Are you worried about how porn might be impacting your teen—or afraid to even bring up the conversation?
Studies show that up to 90% of boys and young men are consuming porn, often starting as young as eight years old. And the truth is, it’s not harmless. Porn rewires the brain, damages real-life relationships, distorts healthy sexuality, and fuels depression, anxiety, and disconnection.
In this episode, Greg and Rachel Denning break down the science, psychology, and social impact of porn use—and why parents must step up with courage, clarity, and compassion.
We’ll explore:
🚫 Why porn alters the brain’s dopamine baseline and destroys joy in real life
🧠 The biological and psychological effects on teen mental health
❤️ How to talk openly about sex, attraction, and healthy intimacy (without shame)
📱 The role of smartphones, sneaky behavior, and the need for parental accountability
🔑 Practical strategies to protect your kids AND help them build self-control, grit, and resilience
Porn isn’t going away. But with the right knowledge, conversations, and boundaries, you can prepare your teens to choose a healthier, more fulfilling path for their future relationships and happiness.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Healthy sexuality is good—pornography is destructive.
✅ Dopamine overload from porn creates depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction.
✅ Teens need open, shame-free conversations about sex and attraction.
✅ Parental restrictions alone aren’t enough—kids need guidance and modeling.
✅ Sneaky behavior is more dangerous than simple exposure.
✅ Internal motivation and self-mastery protect kids when parents aren’t around.
Memorable Quotes:
🗣️ “Good kids still struggle with porn—it doesn’t make them bad, but it is destructive.”
🗣️ “Sneaky, slimy behavior is always more dangerous than exposure itself.”
🗣️ “If you don’t teach your kids, society will—and you won’t like the results.”
🗣️ “Healthy sexuality is normal. Porn is not.”
🗣️ “Resentment comes from control. Resilience comes from teaching.”
📌 Chapters:
00:00 The Impact of Pornography on Society
12:07 Understanding the Biological and Psychological Effects
23:52 Navigating Conversations About Sexuality with Children
29:29 Strategies for Guiding Children in the Digital Age
31:36 Educating Ourselves and Our Children
33:16 Tools for Managing Screen Time
36:53 Creating Practice Zones for Self-Control
39:11 Encouraging Self-Reflection and Accountability
41:19 The Importance of Meaningful Engagement
44:23 Modeling Healthy Tech Use
46:32 Navigating Struggles with Compassion
48:18 Understanding Shame and Accountability
52:18 Developing Internal Guidance Systems
56:11 Extreme Measures for Self-Discipline
🎉 Enrollment is now open for our Fall 2025
Habits for a Successful Life Online Class for Teens → Learn More Here
Formidable Family Man Podcast episode mentioned on this topic: #90 Stopping Porn for Good: Rewiring the Addicted Brain with Dr. Trish Leigh https://youtu.be/ybRopd24arI
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.