EP 237: Live Unashamed: Talking To Strangers About My Porn Addiction #2

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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 shame, were with family, or may have assumed they were protesters. The hosts discuss how brotherhood matters in recovery, the challenge of church shame, and the importance of making public space feel safe while still inviting honest dialogue. They reflect on owning your story, rejecting the idea that only sober people can speak, note AA’s original reason for anonymity, and commit to doing the sign outreach again with clearer messaging and more supporters. 

Timestamps:

01:09 The Sign
01:50 Brotherhood In Recovery
02:42 Last Time In Salt Lake
03:58 General Conference Context
05:41 Pizza Break Daniel
06:44 New Crowd New Shame
10:40 Fear Of Being Protesters
12:16 Camera Mistake Lessons
13:02 Why Public Vulnerability Heals
15:40 Owning Your Story 8 Mile
18:46 Talking Before Youre Sober
21:04 Anonymity Origin
22:51 Do It Again Invite Others
24:02 Jesus Rebel Energy

EP 236: Live Therapy With Jason Dausses #2

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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. 

Timestamps:

01:35 Mason Check In
03:49 Sam Wants Sobriety
05:15 Calling Sam's Bluff
06:38 Finding a Real Why
07:43 What Porn Provides
09:16 Fear of Choosing Wife
10:57 Grief and Letting Go
13:11 Admitting You Love Porn
15:00 Beyond Morality Pressure
16:14 Find Your Real Why
17:20 Shame And Honest Confession
18:34 Multiple Whys Deeper Sobriety
20:15 False Self And Agreements
27:01 Acceptance Is Felt Not Thought
28:32 Safety And Deeper Vulnerability
30:30 Enneagram Three And Control
32:14 Silver Bullet Joe
33:06 Called Out And Closing Thanks

EP 235: Live Unashamed - Hugging the Cactus

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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 wounded, trauma-shaped part of himself without feeding compulsive behavior. The group explores identity, pushing back on making “addict” a permanent label, emphasizing being a son of God while distinguishing healthy desires from dark distortions. Using images like “hugging the cactus,” NF’s song “Running,” shadow work, and even Harry Potter, they describe confronting triggers, understanding what behaviors protect us from, and replacing shame and isolation with love, support, therapy, and faith.

Timestamps:

00:43 Killing Parts of Yourself?
01:20 Austin On Shame
02:45 Hugging The Cactus
03:57 Labels And Identity
05:44 NF Running Trauma
09:23 White Knuckling Fails
09:57 Harry Potter Love
12:00 Triggers And Warfare
15:33 Shadow Work Advice
18:08 Closing And Wrap

EP 234: Breathwork & the Process of Healing

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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 discusses the process of healing and explains holotropic breathwork as a tool for accessing deeper consciousness, releasing pain, and connecting breath with spirit and God’s name, and offers resources for his Utah sessions and Hear Bros retreats.

Connect with Mike:
https://thelightinus.org
https://hearebros.com/

Timestamps:

01:58 Why Jesus Had to Die
06:37 Meet Michael Again
12:41 Repentance Redefined
15:36 Guided Healing Session
23:10 Infinite Worth Moment
26:31 Light Truth Framework
31:47 Turning Up the Light
36:59 Healing Wounds Over Time
39:44 Wounds Keep Surfacing
40:16 Worth at the Core
40:48 Turning On the Lights
41:46 Grief Beneath Anger
43:14 Replacing Lies With Truth
44:18 Affirmations and Context
45:27 Moses and Being Nothing
48:42 Eastern View of Nothing
50:34 Breathwork as a Tool
51:30 Holotropic Breathwork Basics
52:47 Theta State and Subconscious
57:04 Technique and What to Expect
01:01:03 Breath as Spirit and Prayer
01:03:50 Name of God as Breath
01:07:17 Resources and Retreats

EP 233: Live Unashamed - Sex Is Not the Problem

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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 God-given, meant for connection and creation, while warning that misuse can damage relationships with God and others. They stress normalizing frank, respectful conversations, creating safety and boundaries in marriage, and seeking help through therapy and resources like Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. They explore six types of intimacy, explain how unmet emotional needs become sexualized, and challenge listeners to ask what sex means to them and if married, what their spouse hears when they request sex.

