Podcasts about Puberty

For a hundred years, parents attempting to undertake creative endeavours have had a ready-made excuse, courtesy of Cyril Connolly: “The enemy of art is the pram in the hall.”Kids, the thinking goes, are where creativity goes to die. But Austin Kleon thinks Connolly got it exactly backwards.This month on the podcast, I sat down with Austin—author of the New York Times bestselling trilogy Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work and Keep Going—to talk about his new book, Don't Call It Art: 10 Ways to Create Like a Kid Again. This book is a love letter to his two sons, and a collection of everything they taught him about creativity.Austin spent his career helping people tap into their creative potential, Then his kids arrived, and he realised he wasn't the teacher anymore. He was, in his words, “the apprentice to the beginners,” the studio assistant in his own home, saving the drawings, keeping the paper trail, and watching two small artists figure out how to “let it rip.”We talk about why children aren't an obstacle to your creative life but an opportunity for it to grow, the gentle art of benevolent neglect, and how watching your kids create might be the best way to quiet your own inner critic—and re-parent the artist you used to be.Subscribe to the Podcast* Spotify* Apple Podcasts* YouTube* Pocket CastsWhere to Find Austin Kleon* Buy Don't Call it Art* Read his blog, especially the parenting tag* Subscribe to his newsletter* Follow him on InstagramEpisode ReferencesBooks & Essays* The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson* The Idle Parent Manifesto by Tom Hodgkinson* Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman* Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg* 100 Essays I Don't Have Time To Write by Sarah Ruhl* The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson* Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs by Sally Mann* Playing With My Son by Andy Baio* Heidi's Horse by Sylvia Fein* American Elf by James KochalkaFeatured Artists, Musicians & Innovators* John Baldessari – The legendary conceptual artist whose revolutionary “Post-Studio Art” teaching style shaped a generation of creators.* Creative Growth: Childhood to Maturity at MoMA – The historic 1939 solo exhibition tracking artist Dahlov Ipcar's development from a young child to an adult.* Lynda Barry – The MacArthur-winning cartoonist, author of What It Is, and professor of interdisciplinary creativity.* Ruth Asawa – The brilliant San Francisco wire sculptor who believed art education should be accessible to all children.* Eleanor Coppola – The visionary documentary filmmaker who beautifully balanced her own creative life alongside an iconic filmmaking family.* Brian Eno – The experimental ambient music pioneer whose philosophy centers on answering the ultimate creative question: “What is it that I actually like?”* Michel de Montaigne – The Renaissance essayist whose father instituted a spartan pedagogical plan, including raises with peasants and learning Latin as a first language.Misc* Cyril Connolly's “Pram in the Hall”* Jeff Tweedy on Making Art without ControlTimestamps03:10 — Pre-publication anxiety and “the gulp”: Austin's advice for a first-time author05:03 — Why a second book is like a second child06:04 — Austin's family: Megan, two boys, and a houseful of weirdos in Austin, Texas07:12 — A love letter to his kids: bottling the energy of two “cavemen Picassos”09:55 — Growing up in rural Ohio: pigs, county fairs, and a broad definition of creative work12:10 — Ken Robinson's “I'm drawing a picture of God” story13:29 — Puberty and the arrival of the inner critic14:31 — Milton Glaser's perfect combination: a mother who says “you can do anything,” a father who says “prove it”16:11 — Parenting tension as a guitar string: freedom, constraint, and Bringing Up Bébé18:50 — The story of how Owen held his pen—and the magic line that disappeared22:31 — Benevolent neglect: D.H. Lawrence, The Idle Parent, and butting out25:25 — “I was the apprentice to the beginners”: becoming the studio assistant in his own home25:59 — Where Don't Call It Art comes from: John Baldessari and why the title disarms the critics27:40 — Capture mode: diaries, one-liners, and drawing comics of your kids30:57 — Save the drawings: Heidi's Horse, Dahlov Ipcar at MoMA, and keeping a paper trail39:03 — What Owen's music taught Austin: Brian Eno and “what do I actually like?”41:41 — Unrepeatable experiments: Montaigne's Latin, Kraftwerk over The Beatles, and Andy Baio's video game history44:37 — Scarcity vs. abundance fatherhood: Kevin learns piano alongside his daughter45:58 — The pram in the hall is wrong: what mother-artist memoirs taught Austin about integration52:09 — “Go to therapy before you have kids”: what children reflect back at you, and re-parenting yourself with Fiona AppleCreditsHost: Kevin MaguireManaging Producer: Elizabeth Van BrocklinSound Editor: Sam WilliamsTheme Music: SOHN Get full access to The New Fatherhood at www.thenewfatherhood.org/subscribe

In this episode, Tara welcomes OB-GYN and author, known as @theperioddoctor, Dr. Charis Chambers to explore how parents can revolutionize their approach to talking about puberty and menstruation, fostering respect, confidence, and health in adolescents. Dr. Charis shares powerful insights from her new book and experience, emphasizing early, honest, and ongoing conversations as the cornerstone of positive change. Key topics: The importance of early and consistent puberty education Overcoming generational shame and secrecy around periods Building trust and respect through open dialogue How parental reactions shape children's body image and confidence Practical tips for talking about menstruation with children and teens The role of trusted adults and resources, including the Little Words Project bracelet Addressing misconceptions and gaps in medical and educational systems The impact of societal and cultural influences on puberty conversations Strategies for parents of boys to support understanding of menstrual health The importance of balancing digital connection with mindful presence Tune into this episode if you want to have a different (more empowering) conversation with your children than your mother had with you! Links: https://www.instagram.com/theperioddoctor https://amzn.to/4euBJhZ https://www.youtube.com/@ThePeriodDoctor Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When puberty hits earlier and emotions run higher, the conversations we have with our kids about their bodies, sex, and consent matter more than ever. Kids are already learning about these topics earlier and earlier from peers, media and the world around them. To help parents keep up, host Elise Hu revisits earlier conversations with Dr. Cara Natterson and Dr. Nadine Thornhill with their expert guidance for parents supporting kids through puberty, adulthood, and relationships. Dr. Natterson first offers advice on answering tough questions, sharing the science behind changing bodies, and how parents can start – and restart – hard conversations again and again. Dr. Thornhill later breaks down how parents can start teaching consent with age-appropriate language early, and shares her strategies for creating judgment-free spaces for open conversations, curiosity, and the foundation for healthy relationships. Key Takeaways: Practice humility when having conversations that might not have landed the first time. Teach kids the science behind puberty, to make it feel less foreign. Cooperatively create strategies with your child ahead of time to tackle mood swings or big emotions as they happen. Own your values, state the facts, avoid myths when tackling harder conversations. Mirror consent in your relationship with your kids, to encourage healthy relationships of their own. ⏱️ Timestamps: Keep the conversation going at home with our FREE Conversation Kit companion guides:  Puberty: https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/635fc50075e16277/a79a12e9a0e00e65 Sex & Consent: https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/9b568f6658d0ea66/888e268eaecfb4cd Follow Dr. Cara Natterson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caranatterson Learn more from Dr. Nadine Thornhill: https://everybodycurious.com New episodes every Tuesday: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AKidsCo Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-us-a-parenting-podcast/id1552286967 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2bIRVxM8hbriNxydkSv6VG Or wherever you get your podcasts.

Is it time to have the puberty chat? What is the best approach?Puberty is arguably one of the biggest hormonal changes a child will go through during their life. It is a time of rapid physical and emotional change and development for your child. We are excited to welcome back our Paediatrician Dr Lexi Frydenberg to share her insights on how to support your child through puberty. We discuss what actually happens through the different stages of puberty, early signs to look out for and ways to support open discussions with your child so they feel supported on their journey and you will be prepared for those curly questions.  We discuss: - What age children go through puberty- Is the timing different for boys and girls- The early signs of puberty for girls- The early signs of puberty in boys- What changes occur physically and emotionally to girls during puberty- When girls are likely to get their period and the different sanitary options on the market- The changes that occur physically and emotionally to boys during puberty- We discuss masturbation and wet dreams and Dr Lexi's tips on how parents can have open conversations with their children - We talk about acne during puberty and Dr Lexi's tips- We discuss when puberty is likely to finish for girls and boys- We discuss the emotional rollercoaster that puberty can be and how parents can tell the difference between tween/teen attitude and the emotional challenges of hormonal fluctuation- Dr Lexi shares her tips on how parents can start the puberty discussion- Dr Lexi shares her advice on how to navigate tricky questions- Dr Lexi suggests what parents can try if their child completely shuts down when trying to discuss pubertyNever forget Parents You've Got This Parents You've Got This - The Expert Guide To Parenthood Podcast is proudly supported by Mustela natural origin skincare, by parents' side since 1950.Follow us Social: Instagram: @parentsyouvegotthis_auThreads @parentsyouvegotthis_auTikTok: @partentsyouvegotthis_auFacebook: @parentsyouvegotthis__________________________________Parents You've Got This offers antenatal and postnatal parenting education and Masterclasses from the planning phase to early preschool. Learn more: ⁠⁠parentsyouvegotthis.com.au⁠⁠Credits: Producer Dean Thomas, Camera person Tim Hehir, Content and Hosts Parents You've Got ThisThank you Think HQ for the beautiful podcast recording space

What do hormones actually do—and why are they often misunderstood? We talk with Dr. Gillian Goddard, an endocrinologist and author of The Hormone Loop: An Empowering Guide to Restoring Hormonal Harmony from Puberty to Menopause. Dr. Goddard explains how hormones affect far more than reproduction, influencing everything from metabolism and sleep to mood, stress responses, and cardiovascular health. She breaks down the concept of the "hormone loop" and explains the four major hormonal systems that work together to keep our bodies functioning: reproductive, thyroid, growth hormone, and adrenal (stress) loops. The conversation explores how hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause can affect the entire body—not just reproductive health. We also discuss why women's symptoms are so often dismissed, how cultural attitudes about hormones can prevent women from seeking care, and why tracking symptoms can help patients advocate for themselves more effectively. Other topics include: The relationship between estrogen, the immune system, and thyroid disorders Hormone replacement therapy: benefits, misconceptions, and current research The role of GLP-1 medications in midlife health and weight management Here's where you can find Dr. Goddard: @thesavvypatient on IG https://savvypatient.substack.com Buy THE HORMONE LOOP: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780063455047 What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: ⁠⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Ash Said It Show, host Ash Brown interviews Nicole, the founder of Wombilee, to discuss the intersection of innovation, menstrual equity, and holistic womb wellness. This episode provides an in-depth analysis of why the feminine care industry is shifting toward non-toxic alternatives and how graphene technology is being used to improve physiological health during menstruation. Nicole explains the Wombilee origin story and their mission to help women reclaim their personal power by reframing the monthly cycle. The conversation addresses critical topics, including the global crisis of period poverty and how Wombilee's giveback initiatives promote menstrual equity. For listeners managing chronic health conditions such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids, Nicole details why Wombilee's 7-layer protection system offers superior support compared to traditional heavy-flow menstrual products. Throughout the episode, Nicole shares actionable "womb health" wellness habits and strategies for integrating non-toxic self-care into a daily routine. This interview serves as a definitive resource for women seeking to understand the science behind modern feminine hygiene, the necessity of chemical-free products, and the systemic change required to improve menstrual health outcomes globally. Web: https://wombilee.com/ Follow: @wombilee About Wombilee: Wombilee is a biotechnology-focused feminine care company specializing in non-toxic menstrual wellness solutions. By integrating advanced graphene technology into its product line, Wombilee provides superior absorbency and physiological comfort compared to conventional synthetic pads. The company is defined by its commitment to menstrual equity and the mitigation of period poverty through global giveback initiatives. Wombilee's mission, "It all begins with you," focuses on empowering individuals to prioritize womb health and endocrine-safe self-care. Wombilee serves as an authority on the impact of chemical-free products on reproductive health, offering specialized, high-capacity 7-layer protection designed to support individuals managing chronic conditions such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. - Ready to ignite the spark that levels up your entire life? Meet Ash Brown—the American powerhouse, motivational architect, and ultimate hype-woman dedicated to your personal and professional evolution. Ash is far more than a voice in the personal development space; she is a trusted ally who delivers a masterclass in real-talk wisdom and infectious energy. Whether you are navigating a crossroads or ready to scale your grandest ambitions, Ash fuels your journey with a high-octane blend of heart and hustle.

