You were told if you waited, sex would be blessed… so what happens when it hurts instead?

In this episode, I sit down with sexologist Meg Cowan to unpack the real impact of purity culture on our bodies, relationships, and sex lives.

Meg shares her story of growing up in purity culture, waiting until marriage, and then realizing—sex was painful and anything but “blessed.” That experience led her to question everything and step into the work she does today: helping people heal from shame-based teachings and build healthier relationships with their bodies and sexuality.

We talk about purity culture myths, painful sex, shame, and the conversations the church often avoids—like consent, pleasure, chronic illness, and real relationship dynamics.

If you’ve ever felt confused, disconnected, or let down by what you were taught about sex, this episode is for you. Learn more from Meg! Instagram: @megccowan Website: www.megcowan.com

The church taught us that if we waited until marriage, sex would be amazing. No shame. No regret. Just blessings. But what happens when your body doesn’t cooperate?

In this episode, I unpack the damage of purity culture’s biggest promise — that obedience guarantees great sex — and why that theology falls apart in real bodies, real marriages, and real lives. We talk about sexual shame, chronic pain, endometriosis, and why guilt and regret aren’t natural consequences of sex — they’re learned responses.

I read directly from Loveology and challenge the authority of male pastors who confidently preach about sex outcomes they’ve never lived, all while ignoring bodies, illness, disability, and lived experience.

This isn’t an anti-sex or anti-abstinence episode. It’s a call to stop weaponizing sex, stop moralizing bodies, and stop promising sexual rewards that can’t be guaranteed.

If you grew up in purity culture, feel confused about sex and faith, or were told your body would “work” if you just obeyed — this episode is for you.

What do the rapture, a 22-year-old who swears she’s running out of time, and my inconsistent podcast schedule have in common? More than you’d think.

In this episode of The Rebel In Me, I talk about the latest rapture buzz, a conversation that made me feel like I time-traveled back to my twenties, and the reminder that at 34, I still have time—and so do you. I also share honestly about struggling with health issues, feeling silly for not being consistent, and my rebellion against the pressure to always produce and perform.

This is your permission slip to slow down, breathe, and stop hustling like the world is ending tomorrow and remember you are a baby. Instagram @jessicadmoore_ @becomingyou.journey Becoming You | Religion Recovery