Jan 13 • 58:16
Helping Women Find Freedom from the Addiction and Shame of Masturbation with Molly Bertles
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Helping Women Find Freedom from the Addiction and Shame of Masturbation with Molly Bertles

January 13, 2026 • 58:16 • Greta Eskridge

Episode 99 

If you had told me 15 years ago, or even 5 years ago that Id be doing a podcast episode on masturbation, Id never, ever believe you. But here we are, 99 episodes into my podcast having a conversation that I couldnt imagine having. But over the years as I have talked with parents about creating a healthy sexual culture in their homes, one of the most common questions I get is: how do I talk about masturbation with my kids? So it is something we absolutely need to talk about. But Ill be the first to admit, it is a challenging topic. 

 

Thats why I appreciate people like Molly Bertles and her boldness and vulnerability in writing an entire book on the topic of masturbation. And more specifically on women and masturbation, which is even less talked about. In fact, the topic of women and masturbation often has so much shame and loneliness attached to it. And that is part of the reason it is hardly ever talked about. Molly bravely and compassionately steps into this topic in her book and in this podcast episode with me.  

 

Our goal is to help women find freedom from the shame and the addiction of masturbation and instead experience the goodness God is offering. This episode might be one you need to listen to for yourself, or to offer understanding and hope to a friend, or to equip you to talk about this with your own daughters and sons. I hope youll listen to this episode and hear in our voices and conversation that you dont have to be embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about this topic. God cares about every part of our lives, our struggles our heartaches, our questions and our confusion. So yes, He cares about this. And we do too. So join us for episode 99, the one where we talk about masturbation.  

 

Important things we talk about in this episode:  

*That kids using masturbation is most often not a sexual act, but simply a kind of self-soothing. 

*When masturbation does changes into a sexual activity. 

*How so many of us never had parents or anyone talk about it with us as kids or teens. 

*The way we act like masturbation is a male problem only and how that impacts women. 

*Why people use masturbation and how it is often used to numb negative feelings. 

*How masturbation is unhealthy and even harmful. 

*How culture tries to make us think masturbation is perfectly fine and healthy. 

*How masturbation hurts others. 

*The danger of fantasy and masturbation. 

*Why the gospel isnt about performance or working for Gods love, but accepting the free gift God gave us. 

*How some people choose masturbation after theyve been hurt sexually and how God loves you so much in that place and why there is hope in this place! 

 

Resources and other important things mentioned in this episode:  

*Find Gretas book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

*Quote from Mollys professor: Sex in marriage is as holy as prayer. 

*The 2 lies Satan wants people to believe when they are stuck in sexual sin: you are uniquely ruined by this and no one can ever find out. Sam Alberry 

*The gospel applies to every part of our life, even our sex life. Greta Eskridge   

*We can, through Christ, renew our minds. That is spiritual and scriptural and scientific! Romans 12:2 is a good place to start with this understanding from a scriptural standpoint. 

*Find more on the topic of women using masturbation and porn in this episode right here that I recorded with Joy Skarka and in Joys book here. 

 

Where to find Molly 

Find Mollys book here 

Find Molly on Instagram here 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Podcast:

The Greta Eskridge Podcast →
With Greta Eskridge
We're living in a time filled with distraction and disconnection from the things that matter most. Things like faith, family, friendship, and childhood innocence feel harder and harder to hold onto. But I believe a joyful, connected life is possible with Jesus's help because he offers us life to the full! It's time to open our eyes to the wonder God has put all around us, so join me each week on The Greta Eskridge Podcast as some of my favorite friends and I explore ways to create connection in our families and chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.
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Mar 10 • 53:14
Decluttering you Home and your Heart without the Overwhelm with Katy Joy Wells →

I loved this episode! I didnt expect it to be a therapy session but it kind of was. Todays guest is Katy Joy Wells, author, podcaster and decluttering expert. We had such a great time talking all about decluttering and, far more than that, what drives us to hold onto the stuff that clutters our homes. We talked about letting go of things that were emotionally attached to but dont need to be anymore. We talked about the 4 types of clutter as explained in Katys book and how to deal with them. This episode is full of practical tips as well as meaningful truths that I personally needed to hear. 

I know youll love this just like I did! 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Find Katys new book here 

Find Katys website here 

Find Katys podcast here 

Find Katy on Instagram here 

Register for my master class/book club here 

Get a copy of my book Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

Info about the family trip to Italy here 

Info about the Womens Walking Retreat in the Cotswolds here 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Mar 3 • 33:09
All the News! Bring your family to Italy with us! Join my upcoming master class/book club! And more! with Greta Eskridge →

Episode 106 

Well this is a very newsy kind of episode! I have so many fun and wonderful things to share with you that I had to just jump on and talk them out with you today. 

First up, I did some reflecting on my book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn, being out in the world for a whole year and shared the ways we have seen God work. Its been so hard at times and yet, so worth it. 

In honor of the book being a year old, I am doing my first ever master class/book club (its a little of both!) with all of you! The links to sign up are below so you can jump in before the class fills up. 

I also got to share our super fun family news: were taking another family trip to Italy, and we want you to come! That is right, a trip to Italy for the whole family, organized and led by Select Tours International and hosted by Aaron and myself.  All the info at the link below. We cant wait for you to join us! 

