384: What's the impact of circumcision on a man? (ft. Michael Smith, Intactivist Educator)

In North America, we tend to think of circumcision as "normal" and "widespread." But did you know that circumcision as a practice only became widespread in the US in the mid 1900s?So what's the deal? Why did it originate as a practice and why has it persisted? And perhaps most importantly, what is the impact on a man -- both physiologically as well as psychologically?The answers may surprise you -- I know they did me. I was unaware, for example, of the extent to which intact foreskin helps a man with sexual pleasure. I also didn't realize that foreskin restoration is a thing -- that if you've been circumcised, there's actually a way to re-grow foreskin.There's a lot of intensity and sensitivity around this subject, and for good reason: It matters deeply. If you yourself are circumcised, you have loved ones who are, and especially if you're a parent-to-be, please listen. It's important.---Work with usReady to go deeper than the podcast and take action? Jason and I can help you break old patterns and transform your sex & love life for good. To see if you're a fit for our flagship program, Pillars of Presence, book a call here. Start anytime. (https://evolutionary.men/apply/)---Memorable quotes:“Much of the history is murky.”“I acutely felt the feeling of being different.”“Dollars per hour, circumcision is the most lucrative thing a doctor can do.”“Circumcision is estimated to be a $5B/year industry in the US.”“Men don’t like to feel like victims.”“Most responses are silence.”“There’s an unconscious desire to control the sexuality of children.”“‘OK, something really bad happened to me.’”“It ends with me.”"This can be a story of resilience and triumph."---Mentioned on this episode:Book rec: Circumcision: The Hidden Trauma -- How an American Cultural Practice Affects Infants and Ultimately Us AllDocumentary on Netflix: American CircumcisionSubreddit dedicated to foreskin restoration: www.reddit.com/r/foreskin_restoration/For more on our upcoming course, Sexual Mastery, go to melaniecurtin.com/sexualmastery