Timestamps:

00:43 Is Sex The Problem?
01:04 Early Shame And Silence
03:46 Internet Porn And Shame
06:10 Talking With Kids
08:14 Sex Sacred Not Secret
11:23 Healthy Sex And Humor
13:32 How To Start The Conversation
15:22 Resources And Cultural Shame
17:25 Utah OnlyFans Joke
17:49 Therapy Reframes Sex
18:56 Five Month Reset
20:29 Asking Without Shame
22:58 Six Types of Intimacy
26:06 Needs Behind Desire
31:11 Safety and Boundaries
34:27 Receiving Pleasure
35:23 Sex Reveals Healing
36:52 Challenges and Wrap Up

EP 232: Reuben's Story - Arise & Heal

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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 with pornography, and learning that sobriety can exist without true healing. He explains addiction as a disconnection issue where pornography is a “medication,” emphasizing connection with God, self, and others to raise awareness rather than fighting thoughts with more thoughts. Reuben describes a panic and claustrophobia crisis on a plane that led to new insights about stillness, surrender, and processing emotions without fixing them, and he outlines practical “primal” movement drills and daily habits to reboot the frontal lobe and reduce shame-driven relapse cycles.

Take advantage of Reuben's resources here at https://ariseheal.org/

01:56 Meet Reuben Aiton
04:05 Why Teens Are Hard
06:06 Kindling Versus Log
08:24 Porn Is Not The Problem
10:43 Reuben's Recovery Story
16:49 Panic Attack Flight
20:46 Alligator Thought Spin
22:53 Turning On The Light
25:21 Shame And God
27:44 The Atonement Is For You
29:04 Breaking Shame Goggles
30:20 Identity And Limiting Beliefs
32:34 Integrating Parts And Resistance
34:51 Process Emotions To Heal Beliefs
36:22 Urges As Pain Signals
43:46 Surrender Not Willpower
49:35 Resources And Contact Info
50:33 Eye Of The Tiger Wrap

EP 231: Live Unashamed - The "Noble Lie"

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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, escalates into a destructive web, and erodes trust in marriage by forcing a spouse to live in an untrue reality.  They emphasize that sobriety without transparency becomes “white knuckling,” recommend reaching out to brotherhood first after relapse to manage shame and take accountability without excuses, and note rare cases where disclosure may require professional guidance. They challenge listeners to identify where they don’t feel safe and take responsibility for creating safety rather than continuing to lie.

Timestamps:
00:43 Podcast Welcome and Banter
01:21 Relapse Courage and Noble Lie
02:08 VeggieTales and Pinocchio Lies
04:39 Why Lying Feels Safe
05:50 Transparency Builds Recovery
06:32 Spouse Reality and Betrayal
10:31 Accountability and Brotherhood
12:34 Disclosure Safety and Coaching
14:22 Shame Versus Shaming Quote
16:35 Create Safety and Challenge
18:21 Call to Action and Wrap Up

EP 230: Paul's Story

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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 health, finances, and personal agency ultimately helped him rebuild his life on solid ground.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Podcast intro and mission
02:10 – Early career and background
06:15 – Overwhelming work and school
08:30 – Daughter's cancer diagnosis
10:45 – Losing heavy equipment job
16:20 – Pressure in aviation career
23:34 – Marital intimacy struggles
25:10 – Corrective surgery for deformity
28:30 – Overcoming pornography dependency
31:15 – Physical fitness in recovery
36:42 – Miscommunication regarding spiritual advice
38:50 – Accidental discovery of email
44:20 – Financial overhaul and independence
48:30 – Deciding to pursue divorce
52:08 – Song: Love Me At My Lowest by Nash Blackwood

EP 229: Live Unashamed - A Recovery Lifestyle

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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 travel and high-pressure work often trigger acting out, the need to build a recovery lifestyle through structural changes, boundaries, and meeting basic needs like rest, food, and water. They reframe relapse as information rather than shame, discuss disciplined ways to “check out” safely, and emphasize listening to the body’s warning signals. Josh adds how losing 80 pounds and fitness improved his mental health and recovery. The episode ends with questions for listeners and a personal example of acting out due to lacking a plan at a family reunion.

