Unashamed Unafraid
125 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 219 ratingsUnashamed Unafraid is a show dedicated to being unashamed about sexual addiction recovery and unafraid of coming unto Christ for healing. Pornography and sexual addiction are not something you are stuck with to manage your whole life. We share real men's and couple's stories of recovery, the best resources, and information from experts, and answer anonymous questions with those who know. All to help you on the path of being 100% healed from pornography and sexual addiction.
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Episodes
Ep 57: Life Beyond Recovery with Doug Nielsen
October 14, 2021 04:49 - 58 minutes - 93.3 MBHave you ever heard the phrase once an addict, always an addict? I’ve certainly heard it during my lifetime. It is a creative bumper sticker to describe who you are—but is that truly who you are as a person? Chris, James, and Steve go on a journey with Doug Nielsen to find out what to do when you are wanting to take that next step, the step beyond recovery. I know some of us who are struggling (or have struggled) with an addiction are thinking, “I can’t even fathom what life looks ...
Ep 56: Rob's Story
August 25, 2021 14:43 - 55 minutes - 89.6 MB“Ultimate Poser”: That’s how Rob describes himself when he was at the height of his sexual addiction. Take a listen as Steve and James start not at the beginning, but at the bottom of Rob’s story as he shares how working through fears and loss. Rob describes how ultimately his path led to him to discovering, not the guy not on either side of his poser life, but the third guy who God wanted him to be. Rob was married with three children, working as an employee of the Church of Je...
Ep: 56 Rob's Story
August 25, 2021 14:43 - 55 minutes - 89.6 MB“Ultimate Poser”: That’s how Rob describes himself when he was at the height of his sexual addiction. Take a listen as Steve and James start not at the beginning, but at the bottom of Rob’s story as he shares how working through fears and loss. Rob describes how ultimately his path led to him to discovering, not the guy not on either side of his poser life, but the third guy who God wanted him to be. Rob was married with three children, working as an employee of the Church of Je...
Ep 55: Changing Our Default: Sam Teilemans
August 07, 2021 04:25 - 46 minutes - 74.4 MBYou may have heard the saying, “Once an addict always an addict.” But is it true? In the opinion of the UU crew, this statement is incongruent with Christ’s healing atonement. We believe that Christ can change people forever. Sometimes that change comes with the assistance of professional therapists and others, but ultimate healing is the work of Jesus Christ. Sam Teilemans believes that the language we use is powerful. For example, he says that it may be more helpful to say, “I s...
Ep 54: Ashlee's Story
July 09, 2021 15:58 - 52 minutes - 96.4 MBAt Unashamed Unafraid we share real stories with you that prove sexual addiction has no bounds of age, background, or gender, and that recovery is possible for anyone. Yes, women struggle too and here is more proof as Ashlee, our 2nd female to share on the podcast, opens up about her struggle with sexual addiction. We invite you to listen as Steve and Chris challenge Ashlee to abandon her notes and go off-script, sharing her story Unashamed-style, from the heart. Ashlee discusse...
Ep 53: Honesty in Relationships with Jennifer Finlayson-Fife
June 09, 2021 01:32 - 1 hour - 133 MBHonesty in Relationships with Jennifer Finlayson-Fife Steve and James sit down with Jennifer Finlayson-Fife JFF and talk about what it means to be truly human; fully alive. Where does it all start? That dreaded word Honesty. Honesty is the foundation of being fully human and truly alive. But why do we shy away from being fully human if that is what all of us want? Don’t we want to be seen for who we are? Do we want to be a part of the larger story? Do we want to become the person ...
Ep 52: Cassy's Story
April 30, 2021 14:03 - 1 hour - 121 MBIs pornography addiction a man’s problem? Religious groups place emphasis and belief on this. In a sense, there is some truth with this mindset. Porn media starting in the 50’s was primarily developed for men. The ensuing decades followed suit, developing for, and catering to men. Pornography became part of the man’s world. Over the past few decades, the man’s world mindset has been slowly eroding. With this erosion, the porn industry has realized an untapped market share - women....
