Every Man’s Battle Podcast

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟗 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨tesIn Part 2 of their series on safely using technology in recovery, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes move from big‑picture concepts to practical guardrails for your phones, computers, and apps. They show how to combine device transparency, filters, access‑point removal, screen‑time limits, and handheld Sabbaths with deeper heart work so that technology supports your recovery instead of sabotaging it.You’ll learn:Why device transparency (no secret devices or codes) and active accountability are freeing, not controlling.How filters, parental controls, and disabling private browsing act as speed bumps and check‑engine lights, slowing you down long enough to ask, “What am I really seeking right now?”Why simply restricting screen time isn’t enough, and how to replace unhealthy tech habits with prayer, journaling, exercise, and connection so you become the kind of man God is calling you to be.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, and ask about scholarships and recovery groups that help you live with integrity in a digital world.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​To send questions or suggest future topics (including specific tech tools or scenarios you’d like addressed):👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.☎️ Need help beyond the podcast—counseling, groups, or a structured recovery plan?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for Christian counseling, workshops, and recovery groups that go beyond behavior management to heart‑level change.🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐍’𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐒If you’re realizing that your tech habits keep pulling you back into old patterns, it may be time to get help beyond filters and willpower. The Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a 3‑day, Christ‑centered workshop where experienced counselors help you:Identify root causes and triggers.Understand behavior change vs. heart change.Build a realistic plan for sexual integrity in a tech‑saturated world.After the intensive, you can join Every Man’s Battle groups, Men’s Sexual Integrity groups, and other New Life recovery meetings (online and in person) so you’re not trying to do this alone.💵 Concerned about cost? New Life offers scholarships, because they don’t want finances to be the barrier to your healing. When you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, ask about assistance for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive and related groups.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your Every Man’s Battle tuition.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other New Life podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #TechnologyAndRecovery #FiltersAndFreedom #GuardrailsNotGuilt #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟖 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨tesIn Part 1 of a new series on safely using technology in recovery, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes tackle a hard truth: technology isn’t the real problem, and software alone won’t fix your heart. They show how phones, computers, and apps become fast, frictionless ways to soothe unhealed pain, shame, and loneliness, and why you can’t simply “go off the grid” and expect to be free.You’ll learn:Why tech is not evil in itself, but a powerful canvas on which your story and pain show up.The limits of willpower, hyper‑vigilance, and filters—and why you “can’t out‑software your brokenness” without story work, confession, and community.How questions like “Why the pain?” (not just “Why the addiction?”) help you address the root issues behind your tech use, setting the stage for future episodes on practical boundaries and tools.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, and ask about scholarships and recovery groups to help you navigate technology as part of a bigger journey toward heart‑level transformation.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​To send questions or suggest future topics (including specific tech tools or scenarios you’d like addressed):👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.☎️ Need help beyond the podcast—counseling, groups, or a structured recovery plan?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for Christian counseling, workshops, and recovery groups that go beyond behavior management to heart‑level change.🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐍’𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐒If technology has become your go‑to escape and you’re realizing filters and willpower aren’t enough, the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a powerful next step. This 3‑day workshop helps you:Identify root causes and triggers.Understand the difference between behavior change and heart change.Build a plan for sexual integrity that includes healthy tech use, community, and spiritual growth.After EMB, you can join Every Man’s Battle groups, Men’s Sexual Integrity groups, and other New Life recovery communities—online and in person—so you’re not trying to navigate a tech‑saturated world alone.💵 Concerned about cost? New Life offers scholarships because they don’t want finances to be the reason you stay stuck. When you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, ask about assistance for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive and related groups.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your Every Man’s Battle tuition.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other New Life podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #TechnologyAndRecovery #FiltersArentEnough #HeartChangeVsBehaviorChange #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟕 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨tesIn this facilitator spotlight, JJ West interviews longtime Every Man’s Battle and Sustained Victory leader Jim Phillis, recorded live at an EMB intensive in Washington, DC. Jim shares his journey from early masturbation and pornography in Peoria, to a dramatic Good Friday conversion, to years of pastoral ministry shadowed by secret acting out, and finally to a life of freedom, transparency, and group leadership through New Life.You’ll hear:How a blunt question from a Campus Life leader and the prayers of his now‑wife Susan led Jim to recognize his addictions as crutches and surrender to Christ.Why a terrifying confession to a prayer partner at a pastors’ conference (“I’m struggling with porn and masturbation”) became the doorway to real accountability and change.What Jim wishes he’d done differently—addressing acting in behaviors and hiding from his wife sooner—and why transparency and ongoing groups like Sustained Victory are now central to his own recovery and ministry to other men.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, and ask about Sustained Victory and other groups so you don’t try to do this alone.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question about recovery, Sustained Victory, or future topics?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.☎️ Need a counselor, coach, or group?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com to connect with Christian counseling, life coaching, and recovery groups.🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘If Jim’s story resonates—secret porn use, ministry pressure, fear of being found out, and decades of partial measures—it may be time to step into the same path God used to set him free. The Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a 3‑day, Christ‑centered workshop that combines expert teaching and small‑group work to address both the root causes and behaviors of sexual brokenness.After the weekend, Sustained Victory and other New Life recovery groups offer ongoing, structured support so you don’t have to walk the path alone. These groups are made up of EMB alumni and provide a shared language, consistent accountability, and a place to keep practicing transparency long after the workshop ends.💵 Concerned about cost? Scholarships are often available so finances don’t have to be the reason you stay stuck. When you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, ask about assistance for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive and related groups.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your Every Man’s Battle tuition.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other New Life podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #PornRecovery #PastorStory #Transparency #SustainedVictory #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟔 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨tesIn this final installment of the Key Elements of Transformation series, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes explain why you cannot do sexual integrity recovery alone and why behavior change without heart change eventually fails. Building on earlier episodes about grace, surrender, story work, and compassion, they now unpack how community, confrontation, and honest feedback become instruments of God’s transforming grace.You’ll learn:Why isolation keeps your blind spots hidden, and how safe, truth‑telling brothers (not “yes‑men”) help you see and change destructive patterns.The critical difference between behavior modification (short‑term, performance‑driven) and heart transformation (Spirit‑led, relational, long‑term), and how each impacts your spouse, children, church, and friends.How courageous conversations—like friends confronting JJ about major life decisions or chronic lateness—illustrate the kind of community every man needs for lasting change.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, and ask about scholarships so finances don’t keep you from the help and community you need.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month?👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question, story, or idea for a future episode?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line so JJ and Doug can consider it for upcoming QA episodes.☎️ Need a counselor, mentor, or group to walk with you?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com to find Christian counseling and men’s sexual integrity groups (in‑person and online).🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐍’𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐒If this series has highlighted how much you’ve tried to do recovery alone or rely on behavior checklists, it’s time to step into brotherhood and heart transformation. The Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a 3‑day, Christ‑centered workshop where licensed Christian counselors and trained facilitators walk you and a small group of men through teaching, story work, and practical tools you can’t get by yourself.After the workshop, you can plug into Every Man’s Battle groups, Men’s Sexual Integrity groups, and other support/12‑step style groups that New Life offers in person and online, so you’re never walking this path alone again.💵 Worried about cost? Scholarships are available because New Life does not want finances to be the reason you stay in bondage. When you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, ask about assistance for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive and related groups.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your Every Man’s Battle tuition.