Explore every episode of the podcast Unhooked: Breaking Porn Addiction Podcast

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This week, I'm bringing back one of my favorite episodes because its message is just as relevant today as when I first recorded it.

Have you ever tried to quit porn, made progress for a few days or weeks, and then found yourself right back where you started?

Maybe you've promised yourself you'll never watch it again. Maybe you've tried relying on willpower, avoiding anything that triggers you, or being harder on yourself every time you slip up.

But what if some of those approaches are actually making recovery more difficult?

In this rebroadcast of Unhooked, I'm revisiting eight of the most common mistakes I see people make when trying to break free from porn addiction.

The idea for this episode actually came to me at a climbing gym in Amsterdam. I was helping a friend who was new to climbing, pointing out a few beginner mistakes that were making the climb unnecessarily difficult.

It got me thinking about recovery.

Just like climbing, breaking free from porn isn't only about trying harder. Sometimes, the biggest difference comes from recognizing what isn't working and learning a better way forward.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why treating sexual desire as something shameful can reinforce the very cycle you're trying to escape
• How to experience cravings and uncomfortable emotions without suppressing them or automatically acting on them
• Why building supportive environments, meaningful relationships, and healthier routines is more sustainable than relying on willpower alone
• How to recognize the deeper emotional needs that porn may be helping you avoid, so you don't simply replace one compulsive habit with another
• Why setbacks don't have to erase your progress, and how vulnerability, support, and accountability can help you get back on track

One of the most important lessons I've learned is that recovery isn't about becoming someone who never struggles.

It's about learning to respond differently when challenges arise, becoming more honest with yourself, and building a life you no longer feel the need to escape from.

If you've been trying to quit porn but keep finding yourself stuck in the same patterns, this episode will help you recognize what might be getting in your way.

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps

00:00 Why Relapse Doesn't Mean Failure

00:55 Introducing the Rebroadcast and Free Slip Reset

02:37 The Rock Climbing Lesson Behind These 8 Mistakes

04:54 Mistake 1: Thinking Watching Porn Makes You a Bad Person

07:12 Mistake 2: Repressing Your Emotions and Urges

08:13 Mistake 3: Relying on Willpower Alone

09:03 Mistake 4: Looking for a Quick Fix

10:21 Mistake 5: Underestimating the Harm Porn Is Causing

12:11 Mistake 6: Ignoring the Root Cause of Addiction

14:08 Mistake 7: Beating Yourself Up After Relapse

15:28 Mistake 8: Trying to Recover Without Support

17:51 Getting Help and Building Accountability

18:31 Final Thoughts on Breaking Free From Porn

18:57 Closing Message

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

Learn more about Unhooked Academy: https://unhookedacademy.com

What happens when you finally quit porn, but the shame, secrecy, and distance in your relationship are still there?

For many men, quitting porn feels like the finish line. Stop watching, stay consistent, and everything else should eventually fall into place.

But I've seen how much more complicated recovery can be.

Porn often becomes a way to escape uncomfortable feelings. Stress, loneliness, insecurity, or simply not wanting to deal with what's happening in our lives. And when that habit starts affecting a relationship, the consequences don't necessarily disappear just because the behavior stops.

In this special reshare from Relationship Renovation, I join couples therapists Tarah and EJ Kerwin to explore what genuine recovery looks like, especially when trust and intimacy have been affected.

We talk about why porn use can become compulsive, what keeps people trapped in cycles of shame, and how to begin making changes that go deeper than maintaining a streak.

In this episode, we explore:

• How to recognize when porn use has moved beyond occasional pleasure and become a way of avoiding difficult emotions
• Why constant novelty and unrealistic sexual expectations can create challenges with attraction and intimacy in real relationships
• How to use the RAIN mindfulness practice to recognize cravings, allow uncomfortable feelings, investigate what's underneath them, and respond with greater self-compassion
• Why couples need honest conversations about boundaries and broken agreements rather than assuming they share the same expectations around pornography
• How accountability and emotional awareness help rebuild self-respect while creating space for healthier relationships

One of the most important things I've learned is that recovery isn't just about what you stop doing. It's about how you learn to show up for yourself and the people you care about.

If you've been working hard to quit porn but still feel stuck in the same emotional patterns, I hope this conversation helps you see what the next part of recovery can look like.

Timestamps

00:00 Opening: Understanding Porn Addiction

01:20 Jeremy Introduces the Relationship Renovation Reshare

03:23 Unhooked Podcast Introduction

04:03 Relationship Renovation Introduces the Conversation

05:59 Jeremy's Personal Experience With Porn Addiction

06:57 Recognizing the Impact of Porn

07:56 How Porn Affects Attraction and Intimacy

11:14 When Does Porn Use Become an Addiction?

13:23 The Wake-Up Call That Changed Jeremy's Life

16:03 Discovering Mindfulness and Buddhist Philosophy

18:41 Why Porn Is Often an Emotional Coping Mechanism

21:24 The Accessibility of Porn and Its Effects on Relationships

25:00 Shame, Secrecy, and the Addiction Cycle

29:10 How Meditation Helps You Regain Control

31:53 Why Sobriety Isn't the Same as Recovery

33:03 Understanding Your Default Future

38:11 Introducing the RAIN Mindfulness Practice

39:13 Using RAIN to Work With Cravings

41:20 Getting on the Same Page With Your Partner

42:58 Why Recovery Must Be Your Own Choice

43:23 The Unexpected Benefits of Quitting Porn

45:49 Advice for Men and Their Partners

46:23 Finding Support Without Shame

47:38 Why Your Partner's Porn Use Isn't Necessarily About You

50:47 Why Opening Up Gets Easier With Practice

51:24 Where to Find Jeremy and Unhooked Academy

52:48 Jeremy's Closing Message

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

Learn more about Unhooked Academy: https://unhookedacademy.com

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

What if the freedom you're looking for isn't just about quitting porn, but reaching a point where you no longer feel the need to turn to it?

For years, I was chasing happiness in all the places I thought I was supposed to find it. Success, relationships, sex, pleasure. On the outside, things seemed to be going well. But privately, I was struggling with porn addiction and a growing sense that something was missing.

I remember reaching a point in college when I started questioning everything. If I was getting the things I wanted, why wasn't I happy? And if I kept living this way, would I ever be?

That question eventually led me to meditation, Buddhist philosophy, and a completely different understanding of what it means to live a fulfilling life.

In this special reshare from Thriving with Addiction, I join host Dr. John Avery to talk about that journey, the role shame played in keeping my struggles hidden, and what I've learned about genuine freedom in recovery.

In this episode, we explore:

• How early experiences of sexual shame can teach us to hide behaviors rather than understand them, creating patterns that follow us into adulthood
• Why addressing the underlying craving for relief matters more than focusing exclusively on porn or any single addictive behavior
• What years of silent meditation retreats taught me about experiencing uncomfortable emotions without immediately escaping them
• Why finding a nonjudgmental community can be more effective than relying on motivation alone, especially when the initial excitement of quitting wears off
• What Buddhists call the bliss of blamelessness, and why living without secrecy can bring a deeper sense of peace than simply maintaining a streak

One of the most encouraging things I've experienced is that recovery doesn't have to feel like an endless fight. With time and practice, the urges that once seemed impossible to resist can become less frequent and easier to navigate.

If you're somewhere on that journey, I hope this conversation reminds you that there's more to recovery than just stopping a behavior. There's an entire life waiting to be lived.

Timestamps

00:00 Opening: How Shame and Addiction Begin

01:15 Introducing the Conversation With Dr. John Avery

02:20 The Unhooked App

03:14 Unhooked Podcast Introduction

03:53 Dr. John Avery Introduces Jeremy

04:35 Jeremy's Life in Thailand

05:21 How My Porn Addiction Started

07:06 Why Porn Became an Emotional Escape

09:00 Sexual Shame and Mixed Messages

10:11 Understanding the Root of Addiction

11:33 The Moment I Questioned My Happiness

13:17 How Buddhist Philosophy Changed My Perspective

15:23 Silent Retreats and Becoming a Buddhist Monk

17:33 Learning to Work With Cravings

19:47 Breaking the Silence Around Porn Addiction

21:54 The First Time I Publicly Shared My Story

24:30 Talking About Pornography and Children

26:16 Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation

27:53 Rebuilding Relationships and Intimacy

29:15 Why Community Matters in Recovery

31:39 The Unexpected Benefits of Quitting Porn

34:15 Inside Unhooked Academy

35:05 Why Shame Keeps Addiction Alive

36:24 Closing Thoughts

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

Learn more about Unhooked Academy: https://unhookedacademy.com

This conversation originally aired on Thriving with Addiction.

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

This week, I'm bringing back one of my favorite episodes because its message is just as relevant today as when I first recorded it.