"The SCREENS of the parents....revisit on the sons + daughters!" - Daniel Louzonis Click here to reach Chrissy's mission support page. Check out the new Naples, Florida Einstein Blueprint Academy ! Order my new hardcover book -> https://www.zerogravitykids.com/ Order my rebellious hs'ing book -> https://www.homeschoolsecrets.com/

Send us Fan Mail This week on Smack Talk City, we uncover the greatest act of podcast theft since someone first put two microphones in front of two idiots and called it content. Apparently Joe and James from Fact Up have taken one look at our carefully crafted format, unplanned waffle, half-remembered facts, questionable animal knowledge, occasional Office references and the general sense that nobody knows where any of this is going, and decided to build a whole podcast around it. Rude, frankly. We're not angry. We're just disappointed.Once we've dealt with the obvious intellectual property crime, we get into Britain's inability to cope with any weather that isn't mildly disappointing, Southwest Trains turning a short journey into a hostage situation, dogs with poor communication skills, school proms, leavers books, and the profound mystery of whether fish actually like to swim or are simply trapped by biology. There's also a deep philosophical dismantling of the classic “lion doesn't concern itself with the opinions of sheep” quote, mainly because we're not convinced the sheep ever met the lion in the first place. Then, naturally, we end up reminiscing about school, cheap beer, playground swings, and Dan's frankly unfair puberty. Also featuring: sweaty trains, trash swans, bunk light bills, Steve barking, and the brutal truth that some people simply win puberty harder than others.  Warning: Contains sausages, swearing, nostalgia, and absolutely no measurable personal development. #getamongstthemeat

Today we're sharing with you part of an episode from our new special series, Brains On Universe Presents: Puberty! (the podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. This is an excerpt covering stuff that any one of any age might be interested in. Last week, we looked at skin, sweat and hair. Want to learn more about growing? Check out this Brains On episode: Why do our bodies take so long to grow? In the Puberty podcast feed, we'll dive deeper into each topic. And answer your questions, with help from super smart experts. Want to support the show? Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Smarty Pass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to ad-free episodes or donate! Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠head to our events page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. More shows announced soon! May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI Click ⁠here⁠ for a transcript of this episode.

In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with Nicky Keay to talk about puberty, periods, hormones, and how they affect young athletes physically and mentally during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.For many gymnasts, puberty can feel confusing and frustrating. Skills suddenly feel different, emotions feel bigger, and bodies begin to change in ways athletes are often taught to fear instead of understand.Dr. Keay explains why these changes are not something athletes should fight against. Hormones play a critical role in bone health, strength, recovery, cognition, and long-term athletic performance. While puberty can temporarily affect coordination, balance, and confidence, it is also what helps young athletes grow into stronger, healthier women.We also discuss the importance of fueling properly during adolescence, especially in sports like gymnastics and dance where underfueling is extremely common. Dr. Keay explains how missing or irregular periods can be a warning sign of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and why parents and coaches should pay attention early.One of the most helpful parts of this conversation is learning how athletes can better understand their own menstrual cycles instead of fearing them. Rather than seeing periods as a weakness, athletes can learn patterns, prepare ahead of time, and build confidence through awareness and recovery.In this episode you will hearWhy puberty changes athletic performance How hormones affect strength, recovery, and coordination Why missing periods can signal RED-S How underfueling impacts health and performance Why body changes during puberty are normal and necessary How athletes can track and work with their menstrual cycles Why parents and coaches need to create healthier conversations around pubertyThis conversation is a powerful reminder that puberty is not the end of an athlete's potential. With the right support, nutrition, and understanding, young athletes can grow into stronger, healthier, and more confident competitors.Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990BurFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.comReady to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

We've all been through puberty. It was sometimes traumatic, mostly awkward, it even had its endearing moments - and going through it shaped the way we think about ourselves and how we show up in the world. In this ep, you share your puberty war stories, and we investigate the mysterious phenomenon called ‘second puberty'. Because, jump scare, it might not be over. SHOW NOTES:What Happens When You Stop The Pill: https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/stopping-pill-10-ways-body-changesSecond pubertyhttps://www.healthline.com/health/second-puberty#summaryDM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: thehookup@abc.net.auThe Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

Puberty is something everyone goes through in life. But it is an uncomfortable topic to talk about for many. A new podcast is putting puberty front and center of the conversation. Presented by Brains On Universe, the podcast is simply titled “Puberty (The Podcast).” It's designed for kids ages 7-12 and is also a resource for parents helping their kids navigate their changing bodies and brains. The show's host and executive producer, Molly Bloom, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

Autoimmune Conditions: Why They Happen (and Why Women Are Most Affected)Autoimmune conditions are on the rise—and if you're dealing with symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, or hormone imbalances, you're not alone.What many people don't realize is that autoimmune conditions are not random. They are often the result of underlying imbalances in the body.At Thrive Functional Health, we take a root-cause approach to help uncover what's really driving these conditions—and more importantly, how to support the body in healing.An autoimmune condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.Instead of protecting you from harmful invaders, the immune system becomes dysregulated, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage.https://www.thrivecfh.com/functional-medicine⁠This can affect many areas of the body, including:Thyroid (Hashimoto's, Graves')Joints (Rheumatoid arthritis)Gut (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis)Skin (eczema, psoriasis)Autoimmune symptoms often develop gradually and may include:Chronic fatigueBrain fogJoint pain or stiffnessDigestive issues (bloating, food sensitivities)Hormonal imbalancesSkin issuesAnxiety or mood changesThese symptoms are often early warning signs that the immune system is under stress.Approximately 80% of individuals with autoimmune conditions are women.This is due to several key factors:Estrogen stimulates immune activity, increasing antibody production and immune responsiveness.Women have two X chromosomes, which carry many immune-related genes, increasing susceptibility to immune dysregulation.Chronic stress impacts cortisol levels, which play a critical role in regulating inflammation and immune function.Puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause all create shifts in the immune system.Research suggests that up to 75% of autoimmune conditions are driven by environmental factors.Some of the most common include:The health of the gut is central to immune function. Issues like leaky gut and dysbiosis can trigger immune activation.Gluten can increase intestinal permeability and trigger immune responses in susceptible individuals.Exposure to heavy metals, mold, pesticides, and chemicals increases inflammation and immune burden.Chronic or past infections can keep the immune system in a constant state of activation.Chronic stress disrupts immune regulation and increases inflammation.Nutrition plays a powerful role in calming inflammation and supporting immune balance.Leafy greensHealthy fats (olive oil, avocado)Wild-caught fish (rich in omega-3s)Fermented foodsHerbs and spices like turmeric and gingerGlutenProcessed foodsRefined sugar and artificial sweetenersIndustrial seed oilsOne of our favorite supportive tools in the clinic is a high-quality omega-3 supplement.Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) have been extensively studied for their role in:Reducing inflammationSupporting joint healthModulating immune functionImproving brain and mood healthFor individuals dealing with autoimmune symptoms—especially joint pain and stiffness—this can be an important part of a comprehensive plan.At Thrive Functional Health, we don't just manage symptoms—we look for the root cause.This includes:Advanced lab testingPersonalized nutrition plansGut healing protocolsHormone and stress supportBecause no two autoimmune cases are the same.Autoimmune conditions are not something you simply have to live with.When you begin to understand the “why” behind your symptoms, you can take meaningful steps toward healing.If you're ready to explore a root-cause approach, we're here to help.Schedule your Free Health Consultation today:https://www.thrivecfh.com/functional-medicineLet's uncover what's really going on—and create a plan that works for you.

Today we're sharing with you part of an episode from our new special series, Brains On Universe Presents: Puberty! (the podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. This is an excerpt covering stuff that any one of any age might be interested in. Last week, we answered: what's puberty anyway? In the Puberty podcast feed, we'll dive deeper into each topic. And answer your questions, with help from super smart experts. Want to support the show? Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Smarty Pass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to ad-free episodes or donate! Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠head to our events page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. More shows announced soon! May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI Click here for a transcript of this episode.

Send us Fan MailPregnenolone, a neurosteroid derived from cholesterol, affects brain activity and shows promise for treating mood and substance abuse disorders.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Steroid Biosynthesis: Cholesterol converted to pregnenolone, the precursor for all steroid hormones including cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormones.Corticosteroids: Synthetic versions like prednisone primarily target glucocorticoid receptors for anti-inflammatory uses but can impact mood and cognition.Pregnenolone Mechanisms: Positive allosteric modulator of NMDA receptors for cognition and negative allosteric modulator of CB1 cannabinoid receptors.Allopregnanolone: GABAergic derivative of pregnenolone; its IV form Brexanolone is FDA-approved for postpartum depression.Clinical Trials: Pregnenolone at 100-500 mg improved depressive symptoms in placebo-controlled studies of bipolar disorder patients.Cannabis Interaction: THC robustly induces brain pregnenolone production; supplementation may reduce cannabis and alcohol use.Corticosteroid Brain Impact: Prednisone use associated with smaller hippocampal volumes and memory deficits.ABOUT THE GUEST: Sherwood Brown, MD, PhD is Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. With a background in chemistry, his research focuses on steroids and comorbidities in people with mood disorders.RELATED EPISODE:M&M 124: Hormonal Contraception, Sex Hormones, Menstruation, Pregnancy, Puberty, Estrogens, Androgens, Effects of Birth Control on Cognition | Adriene BeltzSupport the showHealth Products by M&M Partners:AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they're hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app.SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

Parents often want to talk to their kids about puberty and periods, but many don't know where to start. In this episode, I'm joined by pediatric and adolescent gynecologist Dr. Charis Chambers to talk about how we can change the way families approach these conversations. From stigma and misinformation to the fear of saying the wrong thing, we break down why avoiding these discussions can leave kids confused, scared, or learning from the wrong sources. We discuss how to introduce puberty and body changes in age-appropriate ways, why boys should be included in these conversations, and how parents can shift from one awkward “talk” to an ongoing dialog that builds trust. Dr. Chambers also explains the science behind periods, addresses common misconceptions about hormonal therapy, and shares powerful stories from her clinical experience that highlight why this education matters for a child's long-term relationship with their body and health. In this episode we discuss: ✔️ Why many kids feel scared when their first period starts ✔️ How to start puberty conversations earlier and more naturally ✔️ Why boys should learn about periods too ✔️ The difference between privacy and secrecy when talking about bodies ✔️ How stigma around periods gets passed down through generations ✔️ Why hormonal therapy is often misunderstood ✔️ How open conversations build trust between parents and kids To connect with Dr. Charis Chambers follow her on Instagram @theperioddoctor, check out all her resources at https://theperioddoctor.com and buy her new book: https://www.amazon.com/Period-Puberty-Parenting-Revolution-Conversation/dp/1464233802?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn1W3WTCmZ7O5OBTdANGfFNf3Qt3tBhR3ysalxz3dPwNe50CLKDpwfK9vbRiY_aem_POnDC67y5COyXEaA3xsKVQ  00:00 Why Puberty and Period Talks Matter 02:16 Meet Dr. Charis Chambers and Her New Book 04:01 Why She Wrote The Puberty and Period Parenting Revolution 06:17 Why Kids Need to Learn About Bodies From Parents First 08:42 Is There Such a Thing as Talking Too Early About Puberty? 10:54 Why Boys Need to Be Part of Period Conversations Too 12:35 Privacy vs Secrecy, How Parents Can Normalize Periods 14:00 How Media and Shame Shape Period Stigma 18:40 Why This Needs to Be an Ongoing Conversation, Not One Talk 22:31 How to Explain Anatomy Without Making It Awkward 28:15 What Happens When Kids Are Left in the Dark About Periods 33:54 Hormonal Therapy vs Birth Control, What Parents Should Know 41:29 How to Build Trust When Parents Feel Nervous or Behind 45:05 What Dr. Charis Hopes This Book Changes for Families Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don't forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parents often want to talk to their kids about puberty and periods, but many don't know where to start. In this episode, I'm joined by pediatric and adolescent gynecologist Dr. Charis Chambers to talk about how we can change the way families approach these conversations. From stigma and misinformation to the fear of saying the wrong thing, we break down why avoiding these discussions can leave kids confused, scared, or learning from the wrong sources. We discuss how to introduce puberty and body changes in age-appropriate ways, why boys should be included in these conversations, and how parents can shift from one awkward “talk” to an ongoing dialog that builds trust. Dr. Chambers also explains the science behind periods, addresses common misconceptions about hormonal therapy, and shares powerful stories from her clinical experience that highlight why this education matters for a child's long-term relationship with their body and health. In this episode we discuss: ✔️ Why many kids feel scared when their first period starts ✔️ How to start puberty conversations earlier and more naturally ✔️ Why boys should learn about periods too ✔️ The difference between privacy and secrecy when talking about bodies ✔️ How stigma around periods gets passed down through generations ✔️ Why hormonal therapy is often misunderstood ✔️ How open conversations build trust between parents and kids To connect with Dr. Charis Chambers follow her on Instagram @theperioddoctor, check out all her resources at https://theperioddoctor.com and buy her new book: https://www.amazon.com/Period-Puberty-Parenting-Revolution-Conversation/dp/1464233802?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn1W3WTCmZ7O5OBTdANGfFNf3Qt3tBhR3ysalxz3dPwNe50CLKDpwfK9vbRiY_aem_POnDC67y5COyXEaA3xsKVQ  00:00 Why Puberty and Period Talks Matter 02:16 Meet Dr. Charis Chambers and Her New Book 04:01 Why She Wrote The Puberty and Period Parenting Revolution 06:17 Why Kids Need to Learn About Bodies From Parents First 08:42 Is There Such a Thing as Talking Too Early About Puberty? 10:54 Why Boys Need to Be Part of Period Conversations Too 12:35 Privacy vs Secrecy, How Parents Can Normalize Periods 14:00 How Media and Shame Shape Period Stigma 18:40 Why This Needs to Be an Ongoing Conversation, Not One Talk 22:31 How to Explain Anatomy Without Making It Awkward 28:15 What Happens When Kids Are Left in the Dark About Periods 33:54 Hormonal Therapy vs Birth Control, What Parents Should Know 41:29 How to Build Trust When Parents Feel Nervous or Behind 45:05 What Dr. Charis Hopes This Book Changes for Families Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don't forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're making a special eight episode show called Brains On Universe Presents Puberty (The Podcast). You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Over the next few weeks we're going to play some excerpts from the series for you here. These samples cover stuff like how hormones help us grow, how they change our skin - think zits – and how they affect our moods. We picked topics that should be appropriate for everyone interested in how bodies grow. In the Puberty podcast feed, we'll dive deeper into each topic. And answer your questions, with help from super smart experts. Want to support the show? Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Smarty Pass⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to ad-free episodes or donate! Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠head to our events page⁠⁠⁠⁠. More shows announced soon! May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI Click ⁠here for a transcript of this episode.

