In this episode of the Grounded Union Podcast, Brandon and Caitlyn meet with Nathan and Danielle, a couple married for seven and a half years who are just one month into discovering Nathan's pornography addiction and pattern of inappropriate communication with other women. What makes this episode particularly poignant is how the truth came to light—Danielle had a dream about Nathan watching porn, texted him about it, and he finally came clean after hiding it their entire relationship. The hosts explore Nathan's journey of numbing out since childhood through weed, alcohol, and porn, connecting his fear of weakness to his father's recent passing and childhood bullying. Caitlyn powerfully explains how Nathan has become a "talented storyteller" to himself, filtering reality through self-protective narratives. The episode offers profound insights into embodiment work as the key to unlocking hidden memories, the importance of complete honesty rather than general confessions, and how unplugging from all power sources of addiction creates true freedom—not just resisting temptation daily.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:00:13 – Podcast Intro: Brandon introduces Season 3 and welcomes Nathan and Danielle to discuss what they're currently facing in their relationship.
• 00:01:45 – The Dream That Changed Everything: A vivid dream becomes the catalyst for long-hidden porn use coming to light.
• 00:04:30 – Grief, Loss, and Addiction Collide: The couple discusses Nathan's father's sudden decline and death from cancer, including Nathan's role in assisted suicide, and how grief intensified his addiction.
• 00:06:45 – Escaping Through Dopamine: Pornography becomes a way to numb emotional pain, especially during separation and moments of deep loneliness.
• 00:14:25 – Embodiment as the Breakthrough Tool: Brandon shares his own experience of emotional shutdown and introduces embodiment work using the body to reset the nervous system as essential for Nathan to access buried feelings and memories.
• 00:19:26 – Unhinging from Family of Origin: Brandon introduces the concept of separating from family patterns as Nathan reveals significant childhood memory loss, possibly from years of substance-induced dissociation starting at age 14.
• 00:25:01 – The Core Fear of Weakness: A core fear of weakness emerges, linking childhood bullying, trauma, and addiction to a desperate pursuit of power and control.
• 00:29:39 – The Currency of Feeling: Relationships are framed as emotional exchanges, with addiction described as a “leak” that drains intimacy and connection.
• 00:37:17 – The Invitation to Feel Alive: Caitlyn passionately invites the couple to discover what true, authentic life feels like, acknowledging she might sound "batshit crazy" but knowing the beauty of actually feeling alive for the first time.
• 00:43:45 – Permission to Feel All the Pain: Brandon discusses witnessing Caitlyn's suffocation-like panic attacks and reframes pain not as something wrong but as the body's necessary process of cycling through trauma to heal.
• 00:48:09 – Unplugging All Power from Addiction: Caitlyn delivers a powerful metaphor about how sharing every truth unplugs power from addiction—leaving secrets plugged in keeps the addiction energized, while full disclosure cuts all power completely.

In this episode of the Grounded Union Podcast, Brandon and Caitlyn sit down with Jeff and Korinne, a couple married for nearly 27 years, to explore what happens when emotional growth finally arrives years after it was needed, unpacking how unresolved grief, emotional shutdown, and missed connection quietly shape a marriage over decades, while sharing how childhood emotional neglect, long-term resentment, embodiment work, the validation flow (listen, reflect, ask), and the 4R’s framework can help couples move through regret and resentment without shame, offering hope that healing doesn’t require a do-over, only presence, responsibility, and the courage to feel.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:00:28 – Brandon and Caitlyn introduce Jeff and Korinne, highlighting their focus on emotional growth and connection.
• 00:02:29 – Korinne’s father’s long illness and death, reflecting on his inability to emotionally support her through grief.
• 00:05:09 – The emotional dynamic directly: his regret and Korinne’s resentment coexisting despite deep love.
• 00:07:14 – Caitlyn reframes Korinne’s experience as grief, comparing it to mourning what could have been in their marriage.
• 00:15:45 – A childhood experience of sexual abuse and the delayed processing of that trauma.
• 00:22:11 – How intimacy is “into-me-you-see” and the importance of open communication to prevent secrecy.
• 00:27:46 – Jeff shares about growing up in a family where emotions were discouraged, and physical comfort was limited.
  00:30:49 – Acknowledgment of the lack of programs and guidance for men and couples on emotional connection and relational embodiment.
• 00:34:23 – Discussion on how one partner’s personal emotional growth creates ripple effects in the relationship without needing approval.
• 00:36:57 – Explanation of embodiment practices like mindfulness, breathwork, and movement to enhance presence and relational experiences.
• 00:37:24 – Brandon introduces the concept of regret, reframing it from past mistakes into responsibility and opportunity for emotional engagement.
• 00:42:17 – Introduction to the 4R’s tool for processing sexual brokenness, allowing emotions like regret to be received and released.
• 00:46:13 – They explain that most emotions only need a few minutes to be processed, even if unresolved for decades.
• 00:48:33 – Discussion on moving from awareness to action: visualizing future decades of marriage and shared experiences once children are older.
• 00:58:11 – They highlight the legacy being created through emotional awareness, showing children and future generations how to connect with their feelings.