Ep 51: Anonymous Q and A with Miss Courtney
April 21, 2021 04:08 - 53 minutes - 98.7 MBQ&A with Courtney Leak, LCSW James and Steve sit down with therapist Courtney Leak to dive into questions submitted by our listeners. As always, the questions are real, raw, and unashamed about sexual addiction, as are the answers discussed by Courtney, Steve, and James. Courtney pulls from over ten years of experience in helping people. Not only is she an experienced therapist, she co-hosts the mental health and wellness podcast “The Magic Well.” Courtney’s purpose and approach is...
Ep 50: Fatherlessness with Rob Chidester
March 19, 2021 16:44 - 1 hour - 132 MBFake it ‘til you make it. This is a common phrase many of us cling to when we are unsure of what we are doing. Be it a new job, being newly married, or trying to fix something, there is the hope that if we seem to know what we are doing, eventually we really will know what we are doing. Steve, Chris and James sit down with Rob Chidester and talk about Fatherlessness. All of us are Fatherless in many ways as we come from imperfect earthly fathers who cannot father us all the ways ...
Ep 49: Max’s Story
February 25, 2021 14:32 - 57 minutes - 105 MBIf you or someone you know is a single twenty-something, who is battling a sexual addiction, Max’s story will hit home. His journey begins as a young boy when his childhood is cut short by the dissolution of his family and the ensuing aftermath. The wounds of his childhood are cut deeper by the loss of an intimate relationship and he plummets into a dark depression, with addiction as his only parachute. Eventually, he turns and faces the God that he has fled for so long and healing...
Ep 48: With the Dating Divas
February 13, 2021 04:47 - 52 minutes - 96.8 MBTo romance or to ROMANCE - Questions For The Dating Divas Have you ever wondered how to romance and date your wife? Have you forgotten how? We all know the joke, “What is the thing that makes a woman’s libido disappear?” Wedding Cake. Insert Laugh here. But romance also goes out the window when a man gets married too. Most guys struggle with romancing their wives. Well, you are in luck! Unashamed Unafraid interviewed two of the women, Heather (Site Director) and Becca (Vice Preside...
Ep 47: Polygraphs with Jared Rockwood
January 29, 2021 03:57 - 49 minutes - 90.8 MBLiar, Liar pants on fire! Do you remember saying that as kids to each other? Well, Jared Rockwood sure does because he is a professional polygraph tester. You may also ask, “Why are you having a polygraph tester on this podcast?” Have you ever wondered how it works? Are movies correct? Jared talks about how it works, what it is supposed to accomplish, what questions should be asked and more. Relax, he is not going to do a polygraph on air and with any audience members. What will he ...
Ep 46: Unashamed for the New Year 2021
January 21, 2021 04:29 - 57 minutes - 106 MBUnashamed Unafraid The New Year 2021 Edition Unashamed Unafraid has taken on a few new faces this year. The newcomers are Sway and Rachel, and AZ Cory. We were able to continue to spread this message of hope, love, healing, and faith in Christ, even with COVID. We became a non-profit organization to be able to help people fight through healing from sex addiction. We were able to give out a lot of money last year to help those with the donations from the UU Outsiders. Thank you ...
Ep 45: Chris and Sarah Ashworth
December 15, 2020 15:49 - 1 hour - 127 MBAre you religious but struggle to find God? Or, do you wonder if God is even there? Do you or does someone you love manage to gain stints of sobriety, but without true healing? If you relate to any of these questions, Chris and Sarah Ashworth’s story is just the one you need to hear. In this episode, Chris takes us on his journey from agnosticism to building a deep connection with God, and Sarah recounts her experiences of her own personal healing. Chris grew up in what he says wa...
Ep 44: Keepin’ It Rhyll… SAL Style
November 25, 2020 18:35 - 1 hour - 122 MBSteve and Rhyll Croshaw have an amazing story. Rhyll was going to school and was taking a marriage and family class, and for one of her assignments, she needed to set up a community program. After that class, Steve and Rhyll started to think about how to help people the same way they had been helped through their recovery from addiction and trauma. Heavenly Father also needed them to set this up. He knew that there were several men and women who needed this style of Sexaholics An...
