Hopefully Wandering

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Leaving evangelicalism and wandering through the vast, exciting world of what comes next. Not all who wander are lost.

Elijah Coleman, Collier Brooks


    • Oct 5, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 32m AVG DURATION
    • 44 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Hopefully Wandering

    Check-In with Collier and Elijah

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 84:51


    Between some awesome guest episodes, Collier and Elijah take some time to catch up and discuss some topics that have been on their mind lately. Politics, evangelicalism and Olivia Rodrigo? Classic Hopefully Wandering.

    University of Bigotry (feat. AJ DenBoer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 108:07


    After a short hiatus, Collier and Elijah meet their new friend, AJ! AJ (@aj-rethinking on TikTok) shares their experience going to undergrad in SoCal only to have the rug pulled out from under them once they came out.

    Michaela Part 2 (feat. Michaela Brooks)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 85:27


    Collier and Elijah invite Michaela back to the podcast so you can ask her your burning questions! Through reviewing her journey out of Christianity, Michaela discusses protecting her peace, trusting her intuition, and answers a wide range of listener submitted queries.

    Dirty Happier People (feat. Brooke Boling Spears)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 138:47


    Following the wave of Christian docu-series, Collier and Elijah take a long look at the Shiny Happy People series with an old friend of the podcast. Braving a hotspot internet connection, Brooke joins after her episode in the first season discussing the quiverfull movement to share her own experience with growing up under IBLP principals.

    The Secrets of Hillsong Documentary Review - Ep 3-4

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 66:39


    Another big hit against the church, Vanity Fair partners with FX to present another exposition against Hillsong. This week, Elijah and Collier review the final two episodes that dropped and discuss their frustration with the documentary overall.

    The Secrets of Hillsong Documentary Review - Ep 1 &2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 57:55


    Another big hit against the church, Vanity Fair partners with FX to present another exposition against Hillsong. This week, Elijah and Collier review the first two episodes that dropped. Weekly updates to follow!

    That's What I Liked About You

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 90:42


    Despite the challenges, the boys attempt to look back on their time in church objectively. They evaluate everything they had experienced and share their positive takeaways from that time in their lives. Also, a major event for Collier happened this week that they celebrate!

    A Current State of Affairs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 99:55


    This week, Collier and Elijah share their deconstruction wishlist. First, a list of favorites out of people who have looked critically at their faith, then a list of those who they wish would. Originally planning to only discuss recent news, they end up discussing ways to measure personal bias, thoughts on gun control and the persecution complex.

    An NYC Reunion

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 79:31


    After nearly six months apart, the boys reunited recently for a fun weekend filled with exploration and enjoyment in the Big Apple! Listen this week to hear them discuss religious stigmas, catching up and what its like living in NYC.

    Token Testimony (feat. Ash Kingsland)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 102:35


    Hopefully Wandering welcomes their good friend Ash this week! Ash's story is a difficult one to share, yet, unlike her experience in church, she is able to share without judgment or ulterior motive. Ash began attending church in her teen years, and her youth grouped latched onto her testimony as a means of conversion. She shares the way her mental health was affected by her relationship to the church from youth group, to Cru in college, and her journey away.

    A Drummer, Bassist and Guitarist Walk Into a Bar... (feat. Simon Hall)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 94:15


    Joined by an old worship band member, the boys invite Simon Hall onto the podcast! Simon grew up in the same church with Collier and Elijah and has played in many local bands in their home town. He shares he experiences playing in a church setting and what it was like to transition out.

    The View From Halfway Down

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 96:14


    After months of sharing references to the show, Collier finally convinces Elijah to watch the entirety of Bojack Horseman. Now, the two are obsessed with their favorite show. While on the surface it may seem like another adult animated show, the root of the show reveals something much deeper about the reality of our actions and a case study into addiction.

    Politics, Presentation and the Partiality of Ministry (feat. Heidi Arndt)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 95:49


    The boys welcome Heidi Arndt to the podcast! Heidi didn't grow up in church, but did grow up in music and indie bands. After marrying someone who worked in the church, Heidi shares her experience of what being mega-church and worship ministry adjacent is like. Despite her home church valuing being genuine, she shares how they attitudes quickly change behind closed doors.

    Trauma to TikTok (feat. @lindseysblankpage)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 106:13


    Hey Wanderers, please welcome Lindsey to the podcast! Lindsey takes some time to graciously share her experience with church trauma, marriage within ministry and leveraging her experiences to promote emotional health for exvangelicals on TikTok. Don't forget to follow her TikTok account @lindseysblankpage!

    Where Art Thou O Therapy? (feat. Dollee Thompson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2023 101:27


    Dollee Thompson shares stories of growing up in church, mental health and becoming an art therapist. Join us for an interactive art therapy session with the boys on air!

    Elijah's Deconstruction Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 97:21


    After nearly a year since the first podcast episode, the boys take turns talking revisiting their current faith situations. This week, Elijah shares his experiences finding a new life after leaving church and navigating new relationships.

    Collier's Deconstruction Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 91:13


    After nearly a year since the first podcast episode, the boys take turns talking revisiting their current faith situations. This week, Collier shares about his new location and how it's impacted his spirituality.

    God Forbid We Talk About Liberty University (Bonus Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 82:19


    Preparing the kick off season two of the podcast, the boys share their thoughts to the new hit documentary "God Forbid". Liberty University, Jerry Falwell Jr., and Donald Trump won't know what hit them!

