Are You a Slave to Lust? | A Bunny Hugs Podcast interview with Todd Rennebohm & Jeremy Lipkowitz

🔹 Want to break free?Join Unhooked Academy now:https://www.unhookedacademy.com/This episode is a rebroadcast of a conversation I had with Todd Rennebohm on the Bunny Hugs podcast. Todd runs a mental health show that isn't afraid to go into the territory most podcasts avoid, and this conversation went deep.We covered my personal story from the beginning. How it started innocent enough, looking at lingerie catalogs as a kid, and slowly escalated over years into a daily habit that was quietly rewiring my brain. By college, I was logging on every night for an hour, sometimes two. And even though my life looked great on paper, I felt completely empty inside.In this episode we talk about:The moment I realized I was a slave to lust, and what it actually felt like from the insideHow porn hijacks the dopamine system and why the "hunt" is more addictive than the content itselfThe realm of hungry ghosts, a Buddhist concept that perfectly describes what addiction feels likeWhy porn addiction is uniquely hard to break free from compared to alcohol or substancesHow I went from PhD student at Duke to Buddhist monk to meditation teacher to recovery coachWhy the shame-based, willpower-driven approach almost always backfiresWhat neuroplasticity actually means for your recovery, and why it's good newsHow to meditate without falling asleep (and why falling asleep isn't actually the problem)AI companions, escalation, and where all of this is headedThis is one of the more wide-ranging conversations I've had. If you're new to this work, it's a good place to start. If you've been around for a while, I think you'll still find something in it.00:00 Empty Chase00:50 Meet Jeremy01:37 How It Started03:15 Daily Habit04:59 Control And Coping06:07 Brain Rewiring07:15 Novelty Escalation09:20 Seeing The Future11:10 Hungry Ghosts13:33 Neuroplasticity Lust15:10 Gratitude Training18:29 Desire Vs Craving20:31 Meditation Skills23:11 Tech And AI Risks24:57 Is It Ever Good27:14 AI Companions Dystopia28:30 Moderation Debate28:37 Moderation vs Abstinence30:11 Ethics of Porn Industry33:02 Why Porn Hooks Dopamine37:15 Rock Bottom Realization42:43 Finding Happiness Through Mindfulness46:09 Non Shame Recovery Approach50:11 Meditation Basics That Work54:02 Grounded Not Woo Woo54:49 Where to Find Jeremy55:26 Final Wrap and SupportCheck out Todd's show, Bunny Hugs, at bunnyhugspodcast.comResources mentioned:Unhooked Academy: unhookedacademy.com14-Day Slip Reset: unhookedacademy.com/resetConnect with Jeremy:🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz📩 Email: [email protected]’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/