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other New Life podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #Transformation #HeartChangeVsBehaviorChange #Community #BrothersInTheBattle #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟓 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨𝐓𝐄𝐒In Part 2 of the Key Elements of Transformation series, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes draw on Gabor Maté’s insight that the real question is not “Why the addiction?” but “Why the pain?” They show how sexual acting out is a flawed attempt to soothe unaddressed childhood wounds, and they model a compassionate, curious way of revisiting those stories instead of piling on more shame.You’ll learn:Why slowing down, journaling, and tracing your last relapse backward in time helps identify emotions, thoughts, and needs that drove the behavior.How JJ’s and Doug’s own stories of public shame and insignificance still echo in adulthood—and how compassionate re‑parenting of their younger selves changes their responses today.Practical first steps for processing acting out (journaling, naming needs, seeking legitimate ways to meet them) and why doing this work in community—through groups like Sustained Victory and other men’s sexual integrity meetings—is essential for lasting transformation.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, and ask about scholarships so finances don’t keep you from the help you need.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have questions or feedback, or want JJ and Doug to address your specific struggle in a future episode?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or help finding a group?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐍’𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐒If you’re tired of beating yourself up after each relapse and ready to learn why you keep going back, the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a crucial next step. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop combines teaching, story work, small‑group interaction, and practical tools so men can address both behaviors and the pain beneath them.After the weekend, Sustained Victory and other New Life men’s sexual integrity groups offer the ongoing support, accountability, and compassionate community needed to keep processing wounds, needs, and triggers in real time.💵 Concerned about cost? Scholarships are available because New Life does not want finances to be the reason you stay stuck. When you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, ask about assistance for Every Man’s Battle and ongoing groups.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your Every Man’s Battle registration.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #Transformation #GaborMate #ChildhoodWounds #CompassionateInquiry #Journaling #SustainedVictory #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟒 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨𝐓𝐄𝐒In Part 1 of a two‑episode series on the key elements of transformation, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes unpack why sexual integrity is about far more than “not looking at porn” or “trying harder.” They distinguish behavior modification from grace‑centered heart change, emphasizing that without surrender, story work, and community, men will either white‑knuckle sobriety or simply swap one unhealthy behavior for another.You’ll learn:Why surrender to God’s care is not weakness or defeat, but the doorway to freedom and real spiritual transformation.How understanding your story behind your unwanted behaviors—with curiosity and kindness, not contempt—helps you identify the wounds you keep reenacting in adulthood.Why community (Sustained Victory groups, church relationships, brothers in the battle) is essential for lasting change, and how to join the EMB email list and survey so the podcast can better serve you.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, and ask about scholarships so finances don’t keep you from the help you need.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒JJ pauses mid‑episode to make a specific request:Become part of the EMB email list so the team can better serve you.Complete a short listener survey that will shape future topics and resources.👉 To join: email [email protected] and ask to be added to the Every Man’s Battle Podcast list and receive the survey.Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month?👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line.Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘If you’re realizing you’ve tried to white‑knuckle change without surrender, story work, or real community, the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a vital next step. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop brings together licensed Christian counselors and a small group of men for teaching, story work, and practical tools to move beyond behavior modification into heart‑level transformation.After the weekend, Sustained Victory weekly groups provide the ongoing brotherhood, accountability, and grace‑filled feedback that help men live out what they learned, instead of slipping back into old patterns.💵 Concerned about cost? New Life offers scholarships because finances should never be the reason a man stays stuck. When you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, ask about assistance for both Every Man’s Battle and Sustained Victory.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your Every Man’s Battle registration.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #Transformation #Surrender #StoryWork #GraceNotShame #SustainedVictory #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟑 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨tesIn this Season 3 “meet the facilitators” episode, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes interview Joe Elliott, an Every Man’s Battle breakout‑group and Sustained Victory facilitator whose story spans childhood exposure to sexualized media, decades of acting out across nearly all sexual boundaries, and a powerful turn toward freedom and service. Joe first attended EMB in 2011 after his wife, Kyra, confronted his ogling and friends pointed them to New Life.You’ll hear:How early experiences—like a nude portrait in his home, pin‑ups in the closet, and TV “heroes” who slept with every guest star—shaped Joe’s objectification, compulsive masturbation, serial monogamy, and infidelity.Why skipping Sustained Victory after his first EMB led to relapse four years later, and how weekly groups, check‑in calls, journaling, and understanding “eye wounds” now anchor his ongoing recovery and marriage.What Kyra told him about forgiveness vs. trust—and how her recorded prayer for EMB men today reflects God’s grace at work in both of their lives.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, and ask about scholarships for both EMB and Sustained Victory so cost doesn’t keep you from the help you need.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘If Joe’s story sounds painfully familiar—early exposure, escalating behaviors, broken promises, and a “white‑knuckled” attempt to fix things alone—the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is where your turnaround can begin. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop provides a safe, shame‑free zone where licensed Christian counselors lead you and a small group of men through story work, biblical teaching, and practical tools for sexual integrity.After the weekend, Sustained Victory weekly groups offer the structured, ongoing support Joe wishes he’d embraced from day one—guided conversations, accountability, and brotherhood that help you maintain momentum long after the event ends.💵 Worried about cost? Joe mentions scholarships because New Life never wants money to be the reason you stay stuck. When you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, ask about scholarship options for both Every Man’s Battle and Sustained Victory.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on the Every Man’s Battle workshop.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #JoeElliott #FacilitatorStories #PornAddiction #BrothersInTheBattle #SustainedVictory #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟐 Show NotesFrom Dallas during an Every Man’s Battle Intensive, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes continue their “Finding What Matters” series—shifting from what to look for in a woman to the deeper question, “What kind of man am I becoming?” They unpack why character, emotional health, and humility matter more than perfection or chemistry, and share candidly what they’d do differently if they could redo their dating years.You’ll learn:Why you must first let God define your identity instead of handing women your “report card” and asking them to tell you who you are.Key traits to look for in a woman: genuine faith, growing character, emotional honesty, and humility—not flawless performance or constant excitement.How mentoring, community feedback, and environments like the Every Man’s Battle Intensive can help both younger and older men walk in greater wisdom in dating and marriage.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 on the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, a 3‑day workshop where men address sexual integrity, grow in character, and learn to pursue relationships that truly reflect God’s design📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.​🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄If this two‑part series exposed how much your approach to dating and relationships has been driven by feelings, fantasy, or insecurity, the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a crucial next step. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop creates a no‑shame zone where men confront sexual sin, understand their patterns, and experience mentoring and brotherhood in small groups led by licensed Christian counselors.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your tuition. If finances are tight, ask about scholarships and financial assistance when you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE—New Life does not want money to be the reason you stay stuck.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #DatingWisdom #Mentoring #ChristianMen #ChoosingASpouse #CharacterOverChemistry #Sanctification #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟏 Show NotesRecording on the road in Dallas before an Every Man’s Battle Intensive, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes explore something that shapes both sexual integrity and relationships: mentoring. This episode looks at why so many younger men lack mentors, how that leaves them confused about relationships and values, and why older men often underestimate how much they have to offer.Drawing from Scripture, personal stories, and hard‑earned lessons, JJ and Doug speak directly to two audiences at once: younger men who need guidance and older men who need to step into the calling of mentoring the next generation.You’ll learn:How Scripture frames mentoring (Jesus, Paul–Timothy, Titus) and why it’s essential for sexual integrity and relationships.Three myths that derail men in dating: “attraction = compatibility,” “love must always feel exciting,” and “it’s my job to fix her.”Practical steps for younger men to seek mentors, and for older men to offer their stories and wisdom, plus how environments like the Every Man’s Battle Intensive and Sustained Victory groups foster these relationships.🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 on the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, a 3‑day workshop where men break shame, build brotherhood, and receive mentoring that shapes both sexual integrity and relationships📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.​🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄If this episode surfaces how much you’ve been navigating sexual integrity and relationships alone, the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a strategic next step. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop helps men bring hidden sexual struggles into the light, break shame, and experience mentoring and brotherhood in small groups led by licensed Christian counselors.Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your tuition. If finances are a barrier, ask about scholarships and financial assistance when you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE—New Life does not want money to be the reason you stay stuck.🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #Mentoring #ChristianMen #DatingWisdom #ChoosingASpouse #Discipleship #Proverbs31 #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries

Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes equip men for one of the most critical moments in recovery: answering a crisis call from a struggling brother. They show how to respond with a no‑shame posture, deep listening, and practical support instead of panic, lectures, or quick‑fix advice.​You’ll learn:Why your first words should be, “Thank you for calling—you are loved and still part of the herd.”​How to be curious, not judgmental, helping him unpack the small decisions and ignored feelings that led to acting out.​How to blend grace and truth, ask “What kind of man do you want to be?” and collaborate on simple next steps like daily check‑ins and specific prayer and accountability.​📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra content to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.​

Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes get super practical in this episode, teaching men how to do 5‑minute check‑in calls that actually support sexual integrity instead of turning into 30‑minute gripe sessions or sports talk. They walk through a simple template—feelings, boundaries, triggers, helpful tools, upcoming risks, and a final honesty question—and demonstrate the difference between an unhelpful “check‑in” and a focused, effective one.​You’ll learn:Why brief, regular check‑ins make crisis calls far more likely when temptation hits.​Why you need a network of brothers (group, Sustained Victory, etc.), not just one accountability partner.​How to prep before a call so you can be honest, concise, and clear about your current integrity.​🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save on the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, a 3‑day, in‑person workshop for men seeking sexual integrity and brotherhood.​📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎R EMAIL 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extracontent to encourage your integrity, delivered via email each month? 👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​❓ Submit a question or suggest a topic anytime:👉 Email [email protected] (put “Podcast Question” in the subject line).​☎️ Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE for prayer, resources, or to find a Christian counselor.​🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #ChristianMen #FreedomFromPorn #RecoveryJourney #BiblicalManhood #BrothersInChrist #Accountability #CheckInCalls #BoundariesAndTriggers #ChristianCounseling #SustainedVictory

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟖 Show NotesLicensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes kick off a Season 3 mini‑series introducing Every Man's Battle facilitators by sitting down with Eric Thomas, LMFT. Eric shares his powerful story: early exposure to his father's porn stash, NFL dreams shattered by a shooting at 20, years of shame over his scarred body, transactional relationships, and deep isolation—until God met him in an RV in the Eastern Sierras and showed him he was becoming his father: a man who would die alone.​You'll hear:How trauma and resentment fueled years of acting out, self‑soothing with porn, and using women to avoid vulnerability.​The moment Eric realized he'd "booked his yearly vacation with his dog" because he refused to let a woman close enough to reject him.​How God's patient grace brought Eric from brokenness to becoming a facilitator who helps other men find freedom and wholeness.​🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 on the Every Man's Battle Intensive—the 3‑day workshop where men like Eric lead you out of isolation and shame into brotherhood, healing, and lasting sexual integrity.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?👉 Email [email protected] with "Bonus Content" in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man's Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question, topic suggestion, or your own story to share?👉 Email [email protected] with "Podcast Question" in the subject line. JJ and Doug read and respond to listener emails, and your feedback shapes future episodes.​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.​🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍'𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄If Eric's story resonates—if you see your own trauma, resentment, isolation, or transactional relationships—the Every Man's Battle Intensive is where healing begins. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop, led by licensed Christian counselors like Eric, creates a no‑shame zone where men bring hidden struggles into the light, find brotherhood, and receive practical tools for lasting sexual integrity.​📅 Upcoming Dates:January 23–25, 2026: Orange County, CAApril 24–26, 2026: Washington, DC (Early Bird discount ends April 10)February 28, 2026: 1‑Day Online Intensive (Early Bird discount ends Feb 13)Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your tuition. If cost is a concern, ask about scholarships and financial assistance when you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE—New Life does not want money to be the reason you stay stuck.​🎧 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓: 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐒After the Every Man's Battle Intensive, ongoing Sustained Victory groups provide weekly virtual coaching, accountability, and deeper healing with other men on the same path. These small groups, led by trained counselors, reinforce biblical truth and help you maintain momentum so you don't go back to isolation, shame, or acting out.​🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man's Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #EricThomas #FacilitatorStories #ChristianMen #Trauma #Resentment #Grace #RecoveryJourney #NFLDreams #BrothersInChrist #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries

📻 START YOUR WEEK WITH HOPE ON 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩Recording from the Intimacy in Marriage Workshop, licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes continue their conversation on acting in, the quieter counterpart to acting out. In Part 2, they move from definition to application—exploring why acting in matters even if a man has stopped acting out, how it often grows out of childhood trauma responses, and what it looks like to move toward safe, honest, connected relationships instead of isolation and passivity.​In this episode, they:Review acting in as a survival response that pushes people away to avoid shame, fear, and perceived danger.Explain why stopping porn or affairs is not enough if a man keeps hiding emotionally.Offer practical steps for taking small relational risks, finding safe people, and building the kind of community that sustains long‑term sexual integrity.​☎️ 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍:“Why does it matter if I’m acting in if I’ve already stopped acting out?”JJ and Doug address the honest question many men have: “Isn’t it enough that I’m not looking at porn or going to massage parlors anymore?” They explain that authentic recovery has two parts—behavioral sobriety (not acting out) and relational/emotional recovery (learning to connect with God, self, and others). If a man stops acting out but keeps acting in through withdrawal, anger, passivity, or overwork, he remains disconnected and highly vulnerable to relapse or substitute addictions.​“How is acting in a trauma response?”They describe acting in as a protective survival strategy often formed early in life—sometimes in critical homes, sometimes through coaches, teachers, or circumstances that taught a child, “It’s safer to be small, silent, or invisible.” A situation that looks minor to an adult can feel massive to a 5‑ or 9‑year‑old, whose entire world is that classroom, family, or team. Over time, the child learns that staying hidden or compliant feels safer than being seen, challenged, or exposed, and carries this into adulthood as automatic acting‑in behavior.​“What happens internally when I stop acting out but keep acting in?”Doug notes that stopping acting out allows previously numbed emotions—shame, fear, inadequacy—to “bubble up,” raising a man’s internal emotional temperature. Without porn, affairs, or other escapes, he feels the discomfort more intensely, and his brain reflexively reaches for familiar acting‑in patterns like stonewalling, lying, blaming, isolating, or passivity to turn the heat down. If he doesn’t grow in emotional awareness and connection, acting in becomes the new way he medicates his pain until, eventually, sexual acting out often returns.​“What does acting in look like beyond obvious withdrawal?”Beyond classic hiding in the garage or working late, they highlight subtler forms of acting in:Passivity when there is relational risk (“If I don’t say anything, I can’t fail or disappoint”).Getting critical or picking fights to push a spouse away into a familiar script.Over‑serving at work or church to feel safe and in control while avoiding deeper conversations.These behaviors can look “responsible” or “spiritual” on the surface, but are often driven by fear of rejection or exposure underneath.​“How long does it usually take to move from reaction to response?”Drawing from their recovery work, JJ and Doug explain that early on a man only notices acting in after the fact (“I blew up” or “I disappeared again”). With consistent work in recovery groups, counseling, and community, he gradually begins noticing acting‑in impulses while they happen, and eventually learns to anticipate them before high‑risk situations. For many men who engage the process, this shift in awareness and choice typically happens over 12–18 months, with deeper growth continuing beyond that.​“How do I start feeling and naming what’s going on inside me?”They encourage starting small and concrete:Pick one familiar emotion (like anxiety) and practice noticing where it shows up in the body (tight chest, knot in the stomach, clenched fists, shallow breathing).Journal what was happening around you, what you felt, and how intense it was (e.g., “Anxiety 8/10 before a hard conversation; by the end it was 4/10”).Revisit the feelings list often (as used at Every Man’s Battle) and ask, “What do I feel? How strongly? What is it attached to?”This kind of emotional awareness is crucial for recognizing when acting‑in patterns are starting so a man can choose connection instead.​“How can I take relational risks when acting in has always kept me ‘safe’?”JJ and Doug stress that relationships are inherently risky but also where healing happens. They recommend:Starting with one trusted, safe person—not everyone—such as a recovery brother, group leader, or counselor.Taking baby steps of vulnerability instead of cannonballing into full disclosure; for example, sharing a small piece of what you’re feeling or reading a short journal entry.Using feedback to calibrate: “Did that feel like too much sharing? Was it helpful?”Healthy boundaries mean learning what to share, with whom, and when; connection does not mean telling everyone everything.​“What role does self‑compassion play in overcoming acting in?”They emphasize the importance of talking to yourself instead of just listening to shame, reminding your heart it is okay to be seen, heard, and imperfect. Over time, speaking truth and kindness to oneself helps heal younger “parts” that learned they had to be perfect or invisible to belong. This growing internal safety makes it easier to stay present with others, rather than retreating into acting‑in behaviors when conflict or criticism surfaces.​“How do I find the kind of community you’re describing?”JJ and Doug point to the broader New Life ecosystem as a practical on‑ramp. The Every Man’s Battle Intensive offers a structured, three‑day, shame‑free environment where men experience honest connection in small groups led by licensed counselors, and Sustained Victory groups provide weekly, guided follow‑up for ongoing support. For men who feel, “I don’t have anyone safe,” this pathway can become the first place where they are fully known, accepted, and called toward growth.​The episode closes with an invitation to live from courage rather than self‑protection—choosing vulnerability and brotherhood instead of hiding—so that acting in no longer sabotages sexual integrity and intimacy.​📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.​🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄If this episode highlights how much you live in acting in—even after getting sober from acting out—the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a strategic next step. This 3‑day, Christ‑centered workshop helps men break the secrecy and shame around sexual sin, understand the roots of isolation and self‑protection, and experience brotherhood that models healthy, honest connection.​Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save on your tuition. If cost is a concern, ask about scholarships and financial assistance when you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, because New Life does not want money to be the reason you stay stuck.​🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #ActingIn #ActingOut #ChristianMen #TraumaResponse #Isolation #Community #SustainedVictory #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries

📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟔 Show NotesLicensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes unpack acting in—the often‑ignored twin of acting out. Instead of running to porn or affairs, many men manage shame and fear by withdrawing, shutting down, stonewalling, or overworking to avoid real connection. This episode helps you recognize those patterns and see how acting in and acting out are two sides of the same coin.​You’ll learn:A clear definition of acting in and how it differs from (but is driven by the same pain as) acting out.​Common acting‑in behaviors: withdrawal, anger, criticism, overwork, and “respectable” isolation.​Why awareness and community are essential for moving from unconscious reactions to intentional, connected responses in your relationships.​🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save on the Every Man’s Battle Intensive, a 3‑day, in‑person workshop for men seeking freedom from sexual acting out and the isolation of acting in.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.​🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄If you’re recognizing both acting out and acting in in your story, the Every Man’s Battle Intensive is a powerful next step. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop helps men confront sexual sin, understand the deeper roots of isolation and withdrawal, and build a band of brothers to walk with them in honest connection.​Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save on your tuition. If cost is a concern, ask about scholarships and financial assistance when you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE, because New Life does not want money to be the reason you stay stuck.​🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #ActingOut #ActingIn #ChristianMen #RecoveryJourney #EmotionalAwareness #Isolation #BrothersInChrist #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries

📻 START YOUR WEEK WITH HOPE ON 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes welcome back Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Marc Cameron, New Life LIVE panelist and author of Understanding Your Attachment Style, for part two of their deep dive on attachment styles and sexual propensities. In this episode, they unpack the Vacillator and Chaotic/Disorganized (Controller–Victim) patterns, then paint a hopeful picture of what it looks like to become a secure connector—even if you never had that growing up.​​If you haven’t heard Episode 4 yet (Avoider Pleaser), listen to that first and then jump into this continuation. Together, these episodes help men see why their sexual struggles are not random, but tied to how they learned to relate, attach, and cope long before pornography or affairs entered the picture.​​☎️ 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍:“What does the Vacillator look like sexually?”Marc explains that Vacillators (anxious, preoccupied / ambivalent) grew up with inconsistent connection—a parent who was sometimes very present and sometimes absent due to travel, divorce, deployment, or instability. They learn to idealize connection, then protest when they feel let down, creating a push‑pull dynamic of intense pursuit followed by angry withdrawal. Dating can feel intoxicating: rapid emotional bonding, oversharing, and early sexual involvement, but once real life surfaces and the idealized picture collapses, Vacillators can flip from “you’re my soulmate” to “I’m done” almost overnight, often mistaking dopamine‑driven intensity for true intimacy.​​​“Is the Vacillator more ‘love‑addicted’ than sex‑addicted?”JJ and Marc contrast the Avoider’s tendency toward sex addiction (using porn and sex as stress relief) with the Vacillator’s vulnerability to love addiction—chasing the high of romantic intensity and the fantasy of “the one.” Vacillators often believe there is a single perfect person who will finally meet their every need; when that illusion breaks, they detach and go looking for someone new who reignites the feeling.​​“How does this show up in marriage and affairs?”In marriage, Vacillators may start with high passion and frequent sex, especially as a way to feel reassured that the connection is real and not going away. When disappointment sets in, conflict escalates: the Vacillator protests with criticism and complaints, while an Avoider spouse often shuts down or withdraws, creating a classic Avoider–Vacillator cycle. Vacillator affairs tend to be framed as “I’ve fallen in love with someone else,” not just one‑night stands; they see the affair partner as a new ideal, while their spouse becomes the symbol of disappointment and lost connection.​​“What about the Chaotic/Disorganized style—Controller and Victim?”Marc describes Chaotic/Disorganized attachment as forming in homes marked by danger, abuse, addiction, and neglect, where the child’s primary task is survival. Over time, some become Controllers, having learned that in relationships “one person is in charge and the other is powerless,” while others become Victims, developing learned helplessness and trying to stay under the radar to minimize harm. In adulthood, Controllers and Victims often find each other and repeat the abuse cycle; touch has been paired with fear and adrenaline, so sex may become fused with pain, humiliation, and high‑risk behaviors rather than comfort and connection.​​“How do sexual dynamics work between Controllers and Victims?”For Controllers, sex is unilateral and utilitarian—it is something they demand when they want it, often as a way to discharge anger, exert power, or regulate their own nervous system. Victims may endure degrading or painful sexual acts primarily to stay safe and “keep the abuser calm,” seeing sex as damage control rather than mutual pleasure or intimacy. Marc notes that these patterns are tragically common yet often hidden, and that Controllers and Victims are among the least likely to seek help because of deep shame and an aversion to revisiting their traumatic story.​​“Are my parents just to blame for all this?”Marc is clear: attachment styles are explanations, not excuses. Parents themselves usually carried their own insecure attachment histories, and generational patterns can pass down even without malicious intent. Insecure attachment is not about assigning blame, but about understanding the strategies a child learned to survive—and then taking responsibility, as an adult, to recondition those patterns.​​“So what does a secure connector look like sexually and relationally?”Secure connectors grew up (more often than not) with caregivers who noticed feelings, named them, invited expression, and soothed distress, teaching the child that emotions are manageable and relationships can be safe. These adults can admit mistakes, ask for help, exercise impulse control, set and respect boundaries, and use words—not acting out—to express what’s going on inside. In sex and intimacy, secure connectors can make eye contact, care about their spouse’s experience, accept no, repair conflict, and see sex as the overflow of emotional connection, not just a release or a test of worth.​​​“Can I become secure if I never had that growing up?”Yes. Marc explains earned secure attachment: the process, supported by decades of attachment and neuroscience research, of re‑shaping your relational style in adulthood. The steps include:Recognizing your attachment pattern and how it keeps you stuck.Developing a coherent narrative—making sense of your childhood story instead of avoiding it.Leaning toward the “opposite” growth goals (for Avoiders, learning to feel; for Pleasers, boundaries and voice; for Vacillators, integration and staying; for Controllers/Victims, safety, humility, and help).Practicing new relational behaviors repeatedly, like reps in a gym, until your brain literally rewires.​​“How does all this connect to spiritual growth and sanctification?”Marc and JJ link attachment work to spiritual maturity, arguing that “you can’t be spiritually mature and emotionally insecure at the same time.” God is the ultimate secure connector, parenting his children with attunement, comfort, limits, and steadfast love; learning secure attachment is part of becoming more like Christ in how we relate. They encourage listeners to “pick their pain”—either the pain of staying stuck in old patterns, or the pain of growth that leads to freedom, intimacy, and lasting sexual integrity.​​📚 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 RELATED RESOURCES(Consider linking these in your show notes/store.)𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 – Marc CameronA step‑by‑step guide to identifying your attachment style and “earning” secure attachment in your closest relationships; available through the New Life store and other major booksellers, including an audio version read by Marc.​​ ​​https://store.newlife.com/category/primaryfeature/understanding-your-attachment-style 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 – Milan Kay YerkovichThe foundational “love styles” and attachment resource that shaped New Life’s teaching and undergirds Marc’s work on individual healing.​​ store.newlife.com/purchase/how-we-love-expanded-editionSexual Integrity Resources – New LifeArticles, studies, and tools on breaking sexual strongholds, integrating attachment work, and building healthy intimacy.​ https://newlife.com/blog/category/sexual-integrity/🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄Ready to address the attachment roots of your porn use, affairs, or sexual acting out?Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive to save on your tuition. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop helps men confront sexual sin, understand deeper drivers like attachment and trauma, and step into Christ‑centered brotherhood and accountability.​​If finances are a barrier, scholarships and financial assistance may be available—call 800‑NEW‑LIFE to ask about options so cost doesn’t keep you from the help you need.​​📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?👉 [email protected] “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 [email protected] “Podcast Question” in the subject line.​​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com.​​🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub:https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts:https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #AttachmentStyles #Vacillator #Controller #Victim #SecureConnector #UnderstandingYourAttachmentStyle #ChristianMen #FreedomFromPorn #RecoveryJourney #BiblicalManhood #ChristianCounseling

