The Dark reality and effects of pornography on a generation with Melinda Tankard Reist

Melinda Tankard Reist is an author, speaker, media commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls. She is best known for her work addressing sexualisation, objectification, harms of pornography, sexual exploitation, trafficking and violence against women.

Summary

In this conversation, Danielle Strickland and her co-host James Sholl engage with Melinda Tankard Reist, a passionate advocate against the exploitation of women and children through pornography. They discuss the alarming rise of harmful sexual behaviors among youth, the cultural attitudes that normalize pornography, and the role of technology in perpetuating exploitation. Melinda shares insights from her research and experiences, highlighting the urgent need for collective action to combat these issues. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, awareness, and advocacy in creating a safer world for women and girls.

Takeaways

* Melinda Tankard Reist is a passionate advocate against pornography and exploitation.

* The rise of harmful sexual behaviors among youth is alarming and needs urgent attention.

* Cultural attitudes often normalize pornography, making it difficult to combat its effects.

* Technology plays a significant role in perpetuating exploitation and harmful behaviors.

* Empathy is crucial in understanding the impact of pornography on individuals and society.

Collective action is necessary to address the systemic issues surrounding pornography.

* There is hope for change, as many individuals are beginning to recognize the harms of pornography.

* Education and awareness are key in fighting against the normalization of pornography.

* The fight against exploitation requires both personal and political action.

* We must not be naive about the dangers posed by the pornography industry.

Sound bites

"We need a global ban on AI deep fake."

"We are losing empathy and this is my biggest fear."

"We deserve more than porn. We deserve to be loved."

Important Links

For parents:

What you need to know: https://culturereframed.org

Discussing with kids: https://parents.thorn.org/situation/

Parental online controls: https://www.bark.us

Fighting Back:

Fight The New Drug: https://fightthenewdrug.org

Resisting porn: https://resistporn.org

READING LIST

'Behind the Classroom Door', MTR, Eureka Street ,https://melindatankardreist.com/2025/05/behind-the-classroom-door-sexual-harassment-is-becoming-routine/

‘P*rn’s grooming starts young’, MTR, Eureka Street https://melindatankardreist.com/2023/07/prns-grooming-starts-young-mtr-eureka-street-essay/

“It makes my skin crawl”: sexual moaning rise in schools’, MTR, https://melindatankardreist.com/2022/06/it-makes-my-skin-crawl-sexual-moaning-rise-in-schools/

'Secondary Schools and a duty of care to keep students safe from harmful sexual behaviours', 'Off The Cuff' podcast, Kelly Humphries with guests Melinda Tankard Reist and Maha Melhem: https://kellyhumphries.com/podcast_episodes/maha-melhem-melinda-tankard-reist-the-complex-storm-harmful-sexual-behaviours-prn/

'Digital Dangers: AI Weaponization and Online Exploitation', 'Off the Cuff' podcast, Kelly Humphries with guests Melinda Tankard Reist and Maha Melhem: https://kellyhumphries.com/podcast_episodes/digital-dangers-ai-weaponization-and-online-exploitation/

Digital Dangers: AI Weaponization and Online Exploitation | Kelly Humphries

AI weaponization, sextortion, and the exploitation of young people are on the rise, creating a digital nightmare for vulnerable youth. Join me, along with Melinda Tankard Reist and Maha Melham, as we delve into this di