Ep 43: Christian and Karen's Story
November 11, 2020 05:57 - 1 hour - 132 MBIn their book “Love and War” John and Stasi Eldredge say, “For it is also in the heart of a man and a woman to share some sort of quest, to fight some great battle together.” This is the compelling story of Christian and Karens’ battle. Christian was first exposed to pornography in the form of magazines laying around the houses of his childhood friends. At first, it seemed innocent, even normal. Fast forward a few years into Christian and Karen’s marriage - Christian’s life is “hel...
Ep 42: You Can't Talk About That Sherie
October 16, 2020 03:37 - 1 hour - 88.9 MBYou Can’t Talk About That Sherry The UU Crew receives a ton of questions about how to talk about the dreadful and often shameful word sex with our kids. Well, the age old rule, at least when we were kids, was you can never talk about it. It was a terrible topic for us to talk to our parents about. The conversation was extremely awkward, shameful, or both. I know I regretted asking my parents to talk to them about sex. This is where Sherie Christiansen is a godsend. Sherie works a...
Ep 41: Chris and Marilyn's Story
October 05, 2020 22:40 - 1 hour - 102 MBSteve and James sit down with Chris and Marilyn. Chris and Marilyn grew up together in Santa Monica, California as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As they phrase it, they were both “box checkers” - they went to church, served a mission, got married in the temple, had kids, and served in church callings. At age eleven Chris experienced two things that would dramatically change the trajectory of their lives for the next fifty years: He was sexually abused by...
Announcement: Scholarships Are Open!
September 22, 2020 16:08 - 3 minutes - 5.51 MBOur scholarship page is up and active. We have multiple scholarships available for those who need help getting therapy or getting to a retreat. To apply or to donate, visit https://unashamedunafraid.com/scholarships
Ep 40: Beckie Hennessy On Betrayal Trauma
September 14, 2020 03:57 - 1 hour - 92 MBBeckie Hennessy is a licensed clinical mental health counsellor. She began her career specializing in child trauma. She then branched out into trauma in general and now specializes in relational trauma, also known as betrayal trauma. In this episode, Beckie explains how betrayal trauma affects the brain and confirms that it is actual trauma. She also delves into attachment and its relationship to trauma. Beckie did her studies with the “Trauma Guru” Barbara Stephens. She says that ...
Ep 39: Thomas 2.0
August 21, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBThomas’s story is a miraculous journey from egotistical denial, to desperate despair, and finally, to healthy healing. It is for the man that has been hiding for most of his life and for the woman who senses that addiction has robbed her of her husband’s love. It’s a story of how one couple went from total disconnection to daily emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical connection. It’s the story of “Dark to Light: My Recovery from Pornography and Lust” (for his full story, c...
Ep 38: Disclosure: Do's and Dont's with Geoff Steurer
August 07, 2020 02:00 - 48 minutes - 67.3 MBGeoff Steurer is a professional therapist from Lifestar Group in St. George, Utah. He co-wrote the book, “Love You, Hate the Porn.” He also has a podcast called Illuminate. He is an expert on disclosure. He walks through - with Chris and Steve - the right and wrong way to disclose the lies that addicts keep from their loved ones. So jump into the deep end of disclosure.
Ep 37: Anonymous Q and A with Kristy
July 24, 2020 02:00 - 55 minutes - 75.8 MBChris, James and Steve sit down with Kristy (James’ Beautiful Bride) and discuss anonymous questions submitted by our listeners. The episode talks about two people’s questions. The first is a deep one that asks about wanting to change but not knowing how. The second has several sub-questions from a supporter’s viewpoint. These are two very brave people who are asking questions that all addicts and supporters have asked. Sit back and buckle up. This episode is epic!
Ep 36: Seth and Nicole's Story
July 10, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 101 MBSteve and James sit down with Seth and Nicole as they share their story. This is a story of true redemption, and not just for Seth. Seth and Nicole talk about their stories individually and how they met. They then talk about how they both found redemption through the atonement and grace of Jesus Christ. Please have a listen and if this story touches your life or you know it will touch someone else's, please consider sharing this with them.