In this conversation of the Grounded Union Podcast, Brandon and Caitlyn sit down with Russell and Kim, a couple married for 32 years facing the devastating aftermath of eight physical affairs. Russell reveals his pattern of infidelity spanning decades, including one affair lasting over two years, while Kim shares her experience of steadfast commitment despite repeated betrayal. The hosts guide Russell through the crucial realization that he's been lying to himself, not just his wife, identifying missing pieces in his story that keep him trapped in denial. Caitlyn powerfully confronts the incomplete narrative Russell presents, explaining how his "iceberg" of hidden behaviors prevents true healing. The episode offers profound insights into breaking through denial structures, the connection between childhood trauma and adult acting out, and why radical honesty—not just avoiding getting caught—is the only path to genuine freedom and intimacy.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:00:12 – Introduction to Season 3, Episode 5: Brandon introduces the live call-in format and welcomes Russell and Kim, high school sweethearts married since 1993.
• 00:01:22 – The "Invisibility" of Long-Term Betrayal: Kim shares the devastating realization that much of their 38-year history was built on a foundation of secrets and compartmentalization.
• 00:03:18 – Sexual History Exploration: Caitlyn asks Russell to describe his full sexual story within the marriage, including any pornography use or other addictions.
• 00:04:33 – Abuse, Faith, and Deep Shame: Russell reveals being sexually abused by a youth pastor and growing up in a highly religious home, creating conflicting layers of guilt and secrecy.
• 00:09:51 – Breaking the Denial Structure: A mindset shift is introduced that allows real healing to begin by inviting the truth instead of blocking it.
• 00:12:58 – Why Kim Stays: Brandon asks Kim the crucial question of why she's chosen to stay through all eight betrayals over the years.
• 00:13:57 – Major Missing Puzzle Pieces: Caitlyn begins identifying red flags and inconsistencies in Russell's story, noting gaps that suggest incomplete disclosure.
• 00:17:23 – The Iceberg Analogy: Caitlyn explains the "Iceberg" concept, where Russell currently only sees the tip (conscious affairs) while the vast majority of his behaviors and motivations remain submerged in his subconscious.
• 00:24:37 – “I’ve Been Trying Not to Get Caught My Whole Life”: Russell connects childhood fear and rule-breaking to the way he now approaches marriage and temptation.
• 00:35:43 – Doing the Work for Yourself: Brandon encourages Russell to seek healing not just to save his marriage, but to save his own soul from the "slow death" he has been living for decades.
• 00:42:30 – Choosing Safety and Embodiment: Caitlyn instructs Russell on how to use "embodiment" to thaw his denial, emphasizing that he must tell his body it is finally safe to remember the truth.