Timestamps:
00:43 Austin Returns to Unashamed
01:04 Inside the Summer Camp Mission
03:05 Recovery Update After Summer
05:56 Why Travel Triggers Acting Out
08:30 Building Boundaries and Alone Time
13:06 Relapse as Data Not Shame
14:34 Numbing Out and Healthy Rest
17:13 Listening to Your Body Needs
19:57 Fitness, Dopamine, and Discipline
22:45 Listener Questions and Takeaways
23:22 Closing Story and Wrap Up

EP 228: Curtis' Story - Counterfeit Emotions

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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 “how deep” rather than “how long.” He discusses dopamine dependence, why the problem is the need for pornography rather than pornography itself, and a bus metaphor for witnessing emotions and choosing authentic counterparts. Curtis outlines additional dyads (love/lust, kind/nice, excellence/perfectionism, joy/pleasure) and offers hope through his Be Whole method, plus shares the origin of his song “Whole Again,” inspired by his daughter’s healing after a rare blood disease.

- Book a call with Curtis! 
www.counterfeitemotions.com/recovery

Timestamps:

00:43 Sam's Recovery Check-In

02:00 Meet Curtis Morley - Emotionologist

02:59 Entrepreneur Dream Life

04:45 Divorce And Counterfeits

08:14 Pain Joy Breakthrough

10:47 Sobriety Versus Recovery

17:04 Digging Up The Demons

22:25 Lapse As A Gift

25:54 Identity Trap And Hope

28:39 Four Drivers Of Urges

30:58 What Recovery Really Means

32:38 Dopamine Cycle Explained

35:38 Rewriting Triggers for Peace

38:29 Emotional Bus Metaphor

39:28 Guilt vs Shame Research

43:20 Counterfeit Emotion Dyads

46:41 Authenticity and Peace

47:56 Hope and Be Whole Method

52:44 Whole Again Song Story

EP 227: Live Unashamed - Breaking Isolation

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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 describes months of isolation amid financial strain, work instability, and possible re-injury that removed fitness as a coping tool, plus feeling distant from God; a child’s spontaneous hug prompts him to recognize repeated “love notes” through people reaching out. They reject isolation as ineffective, commit to renewed community and group support, and invite listeners to email their plans to get connected.

Timestamps:
01:31 Relapse and Heavy Heart
02:25 Isolation Triggers
04:48 Ownership Over Blame
06:52 Make the Call
09:08 Sobriety vs Recovery
10:44 Refusing to Isolate
13:29 Stressors Behind Isolation
17:40 God Reaching Out
21:20 Affirmations and Identity
23:33 System for Temptation
27:04 Commitments and Next Steps
29:33 Audience Challenge and Wrap

EP 226: Hypnotherapy and Porn Addiction

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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 brain waves allows clients to rewrite subconscious beliefs formed in childhood. The conversation dives deep into both bottom-up approaches—like shifting core identity and future pacing—and top-down somatic tools you can use in real-time to manage temptation. Whether you are struggling with unwanted behaviors or supporting someone who is, this episode offers actionable insights on integration, emotional regulation, and step-by-step healing.

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Families Getting Help helps people break free from the subconscious patterns that drive pornography use, rebuild trust and stronger relationships, and change the inner dialogue that keeps them stuck in unwanted patterns.

Learn More: FamiliesGettingHelp.com


Book Your Introduction Call Now: https://familiesgettinghelp.com/#ghl-calendar. Discount code: UNASHAMED


Free Automatic Impulse Control Video: Want the free workshop where you learn how to automatically turn down a temptation? Go here - https://help.familiesgettinghelp.com/turndowntemptationsnow 

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Timestamps
03:40 - Introducing Guest Erin & Demystifying Hypnotherapy Basics
08:33 - The Role of Shame, Dopamine Loops, & Neurochemistry in Addiction
12:00 - Brain Waves, Subconscious Memories, & Rewiring Neural Pathways
17:15 - Comparing Hypnotherapy to EMDR & Sam/Austin's Personal Experiences
24:20 - Bottom-Up Identity Shift vs. Top-Down Somatic Recovery Tools
27:50 - Automatic Impulse Control Demonstration: Using Somatic Tools for Urges
32:55 - Connecting with Erin (FamiliesGettingHelp.com) & St. George/Zoom Services
36:30 - Personal Readiness, Emotional Maturity, & Taking Recovery Ownership
41:15 - Advice for Families, Final Takeaways on Identity, & Episode Sign-Off

EP 225: Live Unashamed - Brotherhood Is Not Optional

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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 vulnerability during moments of temptation and lighthearted fun to build genuine connection. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to stop isolating, step out in courage, and clearly communicate what they need from supportive peers to achieve lasting healing.