Ep 35: Attachment with Troy Love
June 26, 2020 02:00 - 35 minutes - 48.8 MBChris and Steve sit down with author and therapist Troy Love. Troy lives in Yuma Arizona. He is a licensed clinical social worker. Troy has written three books that have been on the Amazon best seller’s list. He is extremely passionate about assisting people with attachment wounds. He loves to help them find healing, joy, peace and love. Troy has a firm belief that attachment wounds shape a person’s reality (which most of the time is wrong) about the world and those around them. ...
Ep 34: Tim and Callie's Story
June 12, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 90 MBSteve and Jason sit down with Tim and Callie as they share their story. This is a story of true redemption, and not just for Tim. Tim and Callie talk about their stories individually and how they met. They then talk about how they both found redemption through the atonement and grace of Jesus Christ. Please have a listen and if this story touches your life or you know it will touch someone's, please consider sharing this with them.
Ep 33: Chris and Autumn's Story
May 31, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 114 MBSteven and James sit down with our co-host and “Hulk of Hope” Chris and his wife Autumn Bennett. Chris talks about how he went from having multiple affairs to now over twelve years of sobriety. Autumn shares how she went from trying to take her life to trusting Chris again. They also talk about how they fight for each others’ hearts. If these stories resonate with you, or you know someone who might benefit from them, please feel free to share the link to the episode with them. ...
Bonus: LIVE Q and A with Chris, Autumn, Sway and Rachel
May 16, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 134 MBThis is a Bonus Episode for all of our listeners. Chris, Autumn, Sway and Rachel sat down on a live Zoom call and answered questions about safety, boundaries, recovery for addicts with only a few months of sobriety at a time, and many more. The panel answered about five times as many questions as usual in a normal Q&A episode. So there's a ton of great information here. They got real and honest about their own experiences and it was incredible hearing the spouse's perspective with t...
Ep 32: Anonymous Q and A with Debbie Reid
May 15, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 84.8 MBSteve and James sit down with Debbie Reid from LifeStar Salt Lake. She is trained in trauma in somatic experiencing and psychodrama therapy and runs LifeStar intensives in Salt Lake City and trauma groups in Tennessee. They answer five questions submitted by our listeners. If these stories resonate with you, or you know someone who might benefit from them, please feel free to share the link to the episode with them. Please subscribe and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Ep 31: Joe and Amy's Story
May 01, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 95 MBJoe and Amy Pierson are amazing people. Chris and Steve had the privilege to talk with them about their story. They also talk very candidly about what it took to help them through Joe’s addiction. Joe talks about his experience of surrendering to Heavenly Father. Amy talks about her experience of surrendering her trauma and Joe to Him as well. Sit back and enjoy this amazing adventure of war and redemption. If this story resonates with you please feel free to share it with those who...
Ep 30: Jason's Story
April 24, 2020 02:00 - 58 minutes - 80.4 MBOur own Darth Vader of audio, Jason, sits down with Steve and James to talk about his pornography addiction and how he found recovery through honesty and vulnerability. Recognizing that he couldn’t win this fight on his own, Jason learned to truly surrender. His relationship with God has been deepened and strengthened. He now is filled with peace, love, and joy. If this story touches your life or you know it will touch someone's life, please consider sharing this with them.
Ep 29: Q and A with Autumn
April 17, 2020 17:44 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBThe UU Crew sits down with Autumn (Chris’ wife) and answers three questions from anonymous sources. The first question is extremely difficult to get through, so be careful if listening around impressionable little minds. It is a very difficult question. The others are not as heavy
Ep 28: Steve and Kayla
April 03, 2020 17:06 - 1 hour - 75.3 MBChris and James sit down with rapper host Steven and his wife Kayla. In this episode, Steven is more detailed with his childhood and his married life. We also get to hear Kayla tell the story from her perspective. If these stories resonate with you, or you know someone who might benefit from them, please feel free to share the link to the episode with them.
