Unashamed Unafraid

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Sam and Austin recount returning to downtown Salt Lake City with their sign reading, “I’m a porn addict in recovery—ask me anything,” this time standing near Temple Square right after an LDS General Conference session. They compare the first outing—where strangers readily engaged and asked blunt questions—to this one, where many people looked away in visible...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Jason Dausses returns to the show to do another session of live therapy with his clients, Sam and Mason, host and co-host of the podcast.  Make a donation and become an Outsider! Follow us on social media! Instagram , Facebook & TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Check out our recommended resources Want to rep the message? Shop our MERCH !   For more inspira...

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, the hosts discuss the “parts of ourselves” we want to kill—especially in sexual addiction recovery—and argue that shame-driven repression and white-knuckling only make things worse. Austin shares how growing up in a conservative culture led him to hide, berate, and try to “kill” his addiction, until he learned to face it with compassion: acknowledging the wo...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Sam and Josh Bring back Michael from the Heare Bros (returning from a prior episode), who recaps his a spiritual/somatic session where he cast out the “accuser,” broke through a core belief of worthlessness, and felt transformative light and truth, then explains healing as increasing awareness, grieving wounds, and choosing connection over relapse. He discuss...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, the hosts discuss healthy, non-compulsive sexuality in recovery and emphasize that sex isn’t the problem—shame is. They share experiences of growing up with little guidance, early sexual curiosity and experimentation, exposure to pornography in the internet age, and how silence and shame intensified addiction. The conversation reframes sexuality as sacred and...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, the hosts welcome Reuben Aiton, founder of Arise & Heal Recovery, who shares his background in addiction recovery coaching and his focus on helping teens and LDS clients move from external “kindling” motivations to internal, heart-based reasons for change. Reuben discusses his own story, including a pituitary tumor that delayed puberty, later struggles wi...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Sam, Chris, Joshua, and Austin discuss sexual addiction recovery and why healing requires honesty, transparency, and coming unto Christ rather than hiding behind a so-called “noble lie” that hiding the truth somehow protects others. They praise Austin’s courage for disclosing a relapse after seven months and explore how lying creates unmanageable pain, escala...

In this story episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, guest Paul Claverie opens up about navigating profound life crises, career shifts, personal accountability, and emotional healing. From managing his daughter’s cancer diagnosis to dealing with an unaddressed congenital deformity and performance-driven shame, Paul shares how pornography became an isolated coping mechanism—and how taking ownership of his...

In this episode of Unashamed, the hosts welcome back Austin and discuss sexual addiction recovery while working away from home. Austin shares that directing a demanding summer camp for 12–15-year-olds led to multiple relapses because he had no personal space, minimal sleep, and struggled to maintain safety and connection with God, while he stayed sober once home. The conversation explores why trav...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Sam interviews Curtis Morley, who shifted from tech CEO and entrepreneur to “Emotionologist” after personal upheaval and a difficult divorce. Curtis explains his framework of “counterfeit emotions,” including shame as the counterfeit of guilt, misery as the counterfeit of pain, and sobriety as the counterfeit of recovery, emphasizing that recovery measures “h...

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Sam, Chris and Joshua discuss how isolation fuels relapse and undermines recovery from sexual addiction. Sam shares relapsing while his wife was away, connecting it to unprocessed emotions, blaming his spouse, and failing to plan for connection; the group emphasizes ownership, accountability, and reaching out in temptation as a key recovery skill. Joshua des...

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Sam and Austin welcome clinical hypnotherapist and master hypnotist Erin from familiesgettinghelp.com. Together, they explore how hypnotherapy functions as a powerful, non-traditional tool in sexual addiction recovery. Erin dispels common pop-culture myths surrounding hypnosis, breaks down the neurochemistry of shame, and demonstrates how tapping into theta...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Chris, Sam, Mason, and Austin discuss why building a real male brotherhood is essential—not optional—for recovering from sexual addiction. They explore the common hurdles men face in seeking support, such as fatherlessness, isolation, and the tendency to minimize their struggles rather than open up. The hosts emphasize that true brotherhood requires both deep...

