Next Stage Ep 17 Freedom from Porn part 5: Special Guest Mark Brende, August 21, 2024

The Next Stage Podcast by Sherpa 5280

The Next Stage Episode 17 Show Notes

Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

As a youth, Mark Brende could not have known his fascination with pornography could eventually lead to abusing prostituted women in Thailand but as a college student in the 1990s, his life changed forever when a pimp arranged for his meeting a woman in a Thai hotel.

“I get to this hotel room and this girl, she's there,” Mark told The Next Stage. “And this beautiful girl, drops her robe. And for some reason, I just look into her eyes and I see this darkness, this emptiness. She was gone, and I was just the next guy that was going to do this to her and I realized, ‘Oh my gosh, where the hell am I?’”

Today, Mark shares his story with Rob Stout and The Next Stage podcast about recovering from a deep addiction to pornography and misogyny and now his role as a leader with a ministry called I Empathize, which rescues men and women from exploitation industries including sex trafficking.

https://iempathize.org/

How does an addict quit pornography? Today is the fifth installment in a series focusing on breaking free from pornography and Rob Stout’s guest is Mark Brende, Outreach Coordinator at I Empathize, a Colorado-based global organization helping stop human exploitation and raise awareness among at-risk youth and their parents. For more information about today’s show or to book personal time with host Rob Stout, visit www.Sherpa5280.com, or email [e-mail].

About Sherpa5280 Personal Coaching for Men

Imagine climbing a mountain and gradually discovering an incredible panorama of peaks, lakes, snow drifts, and wildlife; it is as beautiful as it is daunting, and you resolve that that you’re not turning back. What do you need for this climb to go well? You certainly don't need clichés and pity, but tips about hiking gear, crevasses, and, generally, not dying. You need some guidance from someone who has hiked this path before and provides help, guidance, helpful tools, and a shot of good old fashion encouragement – that’s what we all need. You need what all the climbers who have summited the world’s tallest peaks need – a Sherpa.

Welcome to Sherpa 5280. The climb we are talking about is the climb called "your life." Sherpa 5280 brings elite resources to help you "summit life's climb” of faithfully caring for yourself, caring for your loved ones, caring for your business and community colleagues.

Whether you are that man, or there is a man in your life who needs resourcing to start the journey or, in some cases, get back on the journey after getting discouraged or sidetracked, let's get back on the trail today. Visit www.Sherpa5280.com or click here to book a free 30-minute online coffee with Rob Stout today (or real personal coffee appointment if you’re in Denver, or live near where Rob regularly travels through the southwest of the United States.)

About Rob Stout

Rob Stout holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree from Denver Seminary where he specialized in leadership and organizational transformation. He is a Certified Life Coach from Life Coach Institute.

Rob has served for over 30 years in leadership, teaching, and coaching roles in numerous business and non-profit organizations with a focus on helping men navigate some of life's most hazardous and strategically critical areas.

Rob and Nicole have been married since 1994 and live in Erie, Colorado. They have three grown daughters.

About Getting Even: Countering Life’s Hard Knocks, by Rob Stout.

Getting Even: Countering Life’s Hard Knocks by Rob Stout is available in hard cover, paperback, and Kindle. https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Even-Countering-Lifes-Knocks/dp/1489728740/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1703170871&sr=1-1

What do you do when life punches you in the gut? Some men medicate with alcohol, sex, gaming, food, blame, and the rest. Getting Even: Countering Life’s Hard Knocks (LifeRich, 2020) meets a man in the middle of life’s hard knocks and embarks on a journey to fight back, reflect, recalibrate, and move forward. Getting Even helps identify the critically important lessons to plan a way forward.

Author Rob Stout has experienced his own hard knocks and transparently shares his journey of recovery and method for moving forward.