Podcast

Fr. Martin Connor author, spiritual director, and founder of www.wiredtolove.com joins Jim to discuss the plights of false intimacy and what we truly desire and require, as well as why emotional chastity is important and what Theology of the Body can teach us in combatting the materialization of love.

Father has generously included a download of Chapter 6 of his book for Integrity Restored’s listeners. Download here.

Takeaways:

1. We all need to reconnect with God sometimes on a daily basis

2. To stay emotionally and spiritually healthy we need to get back to real relationships

3. Service is an important part of the recovery journey

Jim is joined by Dr. Peter Kleponis and Fr. Allen Hoffa to talk about some of the incredible stories of hope and healing we’ve experienced as part of the mission here at Integrity Restored and how we should celebrate the wins in recovery.

Takeaways:

1. No win is too small or too big and no fall is too great to get back up again

2. Tens of thousands of individuals, couples and clergy have found great hope, resources and healing and you can too

3. Your life, your marriage, your family and your relationships don’t have to be defined by the addiction 

Jim explores marriage prep and married life with Dcn. Kabat to highlight the importance of open communication, honesty and expectations when it comes to pornography usage.

Takeaways:

1. Marriage ” work” never ends. We should be learning about each other every day.

2. Culture wants us to believe sexual intimacy is just a recreational activity.

3. Nobody likes to hear the word pornography but we need to be able to discuss it.

In this episode, Jim is joined by De Yarrison of Hope’s Garden and You are Made New ministries to discuss 5 things husbands should do and 2 things they should never do to help their wife in her Betrayal Trauma recovery. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR VIRTUAL HOPE BLOOMS RETREAT at integrityrestored.com

Takeaways:

1. Always seek to understand first not respond

2. Heal your own wounds so you can heal as a couple

3. Don’t dismiss or coerce

Jim talks to all families in this episode about the ever growing threats we face in the cyber world. Being oblivious to these threats is not an option in our lives or the lives of those we love.

Takeaways:

1. Pornography is only one of the threats we face

2. Seemingly benign online activities can develop into larger problems

3. The virtual world consequences are very real

Jim is joined by Jordan Burke, founder of DoTheHarderThing.com, contributor to the Avila Institute and father of a young child, to discuss how healing and hope intersected in his recovery journey and what should we be looking for in our own journey.

Takeaways:

1. Our coping mechanism can quickly become our affliction

2. The wounds we carry must be addressed, healed and offered up in the recovery process.

3. Both science and spirit are components in healing.

Jim is joined by Sam Guzman, therapist, founder of The Catholic Gentleman and longtime contributor to www.covenanteyes.com. Sam brings a uniquely faith filled and scientific expertise to the connection between our thinking and our spirituality.

Takeaways:

1. The depths of shame must be stripped away for healing to begin

2. The different parts of our mind that have good or neutral intentions can still hurt us

3. Bring mercy into your own healing

Jim is joined by author and peer mentor Stephen Cuddy to discuss his recovery from depression and addiction and what tips and tools he has found useful in the journey.

Takeaways:

1. Recovery needs to be in every area of your life

2. Virtue growth helps you move beyond bad habits

3. Recovery is not a straight line but a daily life long journey

In this episode Jim is joined by Dr. Paul Vitz, Professor Emeritus at NYU and Senior Scholar and Professor at Divine Mercy University to crack open the internal battle with sexual compulsion, the negative effects, and what we can do about it.

This episode features a vitally important conversation with Jim and Dr. K. about what is an accountability partner, what makes a good one, and how do we find one…

Takeaways:

1. The wife should not be the accountability partner nor should she assume the role of “recovery cop”

2. Look to support groups to find a partner

3. It can be very helpful to find someone who understands the struggle through their own recovery journey