📻 START YOUR WEEK WITH HOPE ON 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes welcome back Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Marc Cameron, New Life LIVE co‑host and author of Understanding Your Attachment Style, for a powerful episode on how attachment styles shape sexual behavior and acting out.​In this first of a two‑part conversation, they focus on the Avoider and Pleaser (anxious) attachment styles and how these patterns—formed in your family of origin—often drive pornography use, affairs, sexual shutdown, and “people‑pleasing in the bedroom.”​In this episode, they:Introduce Marc’s new book Understanding Your Attachment Style and how it equips individuals (not just couples) to “earn” a secure attachment in all relationships.​Unpack how Avoiders often use sex or pornography as a non‑relational stress reliever and why their sex life frequently feels disconnected from emotion.​Describe how Pleasers (anxious attachment) can lose their voice, over‑accommodate, and even agree to unwanted sexual acts just to keep the peace.​☎️ 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍:“Where did my attachment style come from?”Marc explains that attachment is programming, not personality, formed in the home you grew up in—especially how your caregivers handled emotions, touch, and distress. Avoiders usually come from low‑affection, low‑emotion homes where feelings were minimized or dismissed; Pleasers grow up managing a parent’s mood (anger, anxiety, depression) by being the “good kid.”​“How does the Avoider attachment style play out sexually?”Avoidant men often see sex as a non‑relational “event” rather than emotional connection, with little eye contact, comfort, or nurturing before or after sex. They are especially vulnerable to pornography, because porn offers intense bodily sensation, no emotional risk, no relational maintenance, and a script of hyper‑available, aggressive partners that distorts expectations for marriage.​“What about avoidant women?”Avoidant women frequently dislike or even despise sex, experiencing it as something unnecessary or aversive rather than a place of connection. Some may offer sex only to “get it over with,” or even quietly tolerate their husband’s pornography use because it means less pressure on them—while still carrying buried resentment and unmet longing for true emotional connection.​“Why did porn and masturbation feel like such a perfect escape?”JJ shares how growing up in an emotionally shut‑down, low‑affection home set him up to use pornography and masturbation as a stress reliever and escape from reality. Instead of risking rejection or learning to name feelings, sex became an internal coping mechanism that seemed to “fix” stress without requiring real relational risk.​“How does the Pleaser (anxious) attachment style act out sexually?”Pleasers are wired to calm other people down; they’ve been managing a parent’s mood their whole life, and now they try to manage a spouse’s anger or anxiety through compliance. Pleaser wives may say yes to sexual acts they don’t want, just to avoid conflict, and pleaser husbands may pursue sex for reassurance (“If you’ll have sex with me, we must be okay”).​“What happens when a Pleaser finally hits a breaking point?”Because Pleasers chronically ignore their own needs and voice, they often hit midlife with deep internal resentment and burnout. At that point, sex may be shut off completely—not because they “hate sex,” but because they no longer enjoy it in that relationship—making them especially vulnerable to emotional or sexual affairs where they finally feel seen, safe, and valued.​“Can an Avoider or Pleaser ever become secure?”The good news: attachment styles are how you are, not who you are. Marc describes how research shows adults can earn secure attachment through intentional work—learning to name feelings, develop empathy (“I know what it feels like for me, so I can enter you”), set boundaries, and practice new relational patterns over time. His book lays out concrete steps for that process from a Christian worldview.​📚 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 RELATED RESOURCES(Consider linking these in your show notes/store.)𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 – Marc CameronA practical guide to identifying your attachment style and learning how to “earn” secure attachment in your closest relationships.​𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 – Milan Kay YerkovichThe foundational attachment and “love styles” book (Avoider, Pleaser, Vacillator, Controller, Victim, Secure Connector) that shaped much of New Life’s teaching and inspired Marc’s follow‑up for individuals.​Sexual Integrity Resources – New LifeArticles, devotionals, and tools on breaking sexual strongholds, understanding root issues, and rebuilding intimacy.​🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄Ready to address your attachment wounds and sexual integrity struggles in a shame‑free, Christ‑centered environment?Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register for the Every Man’s Battle Intensive to save on your tuition. This 3‑day workshop helps men break free from pornography, affairs, and sexual acting out, while also exploring deeper drivers like attachment, trauma, and family of origin.​If finances are a barrier, scholarships and financial assistance may be available—call 800‑NEW‑LIFE to ask about options.​📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​Have a question or topic suggestion?👉 Email [email protected] with “Podcast Question” in the subject line.​☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info about workshops and groups?👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com.​🎧 Discover more ways to listen watch:👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 New Life LIVE other podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #AttachmentStyles #Avoider #Pleaser #HowWeLove #UnderstandingYourAttachmentStyle #ChristianMen #FreedomFromPorn #RecoveryJourney #BiblicalManhood #BrothersInChrist #ChristianCounseling