Timestamps:

0:43 – Welcome to Unashamed, Unafraid & Four Brothers in the House
2:18 – "Brotherhood is Not Optional" & Trying to Recover Alone
4:05 – Mason & Sam’s Story: Realizing Dudes Don't Talk About Porn Addiction
6:27 – Why Men Avoid Brotherhood: Fatherlessness & Unhealthy Patterns
8:52 – The Wild Hearts Group & The Power of "Will You Pray For Me?"
11:41 – Reaching Out Before a Relapse vs. Calling After the Fact
14:08 – The Young Single Adult Trap: Isolation & Minimizing the Problem
16:34 – Attending a Group vs. Actually Being Known
19:12 – What Blocks Men From Making the Call During Temptation?
21:55 – Balancing Dynamic Brotherhood: Serious Healing + Stupid Jokes
24:23 – Teaching Other Dudes What You Need (Listening vs. Fixing)
27:14 – Reaching Out & Community Meetup Announcements

EP 224: Mike's Story

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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 use; he later learned those boys were arrested for raping family members. At 18, after drug use, he prayed on a beach, quit drugs, served a mission in Ecuador, married, and raised a family while hiding a long-term pornography problem that escalated alongside law-enforcement work in Oakland and PTSD. After multiple deaths in his care and suicidal crises, he sought help, was retired from duty, and recounts a 2018 moment when his wife, prompted by God, prevented a planned suicide, helping him recognize God’s love. Mike has now been sober from pornography and sexual acting out for 8 years. 

Timestamps:
01:28 Wedding Weekend Banter
03:02 First Exposure To Porn
05:25 Sexual Assault And Confusion
07:14 Shame And Silence
08:43 Beach Prayer Wake Up
11:32 Mission And Marriage
13:51 Law Enforcement And Trauma
15:22 Confessing and Hiding Secrets
16:30 PTSD and Relapse Cycle
18:14 Family Distance and Regrets
21:07 Deaths on the Job
23:24 Retired and Identity Crisis
25:22 Therapy and Escalation
26:10 2018 Suicide Crisis
27:31 Gods Love and Closing
28:25 The Dream
32:59 Weston's thoughts on dad's recovery
39:11 Life After Disclosure
41:34 Warrior Heart Boot Camp
49:15 Helping Other Men
54:19 Gratitude by Brandon Lake

EP 223: Live Unashamed - Recovery Check-in

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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 directly in the present moment and pain.

Timestamps:
01:29 James’s update (Revisiting EP 151)
03:20 Healthy accountability vs. using tools to bypass inner healing
05:10 Proud of the journey: Overcoming the nonchalance and habit of slip-ups after 13 years
06:50 Sam’s update (EP 151)
09:15 Battling for your brothers
11:20 Joshua’s update (EP 151)
14:30 Facing the fear of outcomes: Asking God for direction instead of avoiding conflict
15:30 Mason’s update (Revisiting EP 193)
16:15 Finding a true relationship with God beyond just quitting pornography
18:15 Psalm 23: How God prepares a table for us in the presence of difficulty, not just comfort
20:20 Finding God in the "Now": Moving past prayers focused only on the past or future
22:15 Closing commitments: Bringing Jesus into the center of brotherhood
23:10 How to reach out and wrap-up

EP 222: Mike's Story

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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 of self, God, and the world—emphasizing wholeness over perfection and connection as the antidote. He recommends “Lean on Me” as his recovery song. He discusses his pivot from branding and graphic design into men’s work, retreats, and breathwork, including co-founding the HEARE Brotherhood.

Connect with Mike and get resources here:
- www.thelightinus.org
- www.hearebros.com
- LinkedIn

Timestamps:
01:11 Making Repair Story
03:05 Meet Mike Allen
03:20 Career Pivot and Purpose
06:32 Family Crest Breakthrough
07:41 First Mens Retreat Leap
10:05 Breathwork Heart Opening
12:22 HearBrotherhood Origin
13:46 Early Porn Exposure
14:39 Family Context and Masculinity
17:28 Shame and Church Messages
20:43 Bio Dad Addiction Reveal
23:11 Baptizing His Dad
23:48 Engagement Secrets
25:02 Recommend Taken Away
27:40 Wedding Canceled
30:28 Marriage Did Not Fix It
31:24 Beyond Twelve Steps
34:51 Metanoia Not Shame
37:30 Opposition And Shadow
40:04 Golden Nuggets
45:06 Find Mike Online
45:47 Lean On Me Finale

EP 221: Live Unashamed - Fire the Old God

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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 God,
2. Identify their impact on relationships, nervous system
3. Reality-test beliefs through scripture and Christ’s character
4. Examine how the belief once protected parts of the self
5. Grieve the loss of the familiar but harmful God-image, and
6. Use rituals (termination letter, speaking aloud, burning notes) to “fire” it.

