Religion & SpiritualityChristianityEducationSelf-ImprovementHealth & FitnessSexuality

Pure Desire Podcast

Pure Desire Ministries

Your biblically based and clinically informed approach to breaking free from compulsive sexual behavior and healing from betrayal.

Play

Open in

29 episodes
weekly
Avg 55 min
English

Episodes 29

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

#484
October 27 · 51 min
484 - Why Do I Still Struggle With Porn? | Dr. Jake Porter
If you’ve ever felt a wave of temptation and thought, what is wrong with me, this conversation will change how you see your struggle. Nick Stumbo and Mike Maxwell talk with Dr. Jake Porter, founder of Daring Ventures and creator of Couple-Centered Recovery, and Dr. Windell Gill, a former pastor and crisis chaplain with more than 30 years of experience helping people grow through relationships, ministry, and recovery. Together they ask a question many people in porn addiction recovery are afraid
#483
October 13 · 52 min
483 - Why White Knuckling Porn Recovery Fails
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 cultur
#482
September 29 · 50 min
482 - What We Can Learn From a Catholic Priest About Addiction
In this episode we sit down for a conversation with Archbishop Joseph Naumann. Together, we explore the cultural roots of pornography addiction, its impact on youth and marriages, and why the church must break its silence to offer real healing.
#481
September 22 · 53 min
481 - Misusing Scripture in Recovery w/ Tabitha Westbrook & Neil Schori
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, whe
#480
September 15 · 47 min
480 - How To Improve Your Sex Life How To Improve Your Sex Life w/ Cliff & Joyce Penner
Many couples desire deeper intimacy but struggle with shame, silence, or confusion around sexuality. When faith and sexuality become disconnected, it can impact connection with God, ourselves, and our spouse. In this episode, Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner explore how couples can reconnect spirituality and sexuality in a healthy, life-giving way. We discuss honest conversations about intimacy, healing after addiction and betrayal, and overcoming barriers that keep couples from experiencing conne
#479
September 8 · 46 min
479 - Communicating Desire to My Spouse w/ Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn
Many couples long for deeper intimacy but struggle to talk openly about sex, desire, and connection. Avoided conversations can create distance, misunderstanding, and loneliness, even in marriages built on love and faith. In this episode, Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn share insights from The Marriage Intimacy Project and explore what research reveals about sexual health in marriage. We discuss desire differences, honest communication, and why intimacy requires both biblical wisdom and practical unde
#478
September 1 · 51 min
478 - Telling My Future Spouse My Story
Many young adults wonder if their past struggles will prevent them from experiencing healthy, lasting relationships. Shame, secrecy, and fear of rejection can make honest conversations about sexuality feel impossible. In this episode, John and Haley Begeman share their journey of recovery, dating, and building trust through courageous conversations about sexual brokenness. They explore the importance of honesty before marriage, how to approach disclosure with wisdom, and why healing happens thr
#477
August 25 · 51 min
477 - Healthy Sexuality for Married Couples
Many couples enter marriage with love, faith, and commitment but still feel unprepared for the realities of sexual intimacy. Unrealistic expectations, cultural messages, and a lack of understanding can leave couples disconnected and unsure how to build a healthy sexual relationship. In this episode, Dr. Chris and Alisa Grace explore what it takes to cultivate sexual wholeness in marriage. We discuss desire, communication, intimacy, and the seasons of marriage, offering practical wisdom for coup
#476
August 18 · 44 min
476 - Identifying The Pattern of Relapse
Many people feel defeated when old patterns return, wondering why they keep struggling despite their desire to change. But relapse is not just a failure. It can reveal patterns that need to be understood and healed. In this episode, Robert Vander Meer explores how lasting transformation comes through renewing the mind, understanding the relapse cycle, and embracing our identity in Christ. We discuss warning signs, the danger of isolation, and the power of authentic community, guardrails, and sp
#475
August 11 · 47 min
475 - Establishing Strong Guardrails
Good intentions aren’t always enough to overcome temptation, rebuild trust, or create lasting change. Without healthy boundaries, many people remain vulnerable to secrecy, compromise, and repeated patterns of hurt. In this episode, Brent Breining explains how guardrails are not about punishment, but protection: a reflection of God’s desire for freedom and healing. We explore how to identify personal “hot spots,” establish meaningful boundaries, and build rhythms of accountability, confession, a
#474
August 4 · 52 min
474 - Learning How To Break Through Denial
Secrecy and denial can quietly erode trust, intimacy, and connection in a marriage. But healing begins when what has been hidden is brought into the light with honesty, humility, and courage. In this episode, Tyler Chinchen explores what true repentance looks like beyond simply admitting wrongs. We discuss the difference between disclosure that harms and honesty that heals, the fruits of genuine change, and how couples can move toward safety and restoration. Through community, accountability, a