START YOUR WEEK WITH HOPE ON 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes continue their deep dive into the role of empathy in sexual integrity recovery. Building on last week’s episode, they explore how empathy creates safe spaces, how to practice self‑empathy, and how to sit with a betrayed spouse in her pain without becoming defensive or shutting down.​In this honest conversation, they move from theory to practice—showing how men can learn to feel with others instead of just trying to fix them or escape the discomfort.Why Safe Spaces Matter in RecoveryJJ and Doug explain that empathy is not an outcome but a process—a way of relating heart‑to‑heart that makes recovery groups, counseling, and marriages safer for honesty.​They describe how a man’s history with emotions (rage-filled homes, emotionally numb homes, or shame-based church experiences) shapes his reactions to intense feelings today: shutting down, running away, judging, or shaming.Key idea: Empathy allows men to move from “fix it or flee” to staying present—even when emotions are big and messy.Is Empathy Just Enabling Bad Behavior?Doug tackles a common fear: “If I’m empathetic, am I just giving someone a pass?” He clarifies that behavior and empathy are different categories.​Behavior can be sinful and destructive (porn, affairs, acting out).Empathy is about joining someone in their emotional reality, not excusing their choices.Using the “hole and ladder” picture, they contrast:Sympathy: standing at the top of a 20‑foot hole, saying, “Man, that looks rough. Sorry,” and walking away.Empathy: bringing a ladder, climbing down, sitting knee‑to‑knee, and saying, “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll feel this with you until we climb out together.”Takeaway: Empathy connects to the heart; firm boundaries still address the behavior. Both are needed for real recovery.Learning Self‑Empathy: Seeing Yourself Through God’s EyesJJ and Doug then unpack why the hardest person to empathize with is often yourself—and why that’s dangerous for recovery. Sexual addiction feeds on self‑hatred, guilt, and shame; without self‑empathy, those conditions stay fertile.​They offer practical ways to develop self‑empathy:Meditate on Scripture, not just read itRomans 8:1 – “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”Rather than treating verses like a checklist, they encourage creating a “top 10” list of compassion‑centered scriptures and marinating in them until they sink into the heart.Write your own “Psalm of Compassion”Compile verses that speak to God’s tenderness and forgiveness.Read it when you feel shame, defeat, or the urge to act out, reminding yourself who you are in Christ.Journal your shame and temptations honestlyCapture the lies you’re tempted to believe (“I’m hopeless,” “I’ll always fail”).Counter them with truth from Scripture and from conversations with safe people.Let others speak truth into your shameIn groups, counseling, or trusted friendships, talk openly about self‑hatred and guilt so others can remind you of God’s compassion and your true identity.​Big picture: As men receive empathy from God and others, they become more capable of treating themselves with kindness rather than contempt—undermining the shame cycle that fuels acting out.Empathy Toward a Betrayed SpouseMost listeners have not only sinned sexually; they’ve also deeply wounded someone they love. JJ and Doug spend significant time on why empathy for a betrayed spouse is central—not optional—to sexual integrity recovery.​Why her pain matters for your recovery:Empathy helps a husband validate his wife’s experience: “I see you, I hear you, I recognize the danger and betrayal my choices created for you.”Instead of viewing her triggers and questions as “attacks,” empathy allows him to see them as expressions of real trauma and grief.How to practice this in real life:Name what she is feeling: “I hear how unseen, unsafe, and unprotected you feel because of my choices.”Stay grounded, not defensive:Keep the “connection brain” on instead of flipping into fight/flight/freeze.Remind yourself: God is my shield and defender; I don’t have to self‑protect right now. I can stay present in her pain.​Use “words, eyes, touch” wisely (a phrase they borrow from colleague Laura McDonald):Words: gentle, validating statements that focus on her experience, not your defense.Eyes: soft eye contact that communicates, “I’m here and I’m listening.”Touch: only when appropriate and welcomed, as a connection—not control—gesture.Drop “at me” from your internal script:Instead of “She’s mad at me,” reframe to “She’s in pain.”This shift keeps you from personalizing her emotions and helps you stay with her rather than retreat.Result: Over time, empathy helps rebuild trust—not by erasing consequences, but by consistently joining her in her pain while living out changed behaviors.Practice, Don’t Just “Know” ItJJ closes by challenging listeners not to treat this as interesting information but as a skill to practice:Look for real-life opportunities (in group, with a spouse, with friends) to try empathy—even if it feels clumsy at first.Expect to “miss it” sometimes, and then:Journal what happened.Ask, “Where did I get defensive, shut down, or try to fix instead of feel with?”Adjust and try again next time.Doug compares it to learning a curve ball: understanding the mechanics is helpful, but growth happens through repeated attempts, grace for missteps, and ongoing feedback.Featured Resources Next Steps1. Every Man’s Battle IntensiveA 3‑day, Christ‑centered workshop to:Bring sexual struggles into the lightLearn practical tools for integrity and emotional connectionPractice empathy with trained counselors and a brotherhood that “gets it”​👉 Learn more register: https://newlife.com/workshops/every-mans-battle/​Use promo code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 if you’re a first‑time attendee to receive a discount on your registration.​2. Ongoing Groups ResourcesEvery Man’s Battle Groups Sustained Victory – Weekly groups that help men keep practicing empathy, honesty, and accountability after the workshop.​Sexual Integrity Resources – Articles, tools, and next steps to keep growing in sexual integrity and emotional maturity.​👉 Explore sexual integrity resources: https://newlife.com/blog/category/sexual-integrity/​Bonus Content Ways to Connect📧 Exclusive EMB Bonus ContentGet exercises, questions, and follow-up material for this empathy series.Email [email protected] “Bonus Content” in the subject line.​❓ Share a Question or CommentEmail [email protected] with your questions, topic ideas, or feedback.☎️ Need Help Now?Call 800-NEW-LIFE for prayer, counseling referrals, or more information about workshops and groups.​🎧 Listen SubscribeEvery Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/All New Life podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #Empathy #BetrayalTrauma #ChristianMen #RecoveryJourney #MarriageHealing #NoCondemnation #WalkInIntegrity

