discussion of sexual violence, coercion, and experiences of assault among young people. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, we sit down with Chanel Contos, founder of Teach Us Consent, to talk about how one Instagram post led to thousands of young people sharing their experiences, and ultimately helped drive mandated consent education across Australia. Chanel shares what it was like reading through testimony after testimony of peer-on-peer sexual violence, and how those stories revealed patterns around coercion, misunderstanding, and the way many young people are navigating sex without a clear understanding of consent.
We also explore what’s shaping young people’s expectations around sex and relationships today. How are teens actually learning about intimacy? What role does pornography play in shaping ideas about consent, boundaries, and what’s considered “normal”? And why are rates of youth-perpetrated sexual harm rising in some areas, even as other forms of abuse decline? Chanel breaks down how early, age-appropriate consent education can help address these gaps, and what it looks like to teach consent in a way that builds empathy, communication, and respect from a young age.
Episode Resources:
- Article: What is Inspiring Teens to Try Strangulation During Sex?
- Article: Oral Before Kissing: Porn Culture Has Changed Teens’ First Sexual Encounters
- Chanel's Instagram: @Chanelc
- Teach Us Consent:
- Fix Our Feeds
- Newsletter
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Hunter Clark was first exposed to pornography as a child. What started as curiosity eventually became a habit he struggled for years to overcome. Like many people, he tried everything he could think of to …
Show notes
Hunter Clark was first exposed to pornography as a child. What started as curiosity eventually became a habit he struggled for years to overcome. Like many people, he tried everything he could think of to quit—willpower, accountability partners, blockers, even extreme personal challenges—but nothing seemed to work. In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Hunter shares how shame kept him stuck in that cycle for years and how things began to change when he stopped focusing only on quitting porn and started looking at the deeper reasons behind the behavior.
In this conversation, we explore questions many people are already asking: Why is porn so hard to quit? Does shame make porn habits worse? Can pornography affect relationships? And why do so many partners blame themselves when they discover a loved one’s porn habit?
Hunter opens up about the moment he realized his struggle was connected to deeper emotional wounds, the impact pornography had on his relationship with his wife, and how honesty and open conversations helped break the isolation that shame can create. We also discuss the idea that porn habits are often a symptom of something deeper—whether that’s unresolved trauma, stress, loneliness, or other emotional struggles—and why simply trying to “have more discipline” often isn’t enough.
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 7 days when they sign up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay
Episode Resources:
- Article: Why Fighting Porn Must Include Fighting Shame
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 152: Chris Chandler
- Hunter's Podcast: Quit Porn with Hunter Clark
- Hunter's Instagram: _hunter.clark
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyHow Watching Porn Can Escalate Into More Extreme Behavior
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse in an educational and prevention-focused context. Listener discretion is advised.Dr. Alexandra Bailey is a …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse in an educational and prevention-focused context. Listener discretion is advised.
Dr. Alexandra Bailey is a forensic psychologist, Head of Psychology at the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, and a leading expert in the prevention of child sexual abuse.
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, she shares how harmful online behaviors can develop, and how pornography can play a role in that process for some individuals. As content has become more accessible, anonymous, and extreme, we explore how patterns of use can shift over time, including desensitization, novelty-seeking, and reinforcement.
We also talk about how the internet and emerging technologies like AI are changing the landscape, and how factors like shame, isolation, and mental health can keep people stuck in harmful cycles.
Most importantly, this conversation focuses on prevention—what it looks like, why it matters, and how resources like Stop It Now are helping people seek support before harm happens.
Along the way, we get into questions people are already asking: Does porn escalate? Why do I need more extreme porn? Is AI porn harmful? What should parents know about porn, sexting, and online safety?
Episode Resources:
- Article: Can Porn Use Escalate to Illegal Content? What Research and Real Stories Show
- Conversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn
- The Lucy Faithfull Foundation: Stop It Now
- Research Paper: What's Porn Got To Do With It
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Matthew Raabsmith is a certified professional coach and relationship specialist, and Joanna Raabsmith is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in trauma and betrayal recovery. Together, they …
Show notes
Matthew Raabsmith is a certified professional coach and relationship specialist, and Joanna Raabsmith is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in trauma and betrayal recovery. Together, they co-lead The Raabsmith Team and help couples rebuild connection after addiction and relational pain.
