In this episode of the Free From Porn Podcast, Justin and Richard kick things off with a hilarious question: “What’s the manliest thing you’ve ever done?” What starts as jokes about peeing standing up and awkward gym compliments quickly turns into a story that nearly ends in disaster—Richard almost drowning at a Hawaiian beach because he fought the waves instead of letting himself float.

But that moment becomes the doorway into a much deeper conversation about white-knuckling, rumination, anxiety, and why so many men exhaust themselves trying to “fight the waves” of life, urges, or stress.

Justin breaks down the real meaning of Philippians 4:13 (hint: it’s not about doing backflips for Jesus), and together they unpack why:

• Most people aren’t sinning because they’re evil—they’re medicating because they’re overwhelmed.
• Trying to out-think your anxieties only drags you deeper into the rip current.
• Freedom isn’t found in controlling the waves—it’s found in learning to float.

If you’ve ever felt like life is “lifeing,” like you're trying to fix circumstances you can’t fix, or like your urges spike the moment stress rises, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.

You don’t need more force.
You don’t need more self-hatred.
You don’t need to swim harder.

You need to learn the art of endurance, peace, and floating with Jesus in the middle of the waves.

This episode will show you how.

Tune in now.

In this episode of the Free From Porn Podcast, Richard Young unpacks one of the most counterintuitive truths about freedom — that trying harder often makes things worse. Drawing from psychology and Scripture, Richard explains the “law of reversed effort,” showing how willpower alone can reinforce the very habits you’re trying to break.

You’ll learn why striving, white-knuckling, and obsessing over sin only deepen the struggle — and how true transformation happens when you relax into grace.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that your best efforts still lead to failure, this episode will help you understand why. You’ll see that freedom isn’t found in more effort — it’s found in changing the picture you hold of yourself.

Key themes:

• Why trying harder reinforces bad habits
• The law of reversed effort and imagination vs. will
• How identity in Christ rewires your behavior from the inside out
• The power of relaxing into grace instead of striving for freedom

Listen now to discover how to stop fighting for freedom and start living from it.

What happens when freedom turns into permission? In this raw and hilarious episode, Richard and Justin unpack how a single conversation years ago threw Richard off course and why it’s so easy to swing between guilt and license when you’re learning to live free from p*rn.

From a wild story about a dad discovering his son’s “Free From P*rn” charge on the family bank statement to a deep dive into Galatians 5 and 2 Peter 1, the guys reveal how comparison, immaturity, and misplaced focus can subtly sabotage real freedom.

This episode is for anyone who’s tried to escape shame, only to drift into apathy. You’ll discover the middle ground where grace empowers growth, not excuses, and learn why your freedom is secure even as you practice self-control.

Listen if you’ve ever thought:
“If I’m free, why do I still fall?”
“Is grace just letting me off the hook?”
“How do I stay out of guilt and complacency?”

Have you ever noticed that the moment you start doing something new, stressful, or outside your comfort zone, the urges to look at prn suddenly show up again? In this honest and vulnerable episode, Richard opens up about why launching the Free From Prn coaching program actually increased his urges. Joined by Justin Khoe, they unpack why stress often becomes a hidden trigger and how to process it without escaping.

Together they explore:
• Why p*rn isn’t the problem, it’s the solution you’ve been using
• How stress and new challenges can surface old habits
• The biblical path to regulating emotions without shame
• What Philippians 4 teaches about anxiety, prayer, and peace
• A simple, powerful breathing practice that calms your body and centers your heart in Christ

This episode will remind you that stress isn’t your enemy—it’s an invitation to slow down, breathe, and experience the peace of God that guards your heart and mind.

Listen now to discover how freedom looks even in moments of pressure.

Most people would rather hide than admit they’re struggling with porn—but what if talking about it is the very thing that breaks its power?

In this episode of the Free From Porn Podcast, Justin and Richard get real about embarrassment—why we feel it, how it keeps us stuck, and what happens when we finally stop pretending. Joined by their friend David Hunte, who battled porn for over 40 years, they unpack the role of shame, identity, and community in finding lasting freedom.

David shares how understanding who he is in Christ—and learning to take thoughts captive—transformed decades of secrecy into a testimony of freedom. From “trying harder” to “standing fast in liberty,” this conversation will help you see that your struggle doesn’t define you, and you don’t have to hide anymore.

🎧 In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why talking about your porn struggle isn’t embarrassing—it’s freeing
• How guilt, shame, and condemnation keep you silent (and stuck)
• The identity shift that ends the cycle for good
• Why community and confession are crucial to walking in victory
• How to renew your mind when temptation hits

If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t talk about this”—this episode is your permission to stop hiding. Freedom starts with honesty.

We kept the awkward cold open on purpose—because today’s conversation starts messy and turns miraculous. Justin is back after an emergency C-section and a week in the NICU with baby Ezekiel (“Zeke”). Out of that whirlwind, he shares a gospel reframing that changes how you think about sin, shame, and why white-knuckling never sets you free.

Richard and Justin unpack Romans 5 and Titus 2 through a powerful NICU analogy: sin isn’t a slap-on-the-wrist for “spilling the milk”—it’s a condition you were born into. Separation from God isn’t Him arms-crossed at the door; it’s a Father whose heart breaks while He moves heaven and earth to bring you home. The punchline? Your first and most powerful prayer isn’t “I’ll try harder.” It’s one word: “Thank You.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why behavior-first strategies keep you stuck—and what identity-first freedom looks like
• How Romans 5 reframes sin as condition, not condemnation (and why that matters for p*rn)
• The one-word prayer that ends the shame spiral and jump-starts real transformation
• How grace actually trains you (Titus 2) to say no to ungodliness without hating yourself
• A simple way to practice gratitude that rewires your reactions in the heat of temptation

Real freedom starts when truth leaves your lips. In this episode, Richard unpacks radical honesty—why saying the real thing out loud (to safe, gospel-anchored people) exposes the lie beneath a porn habit and opens the door to healing. You’ll hear how confession isn’t shame—it’s surgery—and why many of us only realize what’s true as we say it.

In this episode you’ll learn

• Why isolation keeps the cycle alive—and how honest confession snaps it.
• How the kind of porn you’re drawn to can reveal an unmet need or hidden lie.
• A simple framework to practice honesty inside trusted community (without self-condemnation).
• What scripture actually invites us into: confession → healing → renewed identity (James 5:16; 1 John 4:7–8).
• A guided prayer to help you speak truth and receive grace—today.

Most people lump m*sturbation and p*rn into one bucket, then stack on rules until the bowstring snaps—and the binge follows. In this episode, Richard Young takes a grace-first look at desire, self-control, and what God actually calls sin. Spoiler: the real issue is objectifying people for selfish ends—not a moment of physical release.

Drawing from a conversation with caring parents, Richard unpacks how shame around sexuality can prime the cycle of escape and numbing—and how lowering the stakes helps many step out of compulsion. You’ll learn:

• How to separate p*rn-driven fantasy from simple physiology
• Why “more rules” often intensify rebounds (and what to do instead)
• A practical, shame-free way to coach yourself—or your kids—toward healthy sexuality
• How stress and anxiety fuel the escape loop, plus a prayerful path to peace

If you’re tired of white-knuckling and ready for clear-conscience living, this conversation will help you trade shame for wisdom and walk in real freedom.

P.S. Keep Justin and Emily in your prayers as they welcome baby #2!