📻 START YOUR WEEK WITH HOPE ON 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩Licensed Marriage Family Therapist JJ West and Licensed Professional Counselor Doug Barnes continue Season 3 with a crucial conversation on the role of empathy in sexual integrity recovery.​In this episode, they explore why empathy is not “soft” or optional, but central to healing—from how God empathizes with us, to how we learn to extend empathy to ourselves, and finally how we offer it to the spouses and loved ones we’ve hurt.​☎️ 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍:“What is sexual addiction, really?”JJ and Doug define sexual addiction as misusing sexuality outside God’s will and design to try to change how we feel inside, rather than turning to God and healthy connection.​“Why ‘just stop the behavior’ doesn’t work.”They explain how focusing only on behavior (porn, acting out, affairs) ignores the broken emotions, lies, and internal pain driving those behaviors—and why this becomes a major barrier to empathy and long‑term change.​“When church or spouse says, “Just stop it.’”Many men have been shamed by spouses, churches, or leaders who only address outward behavior and miss the broken heart underneath, leaving men condemned instead of cared for.​“How God models divine empathy.”Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.John 8 – The woman caught in adultery, where Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you… Go and sin no more,” combining deep compassion with a call to change.Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus as our High Priest who can empathize with our weakness because He was tempted in every way, yet without sin.“Experiencing empathy before offering empathy.”They describe a progression:Receive empathy from God.Learn to extend empathy to yourself instead of self‑hatred.Accept empathy from safe others (like brothers in recovery).Offer empathy to those you’ve hurt—especially a betrayed spouse dealing with grief and triggers.“Empathy vs. sympathy—what’s the difference?”Doug explains:Sympathy: “I feel for you. I’m sorry that happened.”Empathy: “I feel with you. I’m entering into what this feels like for you.”They talk about how many men were only taught sympathy (“I’m sorry”) but never learned how to slow down, be curious, and actually feel with another person.“You can’t give what you don’t have.”If a man has never been allowed to feel or understand his own emotions, the emotions of his wife or kids can feel scary, and he’ll tend to shut down, fix, defend, or explain instead of empathizing. JJ uses a driving example with a couple to show how a husband can move from defensiveness (“You shouldn’t be scared”) to true empathy (“I know what that kind of fear feels like, I’ve been there”).“Jesus wept—with them, not just for them.”They reflect on Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb, who already knew what He would do, but still wept with Mary and Martha in their pain—another powerful picture of God’s empathy in action.“If you’ve been condemned, don’t let that block your healing.”JJ speaks directly to men who’ve been shamed by churches, leaders, or family: don’t let their sin against you keep you from pursuing the healing and empathy God offers you now.​“Where can I learn and practice empathy?”They encourage men to lean into Scripture, safe community, and especially the Every Man’s Battle Intensive and follow‑up groups as places where they can receive empathy and practice offering it to others.​This episode ends with a teaser: there’s more to say about empathy, so the conversation continues in next week’s episode.📚 FEATURED RESOURCES NEXT STEPS:➡️ 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 (Men’s Sexual Integrity Workshop)A 3‑day, shame‑free intensive where you’ll:Receive empathy and truth from licensed Christian counselors.Connect with other men who “get it.”Begin changing both your behavior and the heart drivers beneath it.​👉 Learn more register: https://newlife.com/workshops/every-mans-battle/​➡️ 𝙎𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙜 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨Read more on sexual integrity, empathy, and healing betrayal at New Life’s Sexual Integrity blog category.👉 https://newlife.com/blog/category/sexual-integrity/​(You can pair this episode with books mentioned in Episode 1 that deepen empathy and story work, such as Sharon Hersh’s The Last Addiction, Jay Stringer’s Unwanted, and Jason Martinkus’ Worthy of Her Trust.)📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 – 𝐄𝐌𝐁 𝐏𝐎𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast content—extra questions, exercises, and follow‑up tools on empathy and recovery.👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line.​🎟 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐏 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐃𝐄New to the Every Man’s Battle Workshop? Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save on your registration fee.​❓ Submit a question or share feedback anytime:👉 Email [email protected] (put “Podcast Question” in the subject line).​☎️ Call 800-NEW-LIFE for prayer, resources, or to find a Christian counselor.👉 Every Man’s Battle Podcast hub: https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/​👉 Explore all New Life podcasts: https://newlife.com/podcasts/​#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #ChristianMen #Empathy #HealingFromPorn #RecoveryJourney #BetrayalHealing #BiblicalCompassion #ChristianCounseling #WalkInIntegrity

📻 START YOUR WEEK WITH HOPE ON 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes kick off Season 3 with a powerful conversation on what really works in sexual integrity recovery—ancient paths, clear boundaries, daily structure, brotherhood, and the “gift of getting caught.”​In this episode, they:Unpack Jeremiah 6:16 and why recovery is a path, not a quick fix.Share real-life tools that still shape their own integrity walk years into recovery.Highlight books and concepts that helped them move from secrecy and shame into freedom and community.​☎️ 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍:“Recovery isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon on an ancient path.” JJ and Doug explain why there is no magic formula—and why asking for the “good way” and walking in it is the only way to find rest for your soul.“What keeps me on the path?” Doug shares five core practices: integrity and secondary boundaries, understanding triggers, living a battle-plan routine, proactive check‑in calls, and letting trusted brothers really know and love him.“Why can’t I fix myself by myself?” JJ talks about the “gift of getting caught,” the renewal of the mind, and how both heart and brain need healing in sexual addiction recovery.“What do my porn patterns say about my story?” They discuss how the specific content a man is drawn to can point to wounds of the heart and legitimate needs he’s been trying to meet in illegitimate ways.“What if my dad—or spiritual leaders—failed me?” JJ shares how “bad kings” can still drive men toward their good Heavenly Father, and how God can re‑father the parts of a man’s heart that were never nurtured.📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?👉 Email [email protected] with “Bonus Content” in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man’s Battle Podcast resources.​🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐏 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓Never been to the Every Man’s Battle Intensive? Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save on your registration and experience a 3‑day, in‑person, shame‑free deep dive into sexual integrity and brotherhood.​📚 FEATURED RESOURCES MENTIONED BOOKS:(Consider linking these in the show notes/store as available.)𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 (3‑Day Workshop) – Tools, teaching, and brotherhood for men ready to break free from pornography, affairs, and sexual acting out.​ https://newlife.com/workshops/every-mans-battle/ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 – Sharon Hersh’s book that unpacks why you can’t fix your broken self with your broken self, and why “getting caught” can be a gift that leads to freedom. https://www.amazon.com/Last-Addiction-Recovery-Lasting-Freedom/dp/0877882037 𝙒𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙮 – Dr. William Struthers explains the brain chemistry of pornography and how God renews the mind in recovery. https://store.newlife.com/purchase/wired-for-intimacy 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 – Jason Martinkus on rebuilding trust with radical honesty and practical amends after betrayal. https://store.newlife.com/purchase/worthy-of-her-trust 𝙐𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 – Jay Stringer shows how your unwanted sexual behavior can actually map the story of your wounds and point you toward healing. https://www.amazon.com/Unwanted-Sexual-Brokenness-Reveals-Heal 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙠𝙨 – Nate Larkin on why David was restored and Samson wasn’t—and how brotherhood makes the difference. https://store.newlife.com/purchase/samson-and-the-pirate-monksing/dp/1631466720𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 – Milan Kay Yerkovich reveal how attachment styles shape intimacy and sexual acting out (featured more deeply at the Intimacy in Marriage workshop).​https://store.newlife.com/purchase/how-we-love-expanded-edition 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 – Mark Laaser’s clinical and pastoral guide to understanding sexual addiction. https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Wounds-Sexual-Addiction-Laaser/dp/0310256577

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West and Doug Barnes reflect on what they have learned through recovery and wish they could share with younger versions of themselves to spare themselves from mistakes and heartache.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss how childhood sexual abuse impacts adult behavior, emphasizing the importance of therapy and the book "The Wounded Heart" by Dan Allender. They highlight three responses to abuse and three survival styles. They explain what healing involves and how faith and therapy can work together. Additionally, they discuss how shame and unresolved trauma can contribute to sexual addiction and provide steps for healing.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West and Doug Barnes continue discussing neurobiology and neurochemistry as it relates to sexual addiction. The explain the neurochemical processes in pornography use; the progression of addiction and tolerance; the impact of pornography on the brain; and how a 90-day reset can help re-train the brain.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss the impact neurobiology and neurochemistry have on sexual addiction, emphasizing the need to balance understanding of these processes with personal responsibility for choices and behavior.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss maintaining hope and progress in recovery when their partner feels stuck. They emphasize the importance of internalizing recovery work to address character issues rather than just completing tasks, as well as being present and empathetic to their partner’s unresolved pain. They highlight the need for a supportive community of healthy men to provide accountability and encouragement in recovery.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Too many men suffer alone. The battle you fight is real, and the solution must be honest. Season 3 launches January, 2026. JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest voices bring real stories, expert counsel, and the truth that sets men free. Whether you're battling addiction, shame, relational breakdown, or simply seeking perseverance. This podcast is your next step.Explore the Everyman's Battle podcast now, and gear up for season three. Don't wait, subscribe today and join the movement. Your breakthrough starts now.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss why one's best thinking and efforts are not enough to overcome addiction, sharing that believing this lie can lead to isolation and further complications in a person’s life. They emphasize the importance of honesty, confession, repentance, community, and reliance on God's strength over one's own efforts as key factors in the recovery process.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Dr. Jim Phillis continue their conversation about talking to your kids about your sexual addiction. They share guidelines for disclosure, taking into account the maturity and gender of the child and offer encouragement that while daunting, these conversations can foster respect and demystify the topic of sexuality.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Dr. Jim Phillis share a framework for talking to your kids about your sexual addiction.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