In this episode of The Grounded Union Podcast, we dive deep into the raw realities of addiction, deception, and recovery as Brandon and Caitlyn sit with Chris and Jessica just weeks after the revelation of Chris’s decades-long pornography addiction. Chris shares his journey through early exposure, secrecy, and lifelong patterns of lying, while Jessica opens up about the heartbreak of discovering hidden truths in their marriage. The conversation highlights how addiction feeds on avoidance, distraction, and unmet emotional needs, not just behaviors. Brandon and Caitlyn provide compassionate, actionable guidance, including screen detox, journaling, and the 4R’s framework, offering couples a raw but hopeful roadmap to confront betrayal, rebuild trust, and reclaim connection.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:00:28 – Chris shares that everything is “extremely fresh,” revealing a long history of lying rooted in unresolved childhood issues and the very recent moment of truth.
• 00:02:47 – Jessica describes the devastation of discovery, the shock of realizing how well the lies were hidden, and the disorientation of betrayal.
• 00:04:36 – Caitlyn provides context: six years of marriage, discovery during the postpartum period, and the weight of learning the addiction spanned the entire relationship.
• 00:05:43 – Chris traces his first exposure to pornography back to early childhood and connects it to using sexual behaviors as emotional escape during trauma.
• 00:07:21 – Brandon reframes “frequency,” explaining why early disclosure often minimizes reality and why curiosity—not certainty—is essential for real healing.
• 00:13:41 – Caitlyn highlights the repeating pattern: using physical “separation” to cope, first as a child, now as an adult, linking past trauma to present behavior.
• 00:24:49 – Chris details his current screen habits, including phone restrictions, deleted social media, and intentional reduction of TV and gaming.
• 00:36:31– Introduction to the “4R’s” method (Recognize, Receive, Release, Replace) for rewiring thoughts and building the life you want.
• 00:39:38 – Caitlyn highlights the pivotal moment in marriage: fully committing to healing, consuming the Grounded Intimacy Program, and transforming life through honesty and transparency.
• 00:42:18 – This episode concludes by making healing the top priority, highlighting the positive ripple effect on the family, and fostering a fully transparent and supportive marriage.
• 00:45:00 – Jessica is given full permission to feel and process emotions while Chris learns to be a supportive presence.

In this episode of the Grounded Union Podcast, Evan and Kelsey share their raw journey through sex addiction recovery in their first year of marriage. Evan courageously unpacks his 20-year porn addiction history, revealing how denial structures kept him trapped even while attending 12-step meetings. After becoming complacent during their engagement, Evan's "gaslighting himself" about Instagram porn spiraled into deeper patterns—including objectifying his postpartum wife. What makes this conversation remarkable is Evan's radical transparency: he's already dismantling denial structures monthly, admitting to objectifying women everywhere, and facing the most painful truth—he's been judging Kelsey's body. Brandon and Caitlyn guide them through the "replacing" phase of the 4 R's, teaching Evan to rewire 20 years of conditioning by coming home to his body, feeling emotions he's numbed for decades, and seeing people through neutrality instead of judgment. For Kelsey, battling hypervigilance while pregnant and postpartum, Caitlyn offers hard-won hope: the forest you're clearing now leads to a meadow of true intimacy.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:01:10 – Complacency in Recovery: Evan shares his history with sex and lust addiction and describes how getting married led him to stop his 12-step work and enter a season of complacency.
• 00:05:21 – Safety and Postpartum Honor: Kelsey discusses the deep pain of feeling judged by her husband after a high-risk pregnancy and her refusal to lower her standards for safety in the marriage.
• 00:09:56 – The Reticular Activating System (RAS): Brandon explains the "tech" of the brain, describing how the RAS filters data and how years of addiction trained it to focus on body parts over people.
• 00:12:44 – Radical Responsibility Changes Everything: Caitlyn affirms Evan and Kelsey as a couple actively applying the work, highlighting how Evan’s language reflects ownership rather than minimization or helplessness.
• 00:15:08 – Unexpected Debris and the "Affection Glitch": A deep dive into why the brain sometimes defaults to old, toxic imagery as a defense mechanism when it finally begins to experience genuine emotional intimacy.
• 00:17:03 – Purging the "Virus" of Old Beliefs: Using the analogy of a physical virus to explain why "ugly" thoughts must be voiced out loud to be fully cleared from the system.
• 00:22:41 – Family Dynamics and the Root of Addiction: An exploration of how childhood enmeshment and rough home environments shape the need for escapism and the long-term reliance on pornography.
• 00:27:37 – The Mechanics of the Fourth R (Replacing): A deep dive into replacing distorted associations of connection with tangible, present-moment experiences like nature, sound, and genuine bond.
• 00:30:05 – Intimacy as Radical Visibility: Redefining intimacy as "into-me-you-see" and recognizing intrusive thoughts as "subconscious darts" used to defend against the fear of being fully known.
• 00:42:42 – Returning to the Present Moment: Breaking the habit of mental escape by grounding oneself in the immediate reality of family, physical surroundings, and core values.
• 00:46:44 – Navigating the "Dark Forest" of Recovery: Using the analogy of clearing a forest to describe the arduous but necessary work of removing secrets to reach a place of marital abundance.
• 00:51:14 – Maintaining High Standards for Intimacy: A final call to never settle for a mediocre relationship, instead choosing to remove the old structures to make room for a deeper union.

