Fight For Love

Fight For Love

Fight For Love is a podcast for women navigating the impact of pornography on relationships, faith, and identity. Hosted by LifeWay author and founder of Fight For Love Ministries, Rosie Makinney, the podcast began by helping women make sense of betrayal, trauma, and recovery in porn-affected marriages. That foundation remains. In Season 5, the conversation widens — asking why pornography has become so normalized and yet so difficult to talk about, why women’s clarity is often dismissed, and how a spiritual battle was reduced to behavior management. This is an honest, grounded podcast for women who want more than coping strategies — and are ready for clarity, courage, and truth.  

  1. 96. Why More Sex Won’t Fix a Porn Problem

    4D AGO

    96. Why More Sex Won’t Fix a Porn Problem

    In this thoughtful and compassionate episode, Rosie Makinney addresses the deeply personal struggles women face when confronting the false belief that simply being more sexually available will solve problems stemming from a spouse's pornography use. She speaks directly to two groups: women quietly enduring rejection and those who feel they can never do enough, highlighting the emotional toll both dynamics take. Rosie Makinney explores how Western culture and history—starting with the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution—have shifted the meaning and purpose of sex within marriage. Rather than fostering connection, sex has too often become a way to regulate tension and manage internal stresses, paving the way for pornography to enter relationships not as an outlier, but as a symptom of a much deeper system. She offers gentle affirmation that the pain women experience in these scenarios is not proof of personal inadequacy, but a result of cultural and relational forces they did not create. Ultimately, Rosie Makinney reminds listeners that clarity is essential for healing, and that it's possible to step out of shame and into a deeper understanding of the real battle taking place. Key Topics Covered The Emotional Cost of Rejection: Why repeated rejection fosters feelings of invisibility and self-doubt (00:00–04:27). Transactional Intimacy: How the pressure to "do more" can lead to exhaustion and disconnection, as sex becomes a tool for stabilizing a partner's emotions instead of building closeness. Cultural Shifts: Historical roots of how sex came to be used for managing internal pressures rather than fostering shared intimacy (starting with the Enlightenment and continuing through the Industrial Revolution). Pornography as Symptom: How pornography intersects with these patterns, offering relief without relationship, and ultimately displacing genuine intimacy. It's Not Your Fault: Reassurance that women's experiences are shaped by systems and beliefs they didn't choose—and that their pain is real and valid. Clarity Leads to Healing: Understanding these patterns is the first step in moving away from shame and toward true healing. Notable Quotes “What you’re feeling makes sense, and it’s not evidence of your inadequacy, I promise.” "Sex starts to feel less like something shared and more like something that keeps the peace. Not because you don’t care, but because it feels like the cost of emotional stability." "Pornography makes a kind of sense. It offers control over arousal, over timing, over outcome... That’s why pornography doesn’t just exist alongside intimacy, it quietly displaces it." "This was never about you. It wasn’t your body. It wasn’t your effort. It wasn’t your failure. You were trying to love inside rules you didn’t write." Resources & Next Steps For more support, truth, and encouragement, visit fightforloveministries.com   Takeaway:You are not alone, and the struggle you’re experiencing is not your fault. Understanding the broader cultural patterns can bring relief, validation, and the first steps toward authentic connection and healing.