Molly Nikolas, Ph.D., explores current research on early puberty in youth with ADHD, including how pubertal timing may differ for girls with ADHD, the impact of puberty on ADHD assessment and treatment, and the mental-health consequences of early puberty. Resources: ADHD and Puberty Free Download: Menstrual Cycle Workbook Read: ADHD and the Turbulence of Puberty Read: Protecting the Emotional Health of Girls with ADHD Read: ADHD in Women and Girls: Why Female Symptoms Slip Through Diagnostic Cracks Access the video and slides for podcast episode #6045 here: https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/puberty-girls-adhd-mental-health/ This episode is brought to you by NOCD, the world's leading provider of specialized OCD treatment. Learn more at https://learn.nocd.com/ADHDExperts. This episode is also sponsored by the podcast Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson. Search for "Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson" in your podcast app or find links to listen at https://lnk.to/hyperfocusPS!adhdexperts. Thank you for listening to ADDitude's ADHD Experts podcast. Please consider subscribing to the magazine (additu.de/subscribe) to support our mission of providing ADHD education and support.

This week Alice and Doug welcome Nick “Atlantic City” Gonzalez back to the show for games and shenanigans. Nick lets us all in on an embarrassing and painful childhood story involving a very sensitive area. He's also subjected to some troubling thoughts about pies, beach flatulence, and…giraffe snakes?And his only reward? Some three-day old doughnuts. It truly is Going Terribly.Other discussion topics may include:- Puberty reversal- Do polar bears taste like Coca-Cola?- How to make Harriet Tubman into a ball joke- What happens when you tickle Elmo too hard?- Pretty girls and their universal GI issues

Body image researcher and Rutgers University psychology professor Dr. Charlotte Markey is back for a second time on the podcast. She has spent nearly three decades researching body image, and has written books for tweens, teens, boys, girls, and adults.We get into so much…including:* Body image as relational: how environment and relationships shape how we feel in our bodies* The father dynamic, achievement culture, and how a critical home environment affects girls* Biohacking and wellness culture as diet culture in disguise* What happens when food gets moralized into good and bad* Parents disparaging their own bodies and how it lands on daughters* Body dissatisfaction across racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds* Puberty: why normalizing it matters and why the conversation needs to extend beyond adolescence* How diet culture exploits women's hormonal life stages* Whether there is a critical window for body image intervention* Social media's impact on body shame and how to learn media literacy for critical thinking and protection* Body diversity and why the bodies we're sold are not achievable for most people* The protein obsession in wellness culture and why it's concerning in adolescents* What to do when your daughter is already struggling* How parents can audit their own relationship with food and body in service of their kidsCharlotte Markey, Ph.D., is a world-leading expert in body image research, having studied body image and eating behavior for nearly three decades. She is passionate about understanding what makes us feel good about our bodies and helping people to develop a healthy body image and relationship with food. Charlotte is an experienced book author, research scientist, clinician, speaker, and psychology professor at Rutgers University, Camden.Her books: https://www.thebodyimagebook.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/char_markeySubstack: https://drcharlottemarkey.substack.com/Find Full Plate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullplate.podcast/Find Abbie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbieattwoodwellness/Subscribe to the newsletter: https://abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/Listen to the first episode with Dr. Charlotte MarkeyFull Plate by Abbie Attwood is a reader-supported publication. To receive special posts, bonus episodes, and support this work, consider becoming paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit abbieattwoodwellness.substack.com/subscribe

Today on AirTalk: What is the risk of hantavirus? (0:30) UK politics check-in (17:43) New book on soap operas (34:46) New tech sector layoffs (51:30) Talking about puberty (1:17:58) Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The BMA has released their long awaited review of the Cass report. The original report looked at the provision of NHS gender identity services for children and young people, and involved a review of the science underpinning those services. It also set out a plan to improve care for gender diverse young people.  We talk with David Strain of the BMA's board of science to discuss their findings, and hear why they were critical of the Secretary of State, Wes Streeting's response to Cass's review. And, we hear about new research published with The BMJ that aims to help children with autism. The researchers used a non-invasive magnetic stimulation technique to target specific regions of the brain, with the goal of promoting sociality. We discuss the benefits, and how this technique might translate to treatment plans for patients. Guests: David Strain is an associate professor in cardio-metabolic health at the University of Exeter and Chair of the BMA's Board of Science. Benjamin Becker is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Hong Kong, specializing in brain-based interventions for mental disorders. Further reading: Puberty blockers: BMA critique vindicates Cass review but questions government “overreach” Accelerated non-invasive brain stimulation in childhood autism    

There are so many trends in skin care, from fun-shaped pimple patches to Korean sheet masks. They might seem like the latest fad, but did you know some of these beauty treatments have been around for hundreds of years? Join Joy and co-host Roop as they look back through skin care history, from the fashionable beauty marks of the French aristocracy to bird poop facials in Japan. Plus, something called a toilet mask. All that and a new First Things First! If you want to learn more about puberty, check out Brains On Universe Presents...Puberty! (The podcast). In this special limited series we're asking listener questions about what's happening in their bodies and their brains during this tricky and exciting time. Head to brainson.org/puberty or find it wherever you listen. Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!

If there was ever an episode to send to every parent you know, this is it.I sat down with Dr. Cara Natterson — pediatrician and author — and Vanessa Curl Bennett, and we went there. All the way there. Breast buds, NARBs, vaginal discharge (yes, we said it out loud), the sex talk, consent with kindergartners, and what to do when your kid's been watching porn before you've ever had the conversation.Their book, This Is So Awkward, is one of the most practical, honest, funny, and genuinely useful things I've read as a parent of teens. It walks you through the science of what's happening in your kid's body, helps you recognize your own baggage so it doesn't derail the conversation, gives you scripts for the actual hard moments, and — my favorite part — ends each section with perspective from young adults who've already been through it.We talked about: what breast buds actually mean (and why they're showing up years before a period), how to handle the first bra conversation without making it weird, what the NARB is and why your son needs a strategy for it, the concept of "not now" vs. "never" when it comes to alcohol, sex, and body hair, how the average age of first porn exposure is now 12 — and what that means for the conversations you need to have, and how to teach consent starting in kindergarten, long before sex ever enters the picture.I laughed. I cringed. I took notes. You will too. Find Cara and Vanessa at lessawkward.com.00:00:00 Introduction00:02:25 Breast Buds: The First Physical Sign of Puberty00:05:58 How the Puberty Timeline Has Shifted00:08:24 The Sign Most Parents Don't Know to Look For00:13:01 Breast Development in Boys — Yes, Really00:17:32 Introducing Bras Without the Shame Spiral00:24:24 Body Privacy & the White Soccer Jersey00:33:16 Not Now vs. Never00:37:39 Boys' Puberty: NARBs, Wet Dreams & Why It's Not a Punchline00:42:18 Hair, Manscaping & How to Start the Conversation00:53:46 When to Start the Sex Conversation00:56:11 Consent Starts in Kindergarten — and French Fries00:58:31 The Porn Data Every Parent Needs to Hear01:03:12 Where to Find Cara & VanessaHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In a “surprise” role, the cells regulate the neurons that produce gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

It's a tossed salad of questions from parents: periods, gayness, and circumcision. I was a little out of whack, so be patient as you listen/watch. Zoom changed something (where's the f-ing pause recording button?!!!), and I was malnourished.    Stuff I mentioned:  Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!): The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls Celebrate Your Body (Book Two) The Girl's Body Book Understanding and Supporting Puberty in Autistic Girls and Boys, Academic Video I mentioned.     Your next step? Check out The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent Learn more! BirdsAndBeesAndKids.com 30-minute Quickie Consultation Get clarity fast with a focused 30-minute session on your most concerning sex talk question. The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent All the topics you'll need to cover as your kids grow up! Puberty, consent, relationship, and sex (of course)!  The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for Parents of Autistic, ADHD and other Neurodivergent Kids Get the tools to communicate with your neurodivergent kid about sex, consent, and safety—without awkwardness or overwhelm. The Porn Talk Info Kit Simple tools for the porn and online safety talks—plus videos and tech tips to calm your worries. Includes a specific video for parents of neurodivergent kids.  

We're making a new limited series to tackle a topic that lots of our listeners are curious about. Puberty! It's a lot. There are the awkward conversations and the questions we're too nervous to ask and the sometimes uncomfortable experience of living in a body that's changing fast (and publicly!). This podcast is here to help. Hosted by Molly Bloom, of the award-winning science podcast Brains On, and co-hosted by high schoolers who've just been through it, Puberty! (The podcast) is for everybody — and every body. Designed for kids 7-12, the show will cover everything from brain chemicals to consent, in a straight-forward and digestible package. This is a safe space for young people to understand their bodies and their brains, and it's a resource for parents to tackle otherwise difficult topics. Experts, including Dr. Cara Natterson (Less Awkward), Chris Pepper (Talk to Your Boys), Nora Gelperin (Advocates for Youth), and Erin Walsh (Spark & Stitch Institute), provide science-filled explanations and answer listener questions. Search for Brains On Universe Presents: Puberty! (The podcast) wherever you listen!