In today’s episode of The Grounded Union Podcast, discover how true healing after long-term porn addiction requires going far deeper than behavior change. Brandon and Caitlyn Doerksen walk alongside Dave and Katie as they unpack the decades of pain beneath Dave’s 16-year addiction, pain rooted in childhood sexual trauma, religious shame, and a lifelong belief that he was “defective.” The conversation shifts powerfully as Katie reveals that the deepest trauma is no longer the pornography itself, but the cycle of partial honesty, shame spirals, and having to heal alone. Brandon and Caitlyn challenge Dave’s patterns of self-loathing and avoidance, drawing a clear line between staggered disclosure and real accountability. With practical yet confronting guidance, Caitlyn outlines a path of radical honesty through comprehensive personal inventory and disclosure. This episode offers a sobering but hopeful truth: freedom, intimacy, and peace are possible when shame is replaced with total transparency.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:00:28 – Breaking Point After 16 Years: Katie and Dave describe the exhaustion, worsening conflict, and fear that nothing will ever change after 16 years of trying.
• 03:35 – Defining the Addiction & Failed Solutions: They outline years of counseling, 12-step programs, and trauma groups that never brought lasting freedom.
• 07:17 – Validation for the Betrayed Spouse: Katie shares how hearing her experience finally validated gave her hope that a new story is possible.
• 09:25 – Porn Is the Symptom, Not the Root: Caitlyn introduces the “weed” analogy, reframing addiction as a surface issue pointing to deeper wounds.
• 12:36 – Childhood Sexual Trauma Revealed: Dave discloses early sexual abuse that shaped his shame identity and lifelong struggle.
• 15:00 – Why Porn Actually Hurts the User: Brandon explains how porn feeds anxiety, loneliness, and shame rather than pleasure or relief.
• 18:29 – The Core Question: Why Tolerate a Life You Don’t Love?: Dave is challenged to stop running from pain and face what he’s been avoiding for decades.
• 21:11 – Sexuality Is Distorted, Not Evil: Brandon reframes sexuality as relational and good, offering hope beyond moral shame.
• 25:39 – The Lie of “Character Defect”: Caitlyn dismantles the belief that something is fundamentally wrong with Dave, and shows how that belief fuels addiction.
• 35:07 – The Weight of Betrayal on the Spouse: Katie names the exhaustion of carrying shame, lies, and a lack of accountability alone.
• 38:21 – Lifelong Dishonesty Exposed: Dave realizes dishonesty, not porn, is the deepest pattern keeping him trapped.
• 40:17 – Terror as the First Sign of Readiness: Dave admits he’s terrified, and the hosts affirm this fear as the gateway to real change.
• 46:20 – Why “Therapeutic Disclosure” Often Fails: Caitlyn explains why partial disclosure protects addiction instead of healing it.
• 01:07:04 – The Gift of Being Fully Known: Radical honesty with one’s spouse is reframed as the doorway to intimacy and freedom.
• 01:11:28 – Lock Arms and Heal Together: The episode closes with a clear picture of hope: spouses facing the truth side by side until freedom is complete.

