Pure Desire Podcast

If you've ever been taught that your body is the problem, or looked in the mirror with shame and wondered how you could ever be free from porn, this conversation is for you. Nick Stumbo and Mike Maxwell talk with Dr. Christopher West, author, speaker, and co-founder of the Theology of the Body Institute, who has spent more than 30 years teaching what Scripture says about our bodies and our sexuality. Dr. West grew up hearing that desire is something to repress, then swung toward what the culture promises. He explains why neither one satisfies, and what the Bible offers instead. Along the way, you'll hear why Christianity does not treat the body as a prison, the difference between our sinful nature and the body God made, why shame about our bodies can quietly fuel porn use, and why porn addiction recovery is not won by white knuckling and trying harder. Dr. West speaks plainly about the body and sexuality, and the conversation moves quickly, so give yourself room to listen twice. You do not need to be Catholic to benefit from it. If you're in your first year of recovery, hold on to the heart of it: freedom is real, and it begins when we bring our weakness into the light of Jesus' mercy. If you're ready for support, find a Pure Desire group at https://puredesire.org/groups or talk with a clinician at puredesire.org/counseling. You are not alone.

Can the Bible be used in ways that actually cause harm? In this episode, Neil Schori and Tabitha Westbrook join us to unpack some of the most commonly misused passages about sex, marriage, submission, forgiveness, and abuse. We talk about what these verses mean in context, how Scripture can be weaponized in unhealthy relationships, and how to recognize coercion, establish healthy boundaries, and pursue healing. If you’ve ever wrestled with where biblical submission ends and control begins, whether forgiveness means reconciliation, or how Christians should respond to abuse, this conversation offers a thoughtful path forward.