Shania Twain is in Studio 1A to chat about hosting the ACM Awards. Also, a look at puberty in the modern world. Plus, how to have conversations with your kids about puberty. And, solving some decor dilemmas. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1 in 2 girls in the U.S. say they feel embarrassed or ashamed about their period and only 22% of U.S parents feel “very comfortable” talking to their kids about puberty. We need to rewrite this script, and our guest today, menstrual educator Amy Wilding, has written a book to do just that. Amy has supported hundreds of families through her Period of Change programs, helping them reclaim menarche as a sacred and empowered transition. She's also a queer and inclusive author, and today we're chatting about her latest book, Period Of Change: Welcoming Your Daughter's Period with Care and Confidence. As Amy says, this is not just a practical guide to puberty and periods. It is a call to reclaim what is our birthright: an understanding of our bodies and the framework for seeing the power and wisdom of our cyclical nature. Our chat today is full of practical guidance and tips to support the teens and tweens in your life through their menarche and beyond - my favourite were the conversation starters, especially when Amy shared the most important thing to say (and not say) to your child when they get their period for the first time. We explore:How to throw a Red Party for your child, and all kinds of ideas for how to celebrate together in big and small ways. The importance of how we speak about our bodies in front of our kids, and affirmations to help your daughter move through generations of cultural shame, silence and discomfort, and model how to honour our bodies and cycles. Amy's journey supporting her trans kid and guidance for how to show up as a supportive parent and maintain a connection of trust with trans kids when they're starting their periods.---Receive our free video training: Love Your Cycle, Discover the Power of Menstrual Cycle Awareness to Revolutionise Your Life - www.redschool.net/love---The Menstruality Podcast is hosted by Red School. We love hearing from you. To contact us, email info@redschool.net---Social media:Red School: @redschool - https://www.instagram.com/red.schoolSophie Jane Hardy: @sophie.jane.hardy - https://www.instagram.com/sophie.jane.hardyAmy Wilding: @amywildingofficial - https://www.instagram.com/amywildingofficial/

In a world where Alan is plagued by allergies making his voice extra deep. John and Alan discuss a new pc, a new macbook and a new camera. Some of which are more expensive than others. You can find all links mentioned  in this episode at https://polymatic.link/show136 Credits: Socials: Alan polymatic.link/alan Socials: John polymatic.link/john For feedback: podcast@polymatic.media Website polymatic.media

Talking to kids about sex can feel overwhelming—but avoiding the conversation doesn't make it easier. In this replay episode, Megan Michelson and Mary Flo Ridley break down how to approach these important topics in a way that feels natural, age-appropriate, and shame-free.Instead of relying on a single, awkward “talk,” they encourage parents to build an ongoing dialogue that evolves as kids grow. From early childhood curiosity to teenage years and deeper conversations about puberty and masturbation, this episode offers practical tools to help you stay calm, confident, and connected.We cover how to introduce basic biology (like seeds, eggs, and conception), how to respond when your child isn't interested in the conversation, and why tone matters more than perfection. You'll also learn how to navigate common parenting moments—like little ones exploring their bodies—without shame, while still setting healthy boundaries.As kids get older, the conversation shifts. Megan and Mary Flo share how to approach puberty, why “shoulder-to-shoulder” conversations can be more effective than face-to-face talks, and how to handle more complex topics like masturbation in a way that balances honesty, guidance, and emotional awareness.If you've ever felt unsure about when to start, what to say, or how to say it—this episode will give you a clear, grounded approach.What You'll Learn: Why “the talk” doesn't work—and what to do instead How to start conversations about bodies and sex at a young age Age-appropriate language for explaining reproduction and biology What to do when your child avoids or shuts down the conversation Why tone and delivery matter more than saying everything perfectly Connect with Birds & Bees:  Website: Birds and  Bees Instagram: Birds and Bees | Online Course | Megan Michelson (@birds__bees) Links Mentioned:  God's Design for Sex Series: By Stan &Brenna Jones Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys By David Thomas Related Episodes: Gender and Sexuality :: Preston Sprinkle [Ep 370] Let's Talk about Sex :: Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson [Ep 328] Sexual Identity and Radical Ordinary Hospitality :: Dr. Rosaria Butterfield [Ep 301] Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics: Amplify your spring look with Thrive Causemetics. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.  Cozy Earth: This spring, give yourself the kind of comfort that lives with you all day — not just the moment you get home. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code DMA for an exclusive 20% off.

According to perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist Dr Edna Lekgabe, matrescence is the motherhood equivalent of adolescence. Puberty 2.0, if you will.

Richard Harasick • Selected Scriptures • Grace Kids

If you're a woman over 35 and you've been feeling more triggered, more exhausted, less tolerant of the things you used to just push through — this episode is going to change how you understand yourself.I'm joined by Natasha Zajmalowskii, a naturopathic doctor and Menopause Society certified practitioner with over 24 years of clinical experience, and this conversation genuinely blew my mind. We talk about what's actually happening in your brain and nervous system during perimenopause and menopause — and why it's not falling apart, it's transforming.We go deep on the hormonal roots of emotional dysregulation, why your window of tolerance narrows so dramatically, and what it means that your fawning response is finally breaking down. We talk about familiar safety versus embodied safety, why your old trauma is surfacing so intensely right now, and what "issues in your tissues" actually means at a physiological level.Natasha also shares her framework called Metamorphosis — the idea that perimenopause is the chrysalis stage, where the old structure has to come apart before something new and more powerful can be built. And we talk about puberty 2.0, the nervous system under renovation, entrainment, and why routine might be the most underrated medicine for women in midlife.The Unburdened Heart Program: https://marinayt.com/the-unburdened-heart Connect with Natasha:www.proactive-healthcare.comwww.menomorphosis.cawww.instagram.com/drnatashazndWORK WITH ME 1:1:❥Softening into self- 3 month 1:1 with Whats App Support:https://marina-yt.mykajabi.com/offers/PAWQhZHu❥❥1:1 Coaching with me: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWcZM5s9c2OjOLwoGMI5jE6rh_JAzjN2d_vCtuVe7e3pVGxw/viewformDOWNLOAD FOR FREE:Stay or Go: 5 Clarity Questions to Reconnect with Your Inner Knowing: https://marinayt.com/stay-or-go-guideAttatchment Practice: Discover the actual blocks beneath the surface so you can actually have the deep intimacy you crave: https://marinayt.com/attachment-practice Connect & Ground: 10 Incredible Somatic Practices for Nervous System Regulation: https://marinayt.com/connect-and-groundAlive & Aligned: 7 Embodiment Practices For Self Connection: https://marinayt.com/alive-and-alignedTrigger to Rooted: A step by step process of working with your triggers: https://marinayt.com/trigger-2-rooted VIEW MY COURSES & RESOURCES:https://marinayt.com/resources CONNECT WITH  ME:Follow me on Instagram:⁠ ⁠www.instagram.com/marina.y.t⁠⁠ Subscribe to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@marinatriner Top Episode Quotes:"A dysregulated nervous system cannot hold health. It affects every system — your gut, your cardiovascular system, your inflammation. All of it." "Fawning isn't a standalone state. It's an adaptive layer that sits on top of fight, flight and freeze. And when the hormones that fuel it start to disappear, what floods in is the truth." "Perimenopause is when the brain is flooded with prediction errors. For three decades it built its model around your hormones — and now those hormones are gone. What feels like brain fog is actually your brain struggling to filter what matters from what doesn't." "In puberty 1.0 we learned who we are by orienting towards others. Puberty 2.0 is when we orient back towards ourselves — towards how we feel, not how we look." "Self-care is the greatest act of love for the people you care about. Because when you don't take care of yourself, the people who love you carry that worry — whether they tell you or not." perimenopause and nervous system, menopause healing, hormones and emotional regulation, somatic healing, nervous system regulation, perimenopause symptoms, fawn response, people pleasing and hormones, trauma and menopause, burnout recovery, window of tolerance, embodied safety, inner child healing, women's health, midlife transformation, attachment healing, emotional regulation, self compassion, deep within podcast, naturopathic medicine

Our children need parents who will openly explain and discuss what is happening to their bodies as they pass through puberty. We live in a world that constantly sets unrealistic standards regarding physical beauty so that only a handful can measure up. Teenagers spend hours in front of the mirror looking for facial and body flaws. Figuratively speaking, they look over their shoulders and see images of the “perfect people” – the actors, actresses, supermodels, sports stars, and other media heroes - who “meet” them everyday through online videos, movies, television, social media and billboards. Parents, offer your teen a godly perspective on the changes that are taking place. In addition to modeling the unconditional love and acceptance of Christ during the physically awkward years, Mom and Dad should temper the social pressure to be preoccupied with outward appearance. Take the time to teach your children about the inward qualities of godliness. 

Dr. Tara Rawana is a passionate naturopathic doctor in Burlington, Ontario dedicated to helping you raise resilient kids. In her private practice, she supports the mental and physical health of tweens and teens, while also offering various educational opportunities to help them thrive. Follow Dr. Tara Rawana: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/dr.tararawana/⁠ CultivaTeen Roots helps parents of tweens and teens navigate adolescence with confidence and connection. Through courses, resources, and community support, we give parents practical tools to understand their child's development, set healthy boundaries, and strengthen relationships during these transformative years. Check out our website for more information, ⁠⁠⁠cultivateenroots.com⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on Instagram @cultivateenroots and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/cultivateenroots⁠⁠⁠.

Many parents of autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neurodivergent kids wonder if it's okay to put their kids on birth control. This is a "yes and maybe" for me. They often think their child is "too young" due to their developmental level, but their bodies can be ahead of their brains. This can put them at risk for being taken advantage of or making impulsive decisions.   At the very least, they should have easy access to condoms and a clear understanding of how they work and why to use them.   A very wordy, ND friendly description of birth control is here.   Vids for Kids (and you) Birth Control Basics  How Do I Properly Put on a Condom Your next step? Check out The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent. Your one-stop shop for all the topics you'll need to cover.  Watch here: All Kids Episode on YouTube ND Kids Episode on YouTube Got some thoughts or questions? Amy@BirdsAndBeesAndKid.com Learn more! BirdsAndBeesAndKids.com Sex Talks with Tweens: What to Say & How to Say It!  Struggling to find the words? Worried you'll say too much? Not to worry, my book is all scripts, so you don't have to figure this out on your own.  30-minute Quickie Consultation Get clarity fast with a focused 30-minute session on your most concerning sex talk question. The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent All the topics you'll need to cover as your kids grow up! Puberty, consent, relationship, and sex (of course)!  The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for Parents of Neurodivergent Kids Get the tools to communicate with your neurodivergent kid about sex, consent, and safety—without awkwardness or overwhelm. The Porn Talk Info Kit Simple tools for the porn and online safety talks—plus videos and tech tips to calm your worries. Includes a specific video for parents of neurodivergent kids.

  Lots of parents wonder if they should put their teen on birth control. There are pros and cons, and in my mind, it's mainly pros. Teens have sex without planning for it all the time.  It "just happens", remember? When your teen is on birth control before they need it, it's a good thing. It can make their periods easier and prevent an unplanned pregnancy.    At the very least, they should have easy access to condoms and a clear understanding of how they work and why to use them.   Vids for Kids (and you): Birth Control Basics  How Do I Properly Put on a Condom   Your next step? Check out The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent. Your one-stop shop for all the topics you'll need to cover. Watch here: All Kids Episode on YouTube ND Kids Episode on YouTube Got some thoughts or questions? Amy@BirdsAndBeesAndKid.com Learn more! BirdsAndBeesAndKids.com Sex Talks with Tweens: What to Say & How to Say It!  Struggling to find the words? Worried you'll say too much? Not to worry, my book is all scripts, so you don't have to figure this out on your own.  30-minute Quickie Consultation Get clarity fast with a focused 30-minute session on your most concerning sex talk question. The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent All the topics you'll need to cover as your kids grow up! Puberty, consent, relationship, and sex (of course)!  The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for Parents of Neurodivergent Kids Get the tools to communicate with your neurodivergent kid about sex, consent, and safety—without awkwardness or overwhelm. The Porn Talk Info Kit Simple tools for the porn and online safety talks—plus videos and tech tips to calm your worries. Includes a specific video for parents of neurodivergent kids.