Lastly, if you need a trip just for you and not the whole family, consider joining me on my walking retreat in the Cotswolds this fall! It will be the most wonderful, restful, beautiful, soul filling and soul healing time. Link below for all the info! 

I cant wait to see how many of you Ill get to hang out with you this year!  

With joy, 

Greta 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Register for my master class/book club here 

Get a copy of my book Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

Info about the family trip to Italy here 

Info about the Womens Walking Retreat in the Cotswolds here 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Feb 24 • 55:00
Learning to Rest through Personal Spiritual Retreats with Alyson Pryor →

Episode 105 

Todays guest is Alyson Pryor, my real life friend and real life wise woman. Alyson is a wife and mom to 5 kids. She is also a spiritual director, a marriage and family therapist, a professor, speaker and now author of her first book! And she is more amazing in real life than she is on paper. 

I absolutely loved talking to Alyson about her new book, Come Away and Rest, a Guide to Personal Spiritual Retreats. Alyson shares how she started seeking rest through spiritual retreats as a tired mom of young children, being cared for by 2 kind nuns at a house in a suburban neighborhood. Its a funny and tender story and led Alyson on a journey of discovery that she needed these quiet retreats not just to get a break from being a mom, but to know God in a deeper way. 

I learned a lot in this episode and found myself inspired to take a quiet spiritual retreat of my own as it is something I have never done. I know youll love learning from Alyson too! 

 

If youre looking for a restful retreat combined with lots of beauty and some adventure, consider joining me, Greta, on my upcoming Womens Walking Retreat in the Cotswolds this September. It will be a time for deep thought, soul care, celebration, healing or just experiencing the joy of being in a new and beautiful place with like minded companions. Find out more info right here. 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Find Alysons book here 

Find Alysons website here 

Find Alyson on Instagram here 

Find info on Gretas walking retreat here 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Feb 17 • 1:2:04
Praying for Our Kids with Intention with Brook Mosser →

Episode 104 

I love episodes where I get to talk with my friends. And this episode is one of those. Brook Mosser co-leads Intentional ministries with his wife Elizabeth, is an author, speaker and podcast host.  Brook Mosser is also one of my dear friends--honestly like a brother to me. We make each other laughthough hes a thousand times funnier than I am. But what I love and appreciate most about Brook is how honest he is, how kind and generous, and how he points people to Jesus over and over again. And this episode is all about that. 

We talk about all kinds of things: hormones, yes he talked hormones with me, adult ADD, his upcoming retreat with Intentional Fatherhood, and especially the book he just wrote, Sowing a Hidden Seed: Daily Prayers for Your Childs Spiritual Growth.  You are going to love this episode and get a lot of good stuff out of it. I am so glad to share my buddy Brook with you again. 

Be sure to check out the links below to get connected to all the good things we talk about. 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Find Brooks book here 

Find Brook on Instagram here 

Find The Intentional Fatherhood podcast here 

Find tickets to The Intentional Fatherhood retreat here 

Find The Intentional Parents podcast here 

Find Gretas book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

Find info about Gretas upcoming Womens Walking Retreat in the Cotswolds here 

 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Feb 10 • 47:21
Learning to Let our Kids Go with Grace and Joy with empty nest coach Pamela Henkelman →

Episode 103 

Oh this episode could not feel more relevant to me right in this very moment! I have a house full of teens and young adults, my first child to be getting married and Im nearly done with my many years of being a home school mom. There is a lot of joy in this time of my life, but also so much change and we all know change is hard. And the empty nest years sure are filled with change. 

Thats why I am so excited about this conversation with empty nest coach, Pamela Henkleman. Pamela is a wise, gracious and joy filled guide to any mom on this journey. You might think this conversation doesnt apply to you because your kids are little, or in elementary school, but Pamela and I also talked about how to prepare our hearts for the empty nest days, no matter what stage of parenting were in. Not with mourning and sadness, but with the knowledge that its our job to send our kids out in the best way possible. 

I also asked Pamela to share what we have to look forward to in the empty nest years because it cant all be doom and gloom, right? The good news, its not! Youll love hearing the moment I realized there were some things I am really looking forward to in my empty nest years. I know youll get a lot out of this episode and love getting to know Pamela. 

Be sure to give her a follow and to share this episode with a friend. And leave a review of the podcast too, if you havent done that yet! 

 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Find Pamelas website here 

Find Pamela on Instagram here 

Find Pamelas podcast here 

Find Pamelas coaching here 

Find info on Gretas Womens Walking Retreat in the Cotswolds here 

Get your copy of Gretas latest book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

About the Host

Greta Eskridge

Greta Eskridge is a second-generation homeschooler, an author, a speaker, and a podcast host. Greta’s faith in God is the lens through which she sees the world.

Greta loves encouraging parents to pursue joyful, connected parenting. And she is passionate about helping families create connection in a disconnected world through things like purposeful adventures, online safety, and keeping their eyes wide open to wonder. Greta firmly believes that “joy is the serious business of heaven” and is on mission to chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.

Greta lives in sunny southern California with her artist husband, Aaron, and their four kids–1 young adult and 3 teens. Greta loves nature, books and coffee and her favorite place to be is on a hiking trail. 

More from Greta →