You've decided to quit porn. You're feeling motivated, you've set your goals, and you're ready to change. But then an urge hits, and suddenly all that determination feels a lot harder to hold on to.

What do you actually do in that moment?

In this rebroadcast of Unhooked, I break down eight practical strategies for dealing with cravings, including how to make urges less likely to arise and what to do when they show up anyway.

One of the biggest mistakes people make in recovery is relying entirely on willpower. But lasting change isn't about fighting every urge that comes your way. It's about creating an environment that supports your goals while developing the ability to experience cravings without automatically acting on them.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to identify your personal triggers and change the routines that keep pulling you back toward porn
• Why simple changes to your environment, including where you keep your phone, can make recovery easier
• How mindfulness creates space between experiencing an urge and choosing what to do next
• What urge surfing is and how to practice it without fighting or suppressing your cravings
• When to use physical movement, cold showers, or support from another person to get through a difficult moment

The goal isn't to spend the rest of your life avoiding temptation. It's to build the freedom to choose how you respond, even when an urge is strong.

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

Learn more about Unhooked Academy: https://unhookedacademy.com

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

What happens when something you turn to for pleasure slowly starts shaping the way you see yourself, your relationships, and the world around you?

In this reshare from Wake Up with Marci, I sit down with Marci Hopkins to share a part of my own story that changed the direction of my life.

On the outside, things were going well. I had good grades, friends, and plenty of opportunities ahead of me. But privately, I was struggling with porn addiction, constantly chasing pleasure, and becoming increasingly dissatisfied with what I already had.

Then one day, walking down the street in my early twenties, I had a realization that scared me. I could suddenly see the kind of man I was becoming, and I knew I didn't want that future.

That moment led me to question everything I thought I knew about happiness, fulfillment, and what it actually means to be free.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why porn can be especially difficult to quit, including the three factors that make it so accessible and habit-forming
• How to recognize the difference between toxic shame that keeps you hiding and healthy remorse that helps you change
• What I learned about happiness and neuroplasticity through Buddhist philosophy, and how it changed my approach to recovery
• Why trying to empty your mind during meditation can actually reinforce self-judgment, and what to practice instead
• What partners often misunderstand about porn addiction, and why understanding the behavior doesn't mean excusing the harm it causes

If you've ever wondered why changing a behavior can feel so difficult, or why getting what you want doesn't always make you happy, I think you'll find something valuable in this conversation.

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Jeremy's Story: When Porn Addiction Became a Problem

03:32 Welcome to Wake Up with Marci

05:36 How Jeremy's Porn Addiction Started

08:00 When Porn Began Taking Over His Mind

10:00 The Moment Jeremy Saw Where His Addiction Was Taking Him

12:16 Porn, Alcohol, and Other Forms of Escape16:52 How Porn Changed the Way Jeremy Viewed Women

20:06 When Does Porn Become a Problem?

22:29 The Three A's of Porn Addiction

24:32 Why Porn Can Be So Difficult to Quit

25:45 Understanding the Shame Cycle

29:22 Healthy Shame vs. Toxic Shame

31:27 Moral Shame and Moral Dread

33:19 Trauma, Insecurity, and Filling the Void

35:58 Searching for a Different Kind of Happiness

38:25 How Buddhism and Neuroplasticity Changed Jeremy's Life

41:22 Mindfulness, Meditation, and Recovery

43:51 Meditation as a Gym for the Mind

46:18 Why Meditation Isn't About Clearing Your Mind

47:13 Recovery Is More Than Sobriety

49:10 How to Practice Mindfulness in Everyday Life

52:16 How to Start Meditating

53:03 Building a Practice of Gratitude

55:34 What Partners of Porn Addicts Need to Know

57:35 Porn Addiction as a Coping Mechanism

58:31 Where to Find Jeremy

59:06 You're Not Alone

01:01:29 Jeremy's Closing Message

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

In this episode of Unhooked, I sit down with Ben Brown, host of The Shift podcast, to talk about his journey from years of compulsive sex, porn, validation-seeking, alcohol, and drugs into a life of recovery, purpose, and transformation.

Ben shares what his life looked like before recovery, including the constant pursuit of women, escalating porn use, partying, and the feeling that he was becoming someone he thought he needed to be.

We talk about the moments that finally made him realize something wasn't right, including a chance encounter with a stranger who told him how sex addiction had destroyed his life, and the experience that finally pushed Ben to walk into a recovery room.

We also get into what actually helped him change: community, mentors, faith, willpower, small daily habits, and finding something meaningful to put his energy into.

And Ben shares one of the biggest lessons from his recovery: you are not exempt. No matter how much shame you carry or how far gone you think you are, you can still change your life.

In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why addiction can become a way of escaping discomfort and seeking validation
- What finally pushed Ben to seek recovery after years of compulsive behavior
- Why willpower can help in the early stages but isn't enough for long-term recovery
- How small daily wins can build momentum and create lasting change
- Why finding a “mountain to climb” can help redirect sexual and creative energy into something meaningful

Recovery doesn't happen all at once. Sometimes it starts with one small decision, one mentor, one meeting, or simply taking the first step.

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

Connect with Ben

Ben Brown / The Shift Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-a-podcast-with-ben-brown/id1887649490

Instagram: @benbrown3000 https://www.instagram.com/benbrown3000/

YouTube: The Shift Podcast with Ben Brown https://www.youtube.com/@theshiftpodcastwithbenbrown

Website: The Shift with Ben Brown https://www.theshiftwithbenbrown.com/

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

What if stopping porn isn't actually the thing that creates lasting recovery?

In this episode of Unhooked, I’m resharing a conversation I had on Sam’s Healing Podcast about porn addiction, recovery, and what it really takes to build lasting freedom.

We talk about why porn itself is often not the underlying problem, but instead a way of escaping uncomfortable emotions, stress, loneliness, boredom, insecurity, or other difficult experiences. I also explain why simply chasing a streak or practicing sobriety without doing the deeper inner work can leave the underlying issues untouched.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Why sobriety alone isn't the same as recovery and why the underlying reasons behind the behavior matter
- How porn can become a coping mechanism for stress, loneliness, boredom, insecurity, and other uncomfortable emotions
- Why I describe meditation as strength training for the mind and how it can help build greater awareness and self-control
- How the Reset → Rewire → Rebuild → Restore framework supports lasting transformation
- Why learning to sit with discomfort instead of escaping it is an essential part of creating real freedom

If you're early in recovery and looking for a clear, grounded overview of what this work actually involves, this is a good place to start.

Ready to start your recovery?

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

Timestamps:

00:00 Why Sobriety Isn’t Recovery

02:59 Welcome to Unhooked

03:37 Introducing Jeremy and Unhooked

04:47 Why I Created Unhooked

06:02 Why Do We Get Hooked on Porn?

09:05 Why Sobriety Alone Isn’t Enough

11:09 Cross-Addictions and Replacing Unhealthy Habits

12:29 Meditation as Strength Training for the Mind

15:23 Different Types of Meditation

17:01 How to Let Go of the Performance Mindset

18:22 Why a Structured Meditation Practice Matters

20:04 The Four Phases of Recovery

21:28 Reset: Getting Clear on Where You’re Going

23:32 Rewire: Using Neuroplasticity for Change

25:04 Rebuild: Changing Your Environment and Habits

26:59 Restore: Building a Life of Fulfillment

28:42 Solitude vs. Isolation

30:14 Why We Run From Unpleasant Experiences

31:56 Learning to Sit With Discomfort

32:56 Why You Have to Take Ownership of Your Recovery

34:21 Can You Really Break Free?

36:27 Where to Learn More About Unhooked

37:21 Sam’s Closing Thoughts

37:56 Final Thoughts

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

What does it actually take to heal after infidelity, and why does defensiveness make rebuilding trust so difficult?

In this episode of Unhooked, I sit down with Sam from Sam's Healing Podcast to talk about infidelity, addiction, and what real recovery looks like after betrayal.

Sam shares his own journey after an affair that turned his life upside down. We talk about why radical honesty is the first step toward healing, how defensiveness gets in the way of rebuilding trust, and why taking ownership of your actions matters so much.

We also explore how childhood wounds can shape destructive coping patterns, the role of community and mentorship in recovery, and why healing looks different for every person and relationship.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Why radical honesty is the first step in recovery
- How defensiveness and blame-shifting get in the way of healing
- The difference between guilt and shame
- Why self-acceptance and accountability go hand in hand
- What recovery looks like for both the unfaithful and betrayed partner
- Why healing takes time and what makes rebuilding trust possible

If you're navigating addiction, infidelity, or the difficult process of rebuilding trust after betrayal, this conversation is for you.

Ready to start your recovery?