Ep 27: A Conversation with Daniel Burgess
March 19, 2020 20:46 - 1 hour - 61.8 MBChris and James sit down and have a phone conversation with Daniel Burgess, a licensed marriage and family therapist. He focuses on sexual addiction and healthy sexuality in marriages. Daniel is a well-known therapist, blogger, and runs a Facebook group called, “Improving Intimacy in Latter-day Saint Relationships. Daniel also has a podcast called: “Improving Intimacy in Latter-day Saint Marriages.”
Ep 26: Hope And Healing Support with Michelle
February 27, 2020 23:31 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBSteve, James and Kayla sit down with the owner/administrator of the website hopeandhealingsupport.com. While running a website to bring people to Christ, she found that her website was being inundated with questions about addiction and recovery for the betrayed. So she started the website hopeandhealinglds.com. Her website has information for women affected by the sexual addiction of a loved one. We greatly appreciate Michelle sharing her heart with us.
Ep 25: Anonymous Questions Answered with Dr. Skinner
February 21, 2020 01:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBJason and Steve sit down and talk with Dr. Skinner about anonymous questions that UnashamedUnafraid (UU) have received. He talks to them about how there is recovery, and a saving grace through recovery, from any type of addiction. The addict must give up something to get their life back. It also involves true connection to others. At UU, we believe an addict can only do it through our Savior Jesus Christ and his infinite Atonement.
Ep 24: John and Amy Harrison
February 07, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBJohn and Amy sit down with Steve and CT to talk about their personal stories. They share how they met, how they have worked through recovery, and how Christ has used their struggles to bring them closer together. They are an amazing couple. We at Unashamed appreciate John and Amy for allowing us to share their story. If this affects you and you know others who might be struggling, please consider sharing this with them. We are here, Unashamed and Unafraid to share stories about addi...
Ep 23: Moore on Shame with Dr Adam Moore
January 24, 2020 14:09 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBDr. Moore started his practice in marriage and family therapy in St. George, Utah. He quickly realized there was a problem in families with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. Dr. Moore decided to specialize in assisting families in these types of issues. He now has several practices throughout Utah and Nevada. He also has a two year waiting list, so he is obviously very good at what he does. Besides talking about how successful Dr. Moore is, Steve and Jason sit down to talk to h...
Ep 22: Unashamed for the New Year
January 09, 2020 17:19 - 52 minutes - 57.7 MBWhat a year! 2019 saw a lot of changes for UnashamedUnafraid. The UnashamedUnafraid (UU) Crew is so excited for 2020. This episode is a special tribute to the hard work and dedication of the UU Crew. For more information on the crew, please visit the Our Team page at UnashamedUnafraid.com. So what is going to be discussed in this special episode? The UU Crew sit down and talk about the podcast becoming what it is today. They discuss how it all started and how everyone came to be a...
Ep 21: Q & A Answers: Boundaries with Addicts and is God Part of Recovery?
December 27, 2019 02:20 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBMerry Christmas! Here is a special episode where all of the players in Unashamed Unafraid (UU) come together and answer listeners’ anonymous questions. We really appreciate all of the people who have tuned in this year. We have something special coming in the year to come but this won’t be discussed in this episode. What will be discussed in this episode is the questions from anonymous listeners like you.
Ep 20: Matt’s Story - By Surrendering He Received Redemption
December 14, 2019 16:05 - 1 hour - 68.7 MBSteve and Jason sit down with an amazing man named Matt. Matt was on EP 18: Intro to 12 Step & ARP Meetings and explained a little bit of his story with the group. This time, he gets to talk all about his story. He opens up about his rocky childhood due to misguided views on what real connection should be. He also talks about how his parents were not safe. He talks about his relationships now and what has changed. He finishes by talking about what recovery means to him and his famil...
Ep 19: Heart of A Woman Retreat: Personal Experiences
November 28, 2019 06:12 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBKristi, Mindy, and Keshia sit down with James and Steve and talk about the Heart of a Woman Retreat. They discuss what their lives are like right now, what their apprehensions were before going to the retreat, talk about what they learned there, what they would tell someone about the retreat, and who might be on the fence about going. The women are extremely open and vulnerable about their experiences and is an episode that will make you laugh and cry in the same breath. If this aff...