In this episode of The Grounded Union Podcast, Brandon and Caitlyn coach Drew and Chelsea through a three-year journey of porn addiction recovery that's been overshadowed by persistent lying. In this live call-in session, Chelsea vulnerably shares her heartbreak: despite Drew's initial confession and stopping pornography, she has "literally zero trust" as small lies continue to surface. Brandon and Caitlyn trace Drew's compulsive dishonesty back to childhood shame and his first exposure to pornography at age eight, revealing why traditional one-time disclosures fail. They challenge Drew to embrace daily radical transparency, explaining that "silly lies" signal deeper hidden truths. This raw coaching session introduces their four R's rewiring process and offers a powerful promise: commit to removing the veil completely, and your marriage will be transformed within a year.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:00:28 – Welcome to Season 3: The hosts introduce the new season's format, featuring nine brave couples for relational and practical live call-in coaching, beginning with Drew & Chelsea's story of betrayal, infertility, and healing.
• 00:01:32 – The Breaking Point: Chelsea reveals discovering Drew's porn addiction in 2022, three years into marriage, after conceiving their son during the one week he wasn't active in his addiction.
• 00:03:41 – The Deeper Root: Drew opens up about how his confession was encouraged by a men’s group—but how lying remains his reflexive shield against fear and shame.
• 00:06:32 – The Recent Lie Uncovered: Chelsea details how she uncovered a recent lie about internet use, describing the emotional exhaustion of catching dishonesty even in seemingly small things.
• 00:09:20 – The Panic Response: Drew admits he panicked when he realized he'd broken their agreement and instinctively deleted the history to hide it.
• 00:17:25 – Self-Perception as Failure: Drew describes himself as "failing to do the things I need to do" and "not being the man my wife deserves."
• 00:23:14 – The First Exposure to Porn: Drew recounts seeing pornography at age 8, with a deep dive into how that early moment shaped decades of addiction, secrecy, and shame.
• 00:28:44 – Rewiring the Narrative Through Embodiment: The healing process is reframed: instead of blaming culture, control, or sin nature, Drew is invited to reclaim his power and rewire both behavior and belief through conscious honesty.
  00:30:29 – “Silly Lies”: A powerful reminder that small lies don’t exist in isolation—they usually point to larger truths left buried, requiring courage to bring into the light.
• 00:37:45 – Embodiment and the Nervous System Zones: A breakdown of the “fire,” “ice,” and “grounded” nervous system states, and how embodiment can help regulate reactions to daily relational triggers.
• 00:45:25 – The Power of Ongoing Transparency: Encouragement to go beyond the initial disclosure and begin seeing yourself clearly, allowing your spouse to do the same—bit by bit, together.
• 00:52:23 – A Marriage with Nothing Hidden: The vision: a marriage where everything is known and nothing needs to be hidden—a relationship built on radical safety, not secrecy.
• 00:58:07 – Trusting Actions, Not Words: Trust is earned by the husband's daily, consistent actions—waking up and getting in his body, and initiating hard conversations every night—not by simple apologies or words.

In this episode of The Grounded Union Podcast, Brandon and Caitlyn Doerksen dive deep into why pausing everything else might be the most important decision you ever make for your marriage. They get raw about the hidden costs of busyness, distractions, and avoidance, sharing personal stories from their own journey, including Brandon stepping down from ministry and Caitlyn reclaiming hours in her day, to illustrate how chronic exhaustion and misaligned priorities quietly erode intimacy. This podcast explains why facing pain head-on, regulating your nervous system, and creating space for transformative conversations are essential for rebuilding trust and connection. Packed with practical strategies, from reclaiming time and energy to cutting distractions, this episode is both an urgent wake-up call and a hopeful guide for couples ready to show up fully, prioritize their relationship, and restore lasting intimacy.

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Timestamps & Key Moments:

• 00:00:28 – Why Stop Everything to Save Your Marriage: Brandon opens the conversation, explaining what’s at stake if a marriage is neglected and why giving it full attention is worth every ounce of effort.
• 00:02:36 – Making Healing the #1 Priority: The couple shares how clearing their schedules and mental space to focus solely on repairing their marriage became the turning point in their relationship.
• 00:04:49 – Why Your Kids and Friends Matter: They discuss how the health of a marriage directly influences children, friendships, and social circles, highlighting the broader impact of prioritizing your union.
• 00:07:47 – The Roommate Marriage Problem: Brandon and Caitlyn explore how settling into disconnection and living like roommates can quietly erode intimacy, sometimes worse than divorce.
• 00:09:34 – Three Essentials Every Couple Needs to Heal: Caitlyn outlines the foundational elements of time, energy, and shared effort that every couple must commit to in order to restore their relationship.
• 00:15:02 – Removing Distractions to Reconnect: They provide practical advice on turning off phones, TV, and other distractions to create space for meaningful connection.
• 00:21:32 – Focus Matters: Brandon explains why saying no to volunteering, side projects, and other commitments is essential to saving your marriage.
• 00:27:24 – Leaving Ministry to Save Marriage: Brandon recounts stepping away from ministry and public accolades to focus fully on his marriage, illustrating the cost of true prioritization.
• 00:29:35 – Identity Recreation: Caitlyn discusses how letting go of titles, roles, and societal expectations allowed both partners to reconnect authentically.
• 00:34:02 – Priorities That Never Crumble: They explain the principle of protecting marriage and family above all else as a way to sustain long-term influence and personal fulfillment.
• 00:37:00 – Letting It All Crumble: Brandon shares how allowing work, projects, and public perception to fall apart in 2020 became a necessary step for rebuilding their life together.
• 00:39:07 – Life on the Other Side: They describe the renewed joy, connection, and purpose that emerged after making the hard choices to prioritize marriage above everything else.