Season 3 of The Every Man’s Battle podcast launches in January! See what’s in store here. To make sure you are caught up on Season 2 and prepare you for the next season, we’re finishing the year with episodes you need to hear—or hear again.JJ West and Doug Barnes offer insight to help clergy be well-informed and equipped to support couples navigating the betrayal and recovery process, including ways to avoid common mistakes made in counseling.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These October messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Bob Good examine forgiveness. Referencing the biblical definition, they discuss what forgiveness is and isn’t. They address misconceptions and barriers to forgiveness, emphasizing that one cannot be pressured into forgiving. The explain why full disclosure is vital to the forgiveness process.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These October messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes talk with a guest, Rick, who shares his journey from living a double life, to attending the Every Man's Battle workshop in 2012, to having a solid marriage today. Rick highlights the importance of community, accountability, sustained effort, and connection to maintaining long term recovery. Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These October messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Dr. Sam Fraser discuss common mistakes in long-term recovery from sexual integrity issues. They highlight the importance of maintaining internal motivation, avoiding complacency, the need for humility, character development and continuous growth, as well as nurturing a spiritual life. The conversation underscores the value of continuous effort and community in achieving lasting recovery.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These October messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Dr. Sam Fraser discuss long-term recovery from sexual addiction. They emphasize the importance of relational growth and character change beyond mere sobriety, highlighting the significance of actions over words, maintaining sobriety, and the role of accountability in recovery. The evolution from initial recovery to long-term recovery is discussed, noting the need for ongoing vulnerability and the support of a community.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These September messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Marc Cameron discuss the differences between men and women in sexuality, noting that these differences can lead to misunderstandings and rejection in relationships if not understood.They emphasize the importance of having vulnerable conversations and working together to build a healthy sexual and emotional relationship and offer solutions for the challenges men often have in understanding women’s needs. They also explain the impact of pornography on men's sexual responses and the importance of understanding the chemical changes in the brain.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These September messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Laura Mangin McDonald continue discussing the challenges faced by partners of individuals not engaging in recovery work for sexual integrity issues. They touch on the importance of personal healing and support systems, the grieving process, therapeutic separation, boundaries and the role of community in the healing journey.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These September messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West, Doug Barnes, and guest Laura Mangin McDonald discuss what a betrayed women should do if her man isn’t doing good recovery work. Drawing from her own betrayal experience, Laura highlights the need to set clear boundaries; to engage in a healing process independent of his; to have a support system and a trauma therapist; to know her identity in Christ; and to trust God.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These September messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes are joined by guest Laura Mangin McDonald to continue the discussion on full disclosure in the context of betrayal trauma. They discuss the emotional impact of full disclosure, noting that a trauma-trained therapist can help both parties. Common mistakes made in the disclosure process are reviewed, and they emphasize the need for the betrayed woman to have the space and community to begin healing. Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These September messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the changing seasons as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss the importance and components of full disclosure in addressing sexual integrity issues, stressing that full disclosure is a process, not an event. The need for thoroughness, humility, and rigorous honesty in disclosing past behaviors and significant life events is explained. They share the significance of impact statements from the offended party as well as men's letters as the offender detailing repair actions. They warn of mistakes to avoid and address the importance of professional guidance, adequate care for the offended party, and the potential need for polygraphs.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss the challenges of maintaining sexual integrity while single. The importance of developing an internal conscience and having a supportive community is explained. They highlight the need for singles to understand and embrace their sexuality as good, contrary to the negative messages from the purity culture. The significance of parents having open, non-shaming conversations early on with their children about sexuality is also stressed.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss the unique challenges of maintaining sexual integrity in full-time ministry. The increased scrutiny and higher standards placed on religious leaders can lead to feelings of isolation and vulnerability. Having community and accountability are paramount, and they urge ministers to seek support and not attempt to fight their battles alone. They provide practical advice and stress the necessity for ministers to address their own struggles before offering help to their congregations.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss the biblical concepts of kindness and godly sorrow as pathways to repentance. They assert that self-condemnation and shame do not lead to true repentance, as these behaviors lack a fundamental change in behavior and thought. However, kindness that reflects God's nature invites repentance, and godly sorrow - a broken-heartedness over sin - will lead to lasting change. They explain the importance of community, prayer, and gentle restoration in the healing process.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

In this bonus episode with a special offer, JJ West and Doug Barnes provide your next step for breaking through recurring arguments that lead nowhere. Identifying and repairing your injured communication style, slowing the conversation down, and feeling your emotions are methods taught at the Intimacy in Marriage workshop that lead to the authentic, healing, and intimate conversations that foster connection. Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes continue their discussion on measuring recovery success. The conversation underscores the integration of inner work with outward behaviors for effective recovery, advocating for a balanced approach that includes both tangible actions and intangible character development. They emphasize the importance of time, believable trust-building behaviors, and the sanctification of one's character. They highlight the necessity of understanding emotions, managing wounds, and handling triggers, stressing the need for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and addressing past wounds.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss ways of measuring success when in recovery for sexual integrity issues. They emphasize the importance of balancing tangible actions like step work, therapy, and accountability with intangible heart changes. They caution against viewing recovery as a task list and stress the need for practical application and collaboration with a support team, underscoring the value of one-on-one accountability and the importance of inviting others into one's recovery journey.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.Men who are acting out often think the worst thing possible would be for others to find out. J.J. West and Doug Barnes discuss why that is actually the best thing that could happen. They address the fears that keep men stuck from revealing their true selves and how it perpetuates the cycle of acting out. They explain how freedom comes from sharing your story and being fully known and accepted.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.J.J. West and Doug Barnes continue the discussion on why it’s important to continue fighting for your sexual integrity, even when you are struggling, with the reminder that recovery is a process and not an outcome. Breaking free from outcome related thinking helps address acting in behaviors and keeps you in the fight so your legacy can be of a man who, with God’s help, changed things for himself and those around him.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

These Summer messages are re-broadcasts from our most popular, relevant, and helpful messages that are worth listening to again to stay focused and strong over the Summer as you continue fighting Every Man’s Battle.J.J. West and Doug Barnes discuss why it is important to continue fighting for your sexual integrity, even when you don’t feel like it and you’re struggling or failing. The struggle is a process, not an outcome, and they encourage listeners to consider that the fight is for your heart; your character; your spouse and her heart; your family; and how you think about things. The confidence that others benefit when you do the hard work can serve as fuel to continue the fight.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

JJ West and Doug Barnes reflect on what they have learned through recovery and wish they could share with younger versions of themselves to spare themselves from mistakes and heartache.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

JJ West and Doug Barnes discuss how childhood sexual abuse impacts adult behavior, emphasizing the importance of therapy and the book "The Wounded Heart" by Dan Allender. They highlight three responses to abuse and three survival styles. They explain what healing involves and how faith and therapy can work together. Additionally, they discuss how shame and unresolved trauma can contribute to sexual addiction and provide steps for healing.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.

JJ West and Doug Barnes continue discussing neurobiology and neurochemistry as it relates to sexual addiction. The explain the neurochemical processes in pornography use; the progression of addiction and tolerance; the impact of pornography on the brain; and how a 90-day reset can help re-train the brain.Have a topic you would like to hear? Email us at [email protected] and let us know. Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. Learn more about integrity here.