Crushes can be soooo painful! And fun! And confusing! All the things. I've been a terminal crusher my entire life, so, for better or worse, I'm kind of an expert.   Explaining them can be a little tough because crushes are amorphous in just about every way. Hope this helps!   Why your kid's crush should be taken seriously. I'm featured in this CNN article from 2022. I totally forgot about it.   What Are The Differences Between Behavior And Attraction? Terrific video from Amaze.org     Your next step? Check out The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent. Your one-stop shop for all the topics you'll need to cover.  Watch here: All Kids Episode on YouTube ND Kids Episode on YouTube Got some thoughts or questions? Amy@BirdsAndBeesAndKid.com Learn more! BirdsAndBeesAndKids.com Sex Talks with Tweens: What to Say & How to Say It!  Struggling to find the words? Worried you'll say too much? Not to worry, my book is all scripts, so you don't have to figure this out on your own.  30-minute Quickie Consultation Get clarity fast with a focused 30-minute session on your most concerning sex talk question. The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for ALL Kids: Neurotypical & Neurodivergent All the topics you'll need to cover as your kids grow up! Puberty, consent, relationship, and sex (of course)!  The Birds & Bees Solutions Center for Parents of Neurodivergent Kids Get the tools to communicate with your neurodivergent kid about sex, consent, and safety—without awkwardness or overwhelm. The Porn Talk Info Kit Simple tools for the porn and online safety talks—plus videos and tech tips to calm your worries. Includes a specific video for parents of neurodivergent kids.        

The new biography Judy Blume: A Life chronicles the life and career of the beloved children's book author. Biographer Mark Oppenheimer discusses Blume's career in Hollywood, and how she embraced social media, in today's installment of our series Full Bio. Photo by Johnny Louis/WireImage via Getty

Why do some girls start their periods as early as eight years old? In this episode, Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam take us on a lifetime hormonal tour. We track the journey from the ‘magic and mayhem’ of puberty to the ‘window of chaos’ that is perimenopause, exploring how these changing hormones reshape our bodies, our brains, and our moods at every life stage. We talk to obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Ginny Foo about why periods are starting earlier and what level of pain is actually ‘normal.’ We also speak with endocrinologist Dr Isabelle Smith about the hormone ‘dump’ after childbirth, the myth of the testosterone cure-all for libido, and why your ‘stress cup’ might be overflowing. Plus, gynaecologist Dr Natasha Andreas joins us to unpack life over 50. We discuss the ‘second puberty’, why oestrogen is the ultimate protector of your heart and bones, and the essential health checks every woman needs to stay ahead of the game as her hormones settle into a new normal. EPISODE RESOURCES If this episode has raised concerns for you regarding body image, eating disorders, or chronic illness support, the following resources are available: Butterfly Foundation: Support for eating disorders and body image issues. Call 1800 33 4673. Jean Hailes for Women's Health: A leading resource for PCOS, hormones and women’s health. Diabetes Australia: Information on pre-diabetes management and support. Lifeline: If you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone to talk to, please call 13 11 14. And, if you want to learn more about the topics discussed in today’s show, check out these helpful links: MOVE by Mamamia Health Direct - Physical Activity Guidelines GET IN TOUCH Sign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon. Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here, email here or leave us a voice note here. Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok. THE END BITS Support independent women’s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber CREDITS Hosts: Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam Guests: Dr Jinny Foo, Dr Natasha Andreadis and Dr Isobelle Smith Senior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy Audio Producer: Scott Stronach Video Producer: Julian Rosario Social Producer: Elly Moore Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional.Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new biography Judy Blume: A Life chronicles the life and career of the beloved children's book author. Biographer Mark Oppenheimer discusses Blume's early marriage and motherhood, and how they helped shape her professional life, in today's installment of our series Full Bio. Photo by Oliver Morris/Getty Images

From puberty horror stories (BO, growth spurts, body hair and voice cracks) to who gets asked for a three‑way the most, things get very personal on this episode of Ask Roz & Mocha. Roz calls out what he finds soft about everyone on the team, Shem and Mocha face off in a hypothetical archery showdown, and the crew debates studio upgrades, ultimate nacho toppings, and who would last the longest if dropped into the wilderness with no phones. Plus: would you erase one memory from your brain if you could — and which one would it be?

FOR THE WHOLE EPISODE GO HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/153325099 Tom and Joe are joined by Lucy Valentine of the podcasts Boonta Vista and Savant Garde to talk about...whatever FLCL is. Is it about growing up? Puberty? Changing oneself for the better? Trauma? We have no idea but man is it fun.

In this episode, Alix & Kayla explore stories from people who have transitioned and later detransitioned, unpacking the deeply personal, emotional, and complex experiences behind those journeys. From informed consent and puberty to trauma, social influence, and the evolving language around gender identity, they discuss how identity formation can shift over time—and why holding space for nuance matters.Through anonymous community stories and open conversation, they reflect on how gender, sexuality, and self-perception intersect with mental health, relationships, and the pressure to “figure it out” too quickly.This is a compassionate, layered conversation about gender identity, detransition stories, queer community belonging, and the reality that self-discovery isn't always linear.00:00 – Intro + Life Updates in Nicaragua 02:00 – Hyperfixations & Mormon Memoirs 04:20 – Marriage “Would You Rather” Game 15:20 – Today's Topic: Transition & Detransition Stories 16:00 – News Story: Malpractice Case & Gender-Affirming Care 20:00 – What “Detransition” Means 22:00 – Informed Consent & Medical Decision-Making 26:30 – Why This Conversation Matters in Queer Spaces 30:00 – Anonymous Story: Transition, Fertility & Identity 32:00 – Puberty, Body Changes & Gender Confusion 38:30 – Trauma, Identity & Transition Motivations 44:00 – Social Influence, Language & Self-Understanding 48:00 – Internalized Misogyny & Gender Expectations 52:00 – Does Transition Resolve Dysphoria? 55:00 – Therapy, Root Causes & Identity Exploration 58:30 – Growing Up Tomboy & Gender Expression 01:02:00 – The Complexity of Identity & Final Thoughts