#473
July 28 · 56 min
473 - The Soul of Shame w/ Dr. Curt Thompson
Shame has a way of convincing us to hide, disconnect, and believe we are alone. Yet beneath every struggle is a deeper longing: to be fully known and loved. In this episode, Dr. Curt Thompson explores how shame impacts our ability to connect, heal, and live fully through the lens of Scripture, neuroscience, and attachment theory. Together, we explore how God’s presence and the power of community restore what shame has fractured. This conversation invites us to move from hiding to being seen, kn
#472
July 21 · 38 min
472 - Recovery Can’t Happen Alone | Summit Roundtable
Recovery can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to rebuild after addiction, betrayal, broken trust, or deep personal pain. But healing was never meant to happen alone. In this Summit Roundtable, Nick Stumbo, Ashley Jameson, and Heather Kolb explore the heart behind Pure Desire Summit 2026: Rise & Rebuild, inspired by Nehemiah 2:18. They share how this theme reflects every healing journey and offer a preview of the hope, connection, and transformation waiting at Summit. Whether attending in pe
#471
July 14 · 51 min
471 - Healing From The Betrayal Bind w/ Michelle Mays
When trust is broken, the impact reaches far beyond the relationship; it can affect the mind, body, and soul. Many partners navigating betrayal trauma feel confused, overwhelmed, and unsure how healing is possible. In this episode, Michelle Mays joins us to unpack the betrayal bind and help us understand the unique wounds created by relational rupture. Together, we explore how attachment, safety, and connection shape the healing journey. With compassion and hope, Michelle offers a pathway toward
#470
July 7 · 51 min
470 - Why Your View of Sex is Damaged w/ Sean McDowell
In this episode, Dr. Sean McDowell unpacks why so many Christians feel stuck in compulsive sexual behaviors and how cultural messages often shape our understanding of sexuality more than Scripture. He explores common deceptions believers adopt about their bodies, identity, and desire, and why sexuality is often disconnected from faith. Together, we discuss how to reintegrate sexuality into a holistic, biblical worldview, highlighting key Scriptures that ground God’s design. Dr. Sean also offers
#469
June 30 · 1 hr 5 min
469 - How Spiritual Disciplines Can Porn-Proof Your Life
In today’s episode, we welcome Alan Hlavka for his first appearance and invite him to share a bit of his story and heart for recovery. Together, we explore how spiritual disciplines can serve as a powerful safeguard against pornography use and compulsive sexual behaviors—and why they’re about far more than willpower or religious routine. Alan shares real-life examples of transformation rooted in spiritual practices and offers encouragement for those who struggle with consistency, structure, or d
#468
June 23 · 1 hr
468 - Recognizing The Lies We Believe w/ Sam Jolman
In today’s episode, we explore how our sexual behaviors are shaped long before any crisis moment—and why engaging our personal story of sexual formation is essential for lasting freedom. Our guest, Sam Jolman, challenges the belief that desire is dangerous, revealing how shame, purity culture, and distorted messages about the body often fuel the very behaviors we’re trying to escape. We unpack the difference between natural attraction and consuming lust, and how learning to receive arousal wit
#467
June 16 · 1 hr 8 min
467 - What is Godly Sexuality? W/ Joshua Broome
In this episode, we dive into the connection between faith, identity, and sexuality, exploring why separating sex from our life in Christ can lead to confusion, brokenness, and misplaced identity. With guest, Joshua Broome, we discuss how today’s western culture often defines worth through sexual appeal, activity, and acceptance, while God offers a radically different vision rooted in dignity, covenant, and purpose. You’ll hear why sexual objectification distorts how we see both ourselves and
#466
June 9 · 59 min
466 - Building Emotional Stability & Resilience
In this episode of the Pure Desire Podcast, we dive into the essential topic of emotional stability and its role in recovery, relationships, and personal growth. We explore how to assess whether we are managing our emotions or being managed by them, and why there are no inherently “good” or “bad” emotions. Emotions are powerful indicators of deeper realities and can reveal patterns that lead to relapse if left unchecked. Our guest, Heather Kolb, shares practical strategies for slowing down, an
#465
June 2 · 1 hr 3 min
465 - Developing Pain Tolerance w/ Matthew & Joanna Raabsmith
In today’s episode, we explore what it truly means to pursue a “porn-proof life” from a Christian perspective—beyond willpower, rules, or fear-based accountability. We discuss why many Christians turn to pornography or other compulsive behaviors in moments of pain, stress, or loneliness, and how these coping mechanisms distort God’s design for comfort, connection, and desire. Our guests, Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith, offer practical guidance for recognizing the root trauma or past pain driving

Showing 1–20 of 29 episodes