This episode of Unashamed Unafraid introduces guests Mike (“Sacramento Mike”) and his son Weston, with Mike visiting Utah from Hawaii for his daughter’s wedding. Mike describes growing up in an LDS family near Sacramento, first encountering pornography at 11, becoming compulsively drawn to it, and being forcibly sexually assaulted by older boys around age 13–14, which deepened his shame and porn u...

In this episode, James, Sam, Joshua, and Mason sit down for a follow-up on the commitments they made in past episodes (EP 151: Filling the Void of Addiction and EP 193: How Can I Trust God?). They dive open-honestly into what accountability actually looks like in practice—from putting software on phones to actively battling for true brotherhood and moving away from transactional faith to find God...

Mike recounts early exposure to pornography, shame shaped by church messaging, family dynamics, and later learning his biological father’s sexual addiction, then baptizing him before his mission. He describes a canceled temple wedding due to church discipline, continued struggles after marriage, and his shift toward inner work, self-compassion, and a reframe of repentance as metanoia—a fresh view...

Sam, Mason, James, and Austin discuss “firing the old God and hiring the new one.” They define the “old God” as transactional, shaming, distant, perpetually disappointed, and often rooted in childhood, family-of-origin dynamics. The "old God" is a false God that uses reward systems, shame, and sometimes spiritual manipulation. To embrace a new God, you can: 1. Explicitly name false beliefs about G...

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Austin and his wife Becca share how traumatic sexual experiences shaped their views of sexuality, secrecy, and control, and how that led Austin to pornography addiction. Austin describes hiding his compulsive porn use and masturbation due to fear and shame reinforced by religious shame, then later relapsing on his mission, engaging in digital relationships a...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Austin shares how keeping a small journal of unfiltered “Dear God” letters for six months became a record of his recovery, transformed his relationship with God, improved communication with his wife, and supported about four months of sobriety. He describes feeling prompted to write “I’m a porn addict in recovery. Ask me anything.” on a poster board and sit a...

In this episode of Unashamed Unafraid, Sam and Mason discuss sexual addiction recovery with their shared therapist, Jason Dausses of Accepted Therapy. Sam opens up about longstanding self-judgment rooted in verbally abusive coaches and bosses, and Jason frames healing as both rescuing past wounds and then empowering oneself to live from “zero to ten” through real-time choices, community, and effec...

In this episode, Sam and James are joined by Dan Ostler to discuss their recent experiences at Warrior Heart Boot Camp. Sam shares a powerful, God-orchestrated moment of healing where confronting shame led to emotional breakthrough and support from God and his brothers. The trio highlight Warrior Heart Boot Camp, the best resource for sexual addiction recovery, and how unplugging in the mountains...

In this episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Mason and Sam welcome Mike Farr, a rock photographer, Spartan racer, husband to Jenny, and father to Wesley. Mike shares how his father leaving early, conflict with a stepfather, and feeling unlovable fueled a “character” that chased acceptance through music, drugs, escalating sexual behavior, and crime. He describes immersion in the late ’60s–’80s music sce...

Sam shares a previously unreleased conversation with Chris and Joshua about gratitude in recovery and healing through Christ. They discuss how gratitude helps overcome shame, challenges entitlement, and creates lasting change, while sharing personal stories of recovery, relationships, and faith. Buy Chris's favorite gratitude journal here  Make a donation and become an Outsider! Follow us on socia...

In this story episode of Unashamed, Unafraid, Sam and Mason interview Cam, a BYU construction management student preparing to commission as a combat engineer officer. He tells how his porn addiction grew out of achievement pressure, comparison with high-achieving siblings, and deep shame. After moving frequently and living in a high-performance community, Cam internalized “you’re stupid,” then att...

This episode explores the emotional impact of criticism and how unresolved shame can fuel relapse in recovery. Sam shares a personal experience of being hurt by a negative review, which triggered old beliefs and led to a setback, while highlighting the importance of connection over isolation. Chris centers his comments on the concept of repair, taking accountability, seeking forgiveness, and askin...