How to Develop Emotional Intelligence in a Porn-Saturated Culture

In this end-of-year conversation, we are honored to have returning guest and counselor Jeanie Hosken creator of the Restoration Center Encouragement Substack for a deep dive into emotional intelligence in a porn-saturated culture - what emotional intelligence is, how porn quietly stunts it, and how it can be rebuilt through awareness, honesty, and connection.

Together, we explore why many men struggle to name what they’re feeling, how early exposure to porn trains emotional avoidance rather than emotional awareness, and why intimacy requires far more than physical closeness.

Jeanie explains emotional intelligence as the ability to recognize, name, and respond to emotions - both in ourselves and in others - rather than reacting, numbing, or shutting down.

This episode covers:

What emotional intelligence actually is (and why most of us were never taught it)
How porn becomes a shortcut for avoiding loneliness, fear, shame, and pain
Why “I’m fine” is often a sign of emotional disconnection
The role of naming emotions as the first step toward healing
How porn creates false comfort while eroding real intimacy
Why defensiveness kills connection and what emotional safety looks like instead
Practical ways to start rebuilding emotional intelligence through daily practice
How learning to respond (not react) transforms relationships and recovery

This conversation is especially relevant for anyone working to break free from porn, strengthen relationships, or learn how to feel again after years of emotional numbing.

Resources & Links

🔗 Jeanie Hoskin – Counseling & Substack: https://restorationcenter.substack.com/
👉 Jeanie’s Restoration Center Encouragement Substack:
👉 Jeanie & Jeff’s counseling services: https://restorationcenter.life/

🔗 Previous Conversation with Jeanie
👉 Episode 44: Healing Porn Addiction Through Emotional Intimacy, Connection, and Comfort (with Counselor Jeanie Hosken): https://pornfreemillennial.substack.c...

🔗 Emotional Awareness Tools
👉 Developing Emotional Intelligence Document (Includes Feeling Wheel): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p...

🔗 Porn Free Millennial Resources
👉 Porn Free Millennial Substack: https://pornfreemillennial.substack.com/
👉 Podcast Archive: https://pornfreemillennial.substack.c...
👉 Ever Accountable Software - Free 30-Days & 20% A Year Subscription: https://home.everaccountable.com/p/20...

#emotionalintelligence #intimacy #connection