To close, Austin recommends John Eldredge’s One Minute Pause App feature "20 Days to Experience Jesus.”

Timestamps:

01:19 Meet the Old God
03:27 Where Shame Begins
05:38 Why Fire Him
08:29 Dismantle the Belief
10:45 Grieve the Old Image
12:03 Steps and Rituals
14:52 Hire the New God
16:47 Relational Exposure Practice
17:47 Relapse and Rework
20:30 Resources and Reflections
22:05 Listener Challenge Outro

EP 220: Austin & Becca's Story

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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 and sexting, and facing a highly shaming disciplinary process, including being labeled a “sexual predator,” disfellowshipped, and shamed by a therapist. Becca recounts being excluded from the process while engaged to be married, not learning full details years into marriage, while also navigating her own trauma and intimacy struggles. Through supportive therapy, Warrior Heart Boot Camp and Heart of a Woman Retreat, vulnerability, and surrendering to God, the two begin healing, rebuilding trust. Austin reaches nearly six months sobriety; they emphasize shared recovery, communication, and “Broken Together” as their song.

Timestamps:

00:43 Meet Austin and Becca

01:53 Austin's Childhood Sexual Grooming

03:25 Porn Exposure and Control

05:23 Shame Culture and Secrecy

08:02 Becca’s Sexual Abuse

14:10 How Trauma Shaped Sexuality

15:37 Vulnerability and Early Disclosure

19:08 Mission Struggles and iPad Temptation

24:34 Confession and Church Discipline

28:29 Disfellowshipped and Silenced

29:03 Therapy That Shamed

30:41 Becca Left Outside

35:34 Marriage Under Pressure

39:28 A Bishop Who Got It

41:15 Finding Real Therapy

43:44 Warrior Heart Breakthrough

47:26 Healing as a Team

50:55 Rock Bottom to Surrender

56:40 Broken Together 

EP 219: Talking to Strangers About My Porn Addiction

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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 at Utah Valley University; after three hours, one student approached, discussed shame and feeling unlovable, and later asked to keep talking. Sam connects this to his own prayer for guidance to expand the platform, then joins Austin in Salt Lake City near City Creek Mall to hold the sign with Austin, where several strangers engage in meaningful conversations. They discuss de-shaming addiction, the most common question they received, and invite listeners to try writing letters to God and email Sam to get involved.


01:17 Letters to God
04:06 Sobriety Breakthrough
04:41 Share About Your Porn Addiction
07:46 Finding The One
09:04 Why Vulnerability Matters
11:33 Taking It to Salt Lake
12:57 De-Shaming Porn Addiction
15:51 Hard Questions Real Answers
17:54 Hope Without Pressure

EP 218: Live Therapy with Jason Dausses

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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 effective communication of needs. They explore why “95% honesty” still leaves a hidden 5% that fuels shame, how to ask others for specific support to create safety, and how boundaries relate to unmet needs and validation-seeking. Jason emphasizes grieving lost time, widening one’s window of tolerance for discomfort, accepting God’s unchanging acceptance even during acting out, and using mindfulness and inner-monologue journaling/parts work to observe thoughts non-judgmentally and reduce shame.

Schedule an appointment with Jason 

Timestamps:

00:00 Raw Check In
01:15 Shame Spiral Confession
02:08 Inner Critic Origins
03:07 Meet The Therapist
05:36 Rescue Then Empower
07:42 The Hidden Five Percent
12:55 Asking For What You Need
15:07 Safety And Self Rescue
16:25 Boundaries Or Validation
18:35 Grief Stage In Recovery
20:46 Grieving Unmet Progress
21:59 Widening Tolerance Window
23:03 God Accepts You Always
24:43 Reintegrating Prayer Life
28:01 Mindfulness After Acting Out
29:47 Inner Monologue Journaling
31:11 Applying Skills Beyond Sex
35:03 No Silver Bullet Recovery
39:03 Living in the Gray
40:33 Wrap Up and Next Steps