Playing With Fire27 Sep 2025

223 Recovering From Purity Culture with Lauren Elise Barnes

Purity culture can often shape our sexuality in ways we don't even realize. Whether you grew up deeply immersed in it or just caught the edges, cultural messages about sexual "purity" impact how we view ourselves, our bodies, and our relationships. But what happens when we start questioning these teachings? How do we reclaim our sexuality and pleasure after being told our bodies belong to someone else?

Lauren Elise Rogers joins us to share her powerful journey from purity culture survivor to certified holistic sexuality educator. Her story of transformation—from wearing a purity ring and teaching "Ladies in Waiting" Bible studies to becoming an embodied intimacy coach—shows us that liberation is possible, even after deep indoctrination.

In this episode, we talk about:

— What purity culture actually is and how it manifests

— The subtle ways purity culture shows up even for those who weren't raised in religious households

— Lauren's personal experience with purity culture, including her first marriage to a man who later came out as gay

— How pleasure became the pathway to Lauren's deconstruction and healing

— The challenges of exploring sexuality after leaving purity culture behind

— The resurgence of purity culture concepts in modern movements like "trad wife" culture and certain wellness spaces

— A powerful exercise for examining your own beliefs about sex, relationships, and pleasure

— How questioning our inherited beliefs about sexuality can lead to greater authenticity and joy

Resources mentioned in this episode:

— Lauren's website

— The documentary Give Me Sex, Jesus

— Mary Magdalene Revealed by Meggan Watterson

— The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Catherine A. Liszt

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Music: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

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