Pure to Pieces

Jocelyn Lee photographs mature women, calling them back into relevance in a society that has deemed them invisible. She photographs to explore what it means to be alive and how we all make sense of the world. Her work has been reviewed by publications like the Boston Globe, the New York Times, and The New Yorker. She has a few more copies of her sold out book, "Sovereign," available for purchase through her website: jocelynleestudio.com. Lee also founded a non-profit called Speedwell Projects to support women and nonbinary people artistically through residency opportunities and gallery exhibitions. Learn more at speedwellprojects.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Summer Brooks is a recent grad from McKendree University, where she completed her senior exhibition, "Black Magic." Brooks is an awardee of NCECA's Multicultural Fellowship and her work won "Best in Undergraduate" at Good Shepherd Arts Center. Summer talks to Morgan about Black hair and its personal, political, and artistic impact on society. She is finishing up her year of residency at Belger Arts and you can connect with her @summer_.jpeg on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Hannah McBroom is an artist who explores themes of transgender identity, materiality, and the body. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with an emphasis in Painting and received her Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Arkansas in 2019. She has attended residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and Chautauqua School of Art. Hannah has also exhibited in shows nationally and internationally and is the recipient of the Artist 360 Grant through the Mid American Artist Coalition. She currently maintains a studio practice in St. Louis. You can see her works on display at “State of Art 2020” at Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, The Museum of Sex in New York, and her website: hannahmcbroom.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Kaviya Ravi is an Indian born artist who is drawn to all things colorful. Her whimsical work is inspired by the world around her and is meant to add cheer and happiness to it. Her motto is, "life is too important to be taken setiously." Kaviya describes her history with color and the different meanings it has. You can watch Kaviya create on Season 3 of NBC's "Making It," hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman and you can check out her store at https://khromophilia.com. Kaviya will have a solo show at Revelry Gallery July 2022. Check it out at https://revelrygallery.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