Explore the Unhooked app: https://unhookedapp.co

Connect with Sam:

Sam's Healing Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@samshealingpodcast and podcast platforms https://www.samshealingpodcast.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Sam's story of despair and recovery

01:39 Episode introduction

03:32 Welcome to Unhooked

04:24 Sam's journey into recovery

08:44 Why radical honesty is the first step

12:53 Becoming a student of recovery and finding support

19:48 Understanding childhood wounds and the roots of addiction

24:08 The turning point: Feeling worthy of love

30:04 Self-acceptance and doing the next right thing

35:33 Balancing self-acceptance with personal growth

40:27 Why people become defensive in recovery

41:56 Shame, guilt, and taking responsibility

45:46 What healing looks like for the betrayed partner

49:59 How long does healing after infidelity take?

52:38 Can couples truly heal after infidelity?

55:34 Where to find Sam

56:57 Closing thoughts

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Interested in the Unhooked App? Join the waitlist here: 
https://unhookedapp.co/

Jeremy Lipkowitz reshared his appearance on The Therapy Brothers podcast, where Brendan and Tyler Patrick interview him about how meditation and mindfulness can support recovery. Jeremy explains why mindfulness does not have to conflict with religious faith, and why it is better understood as a practical way to train attention, awareness, and intentional choice. He breaks down the space between stimulus and response and how learning to access that space can help interrupt automatic reactions like craving, anger, fear, and judgment. The conversation also explores neuroplasticity and Jeremy’s “meadow” analogy for how repeated thoughts and behaviors strengthen mental pathways over time. They unpack the meaning of equanimity, why groundedness matters when facing both discomfort and temptation, and how even a simple breath-awareness practice can begin strengthening concentration, self-compassion, emotional regulation, and the ability to respond rather than react.

Chapters:

00:00 Why mindfulness matters in recovery

04:10 Welcome to the episode

04:54 Is meditation against religion?

06:40 What mindfulness really is

09:30 The mindset behind mindfulness-based recovery

13:36 How mindfulness helps with urges and reactions

14:14 Neuroplasticity: how the brain changes

17:01 The meadow analogy explained

18:22 What is equanimity?

20:29 How to begin meditating

23:09 Closing thoughts

🔵 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Interested in the Unhooked App? Join the waitlist here: 
https://unhookedapp.co/

Jeremy Lipkowitz hosts Brannon and Tyler Patrick on Unhooked to discuss why sobriety and recovery are not the same thing. The brothers are licensed clinicians with about forty years of combined experience treating porn addiction and betrayal trauma, and they host The Therapy Brothers podcast. They explain why a heavy emphasis on sobriety is a prelude to relapse, why focusing on inputs beats chasing a streak, and why recovery worked for a spouse always collapses. Tyler breaks down their trust equation for rebuilding trust after betrayal: shame resiliency on both sides plus rigorous honesty, empathy, and consistent action over time. They also cover what real humility is, the hero's journey framework behind their men's program, healthy disclosure versus probation officer check-ins, and what a betrayed partner is really asking underneath the questions about details.

Chapters:

00:00:00 The energy that actually sustains recovery 

00:01:01 The cave you fear to enter 

00:01:50 Episode intro and the Unhooked app waitlist 

00:04:35 Welcome Tyler and Brannon Patrick 

00:05:42 Taking men from untrustworthy to trustworthy 

00:06:55 What twenty years changed about their approach 

00:10:32 How each brother found this work 

00:14:08 Sobriety versus recovery 

00:17:31 The paradox: does that mean relapse is fine? 

00:20:28 Guys who do not know their sobriety date 

00:22:17 When sobriety becomes a weapon 

00:23:38 Trap one: getting humility backwards 

00:24:54 Trap two: recovering for your spouse 

00:28:31 Resentment, and turning your partner into your god 

00:28:57 Why the instinct to perform makes sense 

00:30:39 Corrective experiences and the challenges they run 

00:35:30 The hero's journey 

00:36:25 Tyler's map of energies, from coercion to love 

00:39:05 When a man will not step over the threshold 

00:42:26 The parable of the snake and the apples 

00:44:53 Where rebuilding trust starts: rigorous honesty 

00:46:11 When your partner draws a hard line 

00:48:39 Disclosure, lines of defense, and check ins that work 

00:49:03 The trust equation 

00:51:43 What a betrayed partner is really asking 

00:52:58 What actually needs to be disclosed 

00:56:35 Harnessing sexuality instead of killing it 

00:58:30 What they want couples to hear 

01:03:03 Where to find Tyler and Brannon 

01:03:45 Closing

The Therapy Brothers, for Unhooked listeners: therapybrothers.org/unhooked 

Unhooked Academy: unhookedacademy.com 

Unhooked app waitlist: unhookedapp.co

🔹 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Jeremy Lipkowitz hosts Alessandro on Unhooked to discuss his mission of helping men become husbands, fathers, and human beings they admire, inspired by what he lacked in role models and his marriage. Alessandro explains Dr. Arne Rubenstein’s boy-to-man framework, contrasting boy traits like self-centered power, emotional reactivity, blame, and wanting a “mother” with mature ideals such as service to the team, emotional humility, integrity and ownership, and equanimity in relating to the feminine. They explore how Western culture lacks rites of passage, and Alessandro outlines four initiation components: shared stories, challenge, honoring, and vision for the future. The conversation also covers why men avoid ownership, how men’s circles help disclose porn struggles, distinguishing ownership from shame, stream-of-consciousness journaling, and why being a better husband often means reconnecting with oneself while nourishing the household.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:32 Mission Beyond Alpha

03:21 Conscious Masculinity Basics

04:22 Boy to Man Framework

10:54 Applying Traits to Marriage

14:11 Understanding the Feminine

17:19 What Initiation Means

19:41 Rites of Passage Four Parts

27:12 Why Ownership Is Hard

30:34 Handyman Trigger Origins

31:54 Owning Your Feelings

32:36 Recovery Check Ins

35:23 Beyond Performative Apologies

36:24 Resistance And Hard Talks

39:16 Mens Circle Confession

41:37 Ownership Versus Shame

42:22 Shoveling The Shit

48:53 Morning Pages Practice

51:29 Stop Appeasing Your Wife

54:51 Mission Nourish Household

58:34 Lightness Without Excuses

01:01:14 Walking Forward Balance

01:04:29 Final Takeaways And Outro

Connect with Alessandro on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alessandro_frosali

🔹 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

In this episode, Jeremy Lipkowitz—former genetics researcher, ordained Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, executive coach, and founder of Unhooked Academy—shares his personal journey from early exposure to pornography through daily use in college and into recovery. He discusses how porn’s accessibility, affordability, and anonymity fuel addiction, while underlying drivers often include boredom, loneliness, disconnection, and emotional avoidance. The conversation explores how novelty and endless scrolling train dissatisfaction, how porn can reshape intimacy and create secrecy and shame, and why sobriety alone isn’t the same as recovery—unaddressed roots can lead to cross-addictions. Jeremy highlights the role of community, mindfulness, self-compassion, and present-moment awareness to create choice between stimulus and response, and warns that AI-generated porn and AI companions are already accelerating these risks. He also points to porn’s exploitative underbelly and invites listeners to assess whether harms outweigh perceived benefits.

00:00 Meet Jeremy Lipkowitz

00:26 His Recovery Journey

01:27 Triggers and Three As

03:17 When It Became a Problem

07:01 Sobriety Versus Recovery

08:14 Compulsion or Addiction

10:02 Why Porn Hooks You

13:48 Roots of Addiction

17:10 Connection and Environment

18:41 Men Versus Women

20:23 Slow Burn Consequences

23:06 Signs You Have a Problem

25:28 Porn Warps Intimacy

27:47 Shame and Taboo

28:13 Courage to Reach Out

28:45 Wedding Trigger Story

30:53 Self Deception Narratives

32:33 Powerless vs Powerful

34:56 Beliefs Shape Outcomes

36:13 Stress Anxiety Reframe

37:37 AI Porn Future Risks

40:49 Recovery Community Work

43:31 Presence and Choice Space

46:07 Equanimity with Discomfort

48:30 Porn Industry Reality Check

51:18 OnlyFans Dopamine Escalation

53:39 Cost Benefit Clarity

54:45 Where to Find Jeremy

55:36 Final Wrap Up

Connect with Darren Magee here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DarrenFMagee

🔹 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Jeremy Lipkowitz joins Piers Cross on An Evolving Man to discuss how porn addiction is driven and worsened by craving, shame, and avoidance of unpleasant emotions like boredom, loneliness, anxiety, and lack of purpose. Jeremy shares his own history of early porn exposure, how Buddhism and Matthieu Ricard’s book Happiness helped him understand neuroplasticity (“neurons that fire together, wire together”) and craving as suffering, and why recovery requires more than willpower. They explore why modern porn is uniquely addictive through affordability, accessibility, anonymity, and infinite novelty, and why taking distance from porn reveals impacts on clarity, confidence, and integrity. The conversation emphasizes mindfulness as awareness across the “six sense doors,” community and men’s groups to dissolve isolation and shame, skillful moral shame/dread (hiri and ottappa), and how the attention economy and tech design mimic slot machines to capture attention.

