In this episode, we discuss the difference between addiction & dependence, convenient diagnoses, compulsive sexual behavior within bipolar disorder & OCD, how to identify sex addiction & what recovery looks like.

Dr. Joshua Grubbs is an addiction researcher who found his interest in sex addiction in college (not as exciting as it sounds). He’s since published over 100 papers on sexual compulsive behavior disorder & serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Center on Alcohol, Substance use & Addiction at the University of New Mexico.

This episode originally aired February 13, 2023.

If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 156: SHOULD SEX BE SAVED FOR MARRIAGE?

Guest:

https://twitter.com/JoshuaGrubbsPhD

https://www.joshuagrubbsphd.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-grubbs-a3aa05267/

https://www.lifeafterpornography.com/privacy33621776

Host:

https://www.meredithforreal.com/

https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/

meredith@meredithforreal.com

https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal

https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors:

https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/

https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/

0:00 – Why we tackle taboo topics
2:16 – Is “sex addiction” just an excuse?
3:21 – Meet the researcher untangling the myth
5:41 – What really makes something an addiction?
9:11 – From ancient myths to modern labels
13:26 – Why novelty (not tolerance) drives porn use
17:51 – Cheater… or compulsive addict?
22:41 – When hypersexuality is a symptom, not a sin
26:41 – Addiction, OCD, or trauma response?
31:31 – How shame makes people self-diagnose
36:56 – The classic cases researchers look for
41:16 – Warning signs you shouldn’t ignore
45:51 – What recovery actually looks like
50:21 – Why you should be cautious online
54:11 – Where to learn more from Dr. Grubbs
56:31 – Next episode: psychedelics & grief

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Rachel Bernstein is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Cult Specialist & the Host of the IndoctriNation Podcast. She has spent the last 35 years helping former cult members & those who have had loved ones in cults, focusing on emotional abuse recovery, identity repair & moral injury. In this episode she explains the psychology of political allegiance, why religion & politics always fuse together, thought stopping cliches & media influence vs media manipulation.

If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 229: IS YOUR HAPPINESS BEING POLITICIZED? CULTURE, CORTISOL & THE BRAIN

Guest: https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/rachelbernsteintherapy | https://www.instagram.com/indoctrinationpodcast/ | https://open.spotify.com/show/1prXo4iIxUfjYpfX671cUD?si=3522f54be4ae456f | https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/book--journal.html

Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Michael Glawson is a PhD philosopher of science, technology, religion & ethics. As an ethicist, he has created corporate ethics training for government organizations & fortune 500 companies. In this episode, he puts into plain language the ever evolving world of AI.

We cover Anthropic’s recent report of their AI technology blackmailing two of their executives in a recent sandboxed experiment, why AI isn’t as smart as you think, why AI can re-write its own rules, what experts think about our future with AI, the reality of robot romance & practical tips for the average person.

If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 168: WELCOME TO THE FUTURE: AI, SMART CITIES & DATA NESTING DOLLS

Guest: https://www.instagram.com/michaelglawson/ | https://www.facebook.com/michaelglawson | https://x.com/MichaelGlawson | https://linktr.ee/michaelglawson | michaelglawson@me.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmglawson/

Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Before Lauren Sisler was an Emmy award-winning ESPN sideline reporter, she was an 18-year-old in her dorm room when she found out that her parents had died just hours of each other due to a hidden battle with opioids.

When her world came crashing down, the next decade became a wrestling match with the truth. In this episode, she’s going to share her story & unpack her thoughts on legacy, shame & identity for what you’re sure to find as a more relatable American experience.

We talk about how her parents secret financial problems & prescription drug addiction led to compartmentalized identities, the pain of truth vs the pain of denial & how shame & grief can create a confusing mess.

If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 278: MORBID OR SACRED? LET’S TALK ABOUT DEATH (WITH A DEATH DOULA)

Guest: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenSisler | https://www.instagram.com/laurensisler/ | https://x.com/LaurenSisler | https://a.co/d/ep7fTHc

Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Our first ever FEED DROP SWAP! I'm personally endorsing UAP STUDIES Podcast because I know how much you all love the UFO topic! This week's episode is a sample of their show - an episode I picked that I think you'll love. Listening supports my show, but the real magic happens when you also subscribe to the UAP Studies Podcast & download a few episodes for later (they are doing the same for us)!

The UAP Studies Podcast is hosted by Jason Guillemette, Dr Michael Glawson & Katie Paige. Each episode unpacks aspects of high strangeness with names you might know like Garry Nolan, Jacques Vallee & Michael Masters & promise to be the deep dive you’re NOT getting anywhere else.

This episode is with veteran investigative journalist George Knapp & you'll hear him reflect on his Netflix documentary experience, challenges in UFO journalism & Skinwalker Ranch stories you’ve never heard before!

Guest podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uapstudies/ | https://www.youtube.com/@UAPStudies | https://www.linkedin.com/in/uapstudies/ | https://www.facebook.com/uappodcast/ | https://x.com/UapStudies | https://open.spotify.com/show/5oK09tjBdQUKC6ypBqtoDu?si=b0c6ee2f28694153

Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Dr. Benjamin Bergen is a Cognitive Science professor at the University of California San Diego, the author of the book, What the F, and was featured on the Netflix series “The History of Swear Words.” Here he shares what makes a word bad, discusses the future of cussing, the efficacy of word prohibition & the cultural influence of cursing etymology around the world.

This episode originally aired August 22, 2022.

If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 245: IS SKIPPING SMALL TALK AN OPTION? UBERS, ELEVATORS & FAMILY [REMASTERED]

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-bergen-a89b763/ | https://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-K-Bergen/e/B00DVR8POC/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk

Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Pranic healing, known as acupuncture without needles, is a type of biofield therapy belonging to the family of naturopathic medicine. Jason Yuan is a certified Associate Pranic Healer, with a bachelor’s in Biology & a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Masters in Acupuncture. In this episode, you’ll hear how pranic healing helped him go from hospitalized with eczema to nearly completely healed, pranic healing vs placebo vs reiki & what this modality’s success may tell us about the nature of consciousness.

If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 285: IS HEART COHERENCE A CHAOS CURE-ALL? HEALTH, BEHAVIOR & INTUITION

Guest: https://www.instagram.com/pranichealingpodcast/ | https://www.drjasonyuan.com/ | https://x.com/DrJasonYuan | https://www.facebook.com/drjasonyuan | https://stan.store/drjasonyuan | https://www.princetonventure.studio/consciousness

Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/

Catherine De Noir has two Masters degrees & is a PhD student. She has also been a brothel manager in Western Europe for nine years. You’ll hear stories of clients like the unironic plumber & the man who sold his house as well as insights from the sex workers, like the secret of their top earning woman. We discuss what these moments teach us about the things that connect & disconnect us from each other & what her hopes are for the future of sex work.

If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 214: WHAT ARE THE RULES OF MONOGAMY? THE PSYCHOLOGIST SWINGER

Guest: https://www.instagram.com/catherine_de_noire/ | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573525179649 | https://www.tiktok.com/@kate.denoire | https://onlyfans.com/catherinedenoire

Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ | meredith@meredithforreal.com | https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal | https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert

Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ | https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/

Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/