After pornography addiction and secrecy deeply impacted their marriage, Matthew and Joanna began a recovery journey that transformed both their individual lives and their relationship. In this episode, they share what porn addiction actually did to their emotional intimacy, how betrayal trauma affected Joanna’s sense of safety and identity, and why stopping porn was only the beginning of healing.
They address questions many couples quietly wrestle with: What does pornography do to a marriage over time? Can a relationship survive porn addiction? What is betrayal trauma, and why does it feel so devastating?
Matthew and Joanna explain why honesty must come before trust, why rushing forgiveness can create more harm, and what sustainable recovery really looks like for both partners.
Whether you’re navigating betrayal, struggling with porn use, or hoping to build a healthier relationship in the future, this conversation offers clarity and grounded hope.
Episode Resources:
- Article: When Porn Use Shatters Trust: A Therapist Explains Betrayal Trauma
- Video: Our Experience on Porn Recovery and Betrayal Trauma
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 94: Dr. Jill Manning
- Matthew and Joanna's Website: The Raabsmith Team
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 7 days when they sign up at http://ftnd.org/joinrelay
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Mariah is a policy advocate focused on trafficking and online exploitation, the founder of Undox, and a GirlsDoPorn trafficking survivor. In this episode, she shares her story and what survival looked like …
Show notes
Mariah is a policy advocate focused on trafficking and online exploitation, the founder of Undox, and a GirlsDoPorn trafficking survivor. In this episode, she shares her story and what survival looked like inside a situation shaped by deception, fear, and coercion.
Mariah describes how she was recruited under false pretenses, how quickly the reality of the situation shifted, and how isolation and uncertainty shaped the choices she felt she had. She explains how trauma responses like the fawn response became a way to get through moments when resisting or leaving didn’t feel safe, and why behaviors that may appear like consent from the outside often aren’t.
She also reflects on the long aftermath of exploitation: living with nonconsensual content online, carrying guilt for the ways she survived, and being drawn back in after initially getting out. Over time, Mariah shares how her understanding of herself and other survivors was shaped. Through connection, witness, and advocacy, she came to recognize the strength, intelligence, and resilience it takes not only to survive exploitation, but to keep going afterward. That perspective has helped shape her healing and her decision to support others through survivor-led work.
Why don’t victims just leave? How does sex trafficking actually happen in cases like GirlsDoPorn? And why do some survivors appear to comply or return? Mariah’s story offers a clearer picture.
Episode Resources:
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 78: Jane Doe (Part 1)
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 78: Jane Doe (Part 2)
- Mariah's: Content Removal Site: Undox
- Generate Hope
- Victim Resources
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In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Richard and Heather share how pornography quietly impacted their marriage and what it took to begin healing together.Richard reflects on his early exposure to porn …
Show notes
In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Richard and Heather share how pornography quietly impacted their marriage and what it took to begin healing together.
Richard reflects on his early exposure to porn, how his use escalated over time, and how things shifted when he began engaging with performers online and realized that one woman he interacted with was being coerced into the industry. Heather shares her perspective as a partner, including the changes she noticed before the truth came out and how disclosure affected trust and intimacy.
Together, they talk about secrecy, honesty, recovery, and why bringing pornography into the open became a turning point for both their marriage and their healing.
Episode Resources:
- Article: Benefits of Quitting Porn According to 90 Real People
- Article: Why Watching Porn With My Partner Was a Terrible Idea
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 112: Robert
- Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 140: Victoria Sinis
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyOre Oduba on Growing Up with Porn and Finding a Way Out
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of early exposure to sexualized content and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.Ore Oduba is an actor, broadcaster, and podcaster based in the UK …
Show notes
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of early exposure to sexualized content and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.
Ore Oduba is an actor, broadcaster, and podcaster based in the UK. In this episode, Ore shares his personal experience with pornography addiction, which began with early exposure in childhood and continued for decades.
He explains how pornography shaped his understanding of intimacy, how secrecy and shame affected his mental health and relationships, and what finally led him to seek help and begin recovery. Ore also talks about parenting in the digital age, why kids need safe adults more than punishment, and how open, non-judgmental conversations can help protect young people from harm.
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 Relay for free for 7 days at https://joinrelay.app.link/ftnd
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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