Welcome to the 3rd episode in this 1st series of the Growth Beyond Trauma podcast.

In this episode, I interview Dr Elly Hanson, a Clinical Psychologist, writer and researcher whose work focuses on preventing abuse, harm and injustice.

Our conversation starts with discussing how these conversations can feel awkward because our sexual experience and identity are one of the most intimate parts of who we are and how the porn industry uses this to generate profit. 

We flow in conversation from what brought Dr Hanson to research the impact of pornography, particularly with a focus on the dynamics and impact of pornography on young people, to look at what the research is saying about this impact and how the porn industry is structured to shape our view towards its own ends.

We discuss:

0:00 - Intro to Dr Hanson and the importance of creating safe spaces to have these conversations in order to bring change.

7:33 - Dr Hanson's research journey 

9:38 - How the sexual freedom narrative/ ideology is conducive to sexual abuse and violence 

13:17 - The impact of porn and what the research is saying (links to follow)

18:05 - "The race to the bottom of the brainstem" - Breaking down the porn experience

21:20  - "Being sold a lie" - How porn is labelled to minimise criminality and belittle the possibility of harm in its content

26:58 - How the industry encourages repression and dissociation from our core values

32:24 - The sexual scripts used in porn to encourage a specific type of sexuality 

34:45 - Discussing how we have "the right to author a sexual experience that is authentic and rooted in authenticity, respect and connection...and to have that protected" Gale Dines

39:31 - The culture of misogyny that porn draws upon 

43:16 - What can we do individually to protect ourselves from the negative impacts of porn 

47:00 - The online safety bill and making illegal online what is illegal offline

49:43 - Being curious and compassionate rather than critical of the parts of ourselves the porn industry is trying to exploit

Additional Links:

Dr Elly Hanson's website: www.drellyhanson.com

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Special thanks to:

- Ormeau Baths for providing the equipment and location for filming
- Lisa Flavelle Cobain (Podcast mentor through Belfast Met Innovate Us Programme)
- Margaret McCabe (Business Development Executive, Belfast Met Innovate Us Programmer)

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If you would like to get in touch about any of the topics we have discussed today, have any topics or questions you’d like covered in future episodes or would like to know how I can support you on the next step of your healing journey, then you can email GBTpodcast@hannahmckimm.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is created for educational purposes and is not a replacement for therapy.