Unhooked: Breaking Porn Addiction Podcast

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

This episode is a rebroadcast of a conversation I had with Todd Rennebohm on the Bunny Hugs podcast. Todd runs a mental health show that isn't afraid to go into the territory most podcasts avoid, and this conversation went deep.
We covered my personal story from the beginning. How it started innocent enough, looking at lingerie catalogs as a kid, and slowly escalated over years into a daily habit that was quietly rewiring my brain. By college, I was logging on every night for an hour, sometimes two. And even though my life looked great on paper, I felt completely empty inside.
In this episode we talk about:
The moment I realized I was a slave to lust, and what it actually felt like from the inside
How porn hijacks the dopamine system and why the "hunt" is more addictive than the content itself
The realm of hungry ghosts, a Buddhist concept that perfectly describes what addiction feels like
Why porn addiction is uniquely hard to break free from compared to alcohol or substances
How I went from PhD student at Duke to Buddhist monk to meditation teacher to recovery coach
Why the shame-based, willpower-driven approach almost always backfires
What neuroplasticity actually means for your recovery, and why it's good news
How to meditate without falling asleep (and why falling asleep isn't actually the problem)
AI companions, escalation, and where all of this is headed
This is one of the more wide-ranging conversations I've had. If you're new to this work, it's a good place to start. If you've been around for a while, I think you'll still find something in it.

00:00 Empty Chase
00:50 Meet Jeremy
01:37 How It Started
03:15 Daily Habit
04:59 Control And Coping
06:07 Brain Rewiring
07:15 Novelty Escalation
09:20 Seeing The Future
11:10 Hungry Ghosts
13:33 Neuroplasticity Lust
15:10 Gratitude Training
18:29 Desire Vs Craving
20:31 Meditation Skills
23:11 Tech And AI Risks
24:57 Is It Ever Good
27:14 AI Companions Dystopia
28:30 Moderation Debate
28:37 Moderation vs Abstinence
30:11 Ethics of Porn Industry
33:02 Why Porn Hooks Dopamine
37:15 Rock Bottom Realization
42:43 Finding Happiness Through Mindfulness
46:09 Non Shame Recovery Approach
50:11 Meditation Basics That Work
54:02 Grounded Not Woo Woo
54:49 Where to Find Jeremy
55:26 Final Wrap and Support

Check out Todd's show, Bunny Hugs, at bunnyhugspodcast.com
Resources mentioned:
Unhooked Academy: unhookedacademy.com
14-Day Slip Reset: unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

🔹 Want to break free?

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

This week, I'm resharing a conversation I had with Breanne Wilson on the Adventures in Adversity podcast because I think this message is more important than ever.

We talk about my journey from porn addiction to recovery, how addiction rewires the brain, why shame keeps so many people trapped, and what it really takes to build a life of integrity, purpose, and freedom. We also explore mindfulness, neuroplasticity, healthy masculinity, and why lasting recovery isn't about willpower, it's about creating a life you no longer want to escape from.

Whether you're struggling with porn, another compulsive habit, or simply searching for deeper fulfillment, I hope this conversation reminds you that change is possible.

What's one area of your life where you're ready to stop escaping and start healing?

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who could benefit from it, and subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future conversations on recovery, self-mastery, and living with purpose.

🔹 Want to break free?

Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Breanne Wilson

🌍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresinadversitypodcast/
🎙️ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adventures-in-adversity-an-inspirational-podcast/id1727019294

Timestamps:

🔹 Want to break free? 
Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset
Why do so many people struggle to quit porneven when they genuinely want to stop?

In this interview with Tim Tedder on The Affair Recovery Room Podcast, I share my personal journey from years of porn addiction to finding lasting recovery, and the lessons I learned along the way.

We talk about how porn rewires the brain, why novelty keeps people trapped in the cycle, how shame silently fuels addiction, and why recovery isn't about relying on willpower alone. We also discuss mindfulness, healthy relationships, community, and the inner work required to build lasting freedom.

In this episode you'll learn:
What porn addiction really is
How porn changes your expectations of intimacy
Why shame keeps people stuck
Why willpower isn't enough
The role of mindfulness in recovery
Why community accelerates healing
How to build a life you don't need to escape from
Whether you're struggling yourself or supporting someone you love, I hope this conversation gives you hope and practical insight for the journey ahead.

If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, self-mastery, and creating lasting freedom.
🔹 Want to break free? 
Join Unhooked Academy now:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Jeremy:
🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz
📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Connect with Tim Tedder
🌍 Website: https://www.affairhealing.com/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tim-Tedder
🎙️ Podcast: https://www.affairhealing.com/podcasts
https://open.spotify.com/show/54DlIhDCxb3a4gpFCJrRPu
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-affair-recovery-room/id1116458007

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:27 What Porn Addiction Really Is
04:25 The Hidden Signs of Addiction
06:03 How My Addiction Started
14:29 Why Real Relationships Feel Harder
20:44 What Finally Helped Me Recover
26:36 Why Shame Keeps Men Stuck
29:26 Porn Isn't the Real Problem

🔹 Want to break free?

Be on the Unhooked Academy waitlist:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/
What if the biggest obstacle to your recovery isn't porn but the relationship you have with yourself?

In this episode, I explore a powerful idea that was sparked by a short piece from Joshua Fields Millburn: we often tolerate behavior from ourselves that we'd never accept from anyone else. Whether it's doom scrolling, self-criticism, procrastination, or acting out, these habits quietly steal our time, energy, and potential.

I share a simple framework for recognizing self-sabotaging patterns, setting healthier boundaries with yourself, and becoming your own greatest ally instead of your harshest critic.

Are you treating yourself the way you'd treat someone you truly care about?

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, self-mastery, and building a life you don't want to escape from.
🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 No One Wastes More Time
03:08 Ending Self-Sabotage
04:21 A Three-Step Reset
05:39 Your Mind: Enemy or Ally?
06:40 Become Your Own Best Friend

🔹 Want to break free?

Be on the Unhooked Academy waitlist:
https://www.unhookedacademy.com/
Have you been working harder and harder at recovery, only to feel like you're getting nowhere?

In this episode, I share five reasons why focusing too much on recovery can actually keep you stuck. We explore the neuroscience behind why white-knuckling, obsessing over streaks, and making recovery your entire identity often backfires and what to do instead.

True freedom doesn't come from fighting urges harder. It comes from building a life so meaningful, fulfilling, and exciting that porn becomes irrelevant.

What if the breakthrough you're looking for isn't about trying harder but about focusing on something bigger?

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it and subscribe for more conversations on recovery, discipline, and creating a life you don't want to escape from.
🔹 Want personalized support? Book a free discovery call with Jeremy: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/intro

Get my FREE 14-day slip reset here:
https://unhookedacademy.com/reset

Connect with Jeremy:

🌍 Website: JeremyLipkowitz.com

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremylipkowitz/

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyLipkowitz

📩 Email: jeremy@unhookedacademy.com

Jeremy’s Online Course: Unhooked – Step-by-Step Guide to Quitting Porn: https://www.unhookedacademy.com/

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:47 The Streak Trap
04:25 The Pink Elephant Problem
06:24 Recovery Isn't Your Identity
08:14 Stop Pulling Weeds
09:47 How to Handle Urges
12:11 What Real Recovery Looks Like
14:15 Resources & Final Thoughts