00:00 Shame And Escape

01:18 Rebroadcast And Themes

02:40 Meet Jeremy Lipkowitz

03:54 Porn Habit Origins

06:41 Buddhism Changes Everything

08:46 Neuroplasticity And Craving

12:29 Beyond Meditation Recovery

14:17 Porn Culture And Taboo

16:57 Smartphone Porn Explosion

21:04 Why Porn Hooks Us

24:50 Reclaiming Healthy Sexuality

26:49 Triggers And Emotional Avoidance

29:33 Feeling Emotions In The Body

31:56 Slow Down The Urge

32:59 Mindful Smoking Insight

33:48 Mindfulness In Recovery

35:21 Shame And Community

39:40 Porn Shame Stigma

42:39 Healthy Moral Shame

47:42 Four Truths Reflection

49:31 Attention Economy Trap

55:24 Reclaiming Your Attention

57:31 What Mindfulness Means

59:28 Six Sense Doors Practice

01:01:22 Closing And Resources

🔹 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

This rebroadcast from Jonah Primo’s The Overexamined Life features Jeremy Lipkowitz (former Buddhist monk, meditation teacher, executive coach, and host of the Unhooked podcast) discussing pornography as a lens for addiction, shame, and compulsive behavior. They cover how widespread porn use is among men and increasingly women, early exposure in childhood, and how porn’s normalization alongside taboo can fuel addiction. Lipkowitz argues porn is often used for emotional regulation (boredom, loneliness, anxiety), can distort expectations of intimacy, train novelty-seeking dopamine patterns, and contribute to a shame-driven double life. They address ethical concerns about performer exploitation, whether moderate use is defensible, the distinction between porn and masturbation, and rising risks from AI-generated porn, non-consensual deepfakes, and related technologies. Treatment emphasizes mindfulness, men’s groups, integrity, and Viktor Frankl’s “space between stimulus and response” over reliance on blockers; Lipkowitz recommends abstinence first if moderation is attempted.

00:00 Rebroadcast Introduction

01:34 Meet Jeremy Lipkowitz

04:19 Who Watches Porn

05:28 Taboo Meets Normalized

07:04 Kids And Early Exposure

12:49 Porn Scripts And Consent

15:47 Porn As Emotional Coping

20:11 Shame Fuels Addiction

26:52 Making It Less Shameful

28:01 Men's Groups Explained

33:44 Performers And Exploitation

39:36 Is Any Use Safe

42:55 Subtle Long Term Effects

47:11 Hungry Ghost Origin Story

48:43 From Catalogs to Tube Sites

49:30 When Lust Becomes Suffering

50:46 Hungry Ghosts Explained

52:26 Pros and Cons of Quitting

54:59 Masturbation Without Porn

56:50 Engineered to Be Addictive

59:52 AI Porn Pandora Box

01:05:15 Skillful vs Unskillful Desire

01:07:55 Life After Porn Benefits

01:12:54 Relapse and the Three As

01:15:58 Mindfulness Space to Choose

01:20:01 Abstinence vs Moderation

01:22:13 Rapid Fire and Farewell

🔹 Want to break free? Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Piers Cross on Trauma, Addiction, and Self-Compassion

Most men walk around with stones in their shoes their whole lives. They don't know the stones are there. They just know something hurts, and they've learned to keep walking anyway.

That's one of the most powerful things Piers Cross said in this conversation. And it captures something I see all the time in the men I work with — unprocessed trauma quietly running the show, showing up as compulsive behavior, isolation, a relentless inner critic that won't let them rest.

Piers's own story is one of the more remarkable ones I've encountered. He grew up with an alcoholic father, ran away to boarding school, watched a friend die by suicide, and was then sexually abused by the priest the school sent them to for support. He suppressed all of it, built a successful career in finance, and slowly fell apart. At his lowest point he was homeless, struggling with drugs and alcohol, and tried to take his own life. What turned it around was ending up at a Buddhist monastery — where he stayed for over 1,000 days. He's been sober for 24 years.

In this episode we talk about:

• How suppressed childhood trauma shows up in adult addiction, even when the connection isn't obvious
• Why going back to touch trauma can re-traumatize you — and what to do instead
• What EFT tapping is, how it works neurologically, and why Piers uses it with every client
• The three ingredients Robert Moore says are required for real initiation to happen
• Why the monastery was a rite of passage from boy to man — and what that has to do with recovery
• The inner critic loop that keeps men stuck, and how to step out of it
• Why alcohol and porn relapse are more connected than most people realize
• A five-minute safety meditation practice you can start today
• What Piers wants every man struggling with addiction to hear before anything else

The self-compassion piece in this one is worth the whole conversation. The image Piers uses — of picking a child up 100 times when they fall — is the kind of thing that stays with you.

Connect with Piers Cross:

Coaching: piers-cross.com

Leadership work: compassionateleadersglobal.com

Podcast: An Evolving Man

Documentary: Boarding on Insanity

Resources from Jeremy:

Unhooked Academy: unhookedacademy.com

14-Day Slip Reset: unhookedacademy.com/reset

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

This week's episode is a conversation I had on the Enter the Lionheart podcast with host Lawrence Dunling. Lawrence was kind enough to let us reshare it here on Unhooked.

We get into my own unusual path: leaving a PhD program at Duke, training as a Buddhist monk in Myanmar, and eventually building my coaching practice in Thailand. From there we dig into the trap almost all of us fall into, the belief that the next zero in the bank account, the next win, the next relationship will finally make us happy, and why that chase never actually delivers.

We talk through some core Buddhist concepts and how they apply to everyday life: the bliss of blamelessness, the eight worldly winds, and the middle path between renouncing everything and chasing pleasure. And we spend real time on porn and compulsive behavior specifically: why the consequences are often subtle and easy to miss, how it rewires your brain's relationship to novelty and intimacy, and the Rat Park experiment, one of the clearest illustrations out there of why addiction is about an unmet need, not a moral failing.

We also get into modern dating, OnlyFans, the loneliness underneath a lot of it, and why community and close male friendships matter more than most guys realize.

Resources:

Unhooked Academy: unhookedacademy.com

14-Day Slip Reset: unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

This week, I'm bringing back one of my favorite episodes because its message is just as relevant today as when I first recorded it.

In this episode, I share the Five Wise Daily Reflections from Buddhist teachings and explore how they can help you overcome addiction, let go of attachment, take ownership of your actions, and live with greater purpose. These simple reflections have profoundly shaped the way I approach recovery and continue to remind me what truly matters.

What would change if you spent just a few minutes each day reflecting on what really matters most?

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could benefit from it, and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, mindfulness, and building a life you don't want to escape from.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:01 The Five Wise Daily Reflections
03:06 Aging, Illness, and Death
07:29 Letting Go of Attachment
09:23 Why Your Actions Shape Your Future
12:03 How to Practice These Reflections
12:35 Living Beyond Addiction

Resources:

Unhooked Academy: unhookedacademy.com

14-Day Slip Reset: unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

This episode is a rebroadcast of a conversation I had with Todd Rennebohm on the Bunny Hugs podcast. Todd runs a mental health show that isn't afraid to go into the territory most podcasts avoid, and this conversation went deep.

We covered my personal story from the beginning. How it started innocent enough, looking at lingerie catalogs as a kid, and slowly escalated over years into a daily habit that was quietly rewiring my brain. By college, I was logging on every night for an hour, sometimes two. And even though my life looked great on paper, I felt completely empty inside.

In this episode we talk about:

• The moment I realized I was a slave to lust, and what it actually felt like from the inside
• How porn hijacks the dopamine system and why the "hunt" is more addictive than the content itself
• The realm of hungry ghosts, a Buddhist concept that perfectly describes what addiction feels like
• Why porn addiction is uniquely hard to break free from compared to alcohol or substances
• How I went from PhD student at Duke to Buddhist monk to meditation teacher to recovery coach
• Why the shame-based, willpower-driven approach almost always backfires
• What neuroplasticity actually means for your recovery, and why it's good news
• How to meditate without falling asleep (and why falling asleep isn't actually the problem)
• AI companions, escalation, and where all of this is headed

This is one of the more wide-ranging conversations I've had. If you're new to this work, it's a good place to start. If you've been around for a while, I think you'll still find something in it.