For the one year anniversary of the podcast, Julie Longest has a mother-daughter conversation with Morgan. Julie talks about the messiness of family, nuances of modesty, and how she left evangelicalism while her family was still there. She explains what it was like deciding on her own truth and talks about passing on empowerment through the family. Connect with Julie @bentfeatherpottery. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Tessi is a student researcher on purity culture. She explains how important education and experience are in leading to healthy relationships. She talks about her interest in trauma at the intersection of religion and sexuality and how she is gentle with who she used to be and who she is now. Connect with Tessi at www.thebarefootjourney.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Dr. Amra Sabic El-Rayess explains what it was like growing up in Bosnia & Herzegovina during the Bosnian Genocide. She talks about the courses she offers at Columbia University that examine social transformation and moral resilience. Her online program, "Reimagine Resilience," teaches educators how to navigate classroom conversations about acceptance and othering. Amra and Morgan talk about how to be religious without being extreme and why her students find her so inspiring. Register for the Reimagine Resilience program for free at: https://reimagineresilience.org (courses start July 2022). --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Portia talks to Morgan about gathering objects for her intriguing installations and how the idea started on residency at Fine Arts Work Center. Portia explains how ideals and expectations of women have changed from her viewpoint over her lifetime and how interconnected the environment is with feminism. Portia has exhibited everywhere from Bryant Park Subway Station to Mass MOCA, Art Basel, and PPOW Gallery. Follow Portia @portiamunson on instagram to see when and where her next exhibitions are on view and check out her 21C installation in Louisville through January 2023. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Liv tells their story of growing up with scoliosis and a lot of faith and the things that helped them believe they could trust their body once they listened to it. As a recent MA graduate, Liv studies and researches the complex nuances in christian and non christian culture and how most things don't have a definitive answer. Reach Liv @livcurved on instagram or livcurved.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Bradley tells Morgan about his story of growing up evangelical, becoming a pastor, and then realizing that wasn't for him when he got away from home in his travels. The two talk about the forming of new ethics when you no longer rely on the Bible to inform those ethics and the writing of Bradley's new book that will come out January 2023. To see more of Bradley's work, go to straightwhiteamericanjesus.com or https://www.skidmore.edu/religious_studies/faculty/onishi.php. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Marcella talks to Morgan about her new body of paintings using alter-egos to talk about anatomy and psychology. The two talk about their love for Italy and an old tradition using cellophane. Marcella is based in Austin, TX and is looking for new models all the time! Check her work out @marcellaispainting on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Emilia talks to Morgan in detail about some of her paintings and how she hopes to continue to inspire young girls through her art. Emilia explains how closely tied her mental health is to her artistic processes. She recounts what it was like growing up Catholic and gives advice to emerging artists today. Emilia works as an artist in Simi Valley, California where her art has been featured on "Gentified" and "Selena the Series" on Netflix as well as "Ser Humano" on CNN. Check out more of her work and her cool tiendita at emiliacruz.com or follow her on instagram @cruzemilia. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Melissa is a Psychotherapist with a focus on spirituality. Melissa and Morgan talk about the positive and negative affects of therapists telling clients what kinds of safe spaces they provide. Melissa talks about poetry as an art form she loves and how she finds beauty in the world. She speaks to the importance of women's pleasure and how it is related to mental health. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Andreya is a sex therapist writing a curriculum for women recovering from purity culture. Andreya tells Morgan about growing up in a missionary family in Papa New Guinea and why her story led her to pursue sex therapy. She talks about how to educate young kids on consent and body language and how visual art is impactful in her practice. See what Dreya is up to @dreya_9. *Trigger warning: we discuss sexual abuse. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Jon tells Morgan about growing up going to different churches in the south and how he now lives in California as a writer. Jon explains how he can fully express himself in his writing and the two talk about the show "Sex Education." Follow Jon and his writing @jonlmartin on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Vaidehi tells Morgan about art as her life source while suffering an autoimmune disorder. Vaidehi explains the difference in patriarchy in India vs. the U.S. and how she transitioned into the New York lifestyle 13 years ago. She is currently working on an NFT project curated by Paris Hilton and explains how she believes visual art resonates with people. See Vaidehi's art @vaidehikinkhabwala. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Elissa is getting her PhD in researching purity culture- including how it shows up in handbooks of universities throughout the U.S. Elissa tells Morgan about getting fired for teaching different pronouns for god and what life has been like since getting divorced. Both Elissa and Morgan talk about coming out to themselves and how sexuality needs to be celebrated. Read Elissa's poetry on instagram @elissa.writes. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Kathy talks to Morgan about knowing she was bisexual when she was 5 years old and how art has been a constant in her life since a young age. She explains how this led her to become an art therapist and collaborate with artists today. Kathy has an art show up at Mellwood Art Center in Louisville, KY till Dec. 1st. DM Kathy for art inquiries @kathythekaptain on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Mary talks with Morgan about her historical examination of the ex-gay movement and same sex attracted evangelicals navigating their faith. Mary explains how it was growing up Pentecostal and Baptist and how her crisis of faith hit at 27 years old when she came to terms with her sexuality. The two talk about land lesbians, extreme thinking, holding contradicting thoughts in our heads, and how Brandi Carlile is the best artist ever. Connect with Mary @mary_gently on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Sara talks about writing her second book and her focus on how white supremacy perpetuates purity culture and vice versa. Sara tells Morgan about the time in her life when her thinking changed and she eventually decided to go to seminary. She talks about the art of gardening and explains "blackout poetry" as an artistic method for healing. Find Sara @saramoslener on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Reena tells Morgan about being a 16 year old today and what health class is like at school. She speaks wisely about her knowledge of different sexual orientations and the construction of gender. Reena talks about the art she is working on right now and the vocabulary we use when talking about people different than us. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Jenny is a therapist who tells Morgan about being a missionary when she was younger and what she thinks about that now. She talks about having conflict with people in healthy ways and how she left church 5 years ago. Get in touch with Jenny at indwellcounseling.com or @indwell_movement on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Victoria tells Morgan about things she is working on in the academic world to stand up against purity culture. She explains how her thinking shifted from an evangelical setting to a missionary lifestyle to studying eugenics. Victoria and Morgan talk about visiting the gynecologist and why knowing about and addressing purity culture in all settings is important but scary. Read more about Victoria's work at victoriahouser.net. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Megan talks to Morgan about going to an all-girls Catholic school, her thoughts on prayer, and using dance as a way to heal. They both discuss pronouns for god and the lack of sex ed they experienced growing up. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Blanche talks about thinking existentially and how that put her on a path of art making. She explains the death of a parent as both a driving force and hindrance to creating and how the pandemic has affected her creatively. Blanche and Morgan talk about the culture of competition between artists and how collaboration is the new memo. They conclude that being playful with art is never a bad idea. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Sarah talks with Morgan about growing up "doing the things Christian Southern Baptist women should do" and how she came to the renaissance of herself by asking questions and looking for beauty in the world. Morgan and Sarah recount the lack of sex ed they had in highschool and at the end, discuss monogamy and sexual fluidity. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Kathryn talks to Morgan about her recent dissertation on purity culture, the harm of white evangelical purity culture in so many sectors of society, and analytical ways to approach the subject. Kathryn and Morgan talk about art and the positive influence it's had on their lives while beginning to trust their bodies again. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Eleanor talks about mental health and the art therapy club she started. She tells Morgan about different ways artists are bartering today and what kind of impact her Pride t-shirts have made. Eleanor started New Grooves Gallery and talks about the artists involved. Visit Eleanor's website at eleanorcowell.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Perrin talks to Morgan about applying for divinity school while being openly queer. The two talk about boundaries and how purity culture does more harm than good. They end with talking about curiosity and making new rules for yourself. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Jennifer tells Morgan about how her thinking changed from not being allowed to think sexual thoughts as a girl to coming out as a gay woman. She talks about the struggle with her family's acceptance and how she changed seminaries till she found one that would accept her as she is. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Betsy talks to Morgan about the business side of art, what she has learned from a younger generation, and how supporting one another as artists is so important. See her work at betsyohart.com or @betsyohart on instagram. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Monique explains the difference between growing up in black purity culture vs. white purity culture and the different expectations of women in each group. Monique shares with Morgan how she started to think for herself in college and how that motivated her to keep studying African American religions and sexual ethics. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

