**POST CREDIT CONTENT ALERT**

Welcome to Episode 2 of Mental Health Rewritten — "Pornography: Rewiring Reality"

In this powerful follow-up to our season premiere, we confront one of the most polarizing issues in modern mental health: pornography.

Through the dual narratives of Gio and Maddie, we navigate secrecy, shame, and compulsion — we dive into the psychological impact of porn consumption on young minds, relationships, and emotional development. We illustrate how digital intimacy can morph into emotional avoidance.

Featuring reflections inspired by Susan Sontag's The Pornographic Imagination, data trends around economic stress and porn usage, and voices from clinical research, we explore:

How pornography functions as both escape and expression

Why compulsive consumption often begins in adolescence

The blurred boundaries between fantasy, shame, and mental distress

Economic stressors and their link to increased digital escapism

The humanity behind the industry — including the performers and producers

Societal silence around youth exposure and emotional education

From the Reagan-era Meese Commission to modern neuroscience, we examine the narratives, research, and myths shaping how we see pornography today — not to shame or glorify, but to understand it.

We share an unflinching yet compassionate exploration that reframes addiction, adolescence, and the hidden effects of unspoken behaviors. This is not just about screens — it's about the stories behind them.

Listen now and subscribe for upcoming episodes on suicide, race, and intergenerational trauma.

Reminder: Mental health struggles are real — and often silent. If you or someone you know needs support, reach out to a mental health professional.

Mental Health Rewritten, created by the OWLS Education Company, in collaboration with The Ummah Collective Group, is hosted, written, and produced by Dominic Lawson.

Executive Producers: Kenda Lawson and Dr. Whitney Howzell
Cover Art: Alexandria Eddings of Art Life Connections

Some music was provided by DJ Krate Digga of The Mighty Sound Champz Crew

This week's disclaimer provided by Al Pete, Founder of The MPN Network

Supporting Sources:

Sontag, Susan (1967). "The Pornographic Imagination." – Analysis of pornography as reflective of cultural fears and desires johnshaplin.blogspot.comjohnshaplin.blogspot.com.

Dworkin, Andrea (1981). Pornography: Men Possessing Women. – Argues pornography is a form of violence/oppression against women researchgate.net.

Meese Commission Report on Pornography (1986) – Conclusions of harm; later criticism by academics for lack of rigorous evidence politico.compolitico.com.

Politico Magazine – Tim Alberta (2018), on Meese Commission's flawed use of research and findings being unsupported politico.com.

CDC-Kaiser ACE Study – Findings on how ≥4 childhood adversities correlates with higher risk of substance use, mental illness, and sexual risk behaviors in adulthood mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.orgmydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org.

CDC – Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (2023) on ACEs: associations with early sexual initiation, teen pregnancy, etc. <span class="max-w-full grow