*Disclaimer* This episode contains adult content and is not recommended for young listeners.   284. DON'T MISS THIS! Controversial Sex Questions, Answered with Dr. Juli Slattery   1 Samuel 24:19b NIV “May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today.”   *Transcription Below*   Bio: Instagram Facebook Authentic Intimacy Website Java with Juli Podcast   Thank you to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management Company   Questions and Topics We Cover: As Christ followers, should we use a friend's preferred names and pronouns? If one part of Scripture talks about turning the other cheek, is that the same as saying God expects you to stay in an abusive marriage? Is it reasonable to assume that once they have a smartphone, 100% of kids will be exposed to pornography?   Previous Episodes on Sexual Intimacy on The Savvy Sauce, Including Past Episodes with Dr. Juli Slattery: Fostering a Fun, Healthy Sex Life with your Spouse with Dr. Jennifer Konzen  Ways to Deepen Your Intimacy in Marriage with Dr. Douglas Rosenau  Ten Common Questions About Sex, Shared Through a Biblical Worldview with Dr. Michael Sytsma Hope For Treating Pelvic Pain with Tracey LeGrand Treatment for Sexual Issues with Certified Sex Therapist, Emma Schmidt Talking With Your Kids About Sex with Brian and Alison Sutter Natural Aphrodisiacs with Christian Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Douglas Rosenau Healthy Sexuality, Emotional Intelligence, and Parenting Children with Autism with Counselor, Lauren Dack Pain and Joy in Sexual Intimacy with Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Jessica McCleese Identifying and Fighting Human Trafficking with Dr. Jeff Waibel Bridging the Gap Between Military and Civilian Families with Licensed Professional Counselor, Cuthor, Podcaster, and 2015 Military Spouse of the Year, Corie Weathers Enjoying a God-Honoring, Healthy Sex Life with Your Spouse with Certified Sex Therapist and Ordained Minister, Dr. Michael Sytsma Enjoying Parenting and Managing Conversations About Sex with Certified Sex Therapist and Author, Dr. Jennifer Konzen Conflict Resolution, Infidelity, and Infertility with Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Jessica McCleese Hormones and Body Image with Certified Sex Therapist, Vickie George Passion Pursuit with Dr. Juli Slattery Female Orgasm with Sue Goldstein Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, and Treatments Available with Dr. Irwin Goldstein Turn Ons, Turn Offs, and Savoring Sex in Marriage with Dr. Jennifer Konzen Desire Discrepancy in Marriage with Dr. Michael Sytsma Answering Listener's Questions About Sex with Kelli Willard Anatomy of an Affair with Dave Carder Supernatural Restoration Story with Bob and Audrey Meisner Healthy Minds, Marriages, and Sex Lives with Drs. Scott and Melissa Symington Female Pornography Addiction and Meaningful Recovery with Crystal Renaud Day Building Lasting Relationships with Clarence and Brenda Shuler Healthy Ways for Females to Increase Sexual Enjoyment with Tracey LeGrand Pornography Healing for Spouses with Geremy Keeton Sexual Sin Recovery for You and Your Spouse (Part Two) Personal Development and Sexual Wholeness with Dr. Sibylle Georgianna  Our Brain's Role in Sexual Intimacy with Angie Landry Discovering God's Design for Romance with Sharon Jaynes Sex in Marriage and Its Positive Effects with Francie Winslow, Part 1 Science and Art of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, Part 2 Making Love in Marriage with Debra Fileta Mutually Pleasing Sex in Marriage with Gary Thomas Sex Series: God's Design and Warnings for Sex: An Interview with Mike Novotny Sex Series: Enhancing Female Pleasure and Enjoyment of Sex: An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Degler Sex Series Orgasmic Potential, Pleasure, and Friendship: An Interview with Bonny Burns  Sex Series: Sex Series: Healthy Self, Healthy Sex: An Interview with Gaye Christmus Sex Series: Higher Sexual Desire Wife: An Interview with J Parker Sex Series: Six Pillars of Intimacy with Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo 215 Enriching Women's Sexual Function, Part One with Dr. Kris Christiansen 216 Enriching Women's Sexual Function, Part Two with Dr. Kris Christiansen 217 Tween/Teen Females: How to Navigate Changes during Puberty with Dr. Jennifer Degler 218 Secrets of Sex and Marriage: Interview with Dr. Michael Sytsma 222 Pornography: Protecting Children and Personal Healing, Victory, and Recovery in Christ with Sam Black Special Patreon Release: Holy Sex: An Interview with Dr. Juli Slattery Special Patreon Release: His Desires and Her Desires in the Bedroom with Dr. Jennifer Konzen 224 Surprising Discoveries of Sex in Marriage: An Interview with Shaunti Feldhahn 252 Maximizing Sexual Connections as Newlyweds to Long Term Marriages and Recovering from a Sexless Marriage with Dr. Cliff & Joyce Penner 260 Sex After Cancer with Dr. Kris Christiansen 277 Breaking Through Addiction in Marriage with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:11 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:11 – 2:21) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com or connect with them on Facebook.   My returning guest for today is Dr. Juli Slattery.   She has authored another book entitled Surrendered Sexuality: How Knowing Jesus Changes Everything, and we're going to cover a few themes from this book, but I think what you're going to find most helpful are her candid responses to some really tricky questions related to dating and pornography, technology, thought life, shows that we watch as believers, divorce, and just intimacy in general as married couples.   So, I think this is an episode that you're going to want to learn from yourself, but you'll also want to share with others because Dr. Juli has offered us such a gift as she directs us back to the heart issues and wisely guides us into sexual integrity in our own lives.   Here's our chat.   Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Dr. Juli.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (2:21 – 2:21) Thanks so much for having me back. It's always a joy.   Laura Dugger: (2:21 – 2:22) Well, I love that you've been a repeat guest many times. So, we get to just dive right in today because I'm going to link all of your previous episodes in the show notes. But to dive in, I'm just curious, as believers, where does your heart break as you see us compromising on God's design for sex?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (2:22 – 3:31) Hmm. That's such a good question. You know, I think my heart breaks the most in that when we compromise God's design for sexuality, or even when we don't understand it or understand His goodness, it means that there is a breach in our relationship with God.   And so, I am so passionate about what I do, not necessarily because I love talking about sexuality, but because for a lot of people, sexuality represents a wall between them and God, like an issue they can't resolve, or a place of shame that they just can't quite shake free from, or battle with sin that they feel like they're enslaved to. And so, those things mean that there's a limit to how much they invite God into their lives.   And so, for me, that's where my heart breaks the most is, you know, ultimately, we were created for the greatest fellowship with God and anything that gets in the way of that is something that God cares about and something that I care about.   Laura Dugger: (3:32 – 4:03) You say that well, and you've written many books, but in this most recent one, you plainly state one issue when you write, “You will not be able to obey God with your sexual thoughts, while binging shows and music that continually display the exact opposite.”   And I love how practical that is. So, Juli, why do you think this has become so normalized? And I would say, especially in Christian marriages.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (4:05 – 5:58) Yeah, you know, I think a lot of it is that the church has been historically really quiet about sexuality, you know, like we might talk about save sex for marriage, and don't cheat on your husband and that sort of thing. But the gray areas about how we think about our sexuality and kind of what we have the liberty and freedom to engage in, there's kind of silence, or maybe there's legalism.   And I think in that space, what ends up happening is the culture is so forthright with a message about sexuality, like woven throughout every single show that you could stream on any platform, you know, your music on Spotify, even the news you consume, the Instagram feeds, whatever, it's consistently showing you a way to understand sexuality that is contrary to God's design, and the messaging can be so subtle, or so repetitive that we don't even realize we're ingesting it.   And so, it's normal to talk about with your friends, like the latest season of The Bachelor, or, you know, the latest thing that you're streaming that if you really look at it, there's probably 100 references to sexuality that are outside of God's design. And so, we end up just having our mind conformed to this world.   And the scripture says really clearly in Romans 12, that we can't offer ourselves to God while we're still thinking like the world thinks that it requires an act of transformation of our thinking. And I don't know that there's anywhere more than we need this than in the topic of understanding our sexuality.   Laura Dugger: (6:00 – 6:59) Okay, so for I'm thinking of married couples, because I was recently at a wedding shower. And I love a friend from church. Her name is Dawn Karius. And she was giving the devotional and just sharing. You know, it's very easy to get married and fall into this trap. She was talking about what you watch specifically.   And she said, so many couples will watch something together, watch a show before bed, but be really intentional. If that is what you choose to do, then the shows that you're watching, even though you're with your spouse, is that drawing both of you closer to Christ? Because if it's pulling you further away from Christ, it's also pulling you away from one another.   And so, with all of that, and with what you've studied and written about, if a couple's hearing that and or some single person just hearing this, what would be your practical advice or encouragement for them?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (7:00 – 9:29) Yeah, some of it is, we can't live in a bubble. You know, it's, I think that there are some couples will have the conviction that, you know, we're just going to get rid of all of our devices, we're going to get rid of every streaming service. And there's nothing wrong with that decision, you might feel convicted to do that.   But for most couples, I would say, they're like, okay, we live in this world, we need to understand even the world we live in. And so, it's not like we're going to completely be cut off. But are we being discerning about what we consume?   And what are the standards that we might hit where we might just say, “You know what, we don't need to be watching this.” You know, like I can think of one show in particularly that my husband and I were watching. And it was a well-written show. It was exciting. But there was just so much profanity and just gross kind of sexual content that after two or three episodes, we're both just like, “You know what, as good as the show is, we just, this isn't, we're not watching this. Like we need to stop.”   And I think you need to have those discussions and you might have a different level of conviction than your spouse does. And that's okay, but at least have those conversations and you need to follow your conviction.   But then the other thing I would say that is equally important, if not more important, what are you consuming that helps you get God's perspective of sexuality? And what I've found is that a whole lot of Christian married couples know very little about what it looks like to build a healthy sex life in their marriage. And they're not consuming anything that helps them know how to love each other better, how to overcome differences, even how their bodies work, how to focus on one another and enjoy sex in a holy erotic way.   And so, even if you're watching and consuming very little content from the world, but you're not actively pursuing anything that gives you a biblical perspective, you're still going to end up defaulting to what the world says. And so, I think that again, it's equally as important or not, if not more important to be pursuing what's true and what's right and what's good.   Laura Dugger: (9:31 – 9:53) I love that, how you flipped it. And that discernment piece is huge because we don't want to be desensitized to then that we're consuming and we also want to feed on the good. So, I think it even leads to a broader question, again, as Christ followers, how can we recognize if our conscience is being pricked?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (9:54 – 12:05) Yeah, we can start by asking the Lord. You know, I mean, I think it's in, is it Psalm 139, where, you know, David is basically saying, “Search me, oh God, and know my thoughts, you know, show me if there's any offensive way within me.”   I think that's a beautiful prayer as an individual and as a couple, like God, we want to honor you with what we consume in media, with what we think about, would you guide us and would you show us? And then I think we all have that experience of watching something or listening to something or reading something where we're like, “Uh, I don't know, like, this is sort of a gray area. Like, I'm uncomfortable here. I probably shouldn't be watching this.” Or “Wow, that's really, that's really in your face. Like that's really graphic.”   And it's heeding the Holy Spirit when you get those prompts, instead of just pushing through and being like, “Ah, it's not that big of a deal. It's not going to affect me.” Like when you feel that sense of prompting, you respond to it and you say, “All right, I'm going to put this down. I'm going to shut this off.”   And, um, you know, the scripture says that we can become callous to those promptings of the Holy Spirit if we are in a habit of just running right through that. But we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit when we yield and when we obey.   Um, and so, I think even just keeping track, you know, every day or every week, like where were the times regarding this or anything else that I really felt convicted by the Holy Spirit about maybe something I said about a friend, uh, or about a little white lie I told, you know, where were the times where I really felt the Holy Spirit nudging me and what did I do? Um, where do I need to confess that I didn't respond well? And where do I need to celebrate that? Yes, I listened, I obeyed, I yielded. Um, and so, I think that's a practice we get into of either ignoring that conviction or really yielding to it.   Laura Dugger: (12:06 – 12:28) Hmm. And that gets after the heart issue, which Jesus is so concerned about our heart. And that's a very softened heart approach. Yes. I hope we can have. And as it relates to sexual integrity, then what are some other ways that we need to be on guard so that we're careful not to be misled?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (12:29 – 13:37) Yeah, boy, I think there's just so much conversation. Um, again, even in Christian circles, sometimes around having a negative attitude towards sex, um, kind of accepting some forms of pornography as normal and even good, you know, husband bashing, wife bashing, you know, like complaining, kind of letting the thought feed in your mind of maybe I should have married somebody else.   Maybe that my life would be easier if I, I weren't married to this person. I wish they were this or that. So, sort of that discontent that is natural to feel in marriage. But the question is, what do you do with it? Do you give it space to grow and to nurture, or do you bring that before the Lord?   Um, so, I think those are some of the ways that we want to look at, like, how am I giving the enemy space in my life and in my marriage versus how am I inviting God to really reclaim what's broken here?   Laura Dugger: (13:38 – 14:01) Well, and then even thinking of the other side to guard ourselves from having a critical and judgmental spirit toward others or just having self-righteous pride. Can you educate us on some common reasons why some people may be predisposed to struggle with some certain sexual sins?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (14:02 – 17:20) Yeah, absolutely. I think that's so important, um, because the research really shows that some of us are more, I don't know if I'd say it that way, but we are going to be more predetermined maybe to struggle with things like pornography or same-sex attraction, or even hooking up.   And it's never like a one plus one equals two exactly. But there are what we might say indicators or risk factors that make you more vulnerable to those kinds of sexual struggles. And some of them might be unhealthy family dynamics growing up, you know, none of us had a perfect family, but let's say you grew up in a family where one of your parents was like overtly critical towards you all the time.   Maybe you went through a divorce with your parents where, um, you know, at a certain age, you just, your family fell apart and you're kind of looking for that stability and love. People who have experienced sexual trauma in childhood or the teen years are going to be more pre-dispositioned to want to understand that or act that out.   People who might struggle with anxiety. And, you know, some of it is we got to understand that sex, because it elicits dopamine in our brain and oxytocin and endorphins, which are all really feel good kind of experiences and hormones and neurotransmitters. When we had a sexual experience at a young age, our brain can learn, “Oh, this is how I deal with stress. This is how I deal with depression. This is how I deal with loneliness.”   So, a lot of times when you talk to somebody who has an ongoing struggle with a sexual temptation or sin, it's because they've learned as a pattern from maybe the time they were 10 years old or 12 years old or 15 years old, that this is how I dealt with the stress in my family. This is how I dealt with when my father died. This is how I dealt with when I was sexually abused. Like this was the way that I found to self-regulate and to self-medicate and to find comfort.   And that can be masturbation. It can be pornography or again, you know, acting out sexually. And so, for people who have that kind of story, and this might be your spouse, or this might be against somebody that you're looking at and judging to just say, “You need to stop that behavior,” is often not going to be enough. They need to do the work of really looking at what am I using sex for? What are the wounds that I'm using sex to cover up?   And how do I actually get the healing I need and find healthier and safer ways for me to cope with negative emotions? And that's why groups are really important for people who have sexual struggles. Counseling is really important. And again, that long journey of healing and freedom, not just a one-time decision that I'm going to try to never do this again.   Laura Dugger: (17:21 – 20:19) Love that word freedom, even because that hope is available. And just pointing out how you said this is not deterministic. That's not what we're saying is if you experience something, you will act out sexually. But I agree with you that it is fascinating and helpful to hear the correlation of certain things that happen, especially in childhood, and how that plays out long-term.   And I am blanking on which guest it was on The Savvy Sauce, but somebody was enlightening me. I think it was for females that if they were sexually abused, typically before a certain age, then they were more likely to struggle in marriage with wanting to completely avoid sex. But then if it was after a certain age, that it was completely opposite where they maybe used sex to medicate, or they were very aggressive and even would act out, let's say in single years, that they would sleep around with a bunch of partners if they had been wounded.   And so, I just think it just, it helps us to not be judgmental of one another. We don't know the full story.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (20:20 – 21:09) Yes. Yeah. There's always more there than we usually realize at first. And, you know, this plays out a lot in marriage because there are a lot of women who are married to guys who are addicted to pornography. And that's a deeply painful dynamic. That's really hard.   But to understand that your husband didn't want to have this struggle, often doesn't know how to get out of it, you know, gives you compassion. It doesn't mean that you look the other way, you need to get help, and you need to insist on getting help. But it does give you empathy and compassion that there's something underlying this and feeding it. It's not just, “Oh, I think I'm going to, you know, look at porn and hurt my wife again,” that there's always a deeper dynamic at work.   Laura Dugger: (21:10 – 21:50) Absolutely. And even an example from your book, I'll just read a quote where you said, “I spoke with a man who runs a sexual addiction program. He told me he had never met someone with sexual addiction, who did not also have significant sexual or psychological trauma in their past.”   And I think it goes along with what we're saying. But if we also then flip it and look at more of the positive side, how can we rightly prioritize connection and intimacy in marriage as God intended?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (21:53 – 24:24) I think first of all, we need to be convinced that this is worth it. You know, when we look at everything there is to do in life, there's so many worthy demands on our time. You know, from I want my house to look nice, and we need to make friends and we need to be an outreach to our community. And our kids are taking a lot of time and they should, and they've got all their activities and our church needs our help. Like when do you have time to do all this? And then, oh yeah, prioritize your marriage.   And I think we have to become convinced that if we're not working on our marriage, and specifically if we're not working on the sexual connection in marriage, then all those other things have the potential to fall apart. That the way I've learned it over time is that sex is never going to be a neutral issue in your marriage. It's either going to be something that is bonding you together and causing you to work on the deeper levels of intimacy, even as you talk through sexual difficulties, or it's going to be something not immediately, but over time, that becomes a wedge between you.   It might start as a wedge of resentment of my needs aren't getting met, or I feel like you're objectifying me or you're putting pressure on me. Or it might be a deeper wedge of a pornography addiction or something that's not being addressed. Or I don't trust my husband because of my trauma. And those things don't just stay dormant. The wedge becomes bigger and bigger and bigger until you get to the place where now you're not comfortable being in the same room anymore and you feel like roommates. And then now one of you is attracted to somebody else and the story plays on.   And there are very wonderful godly men and women who have gotten married with every purpose to stay together. But a wedge like this has grown over time to the point where they're now thinking about divorce or one of them has cheated on the other. And so, we have to be convinced that honoring God in our lives means prioritizing our marriage, and it means working on this intimate aspect of our marriage so that we can be a stable foundation for our families and our churches and our communities.   Laura Dugger: (24:26 – 24:39) And so, if we're getting as practical as possible, what are the best practices that you've seen in married couples who are happily married? How have you experienced that?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (24:40 – 28:04) Yeah. I'll put it in kind of like a cliche sort of way because I think sometimes that's catchy. Number one, I would say they're couples who will resist the drift, who will repair the rift, and who will adjust to the shift.   So, I can kind of break that down a little bit. But you know, the first thing is resisting the drift of you can go weeks without meaningfully connecting with your spouse. And I don't just mean sexually, but I mean like eye to eye, you know, just loving touch, just connecting to their hearts. And so, couples who know how to resist that drift, like they have regular times built into their calendar where this is where we connect every day. Like even for 10 minutes, this is where we hold each other's hands, we look at each other in the eye, we really connect with what's in your heart, how are you? And they have regular rhythms of once a week or once every other week, we're going to go out and do something fun together, just the two of us. We've worked through what sex looks like in this season. Like how many times do we want to have sex? Are we scheduling that? How are we making sure that's a priority? And so, that's the resisting the drift.   And the second one is repairing the rift. And at every marriage, there are going to be things that tear you apart. And sometimes those things might be sexual in nature, like a temptation, an emotional affair, pornography use, sometimes it's going to be something else where you have a deep disagreement that you can't resolve on your own. And you need to be courageous enough to reach out for help and say, like, if we don't get help, if we don't address this issue, like it's going to become something that tears us apart. Any couple that you meet who is happily married for like 30 years or more, they can tell you a story of when they had a rift, and the kind of help that really address that.   And then I think the third thing is adjusting to the shift. And in even the normal stages of marriage, there are shifts that happen. Like, you know, I'm in the stage right now where me and the people my age are going through biological changes with menopause and with aging. And, you know, some people are going through becoming grandparents and retirement. And there's all these shifts that are happening even naturally. There's other couples that are younger who are going through the shift of pregnancy and battling infertility. And some people are going through cancer. And there are things that happen that require you to shift your expectations. And to not just wish that it is like it used to be. But this is the marriage we have now. Here are the circumstances we have now. Here are the bodies we have now. How do we learn to love each other and embrace this season, given the changes that we're experiencing?   