Breaking Free from Purity Culture: A Conversation with Sex Educator Erica Smith

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In this episode Stephanie sits down with sex educator Erica Smith for a candid, shame-free conversation about sex, embodiment, and healing from the long shadow of purity culture. Although Erica didn’t grow up in Christian fundamentalism, her work intersects directly with the systems, beliefs, and cultural pressures that shaped so many of us. Her outside perspective brings clarity, nuance, and compassion to a topic that often feels heavy for survivors.

We also dive into:

• The influence of Christian fundamentalism on sexuality and identity, even for those who didn’t grow up inside it
• Her work supporting purity culture and fundamentalism survivors, and why trauma-informed sex education is essential for rebuilding trust in our own bodies
• The process of reconnecting with our physical selves after years of shame, suppression, or fear
• Navigating boundaries, communication, and open conversations in relationships and families
• How to talk with teens about sex, including handling parental anxiety, intergenerational shame, and what developmentally appropriate conversations actually look like
• Concrete, practical guidance for parents, from discussing consent to normalizing curiosity to making space for autonomy
• Reframing “virginity” as a sexual debut and why language matters for healing

Erica also gives us a first look at her upcoming book, The Purity Culture Recovery Guide: The Shame-Free Sex Education You Deserve, coming February 2026. The book promises to be an inclusive, comprehensive resource for those rebuilding their sexual worldview outside of fear, shame, or fundamentalist doctrine.

We wrap with Erica’s personal favorites, recommendations, and the resources she believes everyo

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Pre-roll music is composed by Joanna Whaley

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Music composed by Joanna Whaley

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INTRO AND OUTRO MUSIC
Scott Buckley "Omega"
COMMERCIAL MUSIC
Composed by Joanna Whaley