00:00 Empty Chase

00:50 Meet Jeremy

01:37 How It Started

03:15 Daily Habit

04:59 Control And Coping

06:07 Brain Rewiring

07:15 Novelty Escalation

09:20 Seeing The Future

11:10 Hungry Ghosts

13:33 Neuroplasticity Lust

15:10 Gratitude Training

18:29 Desire Vs Craving

20:31 Meditation Skills

23:11 Tech And AI Risks

24:57 Is It Ever Good

27:14 AI Companions Dystopia

28:30 Moderation Debate

28:37 Moderation vs Abstinence

30:11 Ethics of Porn Industry

33:02 Why Porn Hooks Dopamine

37:15 Rock Bottom Realization

42:43 Finding Happiness Through Mindfulness

46:09 Non Shame Recovery Approach

50:11 Meditation Basics That Work

54:02 Grounded Not Woo Woo

54:49 Where to Find Jeremy

55:26 Final Wrap and Support

Check out Todd's show, Bunny Hugs, at bunnyhugspodcast.com

Resources mentioned:

Unhooked Academy: unhookedacademy.com

14-Day Slip Reset: unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

🔹 Want to break free?

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

This week, I'm resharing a conversation I had with Breanne Wilson on the Adventures in Adversity podcast because I think this message is more important than ever.

We talk about my journey from porn addiction to recovery, how addiction rewires the brain, why shame keeps so many people trapped, and what it really takes to build a life of integrity, purpose, and freedom. We also explore mindfulness, neuroplasticity, healthy masculinity, and why lasting recovery isn't about willpower, it's about creating a life you no longer want to escape from.

Whether you're struggling with porn, another compulsive habit, or simply searching for deeper fulfillment, I hope this conversation reminds you that change is possible.

What's one area of your life where you're ready to stop escaping and start healing?

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who could benefit from it, and subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future conversations on recovery, self-mastery, and living with purpose.

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/



Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/



Connect with Breanne Wilson

🌍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresinadversitypodcast/
🎙️ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-adversity-an-inspirational-podcast/id1727019294



Timestamps:

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

Why do so many people struggle to quit porneven when they genuinely want to stop?

In this interview with Tim Tedder on The Affair Recovery Room Podcast, I share my personal journey from years of porn addiction to finding lasting recovery, and the lessons I learned along the way.

We talk about how porn rewires the brain, why novelty keeps people trapped in the cycle, how shame silently fuels addiction, and why recovery isn't about relying on willpower alone. We also discuss mindfulness, healthy relationships, community, and the inner work required to build lasting freedom.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What porn addiction really is
• How porn changes your expectations of intimacy
• Why shame keeps people stuck
• Why willpower isn't enough
• The role of mindfulness in recovery
• Why community accelerates healing
• How to build a life you don't need to escape from

Whether you're struggling yourself or supporting someone you love, I hope this conversation gives you hope and practical insight for the journey ahead.

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, self-mastery, and creating lasting freedom.

🔹 Want to break free? 

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Tim Tedder

🌍 Website: https://www.affairhealing.com/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tim-Tedder

🎙️ Podcast: https://www.affairhealing.com/podcasts
https://open.spotify.com/show/54DlIhDCxb3a4gpFCJrRPu
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-affair-recovery-room/id1116458007

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:27 What Porn Addiction Really Is
04:25 The Hidden Signs of Addiction
06:03 How My Addiction Started
14:29 Why Real Relationships Feel Harder
20:44 What Finally Helped Me Recover
26:36 Why Shame Keeps Men Stuck
29:26 Porn Isn't the Real Problem

🔹 Want to break free?

Be on the Unhooked Academy waitlist:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

What if the biggest obstacle to your recovery isn't porn but the relationship you have with yourself?

In this episode, I explore a powerful idea that was sparked by a short piece from Joshua Fields Millburn: we often tolerate behavior from ourselves that we'd never accept from anyone else. Whether it's doom scrolling, self-criticism, procrastination, or acting out, these habits quietly steal our time, energy, and potential.

I share a simple framework for recognizing self-sabotaging patterns, setting healthier boundaries with yourself, and becoming your own greatest ally instead of your harshest critic.

Are you treating yourself the way you'd treat someone you truly care about?

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, self-mastery, and building a life you don't want to escape from.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 No One Wastes More Time
03:08 Ending Self-Sabotage
04:21 A Three-Step Reset
05:39 Your Mind: Enemy or Ally?
06:40 Become Your Own Best Friend

🔹 Want to break free?

Be on the Unhooked Academy waitlist:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Have you been working harder and harder at recovery, only to feel like you're getting nowhere?

In this episode, I share five reasons why focusing too much on recovery can actually keep you stuck. We explore the neuroscience behind why white-knuckling, obsessing over streaks, and making recovery your entire identity often backfires and what to do instead.

True freedom doesn't come from fighting urges harder. It comes from building a life so meaningful, fulfilling, and exciting that porn becomes irrelevant.

What if the breakthrough you're looking for isn't about trying harder but about focusing on something bigger?

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and creating a life you don't want to escape from.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:47 The Streak Trap
04:25 The Pink Elephant Problem
06:24 Recovery Isn't Your Identity
08:14 Stop Pulling Weeds
09:47 How to Handle Urges
12:11 What Real Recovery Looks Like
14:15 Resources & Final Thoughts

🔹 Want to break free? 

Be on the Unhooked Academy:
https://form.typeform.com/to/I4WMlmdl

What if addiction isn't actually about dopamine, genetics, or a lack of willpower?

In this episode, I sit down with psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Hochman to explore a radically different way of understanding addiction and recovery.

We discuss why people continue doing things they know are hurting them, why the traditional medical model often misses the bigger picture, and how addiction may be better understood as a learned pattern for regulating difficult internal states.

We also dive into the powerlessness debate, the role of agency in recovery, the famous Rat Park experiment, Buddhist philosophy, neuroplasticity, and why true freedom comes from developing the ability to tolerate discomfort rather than constantly escaping it.

If you've ever struggled with porn addiction, compulsive behaviors, cravings, or simply understanding why humans do things that work against their own best interests, this conversation will challenge the way you think about recovery.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What addiction really is
• Why people relapse despite knowing better
• The problem with the "powerless" mindset
• How agency accelerates recovery
• What the Rat Park experiment teaches us
• Why Buddhism offers powerful recovery tools
• How to build lasting freedom and self-mastery

Recovery isn't about becoming a different person. It's about learning how to relate differently to yourself.

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, freedom, and meaningful change.

👉 Join Unhooked Academy and connect with a community of men committed to growth and recovery.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Dr. Daniel Hochman

🌍 Website: https://www.selfrecovery.org/daniel-hochman-md/

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdanielhochman/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
05:17 What Is Addiction Really?
07:34 A Better Definition of Addiction
09:02 The Path Out of Addiction
12:08 Buddhism and Recovery
14:08 Are Addictions Genetic?
19:10 Taking Ownership of Recovery
20:00 The Problem With Powerlessness
24:17 Agency, Neuroplasticity, and Change
31:15 How Beliefs Shape Recovery
42:05 Why Restraint Creates Freedom
49:15 Why We Choose Short-Term Pleasure
51:45 The Rat Park Experiment
57:15 The First Step to Recovery
01:02:15 Building Self-Trust Through Restraint
01:02:50 Self Recovery Program & Final Thoughts

🔹 Want to break free? 

Be on the Unhooked Academy:
https://form.typeform.com/to/I4WMlmdl

Have you built success in your career but still feel disconnected at home?

In this episode, I sit down with Mitchell Osmond, Host of The Dad Nation Podcast, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing modern men: succeeding professionally while struggling in their relationships, emotional health, and family life.

We explore why so many high-performing men feel competent at work but lost at home, the role emotional intelligence plays in recovery and relationships, and how accountability, brotherhood, and honest conversations can completely transform your life.

We also dive into rebuilding trust after betrayal, why community is essential for overcoming addiction, and practical tools for creating deeper emotional connection with your partner.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why success at work doesn't guarantee success at home
• The hidden cost of emotional disconnection
• How accountability accelerates recovery
• Why most men struggle with emotional intelligence
• Practical ways to improve communication in your relationship
• How to rebuild trust after betrayal
• The power of brotherhood and community
  
  

If you're trying to become a better husband, father, partner, or man, this episode is for you.

👉 Join Unhooked Academy and connect with a community of men committed to growth and recovery.

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, relationships, and real transformation.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Mitchell Osmond

🌍 Website: https://www.dadnationco.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadnationco

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett

🎙️ Podcast: The Dad Nation Podcast (available on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts): https://www.dadnationco.com/podcast 

How healthy is your marriage - really? Take this 2 minute relationship audit show you exactly where your marriage stands, and what to do next.

