This episode goes beyond the surface to the heart of addiction. We sit down with former tech entrepreneur Curtis Morley, whose life's purpose shifted after the tragic loss of his best friend to suicide. Curtis believes his friend didn't understand the difference between sobriety and recovery, a lesson Curtis now uses to help men combat the epidemic of pornography addiction.

Curtis bravely shares his own experience and the core principles of his "Counterfeit Emotions" program, arguing that most men aren't addicted to porn—they're addicted to shame.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation:

• The Stigma of Shame: We discuss the statistic that 91.5% of men report viewing pornography in the last month, yet most are not clinically addicted, but are trapped in a cycle of shame fueled by silence, secrecy, and judgment.
• The Counterfeit of Love: Curtis defines lust as the counterfeit of love, operating as a "taking" rather than a "giving and receiving" exchange. True intimacy is redefined as a multi-pillar connection, with sex being the result of that connection, not the foundation.
• Pain vs. Misery: Learn the transcendent difference: Pain is inevitable and can be a tool for growth, while misery is the self-inflicted anguish created by adding blame and shame to pain.
• Sobriety vs. Recovery: Sobriety only measures time; Recovery measures depth. True healing means taking your "demons to lunch"—addressing the underlying emotional pain rather than just avoiding the addictive behavior ("dry drunk").

This episode is a powerful call for honesty, vulnerability, and a deeper understanding of the emotional drivers behind addictive behavior.

📌 Episode Guide
00:00 - Intro
07:00 - Ryan Revisits a Maroon 5 Show: Gratitude, Pride, and a Son's First Concert.
16:27 - Bridging the Divide: Can We Find Common Ground Between Religion and Psychology?34:30 - The Porn Addiction Epidemic
36:30 - Porn: Addiction to Shame
38:00 - The Dyad of Love vs. Lust
46:31 - The Four Components of Unwanted Pornography Viewing
1:06:25 - Pain is a Tool for Growth
1:13:00 - The Transcendent Ladder
1:19:15 - Sobriety vs. Recovery

🎧 Listen to the full episode now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Or wherever you get your podcasts

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📲Follow Curtis Morley:
Web: www.counterfeitemotions.com
Podcast: Counterfeit Emotions (on all platforms)
Social: @authenticcurtis

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