Proving Recovery from Porn to a Partner, Re-evaluating Male Shirtlessness & The Ethics of Menstrual Cups | ACW383
Ask Christopher West
Theology of the Body Institute
4.9 • 549 Ratings
🗓️ 4 May 2026
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Questions answered this episode:
- I want to fully understand Theology of the Body but struggle due to a history with porn addiction. Exposed at 13, I fell away from the Church and entered an ill-advised marriage where porn use was encouraged, ending in divorce. Now, by the grace of God, it’s been several months since I’ve slipped. Resources like the Matt Fradd show, Internal Family Systems, and Covenant Eyes have helped immensely. I’ve met an amazing woman, but when I told her about my addiction, she expressed concern that I haven't done enough to address it. How do I know if I’ve done enough? What resources would you recommend?
- My fiancé and I have been discerning swim modesty, particularly for men. I love swimming and see many modest options for women, but what about men? I felt like seeing my fiancé without his shirt for the first time was a big deal, as a level of nakedness would be revealed that hadn’t been before. We discerned him wearing a swim shirt, as I want to wait to see this nakedness until marriage. He has struggled with it, and I didn't want to force it. Should men have a level of modesty and cover up while swimming, or is it modest for men to swim shirtless since that’s acceptable in our culture?
- Are there any feminine hygiene products that are not acceptable? Tampons are required to go into the body, and menstrual cups or disks even require a woman to actually reach her hand up her vagina to insert and to remove. This feels a little bit like the line towards masturbation is being pushed.
Resources:
Way of Beauty Course with Bill Donaghy
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Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | When was the last time you stopped and listened to your body? |
| 0:03.0 | Here's a Holland and Barrett ad break to do just that. |
| 0:06.0 | Go on, tune in. |
| 0:08.0 | Think about your body when you exercise. |
| 0:11.0 | Are those knees creaking? |
| 0:13.0 | Are your muscles ever so slightly aching? |
| 0:16.0 | Or are they trying to say, |
| 0:18.0 | You've got to show me love. |
| 0:21.6 | We know what your body's asking for. |
| 0:24.6 | In store online on the app. |
| 0:26.6 | Back Your Body, Holland and Barrett. |
| 0:33.6 | From The Theology of the Body Institute, this is the Ask Christopher West podcast. |
| 0:44.4 | Hey, Wendy. |
| 0:52.3 | Yeah. |
| 0:53.3 | I'm going to ask you the question that I begin my Made for More seminar with. |
| 1:01.0 | First of all, do you know the question I begin my Made for More seminar with? |
| 1:05.1 | I think I do. |
| 1:06.2 | What is it? |
| 1:07.0 | I want to see if you know. |
| 1:14.5 | If you're going to see if you know. If everybody could see Wendy's face right now, she's cringing. |
| 1:17.7 | She's like, oh, crap. |
| 1:19.2 | I should know. |
... |
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