High-Performance Husband™️ Audit: https://www.dadnationco.com/audit

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
06:12 A Funeral Wake-Up Call
07:29 How He Turned His Life Around
13:13 The Power of Mentorship
18:06 Why Most Men Stay Stuck
20:02 The Problem With Going Alone
22:28 Winning at Work, Losing at Home
28:17 Why Emotional Connection Matters
31:10 The RISE Conversation Framework
50:43 The Bliss of Blamelessness
55:21 Questions That Strengthen Relationships
58:45 Final Thoughts & Resources

🔹 Want to break free?

Be on the Unhooked Academy:
https://form.typeform.com/to/I4WMlmdl

This is a rebroadcast of one of the episodes that had a huge impact on me personally, something I wanted to bring back for newer listeners.

In this episode, I share a simple quote that completely changed the way I think about recovery, happiness, and the habits we build in our minds. It became one of the foundations for breaking free from porn addiction and creating a more meaningful life.

We talk about how your thoughts shape your brain, why certain mental patterns keep you stuck, and how to intentionally cultivate the qualities that actually lead to peace, fulfillment, and freedom.

What are you repeatedly thinking about and who is it shaping you into?

If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:58 The Quote That Changed My Life
02:57 Thoughts Become Mental Habits
04:16 Neuroscience Behind Your Thoughts
05:15 Training Your Mind for Happiness
06:36 Why Pleasure Doesn’t Fulfill You
07:20 Cultivate Contentment and Peace
08:31 Free Slip Reset Resource

🔹 Want to break free?

Be on the Unhooked Academy:
https://form.typeform.com/to/I4WMlmdl

This is a rebroadcast of one of the most impactful episodes from the archive, something I wanted to bring back for newer listeners.

In this episode, I talk about a powerful recovery strategy called “burning the boats”,  what to do when motivation disappears, when you know what you should be doing, but you still keep falling back into old habits.

We explore why relying on motivation alone often fails, and how creating real commitment can completely change your recovery journey.

What would change in your life if going back was no longer an option?

If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
05:21 The “Burn the Boats” Mindset Explained
07:44 Why Commitment Beats Willpower
09:09 Practical Ways to Burn the Boats in Recovery
11:26 Accountability, Public Commitment & Financial Investment
13:31 Real-Life Example: Forcing Action Through Commitment
15:42 Applying This Strategy to Fitness, Recovery & Life Goals

🔹 Want to break free?

Be on the Unhooked Academy waitlist:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Why is porn so hard to quit even when you know it’s hurting you?

In this episode, I share a powerful analogy from a live coaching call inside Unhooked Academy that completely changes how you think about porn addiction. We talk about why porn, social media, and thirst traps are like “billion-dollar potato chips” engineered to hijack your brain and keep you craving more.

Understanding this helped a lot of the guys in our community finally stop blaming themselves and start seeing the bigger picture.

What if your struggle isn’t just about willpower… but about what you’ve been conditioning your brain to crave?

If this resonated, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction

00:58 Junk Food Porn Analogy

01:42 Novelty Chip Effect

02:54 Algorithm Engineered Chips

04:46 Compassion and Real Life Intimacy

05:37 Pause Before You Bite

07:21 Final Thoughts

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

What should you do in the exact moment an urge hits?

In this episode, I guide you through a simple meditation you can use whenever you feel a craving or the urge to relapse. Instead of fighting it or giving in, I’ll show you how to sit with the urge, observe it, and let it pass.

This is a practical tool you can come back to anytime you need support in the moment.

What would change if you stopped reacting to urges and started understanding them instead?

If this helped you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more tools on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

🔹 Want personalized support? 

Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

This episode is a repost of my conversation on the Better Sex Podcast with Jessa Zimmerman.

I share my journey with porn addiction from early exposure to the subtle ways it started shaping my mind, relationships, and sense of self.

We explore addiction through a different lens. Not just as a behavior to fix, but as a pattern of craving and avoidance. I use the idea of the “hungry ghosts” to describe what addiction really feels like: constantly wanting more, but never actually feeling satisfied.

I also talk about how an unfulfilled life can fuel addictive patterns, the role of dopamine and novelty, and how mindfulness can help you break the cycle. Recovery isn’t just about stopping a habit, it’s about learning to sit with discomfort, build awareness, and create a life you don’t need to escape from.

So the question is: are you trying to quit the behavior… or understand what’s driving it?

If this resonated, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and building a life of integrity.

🔹 Want to break free? 

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Jessa Zimmerman

🌍 Website: https://intimacywithease.com/

www.jessazimmerman.com

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeiuPW707eoHRh8T95Gs4qA

🎙️ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6W4PJ6NB8akNyzaGUZGW0X

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
02:32 Defining Addiction Broadly
05:27 When Porn Becomes Harmful
11:09 Age Exposure and Potency
14:36 Sex Positivity and Balance
17:38 Unrealistic Expectations and Lust
19:48 Realm of Hungry Ghosts
23:06 Toxic Shame Spiral
25:28 Healthy Shame And Remorse
28:46 Mindfulness Without Buddhism
35:40 Meditation Skills Training
37:17 Community And Accountability
41:18 Final Thoughts

What does years of porn addiction actually do to your brain?

In this episode, I share a personal story from my own struggle. What 10 years of porn did to my mind, and the moment I realized how deeply it was shaping my thoughts and behavior.

We talk about how addiction rewires your brain, why certain thoughts feel automatic, and what it really takes to reverse the damage. I also share practical tools you can use to start changing your habits and take back control.

You’re not broken but you do need to be intentional about what you feed your mind.

What are you planting in your mind every day and where is it leading you?

If this resonated, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:13 You Control the Seeds

05:04 Not Your Fault, Your Responsibility

07:13 Why Meditation Works

08:51 Do a Consumption Audit

09:42 Replace Bad Habits

10:28 Protect Your Morning

11:16 Ask: What Seeds Am I Planting?

12:21 Build a Better Mind

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

This is a rebroadcast of one of my most impactful episodes, something I wanted to bring back for newer listeners.

In this episode, I share a powerful story from a client who relapsed after 60 days… and instead of spiraling, chose to get back on track. What he did next and the five motivations that drove his recovery—completely changed his trajectory.

We talk about how to bounce back after a slip, reconnect with your “why,” and build a foundation that actually lasts.

Relapse doesn’t have to mean starting over.

What are the real reasons you want to break free and are they strong enough to carry you through the hard moments?

If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
02:16 Client Relapse Story
03:07 Don’t Let One Slip Spiral
04:50 Why Motivation Matters
05:05 Motivation #1: Inner Peace
06:41 Motivation #2: Be Present
08:10 Motivation #3: Confidence
09:32 Motivation #4: Growth
11:34 Motivation #5: Serve Others
14:26 Define Your “Why”
17:01 Last Thoughts

Can women struggle with porn addiction, too?

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

In this episode, I share a powerful story from a female client who overcame her addiction and what her journey reveals about how recovery actually works.

We talk about the shame that keeps people stuck, why porn is often just a symptom of something deeper, and what it really takes to create lasting change. If you’ve ever felt alone in this struggle or unsure how to break free, this will give you a new perspective and hope.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Have you been trying to fix the habit… without addressing what’s underneath it?

If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real transformation.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:06 Women Struggle With Porn Too
02:02 Porn Is a Symptom
03:52 Building a Fulfilling Life
05:13 Addiction Is Escaping Reality
06:02 Fix the Root Cause
07:29 Why You Must Open Up
09:03 Accountability + Compassion

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

This is a rebroadcast of one of my earlier episodes, something I wanted to bring back for newer listeners.

When I first quit porn, I wish I could say it was for some big, noble reason. But honestly… I just wanted to be happier. I wanted more fulfillment in my life and better relationships.

In this episode, I break down the real reasons I chose to quit and four powerful reasons you might want to consider it too.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or disconnected, this might give you a new perspective and a starting point.

What’s really driving your habits right now and is it leading you where you want to go?

If this resonates, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro


Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:42 Why Quit Porn for Fulfillment
03:19 Signs Porn Is Affecting Your Life
04:50 Reason #1: Unrealistic Expectations & Intimacy
08:49 Reason #2: Addiction to Novelty
10:36 Reason #3: Loss of Focus & Mental Clarity
13:25 Reason #4: Lust Creates Suffering
17:17 Final Takeaways: Why Change Matters

🔹 Want personalized support? 

Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

I joined Melissa Hadley Barrett on The Penis Project Podcast to talk about porn addiction, compulsive behaviors, and what they’re really doing to your brain and your relationships.

We broke down what addiction actually is, why so many men feel stuck in the cycle, and how things like dopamine, neuroplasticity, and the “amygdala hijack” keep you coming back—even when you want to stop.

We also talked about practical tools like mindfulness, the 90-second rule, and why willpower alone usually isn’t enough… you need support and accountability.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re fighting this battle alone, this conversation will give you a different way to look at it—and a path forward.

Have you ever felt like you’re not in control of your habits?

If this resonates, share it with someone who needs it—and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and real change.