And so, I think that's a framework that I've seen healthy couples navigate over time that really fosters intimacy.   Laura Dugger: (28:05 – 29:29) That is incredible. I love how you put that. And I've shared with you before that my background is in Christian sex therapy. So, sex is a topic that does come up a lot and people feel comfortable sharing or asking questions. So, just in regular conversation, I want to recap two conversations that kind of show stances on both ends of the spectrum. And I'd love to hear your wisdom on how to respond to each one.   So, first, there was a Christian married woman with children, and she was teaching younger women to say yes to every single sexual advance from their husband. And she said, “If your husband has the higher drive, and he wants to have sex twice a day, then consider yourself lucky. And don't ever say no, because your body is not your own.” Yeah, it's hard to recap. So, this is not my perspective. So, sharing both ends.   So, that was one person. And then on the other end, I've heard a woman tell me, “You know, I just didn't feel like having sex for about a year and a half after we had our baby. So, I just told my husband, you're going to have to wait.”   So, loaded question, but Dr. Juli, how would you respond to each of those?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (29:29 – 32:31) Well, Laura, I feel like you probably would have just as good of response as I would to those. Yeah, I like that you're presenting those as two extremes, because they are two extremes. And I think both extremes kind of miss the heart. We want to be able to say yes to sex and intimacy. And being able to say yes means also being able to say no.   In that first situation, essentially, what is going to end up happening is that that wife is going to start feeling like my husband wants me for sex. And I don't have the capacity to enjoy it twice a day. I'm starting to feel like an object or used. And the husband is never going to learn that covenant love requires self-denial. And at every level, you know, what did, what did Paul say to husbands in Ephesians 5, like love your wife as you love your own body and be willing to lay down your, your life for your wife. And that means being sensitive to the fact that she doesn't have the same sexual appetite as you do. She doesn't have the same biology you do, that it actually can be physically painful, emotionally traumatic for a wife to have sex when she's not physically ready. Really, that couple is not working on intimacy. They're, they're kind of reinforcing a pattern that sex is about the husband getting his needs and desires met only through the wife without considering her. And that might work for short term, but that's not building intimacy in the long term. And it's not teaching either of them. And that wife needs to learn her own sexual desires and patterns and be able to communicate those to her husband. So, that's what I would say in that first one.   And the second one, essentially, you have a wife kind of having that more selfish perspective of, I only have sex when I want it and on my terms, instead of considering the husband. And, you know, how do I focus on him? How do I work on experiencing sexual desire? How do I foster that? Because it's important for my husband, it's important for our marriage. And I don't want to be selfish.   And so, I think both of those situations are kind of approaching sex where one person gets to be selfish, and the other person has to sacrifice. That's ministry, that's not intimacy. And so, we really want to be at a place where both of us, the higher desire one and the lower desire one, are learning what does it look like to really love well, to love sacrificially and to communicate the ways that I feel loved. I don't know, what would you add to that or change?   Laura Dugger: (32:31 – 33:11) That's why I asked you, you said that beautifully, better than I could have responded. And again, you're getting back to the heart of it and pointing us back to Jesus with each answer. And, you know, commonly people do struggle with having a safe place where they can ask candid questions about sex.   So, I am going to throw some more at you. And some of these are ones that you wrote about. But just to give us a little taste, even of the book, or if somebody has a burning question like this, I'd love your healthy response.   So, how do you respond when people ask, “How far is too far to go in a dating relationship?”   Dr. Juli Slattery: (33:14 – 36:32) Yeah, I think people are looking for a line, you know, like, as long as I don't cross this line, are we good? And of course, I think their traditional line would be as long as you're not having intercourse. But I think that misses the larger context of the purpose of sex. I've had to be convicted of this in my own life. And we talked very early in our conversation about how we've just sort of ingested messages from the culture. And the culture says that healthy sexuality is an expression of how I feel, right? So, so if I feel safe with you, if I feel romantically connected to you, if I feel sexually attracted to you, then it would be healthy for me to engage sexually with you. And then Christians would come and say, yes, but as long as you don't cross this line. So, that's sort of the narrative that I think a lot of us have heard in the church.   But if we look at, from a biblical perspective, God did not design sex to be an expression of how I feel. Okay, let that sink in for a minute. God did not design sex to be an expression of how I feel. He designed it to be a seal and a celebration of covenant, of the choice that a man and a woman make to covenant their lives to one another. And for them to say, just like I give you my whole life, I promise faithfulness to you. I promise that we are becoming one as a family. We have now a physical way to symbolize that in becoming one with our bodies. And so, even if I feel romantically attached to somebody I'm not married to, I don't act on that. Or even if I don't feel romantically attached to my husband, we work on our sex life because we're in covenant.   And so, when you begin to understand sex from that standpoint, you answer that question differently of how far can I go? Why are you sharing your body with another person when you haven't shared your life with them? And, you know, I think that the standard is not legalistic, but the heart of the question is a lot, that's a harder question. You know, like it says, and I think 2 Thessalonians or 1 Thessalonians, you know, Paul says, the will of God is that you do not engage in sexual immorality. Don't take advantage of a brother or sister.   And how many times in dating relationships do you look back and you're like, “Wow, I gave too much of myself to that person or I took too much of myself from that person. Like we engaged in things that now we're broken apart. Like I wish I could take back.” And so, what does it look like to honor each other? What does it look like to honor the Lord? So, I think those kinds of questions help you get to the heart of how do we steward dating relationships a lot better than looking for a line we're not supposed to cross.   Laura Dugger: (36:33 – 37:31) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you? Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world.   So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.   As Christ followers, should we use a friend's preferred names and pronouns? So, how would you respond to that?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (37:32 – 39:20) Boy, this is a hot topic. There are people who have really strong opinions on this. You're saying, do I use a friend's preferred names and pronouns?   And I think the fact that you have a friendship means that you can have a deeper conversation about the meaning of the names and pronouns. And I think that deeper conversation needs to happen. Because, you know, ultimately we don't like, we don't want to just say, “Oh yeah, whatever you want to call yourself is fine with me. Truth doesn't matter.” But on the other hand, we really want to get to the spiritual issue underneath this. And there's a, there's a big difference between somebody who doesn't know the Lord, doesn't know where you stand on any of this, and somebody that you can engage in a conversation with and seek wisdom on.   I think there, there's probably more latitude to use somebody's preferred name than pronouns. And I think in friendships, sometimes you can work that through and just say, you know, “Hey, I love you. I understand where you're coming from. I'm going to try my best to use the name that you're asking. But the pronoun is something that I'm not comfortable with. And here's why. And just like I'm, I want to understand where you are. I hope that you would have grace and understand where I am.” So, in a friendship, you're able to have those kinds of conversations. Whereas if it's a coworker or it's a stranger or a neighbor, sometimes we can't have that level of conversation. And so, I, we might choose to handle the situation a little differently.   Laura Dugger: (39:21 – 39:36) That's good. A hundred percent truth, a hundred percent love or kindness. And what if somebody asks, how much attention should we be giving these secondary issues as believers?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (39:39 – 41:03) Boy, I, I think first of all, the secondary issues come out of the primary issues. So, the primary issue, and you know, the issue I wrote Surrendered Sexuality is about is if my life belongs to the Lord, then my whole life needs to belong to Him, including how I think about cultural issues, including how I treat my neighbor.   And so, I don't see them as secondary issues. I see them as an outgrowth of the primary issue. I think when they become secondary issues are when we argue with other believers about it and it becomes the most important thing. Like I put you in a category based on, will you use preferred names and pronouns? And then I think we're missing what God calls us to.   The primary issue is that we want to honor God and we want to love each other. And so, let's keep going back to that primary issue. How do I love my neighbor well? How do I honor God's truth well? How do I pursue unity within the body of Christ well, as we're navigating some of these secondary issues? So, you know, like if we're going back to the primary issue, it means that we have to talk about the secondary issues, but we talk about them in light of what's primary.   Laura Dugger: (41:04 – 41:17) I like that. And I just have three more of these kind of tricky questions. So, another one, does pornography addiction qualify as reasons for a biblical divorce?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (41:20 – 42:50) I would say, first of all, technically, if we look at the word for sexual immorality in the scripture, which is porneia, we would say, yeah, you know, pornography does qualify for that.   But for the person who's asking this, maybe the woman who's asking this, I would say, why do you want to get out of the marriage? And what Jesus said is Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of your heart. And I think a more important question is where's your heart and where's your husband's heart? Because I've seen people with pornography addictions who have really open hearts towards healing, and they're willing to get the help that they need. They're repentant. They're willing to do the work. They're willing to go through even a time of separation to show that they're serious about that work.   And then there are people who have very hard hearts of, “This is who I am. I might go through the motions, but I'm really not interested in change.” And so, I think the pornography addiction is less the issue than the posture of the person's heart and their willingness to work. And if your spouse is willing to work, then I think it's on us to have soft hearts too, and to be open to the work that God can do.   Laura Dugger: (42:51 – 43:34) That's good because saying you have to zoom out and see more of the story in that stance, because that's very different. Somebody who's working on it and hates the struggle and is wanting to break free versus being married to a narcissist who is abusing you and treating you in a certain way and addicted to pornography. So, you point out well that all of these questions have more to them.   Okay. So, two more, if a spouse has had an emotional affair in the past with a coworker, but they still work with this person, what is the wise thing to do and how should they handle it if their spouse is uncomfortable with them still working there?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (43:36 – 44:33) Yeah, boy, that's something that I would want to seek counseling on. You and your spouse really need to get with a counselor and talk that through. The generic advice in that situation would be to get a different job, to not have that relationship still a temptation or available.   But there are sometimes very extenuating circumstances where that's not a possibility, or at least for now, that's not a possibility. And so, I would really encourage you to meet with a third party to sort through the details of your particular situation. Because it could be that your spouse isn't willing to take that hard step of cutting off that relationship, or it could be that they're willing, but again, there's extenuating circumstances. And I would really want a wise person who is engaging with you to help you navigate that.   Laura Dugger: (44:34 – 44:44) But I love that, how you highlight that something to look for though, is that you would hope your spouse would be willing to make that right, especially if they were the offending.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (44:46 – 44:46) Okay.   Laura Dugger: (44:47 – 45:00) And then also, Juli, because scripture does talk about turning the other cheek, does that mean it's the same as saying God expects you to stay in an abusive marriage?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (45:02 – 47:41) Absolutely not. If you were in an abusive marriage, you are not doing your spouse any good. You are allowing your spouse to be in a place where they're destroying their own life and they're destroying the people that they love.   Now you say, okay, where biblically do we see this? We see that Jesus, he says in John, he says, “I laid down my life for my sheep. I lay it down willingly. No one has the authority to take it from me. I have the authority to lay it down and I have the authority to take it up again.” And we see Him living that out with religious leaders who were after Him all the time, who wanted to stone Him, who were accusing Him of things. It says over and over again that Jesus escaped from them. He just got out of there until it was time that the Father said, now is the time for you to give yourself for the world.   So, we take that principle and we say, Jesus was not abused. Jesus did not let Himself be abused. He gave Himself as a lamb to the slaughter as a sacrifice for the Father and for the world. But that's very different. Up until that time, we see Him have great boundaries. We see Him not get, it even says He didn't entrust Himself to man because He knew what was in their hearts. I mean, He had boundaries with people that could have hurt Him.   And I also love when we see this in the story of King David and Saul, when Saul is chasing David, Saul is abusive, right? He wants to kill David. And so, David escapes. And there's a situation where David has the power or the opportunity to kill Saul and he doesn't do it. And then Saul just is struck by his conscience, and he comes back to David. He goes, “You're a better man than I am. I'm so sorry. You know, come back with me and I'll treat you well.” And even though David doesn't take revenge, he doesn't go back with Saul. He's still, he's like, “You go your way. I'll go my way. I'm going to let the Lord judge between us.”   And I think that's a great model. If you're in any kind of abusive relationship, you don't take revenge, but you also don't stay in that situation. You go your way, let them go their way, and you let God judge between you. And I think we see that over and over again in scripture.   Laura Dugger: (47:42 – 48:19) I think that is so well said. And it reminds me of a somewhat recent conversation in 2025 with Stacey Womack who's saying with domestic violence, really the way God would see it is child abuse. And that kind of helps our paradigm because we are His child.   And she elaborates on that. So, I said that that was the last one, but I actually thought of one more as it relates to our children.   So, is it reasonable to assume that once a child has a smartphone, 100% of them will be exposed to pornography?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (48:21 – 49:15) Yeah, it is. And I would say not just once they have a smartphone, because I know with one of my kids, we delayed the smartphone decision, but he had a learning disability that required him to have an iPad for school. And somehow, even though we locked down all the apps, somehow he's able to access it through that. Or it can be a gaming system, or it can be a friend's phone. And so, having a smartphone or device like that certainly makes it more probable.   But you know, like our kids are surrounded by screens and technology, not just what's in our home, but in other people's homes and at school. And so, I think it's safe to assume, unfortunately, that yes, 100% of our kids are going to be exposed to pornography, probably by the time they're 13 or 14.   Laura Dugger: (49:16 – 49:31) And sadly, some much younger than that. But even if there's parental controls, or filters put on, it is just something on my heart that we have to be so vigilant against.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (49:32 – 50:12) Yeah, no, I felt like when, you know, I have three boys, and when they were all three kind of in those teen years, I felt like I was trying to plug holes in a boat, and there'd be new ones popping up all the time. Whether it's like apps, or you know, things that you think are completely safe. Somehow, pornography can get through.   And our kids are smart, like they know the workarounds to the parental things. And that's why we just need to have conversation after conversation, just discipling them, not just protecting them from pornography, but discipling them through what they're inevitably going to be exposed to.   Laura Dugger: (50:13 – 51:05) That's a great point that not just being reactive, but proactive. I think why I have such a heart for this is because practicing and doing therapy and having so many people come in those wounds, that if that addiction gets a stronghold, and that pornography use, it just can wreak havoc in people long term. And so, if we can do that hard work of discipling early on, it is such a blessing to our children, to the generation.   So, I'm just so grateful for your candid responses. And I think it's also a helpful reminder just to never take on a burden that was never meant for us to carry. So, are there any ways that God has taught you to not try and do His business?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (51:07 – 52:16) Yeah. Boy, that's such a great question. I've had to come to the conclusion that I can't convince anyone of right and wrong. You know, like, I can't convince anyone that pornography is wrong, or gay marriage is wrong, or you know, like, that's not my job. My job is to walk with the Lord with integrity and faithfulness and to testify as to who He is.   And so much of this work, whether we're talking about marriage or our friends or our children, so much of this work has to be the Lord's work. And you reach a stage with your kids when they hit those teen years, where you realize the things my kids most need, I can't give them. I can't give them a relationship with God. I can't give them the desire to follow and seek the Lord. Like, I can model that for them. I can encourage them. But that is between them and the Lord. And if I try to control that, I'm just getting in the way of the work that God wants to do in their lives.   Laura Dugger: (52:18 – 52:33) Goodness, I will need to write that down and reflect on that. That is so good, Juli. And there's still so much more that you could share with us.   So, where is your preferred place that we can go online and continue learning from you?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (52:34 – 52:48) Yeah, I would say two places. Number one, our website is authenticintimacy.com. And the second one is the podcast that I do called Java with Juli. It goes along with The Savvy Sauce, you know, like they kind of go together.   Laura Dugger: (52:49 – 53:11) Yes, absolutely. We will certainly link to all of that in the show notes for today's episode.   And you're familiar, I've asked you many times before, because we are called savvy, because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or discernment. So, as my final question for you today, Dr. Juli, what is your savvy sauce?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (53:13 – 53:58) Oh, I don't even remember how I answered this the last few times. I think I may have said this before, but I think reading the dead old guys is one of my savvy sauce, like reading people who didn't live in this generation who loved the Lord.   And learning from them is just, that's probably taught me more discernment than anything, because they just cut right through the cultural noise that I think sometimes can blind us. And they really help me see my heart for what it is and help me really want to pursue God at a deeper level.   Laura Dugger: (53:59 – 54:03) Wow. Any specific recommendations that have been personal favorites there?   Dr. Juli Slattery: (54:04 – 54:22) Yeah, I love A.W. Tozer. I love many of Andrew Murray's books, particularly Humility and Absolute Surrender. And C.S. Lewis is another great one, Mere Christianity. So, those are some that I would recommend you start with.   Laura Dugger: (54:23 – 54:44) That is wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.   And Juli, it's just always such a delight to get to share an hour of conversation with you. And you are just this beautiful mixture of bold and gentle and humble, all combined into one. So, thank you for being my returning guest today.   Dr. Juli Slattery: (54:44 – 54:49) Oh, thank you. And it's such a pleasure to be with you. Thanks for your great questions.   Laura Dugger: (54:51 – 58:33) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Iowa State just cancelled the rest of its season!? We discuss the implications of this. Plus our interview with former Oregon State gymnast, Risa Perez on her college career, her switch from ASU (where the coach would be fired soon after) to Oregon State, and her TikTok about her college experience that gained lots of attention.  HEADLINES Iowa State announced it's cancelling the rest of the season. WHAT!? Listen to our discussion on College and Cocktails ''It became apparent we do not have enough student-athletes available to safely compete,'' Iowa State Senior Associate Athletics Director, Shamaree Brown said in a statement  College & Mocktails with special guest, Cal gymnast and World medalist, Ondine Achampong: Cal @ Clemson INTERVIEW: RISA PEREZ If there were one word to describe Risa Perez's gymnastics, it would probably be energy. From her spunky floor choreography and unique beam elements (hello there, front aerial to one-armed back handspring!) to her ability to engage and interact with the crowd, her gymnastics stood out. Perez began her collegiate career at Arizona State before transferring to Oregon State for her junior year in 2014. The 2016 Pac-12 beam champion hit 102 out of 110 total routines throughout her collegiate career. Perez qualified as an individual to the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Championships. Today we talk about her career, her move from ASU to Oregon State and the TikTok about her college experience that got lots of attention. References: Her badass beam save that is framed in our greatest beam saves of all time gallery Rene Lyst fired from Arizona State University The Balance Beam Situation's ASU Risa recap CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Cold open: Cortisone shot + "that's not a coach's decision" 00:00:29 – Intro: Iowa State cancels the rest of the season 00:02:38 – How does a team compete with no lineup? (ASU suspension flashback) 00:04:30 – Iowa State statement: "not enough student-athletes to safely compete" 00:04:58 – Alumni demand answers + rumors swirl 00:06:23 – Updates: American Cup ticket giveaway 00:06:42 – Merch drop: Team Bronze tee 00:07:07 – College & Cocktails plug: Oklahoma at Florida watch party 00:07:28 – Interview begins: Risa Perez (ASU → Oregon State) 00:08:34 – The TikTok that blew up: 'college gym' reality check 00:13:32 – Locker room culture + boundaries (why this matters) 00:15:28 – Message boards + rumor mill as a weapon 00:15:56 – Rene Lyst era: name placards, power plays, intimidation 00:29:25 – Puberty, periods, and what nobody warns gymnasts about 00:31:43 – Crippling cramps, hormones, and C-section recovery talk 00:32:41 – Hip dysplasia: pain you normalize until you can't 00:38:07 – The 'party' accusation read aloud (WTF moment) 00:41:51 – Team meeting confrontation + medical privacy 00:43:04 – 'Canary in the coal mine': how programs spiral 00:48:10 – Food/weight control + "you can't" rules 00:52:31 – College Mocktails teaser: Ondine Achampong on Cal vs Clemson 00:56:01 – Get more: Club Gym Nerd bonus + where to find everything UP NEXT Fantasy Gymnastics podcast every Wednesday College & Cocktails: Friday, Feb 13th at 6pm Pacific where we will watch Oklahoma at Florida on ESPN2 2026 Cocktail and Mocktail menu here Add exclusive Club Content to your favorite podcast player (instructions here). UPDATES Attention! We are giving away 2 tickets to the American Cup in Las Vegas  Check us out on Bluesky NEW Team Bronze Design in the store! Join our Live Shows Replay tickets on sale for our fundraiser show with all the Tea from Cecile Landi 2026 Live Show Season Pass is now available, 4 shows for the price of 3 SUPPORT OUR WORK Club Gym Nerd: Join Here Fantasy: 2026 College Fantasy Game now open all season with weekly winners Merch: Shop Now Newsletters The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer's GIF Code of Points Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Resistance Resources Join Our Fantasy League      

Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden, PhD, is a psychologist, behavioral geneticist and professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. We discuss how genes interact with your upbringing to shape your level of risk-taking and morality. We also discuss how genes shape propensity for addiction and impulsivity in males versus females. Finally, we discuss how biology impacts societal views of sinning, punishment and forgiveness. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Pre-order Protocols: https://go.hubermanlab.com/protocols Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Lingo: https://hellolingo.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Kathryn Paige Harden (00:03:10) Adolescents, Genes & Life Trajectory; Adolescence Ages (00:06:44) Puberty, Aging & Differences; Epigenome; Cognition (00:14:05) Sponsors: BetterHelp & Lingo (00:16:45) Puberty Onset & Family; Communication & Empathy (00:22:26) 7 Deadly Sins, Substance Use & Conduct Disorders, Genes (00:27:33) Family History; Genes & Brain Development (00:33:05) Personality & Temperament, Motivation, Addiction; Trauma (00:37:59) Knowing Genetic Risk & Outcomes; Understanding Family History (00:46:06) Sponsor: AG1 (00:46:57) Genetic Information & Decision Making; Personal Identity & Uncovering Family (00:52:12) Nature vs Nurture, Bad Genes?; Aggression, Childhood & Males (01:00:17) The Original Sin; Whitman Case & Brain Tumor; Genetic Predisposition (01:10:31) Free Will; Genes & Moral Judgement; Skillful Care for Kids; Social Cooperation (01:21:03) Breaking the Cycle; Genetic Recombination & Differences; Identity (01:25:21) Sponsor: Our Place (01:27:01) Status, Dominance, Science; Positive Attributes of Negative Traits (01:36:15) Relational Aggression & Girls; Male-Female Differences & Conflict (01:40:36) Genes, Boys vs Girls, Impulse Control (01:45:00) Behavior Punishment vs Rewards, Responsibility (01:51:29) Sponsor: Helix Sleep (01:53:03) Accountability; Suffering, Cancel Culture & Punishment (02:00:01) Life Energy & Punishment, Prison (02:08:16) Backward vs Forward-Looking Justice; Forgiveness, Retribution, Power, Choice (02:16:11) Reward, Unfairness & Inequality (02:21:59) Punishment, Reward & Power; Online vs In-Person Communities (02:29:49) Identical Twin Differences; Genetic Influence & Age; Sunlight & Genes (02:39:24) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices