Archives for March 2021

The Brendon Marotta Show is looking for sponsors.

If you’re interested in sponsoring the show, reaching a very devoted niche audience, and showing your support for important conversations, please contact me directly.

Right now, I’m doing 10 episodes around a topic or theme with the final episode being a big event episode. The first series explores the same theme as my film, circumcision, but future series will explore parenting, childhood, birth, masculinity, media, etc.

If you’ve got a business, product, or message you’d like to reach someone interested in parenting or masculinity, you’re welcome to sponsor just that series. We have some phenomenal guests lined up for those future shows, which are sure to reach growing audiences.

Also, if you contact me directly with a serious offer, I’m happy to share podcast stats around views and downloads.

Contact me here.

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In this episode, I talk to two members of Foregen, an organization dedicated to regenerating the human foreskin.

Tyler Drzod, Chief Operation Officer, and Eric Cunningham, Chief Science Officer, give an in-depth explanation of the science of regeneration, the structure of Foregen, and the possibilities for the future.

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• [1:03] Explaining Foregen to new people
• [2:15] How does Foregen plan to regenerate the human foreskin?
• [5:50] How Foregen acquires foreskin scaffolding and foreskin they can de cellularize
• [7:45] Attaching the foreskin scaffolding to a human being
• [9:45] What kind of experimentation is needed?
• [11:10] Previous reconstruction of the entire penile shaft
• [12:25] Previous breakthroughs in regeneration technology
• [14:20] Who are the experts at Foregen?
• [19:50] What is the financial/business structure of Foregen?
• [24:25] How much money will it take to achieve the goals of Foregen?
• [26:00] Who funds Foregen? What are the motivations of backers?
• [27:45] Why large biotech and medical companies avoid moving into the foreskin regeneration space despite clear market interest.
• [28:35] The advantage Foregen has over other companies
• [30:20] How Foregen brings in scientific experts
• [32:00] Does Foregen have a political stance on the issue of circumcision?
• [33:50] Why more research is needed on the nerve endings of the foreskin
• [35:00] Foregen’s plans to conduct research
• [37:30] How new technology can facilitate better  studies on the foreskin
• [39:15] The phantom limb phenomenon in circumcised men
• [40:45] The technology exists to bring full function and feeling to somebody with damaged genitals
• [41:10] How to support Foregen’s work

Resources:

• Foregen’s Website
• Foregen on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Linkden
• Foregen Subreddit

Research Mentioned (there is a lot):

• Rengeration of Vagina
• Regeneration of the entire human epidermis using transgenic stem cells
• Phantom Limb Article
• Second Phantom Limb Article
• 20,000 Nerve Ending Myth
• Penile Skin Reconstruction 1
• Penile Skin Reconstruction 2
• Penile Skin Reconstruction 3
• Tooth regeneration
• Bondioli’s Patent
• Foregen’s 2018 paper
• Pelvic Reconstruction
• Breast Reconstruction
• Hernia Repair
• Abdominal Wall Defects
• Rotator Cuff Repair 1
• Rotator Cuff Repair 2
• Full-Thickness Skin Wounds 1
• Full-Thickness Skin Wounds 2
• Development of Method

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In this episode, I talk to Ronald Goldman, Ph.D., director of the Early Trauma Prevention Center.

During this episode, we talk about what causes early life trauma, the lasting impacts of childhood trauma and preventing adult social problems by confronting its origins in childhood.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [00:56] Defining trauma
• [02:03] The two types of trauma and their examples
• [03:23] What causes overwhelming feelings
• [05:58] Distinguishing between significant life events and trauma
• [09:39] Lasting impacts of childhood trauma
• [12:04] Noticing the change and effects of early life trauma in adult life
• [14:03] What to tell someone if you notice the impact of trauma
• [16:13] Determining whether early life events had effects on adult life. What to look for.
• [21:31] Connection between childhood trauma and social problems in America.
• [23:20] Understanding a child’s needs and meeting them.
• [25:18] Comparing USA’s maternal leave policy to other European countries. What it means to a child.
• [27:58] Origin of emotional behavior problems
• [31:00] Breaking the cycle of trauma
• [37:26] Changes during early life trauma.
• [40:03] Creating connection and supporting a child during infancy.
• [42:48] The existing social problems
• [46:47] Is there really a relationship between early life trauma and adult social life problems?
• [46:58] The research evidence of an existing relationship
• [51:52] Ways to raise awareness
• [52:44] Why are people less aware of the past research
• [55:02] Why trauma has gone viral
• [58:53] Natural conformity
• [01:03:58] Technology and Social media vs. actual connection
• [01:05:48] Creating the actual connection in a child
• [01:06:32] Everything that’s wrong with corporal punishment
• [01:11:52] The necessary changes needed and recommendations
• [01:14:04] Important quotes
• [01:14:28] The push to remove circumcision from Massachusetts’ Masshealth

Resources

• Ronald Goldman Website
• Circumcision, The Hidden Trauma: How an American Cultural Practice Affects Infants and Ultimately Us All
• Questioning Circumcision: A Jewish Perspective
• The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff

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This episode is a talk I gave to an online conference of Intactivists on May 30, 2020, based on my book The Intactivist Guidebook. It explores what will actually lead activist movements to victory.

Watch the video version of this talk.

How To Win The Game of Intactivism by Brendon Marotta.

Buy The Intactivist Guidebook:

• Amazon
• Gumroad
• Barnes & Nobles

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In this episode, I talk to Georganne Chapin, executive director of Intact America.

During this episode, we talk about the new survey data which shows doctors are pushing circumcision more than ever. We also talk about the role of money in activism, the systemic aspects of the medical machine, and the  need for strategy to reach a social tipping point.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• [0:40] New news in the world of Intact America
• [4:55] Discussion about the recent survey done by Intact America
• [9:46] Reasons and the driving force behind circumcision
• [11:54] Changes in the solicitation rates
• [15:25] Conclusions and strategies drawn from the survey
• [18:50] Talks about the upcoming survey to find out more on the topic
• [19:20] Movement of circumcision practices to private institutions
• [22:42] The process of developing a targeted strategy
• [25:00] Georganne Chapin talks about her upcoming book ‘The Penis Business’
• [29:15] Allocation of monetary resources within Intact America
• [36:54] Path towards the ‘Tipping Point’
• [43:00] Insurance companies and benefits
• [47:34] Solicitation of racial groups
• [54:00] Offences caused to people with regard to circumcision
• [1:01:00] Tactics used by hospitals and individuals
• [1:06:00] Forced retractions

Resources:

• Press Release: Having a Baby Boy? Get Ready for the Circumcision Sellers!
• Intact America
• IA on Facebook / Twitter /  Instagram
• CircumcisionDebate.org

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In this episode, I talk to Brother K, founder of the intactivist protest organization Bloodstained Men and Their Friends.

During this episode, we talk about the spiritual wound of circumcision, how to stage an effective protest, and how Brother K uses shock and symbols to awaken the public on this issue.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• [01:05] Brother K explains  Bloodstained Men And Their Friends
• [03:00] Circumcision crisis and the situation in America
• [06:00] The bloodstain symbol and why he picked it
• [07:35] Circumcision as spiritual lessening and mutilation
• [11:16] What’s behind the name Brother K?
• [13:47] The truth about infant circumcision and his own circumcision
• [16:40] The impacts of circumcision and why it breaks the maternal bond
• [17:55] Spiritual crisis and struggling to heal after circumcision
• [19:30] Why he changed his identity to Brother K
• [23:00] Who men are reluctant to raise their voices against circumcision
• [28:00] Providing solutions
• [30:00] The best ways to make progress and successful protests
• [35:50] Shocking revelations about the American crusade about circumcision in Africa.
• [40:20] Building an effective protest from the bloodstain symbol to protests.
• [44:00] First protests in San Francisco
• [51:10] When their protests started attracting support from locals
• [54:15] Maintaining the energy without burning out.
• [55:10] Defining spiritual wound caused by circumcision
• [01:00:15] How it feels to wear the bloodstain symbol

Resources

• Child Circumcision: An Elephant in the Hospital by  Ryan McAllister
• Doctors Opposing Circumcision
• Bloodstained Men Website
• Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
• Birth of the Clinic by Michel Foucault
• Medical Nemesis by Ivan Illich

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In this episode, a mother and son discuss circumcision.

Carter Steinhoff feels harmed by circumcision, reached out to me to facilitate a discussion between him and his mom, Tiphani. His mother recognizes the harm of circumcision and wants to find a way to create a safe relationship with her son.

This is an emotionally challenging discussion, but an important one.

In This Episode:

• [00:44] Brendon thanks Carter and Mom for their bravery to have this conversation.
• [01:56] Carter shares his initial feelings.
• [05:50] Tiphani shares her initial feelings.
• [09:00] Tiphani shares how she became confident to have this conversation with people.
• [13:20] Regret parents and the need for healing resources for parents.
• [15:05] Carter shares his feelings toward his parents and the series of events that led him to have those emotions.
• [18:20] Carter on the impact circumcision has had on his life.
• [26:19] Tiphani responds, validates Carter’s feelings, and shares her own.
• [30:25] Carter on wanting others to acknowledge his experience and the impact of circumcision on sexuality.
• [35:45] Carter and Tiphani on what they need from each other, and the only way to go forward.
• [41:50] Tiphani and Carter clarify their needs.
• [47:40] Carter on wanting his mom to work with him.
• [52:17] The challenge of acknowledging love even when we feel suffering or harm.
• [54:10] Carter on the changes he wants on the issue of circumcision and reasons he wants his mother involved in activism.
• [01:01:20]  Carter thanks his mother for her willingness to have the conversation. Tiphani says she is proud of him.

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