    Our Favorite Heretic (feat. Derek Myers)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 85:31


    For the season finale of Hopefully Wandering, the boys welcome Derek Myers to the podcast! Derek started the Your Favorite Heretics Facebook group which is a safe haven for everyone questioning their faith. Hear us discuss spiritual fluidity and the history of the group as well as see our bad posture for our first live video too! Facebook Group Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/784331675467152/?ref=share

    Survey Says?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 105:07


    This week the boys hear the answers from a survey our partners took about us. What's Michaela's favorite outfit on Collier? What is Taylen's pet peeve about Elijah?

    Tech Booth to Film Director (feat. Zach Meiners)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 85:28


    Welcome Zach Meiners to the podcast! Zach is the director of Chronicle Cinema and grew up in the same church as Collier and Elijah. After working in the tech ministry at the church, Zach went through a long process of coming to terms with his sexuality and now is an advocate against conversion therapy. Link to Conversion: https://www.conversionmovie.com/ Conversion the Movie Instagram: https://instagram.com/conversionmovie?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

    Redeeming The Bible Degree (feat. Elly Parks)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 86:40


    Elly Parks join us this week on the podcast! Elly attended a Bible College expecting to go into full-time ministry, but, after an internship that was less than ideal, she began to find other ways to use her Bible degree.

    Queer In Quiverfull (feat. Brooke Boling)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 101:57


    Statistics and sources shared:https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/accepting-adults-reduce-suicide-attempts-among-lgbtq-youth/  

    How Pure Are We?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 88:52


    In what is by far our most sarcastic episode yet, Collier and Elijah take some Christian online quizzes.

    The Science of Mental Health (feat. McKenna Harpring)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 81:02


    Joining us this week is an old friend of the podcast, McKenna! McKenna is firmly planted in the STEM field as well as someone who is working through her faith just like the rest of us. Hear us reminisce about high school teachers, crazy church experiences and how you can take your mental health seriously.

    Do You Think this Podcast Sucks?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 93:14


    Have you stumbled across our podcast and hated it? Knew Collier and Elijah during their Christian phases and are disappointed that they have rejected their faith? This podcast episode is for you!

    Cherry in the Big Apple (feat. April Cherry)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2022 77:40


    If you grew up like Collier and Elijah, you may have been told that moving to the city is almost synonymous with rejecting your faith. Good friend of the podcast, April Cherry, comes on to share her perspective of moving away from Kentucky and to New York and the experiences she's had along the way.

    Keep Sweet: Pray and Runaway

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2022 75:46


    Collier and Elijah discuss the documentary Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey about the FLDS church.

    A Christian... but with Tattoos (feat. Ethan Sirles)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 132:19


    Welcome Ethan Sirles Wanderers! Elijah and Collier both knew Ethan separately at first, but they all had similar experiences being homeschooled and growing up in church.

    Theo Wandering? (feat. Derek Chilton)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2022 84:52


    Derek is the worship pastor of Woven Church in Lexington KY. He visits us to share basically part 3 of the most recent TheoBourbon episodes and discuss what makes his faith standout in a world of toxic churches.

    Skinny Jeans and Fog Machines

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 85:32


    An episode filled with nostalgia for the early 2000s, Collier and Elijah discuss their favorite worship songs and their thoughts on the evangelical worship community as a whole.

    Everything is Spiritual (feat. Hannah Marsteller)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 82:24


    Collier and Elijah invite a friend from church onto the podcast, Hannah Marsteller! Hannah served in worship ministries for many years before taking on a big spiritual and location transition in her life. She comes on to share about her experiences out of serving and into new realms of spirituality.

    Stars and Scythes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 83:32


    The guys have a great discussion planned about... sci-fi? Come hear some hot takes about Star Wars and discussion of a possible near future from the book Scythe.

    Choose Your Own Adventure (Live Episode)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2022 104:23


    Despite the technical difficulties, Collier and Elijah share their first live episode! Topics voted on include high school dating, current events and truth or dare. Listen in and let us know if you're interested in doing another live soon. Recorded on instagram live 5/20/22.

    Musings of God (feat. Tom Mangione)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 90:40


    Tom Mangione (co-host of TheoBourbon) shares the spotlight this week! His musings cover a wide variety of topics including, but not limited to, spirituality, the meaning of life and flavors.

    Let's Go To Camp! (feat. Taylen Henry)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 67:16


    Taylen Henry joins Collier and Elijah to talk about memories being blobbed or wrestling in the mud pit at church camp. While some of it made for amazing memories, not everything is straight forward fun.

    Our Favorite Bible Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 61:41


    Collier and Elijah discuss some Bible stories which have stood out to them during their time studying scripture. For one reason or another, there's always an obvious reason why they chose these passages.

    Purity Culture (feat. Michaela Brooks)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 61:09


    Collier and Elijah discuss purity culture especially from the perspective of evangelical women with Collier's partner Michaela.

    The Hillsong Scandals

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 84:36


    In a slew of bad publicity for the mega church, Hillsong Exposed brings to light abuse and cover-ups from the world's largest church. Collier and Elijah discuss how this came about and their thoughts on where it all went wrong.

    Elijah's Deconstruction (Our Story pt.5)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 124:17


    Elijah shares the most recent part of his spiritual journey through deconstruction and where he's headed in relationship with the church.

    Collier's Deconstruction (Our Story pt.4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 106:28


    Collier opens up about his recent relationship with religion. Deconstruction? Spiritual journey? Tune in to hear about his recent change of beliefs.

    The (Church) Office - An American Workplace (Our Story pt.3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 120:10


    Collier and Elijah discuss their experiences working inside of evangelical churches.

    College Daze (Our Story pt.2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 110:32


    Pack your book bag because Collier and Elijah share stories of their time in college. Get ready to hear the inside scoop as to what Bible college was like from their perspective.

    The Early Years (Our Story pt.1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2022 88:40


    Welcome to the show! Collier and Elijah discuss growing up in the church, mega church life and how they met.

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