    22 min
  2. 95. Why Everyman's Battle is Misdirection

    FEB 9

    95. Why Everyman's Battle is Misdirection

    In this powerful solo episode, Rosie Makinney unpacks the familiar phrase "pornography is every man's battle" and explores why it can feel so unsettling—especially to women. Far from simply offering reassurance, that phrase, Rosie contends, acts as a form of misdirection, subtly lowering resistance and shifting focus away from the deep, formational impact of pornography on individuals and relationships. Key Discussion Points The Phrase "Every Man's Battle":Often used in church circles, this phrase can unintentionally minimize the seriousness and formative power of pornography. Rosie Makinney dissects how it reframes the struggle in a way that makes it seem inevitable and merely manageable, rather than something requiring ongoing, intentional resistance. Sexual Imagery and Formation:Drawing parallels with marketing and advertising, Rosie highlights how repeated exposure to sexual imagery shapes our desires, attention, and even attachments over time—often subconsciously. Biblical Context & Spiritual Stakes:Rosie Makinney dives into scripture’s treatment of sex as spiritually weighty and transformative. She discusses how sexual distortion is never treated as a “side issue” in the Bible and connects this with modern conversations on autonomy and self-regulation. Minimization & Passivity:The language we use shapes what we tolerate and how we respond. By treating pornography as inevitable or common, we can become less honest, less equipped, and more passive in the face of its formative effects. Role of Practice Over Belief:Using the example of ancient idolatry versus modern patterns, Rosie explains that it’s often our repeated practices—not just our professed beliefs—that shape us most. Freedom and Transformation:The episode concludes with a call for honesty, clarity, and the courage to renounce—not negotiate with—what’s formative and destructive. The gospel, Rosie argues, doesn't promise management of idols but true freedom and transformation. Key Quotes “When we minimize what shapes us, we don’t make life easier—we make ourselves less equipped to respond honestly.” “Inevitability is not a gospel category. The gospel says: You were enslaved, but you have been set free.” “Clarity isn’t cruelty. It’s kindness. And in a war that hides in plain sight, naming what forms us is the first step towards real freedom.” Resources & Next Steps Visit fightforloveministries.com for more truth, tools, and encouragement. Listen to last week's episode for deeper biblical and historical context on sex and formation.   Take heart. Stay curious. Continue leaning into the One who holds you steady.     00:00 "Rethinking the Battle on Pornography" 03:03 "Rethinking Pornography's Influence" 06:59 "Scripture's View on Sex" 09:40 "From God to Self-Worship" 15:30 "Who or What Shapes Us?" 16:31 "Trusting God Amid Human Struggles"

    22 min
  3. 94. Why Does Pornography Feel So Dark?

    FEB 3

    94. Why Does Pornography Feel So Dark?

    Have you ever felt that pornography doesn’t just feel uncomfortable… it feels dark? Not awkward.Not “just a habit.”But heavy — in a way that’s hard to explain. Welcome to this thought-provoking episode of Fight For Love, where host Rosie Makinney takes us on a deep dive into a question many have felt but struggled to articulate: Why does pornography feel so dark? In this episode, Rosie explores the roots of this uncomfortable instinct, tracing it back through history, ancient ritual, and Scripture. You'll discover how sex has always held profound spiritual and formative power—not just as an act, but as something that shapes trust, identity, and destiny. Drawing on stories of ancient pagan deities like Baal, Asherah, and Ishtar, Rosie reveals how sexual acts were central to worship, community, and personal security thousands of years ago. She explains how these patterns have quietly woven themselves into modern life, often hiding behind normalization and habit rather than loud rebellion. This episode isn’t just about history—it’s about understanding the spiritual weight behind our cultural practices today, especially those that take something sacred and turn it into spectacle, consumption, and control. If you’ve ever felt uneasy about the presence of pornography and wondered if you’re overreacting, this conversation will validate your instincts and equip you with a richer perspective. Join Rosie as she gently but powerfully shines a light on the unseen war that pornography wages—not by shaming, but by restoring clarity, truth, and hope.

    26 min
  4. 90. Helping Kids Navigate Hypersexualized Culture with Barb Winters

    09/26/2023

    90. Helping Kids Navigate Hypersexualized Culture with Barb Winters

    Are you concerned about how to raise your children in today's hypersexualized culture? In this episode of "Fight For Love," host Rosie Makinney welcomes guest Barb Winters, an expert in promoting healthy relationships. They dive deep into the challenges parents face, such as discovering their children's engagement in undesirable behaviors like sending nudes,  and watching pornographic videos. Barb and Rosie acknowledge the difficulties parents encounter and emphasize the importance of setting boundaries and consequences while being present and available for their children. They shed light on the alarming reality that children are not only preyed upon by the pornography industry but are also victims. To confront this issue, the conversation turns to the significance of starting conversations about the dangers of pornography from a young age. They discuss the importance of understanding the devices children have access to and having calm conversations about their behavior to alleviate fear of judgment or punishment. Barb shares a personal story about her son's involvement with pornography and the steps they took as a family to address it.  Barb's book Sexpectations is a valuable resource, providing insights into what a healthy relationship looks like and practical advice for what to do when your kids have been exposed to porn. Share this episode with the parents of your children's friends as an easy way to open up the discussion and get on the same page.

    37 min
5
out of 5
147 Ratings

About

Fight For Love is a podcast for women navigating the impact of pornography on relationships, faith, and identity. Hosted by LifeWay author and founder of Fight For Love Ministries, Rosie Makinney, the podcast began by helping women make sense of betrayal, trauma, and recovery in porn-affected marriages. That foundation remains. In Season 5, the conversation widens — asking why pornography has become so normalized and yet so difficult to talk about, why women’s clarity is often dismissed, and how a spiritual battle was reduced to behavior management. This is an honest, grounded podcast for women who want more than coping strategies — and are ready for clarity, courage, and truth.  

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