McKenzie talks to Morgan about rules on drinking and curfew at her Methodist College, going by feelings vs. facts, and how her belief systems continue to change as her frontal lobe develops. McKenzie explains why mental health needs to be discussed in church and Morgan suggests that pastors aren't as qualified as therapists. They both talk about picking and choosing what to believe from the Bible and how this informs our ethics today. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Kipp talks to Morgan about the meanings behind his public art installations in relation to traces of human activity. Kipp explains his own deconstruction process of challenging preconceived notions of who we are and what we do. As someone who doesn't have much experience with explicit purity culture, Kipp relates binary thinking back to public art and how art makes us think. Check out his art at kippkobayashi.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Brian talks to Morgan about growing up as a queer man in evangelical Christianity. He tells the story of coming out to his parents and how his thinking has shifted when it comes to religion. Brian talks about his walk with masculinity and how he now coaches queer men to be their healthiest selves. To learn more, visit https://www.briangerald.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Caroline tells Morgan about growing up in an all girl's Catholic school. She explains how comprehensive sex education can help students. Caroline uses her knowledge of the law to explain how purity culture has filtered down through the system for a long time. Morgan and Caroline discuss ways laws could be reformed in order to prevent sexual assault. They both talk about different media sources and trying to understand different perspectives by stepping into other people's shoes. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Kat talks to Morgan about the pros and cons of getting an Art degree after talking about growing up in the Pentecostal church. Kat is a multimedia artist who was one of the 148 selected artists worldwide to work on the 2018 Oscar Nominated film "Loving Vincent." She talks about being told to focus on painting over animation but how experimenting with different media has made her an overall better professor and artist. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Eréndira Jiménez talks to Morgan about her business, "Spirit School," that functions as a resource for decolonization and spiritual guidance. She talks about her journey through Christianity, her divorce, and coming out as bi-sexual. To access her resources, go to https://www.erendirajimenez.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Sam talks to Morgan about growing up in rural Kentucky and the repercussions of teaching boys not to be emotional. He explains the difficulties of finding porn at a young age and the shame he felt of not being able to talk about sex. He shares stories about the men he met while incarcerated and how he listens to his body today. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Alexandra explains BV to Morgan and talks about the rage that inspires her art and recants her story of growing up in Russia and then moving to the U.S. She now lives in New York, working as a visual artist. You can check out her work at alaexandrarubenstein.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Emily, author of #Churchtoo, talks to Morgan about the difference between sexual assault in the culture at large vs. assault that happens in church contexts. She talks about epistemological pathways in our brains and how we learn and can change. #churchtoo #purityculture #puretopieces --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Tina talks to Morgan about being a sex therapist and sex educator. She explains how U.S. culture has evolved politically in relation to the Christian church. Her book, "Sex, God, and the Conservative Church," explains the integration of spirituality and sexuality. Her new book is called "Shameless Parenting: Everything You Need to Raise Shame-free, Confident Kids & Heal Your Shame Too." Link for book: https://www.tinaschermersellers.com/ Link for classes for professionals: nwioi.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Tiffany talks with Morgan about growing up in California and how her perspective on mental health and body image has changed over time. Tiffany describes modeling and how it gave her a more positive outlook on her body. She recounts the story of when she drew her first sketch and how she combines perfection with spontanaeity. See Tiffany's work @tiffanycole or tiffanycoleart.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Dani talks about growing up in Calvary Chapel, communion in the form of wine on the beach, her new fiction story "Doomsday," and how singing can change and lift our mood. Find her book at: https://www.hobartpulp.com/web_features/doomsday --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Katherine and Morgan talk about the Christian school they went to from elementary through highschool together. Katherine describes the lack of identity she felt when she was so immersed in church and how meeting people different from her has helped her see new perspectives. Connect with Katherine @katherine_tmanning. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

ARTIST TALK! Abi talks to me all the way from England about how she is the real life Flea Bag. She explains living in and using an ex-brothel for an art exhibition, having a moment with Jesus even though she's Jewish, and how foster care influences her art to this day. Look up Abi's work at abijoysamuelart.com! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Shannon TL Kearns is a transgender ordained priest, playwright, theologian, artistic director, and co-host of the podcast Queer Theology. Shannon talks about looking at Christianity through a queer lens and why he has stayed with the faith for so long. Learn more about his podcast, "Queer Theology" at https://www.queertheology.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

If you've ever wanted to hear about lesbian writers and being in a cult in the same conversation, this episode is for you! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Anthony helps me dissect church teachings on masturbation, pornography, patriarchy, and teaches me about afantasia. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Matthias is a psychotherapist who talks about sexual ethics and the paradoxes we believe while moving through the world in color and not just black and white. His book, "Beyond Shame," is available now as well as his podcast, "Queerology," and masterclass with Linda Kay Klein on his website: https://matthiasroberts.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support

Carrie and Morgan talk about growing up in independent Christian School together, reuniting during college, how their deconstruction process has looked, and exploring what their sexualities mean to them. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/morgan-mcgill/support