EP 18: Intro to 12 Step & ARP Meetings
November 07, 2019 23:27 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBJason, Matt, Randy, and Steve sit down and talk about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ (LDS) ARP. This is a version of the AA 12 step program created by Bill W. The difference between the two versions is that the LDS Church focuses on the relationship that a person has with Jesus Christ. This episode focuses on what ARP is, what it is not, and how it can help the addict. ARP is a great start on the road to recovery. Listen in to learn about the healing and help Jason...
Ep 17: Theron Recovery Story - A Story of Healing and Redemption
October 25, 2019 16:25 - 1 hour - 157 MBTheron’s story is one of deep tragedy and amazing healing. It was an incredible experience to sit with him while he shared the immense difficulty and pain he has faced as well as hearing him talk about how he found healing, change, and hope. Despite all he experienced, he has gained an intimate relationship with God. Although Theron is still working on this recovery, the way he talks about his marriage and his new relationship with God is truly inspiring. Sharing stories that are unashamed a...
Ep 17: Theron Recovery Story - A Story of Healing and Redemption
October 25, 2019 16:25 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBTheron’s story is one of deep tragedy and amazing healing. Despite all he experienced, he has gained an intimate relationship with God. Although Theron is still working on this recovery, the way he talks about his marriage and his new relationship with God is truly inspiring. Sharing stories that are unashamed and unafraid is our mission. However, this means they are usually raw, real and authentic. DISCLAIMER: Theron’s story has some traumatic experiences he faced in his childhood,...
Ep 7 - Anonymous Questions Answered: Bipolar, Dailies, & Shame
October 11, 2019 01:39 - 57 minutes - 131 MBFor our 7th Anonymous Questions episode, we brought back a favorite guest Todd Olson, LCSW. Todd is one of the founders of LifeSTAR and practices here in Utah. He will address three questions we received. The first one is about dealing with sexual addiction while having bipolar disorder. The second one is about dailies and what they are. The third one is about shame. Shame is such a big topic that we will be covering that in a future podcast. As always we commend the courage of our anonymous...
Ep 16: Anonymous Questions Answered: Bipolar, Dailies, & Shame
October 11, 2019 01:39 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBFor our 7th Anonymous Questions episode, we brought back a favorite guest Todd Olson, LCSW. Todd is one of the founders of LifeSTAR and practices here in Utah. He will address three questions we received. The first one is about dealing with sexual addiction while having bipolar disorder. The second one is about dailies and what they are. The third one is about shame. Shame is such a big topic that we will be covering that in a future podcast. As always we commend the courage of our ...
Our Best Recovery Resource: The Warrior Heart Retreat
September 26, 2019 22:36 - 50 minutes - 115 MBWe have been extremely excited about promoting A Warrior Heart Retreat. What is it? You will have to listen to understand what it is and what it is not. If you want to know more about the accommodations and other questions you might have, please listen to this episode (click here) we did before. But before they get into the podcast, they have announced that an anonymous donor has donated a full free scholarship to the retreat (that’s $445)! To enter the giveaway you must: 1- Follow us on Fac...
Ep 15: Our Best Recovery Resource: The Warrior Heart Retreat
September 26, 2019 22:36 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBWe have been extremely excited about promoting A Warrior Heart Retreat. What is it? You will have to listen to understand what it is and what it is not. If you want to know more about the accommodations and other questions you might have, please listen to this episode (click here) we did before. But before they get into the podcast, they have announced that an anonymous donor has donated a full free scholarship to the retreat (that’s $445)! To enter the giveaway you must: 1- Follow ...
The Story of Us: Richard & Becky's Recovery Story
September 12, 2019 23:06 - 1 hour - 171 MBRichard and Becky's story is an amazing story of honesty, creating boundaries, finding God, and ultimately the path of healing and hope. Richard does a great job of talking about how he has found acceptance with God even though he’s not perfect. Becky shares how she has been able to support Richard while creating boundaries and safety for her own healing.