The Exodus Cry Podcast

This episode explains the rise of Hugh Hefner and his harmful impact on the world as we know it. Benjamin and Laila discuss the role that Hefner played in both the commodification of women’s sexuality and in shaping our culture’s toxic masculinity.

The history of prominent ideology leading up to the the sexual revolution is explained, as well as the explosive impact that Alfred Kinsey’s “research” on human sexuality had at the time, and to this day.

Benjamin unveils the spiritual and prophetic backdrop of the sexual revolution and how it relates to the emergence of a culture of sexual exploitation.

In this episode Benjamin builds a clear framework for understanding commercial sexual exploitation using helpful word pictures.

John Eldredge is the best-selling author of Wild at Heart, The Sacred Romance, The Journey of Desire, Fathered by God, Beautiful Outlaw, Moving Mountains, his newest book All Things New, and many more. In addition to being an author, John is a counselor and a teacher. He is also president of Ransomed Heart, a ministry “devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own hearts in God’s love, and learn to live in God’s Kingdom.” John earned his master’s degree in Counseling from Colorado Christian University, under the direction of Larry Crabb and Dan Allender. He worked as a counselor in private practice before launching Ransomed Heart in 2000. John and his wife Stasi live in Colorado Springs.

Dr. Caroline is an Associate Professor of Politics at Occidental College in Los Angeles and the research director for the Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media. Her research specializes in media, the presidency, and systems of power (race, class, gender). Dr. Caroline’s books include Rethinking Madame President: Are We Ready for a Woman in the White House?(Lynne Rienner, 2007), Protest Politics in the Marketplace: Consumer Activism in the Corporate Age (Cornell University Press, 2017), Women, Power, and Politics: The Fight for Gender Equality in the United States (Oxford University Press, 2017), The New Campus Anti-Rape Movement (Lexington, 2018), and Sex and Gender in the 2016 Presidential Election (Praeger, 2018). Dr. Caroline’s research has been featured in the top academic journals in her field, including the American Political Science Review, the Journal of Politics, Political Psychology, and Political Communications. Her work has also been featured in popular publications, including the New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Ms. Magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Daily Beast. Dr. Caroline has been active in “real world” politics as a professional pollster, campaign manager, and commentator for CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, and CNBC. She has also been featured in popular documentaries, including Missrepresentation, The Mask You Live In, The Hunting Ground, Informant, Equal Means Equal, and Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution. Dr. Caroline was one of several women who went public with allegations of gender discrimination against Bill O’Reilly that led to his firing from Fox News in 2017. She splits her time between Los Angeles and New Orleans where she co-founded the New Orleans Women’s Shelter and the Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum. Dr. Caroline also co-founded End Rape on Campus (EROC), Faculty Against Rape (FAR), and End Rape Statute of Limitations (ERSOL). Resources: Twitter: @carolineheldman Curriculum: http://therepresentationproject.org/educator-school Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMS4VJKekW8 Blog: https://drcarolineheldman.com/2012/07/02/sexual-objectification-part-1-what-is-it

We must regain our value for sex. A sexuality that is guided by love and compassion will never lead a person to participate in the commercial sex industry. All that we have heard about sex being a meaningless recreational act is a lie. The truth is that sex is powerful. Sex is meaningful. Sex has indescribable value. And a sexuality that is guided by love and compassion can only be fulfilled in a context of mutuality, safety, respect, and commitment.

Woman are so much more than what pop culture has constructed. Women are three-dimensional beings full of complexity and beauty. Similarly men are not mindless, roving sexual beasts without conscience.Critical to the ending of the commercial sex industry is the ushering in of a new generation of manhood—one based on honor, dignity, respect, vulnerability, empathy, and mutuality.

Jesus’ life was characterized by love and empathy. When He came into the world, He didn’t just show us how to be, He showed us who we were made to be. In Jesus, we find the highest essence of our nature. Love and empathy connect us to our true identity and enable us to live out a life that frees, heals, and empowers others.

In light of the recent Harvey Weinstein scandal Benjamin and Laila discuss the emergence of two powerful trending hashtags, #MeToo and #ItWasMe

Benjamin and Laila react to and reflect on the recent death of Hugh Hefner. They speak into the questions: What was his “legacy”? How did he affect our world? What does his death mean for us now?

Hollywood media mogul Harvey Weinstein has been exposed this week under a slew of sexual assault allegations. Benjamin and Laila discuss the developing story–what happened, how it happened, and what we should expect moving forward.

Taking action to combat the commercial sex industry starts on an individual heart level with several important internal responses. One of those responses is to reclaim your identity as a compassionate and loving person made in the image of God, not allowing pop-culture to define your identity as either a sexual consumer or sexual object.

After an extremely powerful interview with former sex buyer Gene McConnel for episode 27, Benjamin and Laila felt the need to sit down and process some of what they heard. They dig deeper into some of the issues touched on during the interview, and also talk about some of their thoughts and insights that were inspired by hearing Gene’s story.

What is compassion? Why is it important? How can we overcome hurdles that hinder our compassion? In this episode the internal response to exploitation of being a compassionate person is discussed by Benjamin and Laila.