🔹 Want to break free? 

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Melissa Hadley Barrett:

🌍 Website: https://www.melissahadleybarrett.com/

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett

🎙️ Podcast: https://www.melissahadleybarrett.com/podcast
https://thepenisproject.podbean.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

05:23 Monk Life And Retreats

12:56 Porn’s Hidden Harms

20:07 How Porn Rewires Brain

26:32 Mindfulness Meets Neuroscience

33:17 Discomfort and Equanimity

36:58 Tools to Stop the Urge

40:58 Accountability Community Model

43:50 Finding Your Why

44:41 Where to Learn More`

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

A message I read this morning literally made me tear up in a public cafe.

Inside the Unhooked Academy community, one of the guys shared that he finally told his wife about a relapse after six months of sobriety. He was terrified the conversation would end in divorce. But instead of anger, she was thankful he came to her honestly.

It became a powerful reminder for both of us that the stories we tell ourselves about rejection are often just that—stories.

Integrity, not perfection, is what actually leads to freedom.

Have you ever avoided telling the truth because you were afraid of how someone might respond?

If this resonates with you, consider sharing this with someone who might need it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, integrity, and real change.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro


Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

02:56 Choosing Honesty Anyway

03:23 His Post Thank You

03:30 Unexpected Response and New Commitments

05:13 Integrity Over Perfection

05:55 Closing Thoughts

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

In this episode, I talk about a hard but important moment in recovery: what to do when you slip and how to tell your partner about it.

The truth is, in many relationships, the slip itself isn’t what causes the most damage. It’s the lying, hiding, and slow erosion of trust that happens when the truth is covered up. Inspired by a recent Unhooked Academy coaching call, I break down what I call the Four C’s of Disclosure: choose the right moment, come clean fully, center her experience rather than your guilt, and commit to the path with real actions—not just an apology.

Recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about integrity and learning to be the kind of man who doesn’t hide.

So the question is: when things get uncomfortable, will you choose honesty or self-protection?

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need it and subscribe for more conversations on porn addiction recovery and building a life of integrity.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro


Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Why You Must Tell Her

01:37 Slip Is Not Main Event

02:54 Choose the Right Moment

04:23 Come Clean Fully

05:56 Center Her Experience

07:00 Commit With Action Plan

08:08 Common Disclosure Mistakes

10:05 Set Your Couple Agreement

11:38 Integrity and Closing Thoughts

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

In this episode of Unhooked, I share why quitting porn is valuable even if you’re single.

I talk about the myth that porn will disappear once you’re in a relationship, and why it’s actually a coping mechanism for stress, loneliness, and discomfort. The patterns you build now are the ones you’ll bring into your future partnership.

I explain how porn hijacks your dopamine system, hardwires you for dissatisfaction, and quietly drains your time, energy, and focus. I also share how quitting helped me build resilience, integrity, and the ability to sit with difficult emotions instead of numbing out.

This isn’t about shame. It’s about freedom, presence, and becoming the kind of man who has nothing to hide. That version of you isn’t built later, it’s built now, in the small decisions you make every day.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro


Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
02:18 Reason 1: Partner Myth
03:14 Reason 2: Hidden Costs
04:15 Reason 3: Dissatisfaction Loop
05:53 Reason 4 : Tolerate Discomfort
07:09 Reason 5: Shame and Secrecy
08:26 Reason 6: Presence in Sex
09:45 Reason 7: Real Connection Drive
11:08 Reason 8: Warped Expectations
12:33 Reason 9: Tech Makes It Worse
13:39 Reason 10: Industry Harm
14:43 Final Takeaways and Next Steps

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Most people struggle with habits because they think discipline has to be rigid and all-or-nothing. Then life disrupts the plan, shame creeps in, and consistency falls apart.

In this episode, I share why real discipline is actually flexible and how adapting your habits to your circumstances keeps you on track. I’ll introduce a simple tool I use with clients: the “minimum viable version” of a habit. One minute. One page. Five reps. Just enough to keep showing up.

The most disciplined version of you isn’t the one who never misses. It’s the one who never quits.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro


Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com


Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Discipline Isn’t Rigid: The Flexible Mindset Shift
02:51 The All-or-Nothing Trap (and What James Clear Gets Right)
04:25 Why Missed Habits Turn Into Shame Spirals (and Relapse)
05:28 The Minimum Viable Version (MVV): Your Smallest Habit That Still Counts
07:00 Never Quit: Final Takeaways & Unhooked Academy

🔹 Want personalized support? 

Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

I joined Veronica Valli on the Soberful Podcast to have an honest conversation about porn addiction, dopamine, and what modern internet porn is really doing to our brains, relationships, and culture.

We discuss how today’s porn is more accessible and more extreme than ever,  reshaping expectations around sex, novelty, and connection. I share my journey from early exposure and escalating use to the moment I realized I felt like a “slave to lust.” On the outside, life looked fine. On the inside, I wasn’t free.

We explore how mindfulness, neuroscience, and Buddhist philosophy helped me learn to sit with loneliness and anxiety instead of numbing out. We also talk about the cultural messages porn sends to young people, the normalization of aggression and lack of consent, and why we need better conversations about sexuality, values, and integrity, especially as parents raising boys today.

This isn’t about shame. It’s about awareness, responsibility, and building guardrails that protect what matters most.

🔹 Want to break free? 

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Veronica Valli of Soberful

🎙️ Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soberful/id1371013717

https://open.spotify.com/show/0Xll4Cyn6m18n5p24FXdhE

🌍 Website: https://www.veronicavalli.com/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veronicajvalli/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VeronicaValliSoberful/podcasts

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

04:40 Jeremy’s Early Exposure: From Catalogs to Dial‑Up to Nightly Porn

10:14 How Porn Warps Relationships: Unrealistic Bodies & Dopamine Novelty

12:22 Violence, Escalation, and What Kids Learn From Modern Porn

19:39 Porn, Prostitution, and Policy: Where the Debate Gets Messy

21:48 Rock Bottom to Recovery: Mindfulness, Men’s Emotions, and Retreats

28:01 Neuroplasticity & Meditation as Mind Training

33:38 Parenting Boys: Non‑Shaming Sex Talks and Normalizing the Conversation

37:16 How His Program Works: Men’s Groups, Tools, and Accountability

41:50 Why Porn Is Different Now: Dopamine Nation, Isolation, and AI Risks

44:59 Where to Find Help + Ending on Hope for a Growing Movement

🔹 Want to break free? 

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

In this episode, we address the issue of perfectionism and its impact on porn addiction recovery. I explain how the mindset of perfectionism can lead to self-sabotage and relapse, and offers practical mindset shifts to help break free from this harmful cycle. Emphasizing progress over perfection, growth mindset, vulnerability, and self-compassion as key strategies for overcoming addiction. Additionally, we're inviting you to join Unhooked Academy for further support and community.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:48 The Mindset of Perfectionism
03:58 Perfectionism in the Recovery Journey
05:14 Breaking Free from Perfectionism
05:32 Mindset Shifts for Recovery
06:37 The Power of Vulnerability and Self-Compassion
08:14 Final Thoughts and Invitation to Unhooked Academy

🔹 Want to break free? 

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

In this episode of Unhooked, discover how to tackle the amygdala hijack, a neurological phenomenon where your primal brain overrides rational thinking. Learn a powerful 60-second brain hack called the 'labeling technique' that can help you regain control during moments of intense emotion. Also, don't miss the special announcement for the Unhooked Academy program, a support community aimed at helping you break free from harmful habits.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Amygdala Hijack

02:06 Understanding the Amygdala

04:00 The Amygdala Hijack Explained

05:24 Mindfulness Technique: Labeling

08:49 Common Mistakes and Solutions

12:02 Conclusion and Challenge

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhooked.kit.com/14days

Join me and my special guest, Melissa Hadley Barrett on today's episode of the Unhooked Podcast as we dive into the complex issues surrounding male loneliness, intimacy, and sexual health. Melissa, an experienced nurse practitioner and sexologist, shares insights from her 12+ years of working with sexual dysfunction, intimacy challenges, and relationship problems. We discuss key topics like the emotional roots of infidelity, the impact of porn use on erectile dysfunction, and practical steps for addressing these issues. Melissa also talks about normalizing conversations around male sexual health and the importance of vulnerability. Don't miss this informative and engaging episode!

