Pure Desire Podcast

The rate of increasing exposure and addiction to pornography is growing rapidly in the lives of young women. Statistics say it's the fastest-growing rate among all demographics. That's a problem. What can we do? We can run Behind The Mask groups for young women. On today's episode, we discuss the content, group structure, leadership, and impact of running these groups for students/young adults in...

Intimacy in marriage doesn't just happen. It takes being intentional and working together to establish healthy intimacy in our relationships. That's why we created a resource to help: Connected. On today's episode, we talk through our Connected resource and how it helps couples build a bridge to the intimacy they've always wanted. RESOURCES FULL EPISODE VIDEO (YOUTUBE) CONNECTED: BUILDING A BRIDGE...

The year 2020 was traumatic, painful, and stressful for so many. Loss, brokenness, and disruption were felt by all. Whether it was the Coronavirus, racial injustice, fires, presidential elections, or anything in between: 2020 was packed full of difficulty. But, were there any positives to 2020? Anything we learned? Any helpful perspectives we can carry into a new year? We talk about this and more...

The holidays can easily put us in those rock-and-a-hard-place situations. Our ability to manage and maneuver through these situations is tied directly to our health. On today's episode, we identify double binds that arise during the holidays, how they impact our sexual health, and the positive outcomes of handling them well. GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To Understandin...

The holidays can be stressful. There's no way around it. And stress is very connected to unwanted sexual behaviors. For that reason, managing stress during the holidays is essential to sexual health. On today's episode, we talk about stress during the holidays, how it shows up, and healthy ways to manage it. GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal Trauma...

The holidays, though often presented as a joyous time, actually can be a stressful time for relationships. For that reason, being present in our relationships is crucial to staying in health. Today, we talk about why relationships can be so difficult during this season, how to avoid isolation, and creative ways to invest in relationships during the holidays. RESOURCES FULL EPISODE VIDEO (YOUTUBE)...

The holidays, though often presented as a joyous time, actually can be an extremely emotional time for so many. For that reason, being present with our emotions is crucial in maintaining health. Today, we talk about what emotional awareness is, how to get more of it, who it impacts, and why it's important in our health and recovery. RESOURCES FULL EPISODE VIDEO (YOUTUBE) FASTER SCALE (SELF-AWARENE...

Are we reaching the next generations? This is a scary question to ask. But if we don’t ask, we might not get the answer. Today, it’s one of the biggest areas of ministry for followers of Jesus. How do we help the next generations live into the life God has for them? Ben Bennett, director of Resolution, joins us to talk about how we can help the younger generations of our day overcome their hurts,...

If we want to create a safe place for healing from the effects of sexual brokenness in our churches, we have to start the conversation. On today’s episode, we walk through 7 steps to starting this conversation at your church. RESOURCES HOW TO START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PURE DESIRE GROUPS (PDF) SEXUAL INTEGRITY 101 VIDEO COURSE DEVELOPING A PURE DESIRE MINISTRY (PDF) GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Reg...

Honesty in recovery is non-negotiable. But is honesty the same thing as disclosure? On today's episode, we talk through the difference between honesty and disclosure in the recovery process. RESOURCES HONESTLY SPEAKING (BLOG) RECOVERY ACTION PLAN (STRUGGLING SPOUSE) RECOVERY ACTION PLAN (BETRAYED SPOUSE) GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal Trauma Fre...

When addiction and betrayal are present in a relationship, boundaries will be essential to healing. But how do we know if boundaries are a legit need or excessive? How do we agree on the boundaries we need? We talk this and more on today's episode. RESOURCES RECOVERY ACTION PLAN (ADDICT) RECOVERY ACTION PLAN (BETRAYED SPOUSE) FREE CLINICAL CONSULTATION PURE DESIRE COUNSELING GET STARTED Summit 202...

No pastor/leader sets out to create a culture of shame in their church. But it happens. Today, with the help of Rodney Wright, we unpack how we inadvertently create a culture of shame in our churches, how to shift the culture, and the impact a safe place can truly be. RESOURCES SEXUAL INTEGRITY 101 VIDEO COURSE PURE DESIRE ONLINE GROUPS GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To...

Women who struggle with pornography tend to be overlooked. Culturally, far too many in the church believe this is just a man's struggle. On today's episode, Ashley Jameson helps us identify what addiction looks like for women, how to help them, and what it looks like to create a culture where women can ask for help in this arena. RESOURCES SEXUAL ADDICTION SCREENING TEST LOVE ADDICTION EVALUATION...

As we move forward in our recovery, we can run into gray areas when it comes to our patterns and habits. Our clinical director, Tyler Chinchen helps us venture into one of those gray areas:  lapse vs. relapse . What is the difference? Who should know? What should we do if a lapse happens? This and more on today's episode. RESOURCES RECOVERY ACTION PLAN (ADDICT) RECOVERY ACTION PLAN (BETRAYED SPOUS...

Rich was on the verge of spending 49 years in prison–the first person in Oregon State history to be charged under Measure 11. Many decisions and experiences led him to this point, but Rich didn't spend a single day in prison. Now, 23 years later, he's been leading and running Pure Desire groups for two decades. How is this possible? Rich joins us on the podcast to share his story.   GET STARTED Su...

Many of us were taught that time heals all wounds. But, as we discuss in today's episode, that is not reality. Time doesn't heal wounds. We talk about why that is and what does actually heal our wounds. GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal Trauma Free eBook: 5 Steps to Freedom From Porn Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Counseling Consultation Join A Pure...

Something that we often hear about in the area of sexual brokenness is sexual trauma. Sadly, it’s such a common experience for so many. Today, we wanted to talk about sexual trauma, how it affects our lives, and how to find healing from it. RESOURCES PURE DESIRE COUNSELING PURE DESIRE GROUPS BETHESDA WORKSHOPS 3 CIRCLES TOOL (RELAPSE PREVENTION) GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7...

What does it look like to create churches/communities that are safe? Keith Jenkins–a pastor, black man, and a military veteran–joins us today and helps us think through how to best process through the challenging political, racial, and divisive times we live in. GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal Trauma Free eBook: 5 Steps to Freedom From Porn Sched...

One of the best ways to create a healthier sex life with your spouse is communication. Today, we sit down Dan and Jenn Howie to discuss why it can be so difficult to talk to your spouse about sex. We also discuss how to talk to each other and what it looks like to improve that communication. GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal Trauma Free eBook: 5 St...

How do we discuss our struggles with our spouse? How do moms help their young sons? Is masturbation a sin? These questions and more on today's Frequently Asked Questions episode. Submit your questions for future FAQ episodes: Email your question to:  podcast@puredesire.org Message/DM us with your questions RESOURCES HOW TO TALK WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT SEX PURE DESIRE COUNSELING TECH ACTION PLAN WHAT...

Each recovery and support group is going to end someday. But that doesn’t mean that the healing will end. How our groups come to a close can set a trajectory for forward motion in our recovery and healing. Ending the group is not only important and it is very possible. RESOURCES CHALLENGE COINS GENESIS PROCESS SUPPLEMENTAL COUNSELING (RECOVERY FOR STRUGGLING) SUPPLEMENTAL COUNSELING (SUPPORT FOR B...

Shame is a powerful force in the world, one that drives many of our unwanted behaviors. Today, we are joined by Dr. Curt Thompson, a psychiatrist, speaker, and author, who walks us through what shame is, how we often misunderstand it, and how it can be used to lead us to a better relationship with God and others. RESOURCES CURTTHOMPSONMD.COM CURT'S WRITING: ANATOMY OF THE SOUL THE SOUL OF SHAME A...

If we want to see future generations live in sexual health, we have to equip them with the tools they need. Today's episode is focused on recovery groups for students. Who should lead them, how to get students interested, and the impact these groups can have in our world. RESOURCES TOP GUN BEHIND THE MASK LIVING FREE GROUP GUIDELINES (PODCAST) GROUP GUIDELINES (TOOL) MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING (TOOL) G...

Today we talk with Dan and Jenn Howie about sharing their story of sexual brokenness with their adult kids. We talk about what to share, when to share, and why it's important to share with our kids, regardless of their age. GET STARTED Summit 2026!: Register Now Free eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal Trauma Free eBook: 5 Steps to Freedom From Porn Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Counseling Cons...

Have you ever echoed the musing of the Apostle Paul, "For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do"? You're not alone! Many of us have this experience–feeling like there are different parts of us that want different things. Those feelings are not abnormal. On today's episode, we talked with Jenna Riemersma about Internal Family Systems–a revolutionar...