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Melissa Hadley Barrett:

🌍 Website: https://www.melissahadleybarrett.com/

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissahadleybarrett/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@melissahadleybarrett

🎙️ Podcast: https://www.melissahadleybarrett.com/podcast
https://thepenisproject.podbean.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:56 Meet Melissa Hadley Barrett: Nurse Practitioner and Sexologist

05:26 The Penis Project Podcast: Breaking Taboos

09:11 The Impact of Porn on Sexual Health

11:03 Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Misconceptions

14:32 The Psychological Effects of Pornography

19:06 Challenges in Sexual Communication

22:53 The Challenge of Vulnerability in Conversations

24:36 Steps to Address Erectile Dysfunction and Porn Addiction

28:04 The Role of Masturbation in Sexual Health

32:55 The Epidemic of Loneliness Among Men

39:25 Hope for the Future: Changing Attitudes in Younger Generations

41:23 Final Thoughts and Resources

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhooked.kit.com/14days

In this episode, we'll break down the harsh truths about porn addiction and recovery. Emphasizing that porn is a symptom of deeper issues such as loneliness, stress, and boredom. We'll discuss why willpower alone isn't enough and highlight the importance of environment, accountability, and facing emotional realities. Key insights include understanding withdrawal, the importance of consistency, and redefining one's identity for genuine recovery.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Truths About Porn and Relaxation

01:54 Understanding Withdrawal and Relapse

03:09 The Dopamine Ecosystem and Real Recovery

04:28 Willpower vs. Environment

05:10 The Importance of Strategy and Support

05:51 Self-Respect and Community in Recovery

07:00 The Saboteur Voice and Identity Shift

08:47 Training Your Future Self and Handling Triggers

09:36 Mindset and Nervous System Regulation

10:21 Embracing Boredom and Feeling Emotions

11:40 Conclusion: Building a Supportive Structure

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhooked.kit.com/14days

In this episode of Unhooked, we delve into 15 timeless Buddhist principles that can shape your life, work, and personal development. These teachings, which are over 2,500 years old, offer practical wisdom for training your mind, dealing with discomfort, letting go of anger, and much more. Learn how to cultivate a disciplined mind, stay steady in discomfort, prioritize relationships, and live by a clear moral code. Discover how these principles are more relevant than ever in today's distracted, overstimulated world, and how implementing them can make 2026 a year of growth and transformation.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
00:37 New Year, New Mindset: 15 Buddhist Principles
02:07 Principle 1: Train the Mind Like the Body
03:12 Principle 2: Stay Steady in Discomfort
04:22 Principle 3: Let Go of Anger
05:36 Principle 4: Practice with Urgency
06:35 Principle 5: Prioritize Relationships
07:50 Principle 6: Live by a Moral Code
09:01 Principle 7: Choose Your Companions Carefully
10:01 Principle 8: Understand What Leads to Happiness
11:17 Principle 9: Be Present
12:19 Principle 10: Build Gradually
13:03 Principle 11: Stay Unshaken by Praise and Blame
14:26 Principle 12: Take Ownership of Your Life
15:16 Principle 13: Question Your Thoughts
16:18 Principle 14: Create Freedom Through Discipline
17:22 Principle 15: Guard Your Mind
18:18 Conclusion: Applying Buddhist Principles

🔹 Want to break free? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
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Welcome to the first episode of 2026! We'll discuss the importance of having personal rules over goals for achieving lasting change. From a stunning Cape Town, South Africa, I'm sharing seven essential rules for the new year: prioritizing health, maintaining integrity, quickly getting back on track after setbacks, guarding attention, embracing boredom, not trading long-term peace for short-term relief, and living in the now. Emphasizes the significance of these rules and how you can lead to a more fulfilling life. Tune in for insights and inspiration on creating standards that define who you are.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Goals vs. Rules
00:51 Welcome to 2026 from Cape Town
01:36 Why Rules Matter More Than Goals
03:26 Rule 1: Build Health Before Ambition
05:15 Rule 2: Be a Man of Integrity
06:51 Rule 3: Get Back on Track Quickly
08:34 Rule 4: Guard Your Attention Like Your Finances
11:16 Rule 5: Boredom is an Essential Nutrient
13:52 Rule 6: Don't Trade Tomorrow's Peace for Today's Relief
16:14 Rule 7: Live Now, Not Someday
19:24 Conclusion and Recap

🔹 Want to break free? 

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In this final episode of the year, I'm sharing a grounded approach to close out the year strong. From Cape Town, I walk you through five practical and actionable steps to ensure you carry positive momentum into the new year. These steps include taking an honest inventory without self-judgment, closing open loops that drain your energy, simplifying your life, reconnecting with your core values, and setting a positive tone for January. Whether you're journaling or reflecting, the prompts provided will help you end the year with clarity and start 2026 with confidence.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:09 Reflecting on the Year: Honest Inventory

04:58 Closing Open Loops

06:45 Simplify, Don't Optimize

08:22 Reconnect with Self-Respect

09:52 Setting the Tone for the New Year

11:29 Final Thoughts and Free Training

12:11 Conclusion: Ending with Honesty

🔹 Want to break free from porn? 

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhooked.kit.com/14days

In this episode of Unhooked, originally aired on the Unashamed Unafraid podcast, I share my story of porn addiction and recovery. We delve into the roots of addiction, the influence of past traumas, and the transformative power of mindfulness and self-compassion. This conversation explores how secular practices can help anyone, regardless of their faith, lead a life of integrity and inner peace. Tune in for valuable insights into breaking free from addiction and living a fulfilling life.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: JeremyLipkowitz.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:23 The Impact of Porn Addiction
03:09 Understanding Addiction and Trauma
08:03 The Role of Faith and Secular Perspectives
10:25 Journey to Mindfulness and Recovery
17:37 Practicing Mindfulness and Meditation
23:06 Breaking Free from Life's Momentum
23:33 Understanding the Concept of Mental Grooves
25:44 The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts
28:25 Mindfulness Training and Mental Gym
33:18 The Power of Self-Compassion
38:31 Jeremy's Professional Journey and Resources
42:10 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

🔹 Want to break free from porn? 

Join the waitlist of Unhooked Academy:
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In this episode of the Unhooked Podcast, host Jeremy explores why modern pleasures often leave us feeling empty and unsatisfied. Drawing on the ancient Greek myth of Tantalus and the Buddhist concept of the Hungry Ghost, he explains how craving and suffering are interconnected. He highlights the psychological and neurological underpinnings of desire and offers practical steps to break free from compulsive habits and cravings. He emphasizes understanding, awareness, and releasing the grasp of desire as paths to true fulfillment.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: JeremyLipkowitz.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:35 The Ancient Myth of Tantalus
03:49 The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts
05:06 The Psychological and Spiritual Insights on Craving
08:39 Practical Steps to Break Free from Craving
11:45 Conclusion and Invitation to Unhooked Academy

🔹 Want to break free from porn? 

Join the waitlist of Unhooked Academy:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

In this episode of the Unhooked Podcast, host Jeremy is joined by Kirsten T, a therapist and tantric sex coach, to discuss the transformative power of intimacy, sex, and tantra. Kirsten shares her insights on how sexual confidence is a learned skill and provides practical steps for couples looking to reignite their passion and connection. The episode covers topics such as the importance of self-exploration, how to have difficult conversations about sex, and rebuilding trust in relationships affected by betrayal or addiction. Tune in to learn how to navigate the complexities of intimacy and create a fulfilling sex life with your partner.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: JeremyLipkowitz.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Kirsten T:

🌍 Website: https://www.thenakedconnection.com/

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nakedconnection/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenakedconnection/

🎙️ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-naked-connection-master-sex-dating-relationships/id1713413210

https://open.spotify.com/show/3MlNASxb5mYDZGGQotnDta

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction 
00:44 Meet Kirsten: Therapist and Tantric Sex Coach
03:55 Kirsten's Personal Journey to Intimacy
09:50 Understanding Tantra and Its Misconceptions
17:02 The Importance of Training and Communication in Intimacy
24:39 Rebuilding Intimacy in Relationships
31:17 Opening Up Intimate Conversations
33:13 Desire-Focused Questions
36:53 Collaborative Solutions
40:36 Navigating Betrayal and Rebuilding Trust
46:34 Transforming Your Sex Life
50:37 The Power of Choice and Change
54:59 Final Thoughts and Resources

🔹 Want to break free from porn? 

Join the Unhooked Academy now (Open only until December 8th!)
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

In today's episode, we discuss the crucial role of honesty in recovery from addiction. Explore how hiding from yourself and others keeps you trapped in denial and isolation, which fuels addiction. Learn four core practices to build honesty: borrowing courage from other men, choosing safe spaces, regulating your body before speaking, and practicing honesty in small doses. 

The support is available through Unhooked Academy. Join us to understand how honest communication can transform your recovery journey.

🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: JeremyLipkowitz.com/intro

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
00:58 Facing the Fear of Being Honest
01:39 The Cost of Hiding
02:05 The Foundation of Recovery: Honesty
02:29 Unhooked Academy Enrollment
03:13 The Weight of Dishonesty
06:58 Core Practices for Honesty
12:00 Invitation to Practice Honesty
12:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts