Women Beyond Faith

Carrie's back!  Join us as she share's the rest of her journey up to present day. May her badassery inspire you!Carrie Doan is a pleasure coach, writer, and business strategist who is passionate about empowering women to rediscover their worth through practices of pleasure.  She believes that every single part of us is deserving of love and actively works to reawaken the spirit to a life of abundance.  When she's not tending to her children or seeking adventures around the world, she's busy hosting the "Clearly Connected Podcast" where she invites listeners to reimagine all the ways they can reconnect to themselves, to others, and to our natural environment.Website: www.carriedoan.com           Clearly Connected Podcast  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearly-connected/id1602454881           IG @carriedoancoachingCarrie's Dare to Desire Ebookhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1a0ola898j2QbPHX9PpjzNLCeCMD76QYA/view#badassbeauty#findingfreedom#onestoryatatime#carriedoanpleasurecoach#clearlyconnectedpodcast#carriedoancoaching#carriedoanSupport the showSupport the show

Carrie Doan is a pleasure coach, writer, and business strategist who is passionate about empowering women to rediscover their worth through practices of pleasure.  She believes that every single part of us is deserving of love and actively works to reawaken the spirit to a life of abundance.  When she's not tending to her children or seeking adventures around the world, she's busy hosting the "Clearly Connected Podcast" where she invites listeners to reimagine all the ways they can reconnect to themselves, to others, and to our natural environment.Website: www.carriedoan.com           Clearly Connected Podcast  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearly-connected/id1602454881           IG @carriedoancoachingCarrie's Dare to Desire Ebookhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1a0ola898j2QbPHX9PpjzNLCeCMD76QYA/viewSupport the show

Janice Selbie is a Registered Professional Counsellor and religious recovery consultant. She Divorced Religion after nearly 40 years in the Pentecostal (and briefly, Mennonite) denomination. After also divorcing her husband, Janice went back to school to become a counsellor and founded the Divorcing Religion Workshop, the Conference on Religious Trauma (aka CORT), and the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference.Here's additional details regarding Janice's offerings: One-on-one consulting to help you understand your own religious trauma syndrome and what recovery can look like -- https://www.divorcing-religion.comThe Divorcing Religion Workshop  an on-line, live,  6-week supportive small group designed to help you transition out of religion and into secular life --https://www.divorcing-religion.comJanice's first Shameless Sexuality -- An online conference for survivors of Purity Culture and their helpers will be held October 14-16, 2022 -- https://www.shamelesssexuality.org The Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT) where past speakers represent a variety of fundamentalist religious backgrounds including Amish, Evangelical, Mormon, Muslim, and Hasidic Orthodox Judaism -- https://www.religioustraumaconference.orgAnd -- lastly -- there's the CORT YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhyTXTIM9kdTJ1jW-Ckb5gFrom CORT's vision statement: There are widespread assumptions that religion in general is good or at least harmless.  Yet people are seriously hurt by religious doctrines and practices every day.  This has to end.        ---  Dr. Marlene WinelllSupport the show

Work. Family. Vacations. Nude Beaches. Putting into practice the Speaking Up and Speaking Out. Support the show

Alaine is back! In this episode she shares the pain, isolation and wonder associated with deconstruction.It takes considerable courage to confront cognitive bias head on. Many of us, hoodwinked since childhood,  become driven to discover the truth. We're so over the BS!  We sprint forward – often times ignorant to the enormity of the fallout for doing so.Alaine carried on. She kept asking the questions and fought hard to find honest answers.  Still working through the aftereffects of her deconstruction. Alaine moved to the D.C. suburbs, leaving her family behind.  She's starting over.A new career. A new city. A new Alaine.Support the show

Alaine is a Gen-X former evangelical raised in the Deep South who found out the hard way that the unconditional love of Jesus had more than a few conditions. When her world began to crumble following a difficult divorce, her strict, conservative family and Southern Baptist community were not there for her the way she expected. Their shunning pushed her to question all the beliefs she'd clung to her whole life.  A support group for women of faith showed her how many verses in the Bible had been mistranslated and misappropriated through the years to support patriarchal theologies detrimental to women—and if this was possible, what ELSE in the Bible might not be the literal “Word of God”?  Alaine's intense journey of deconstruction has led her down new roads away from almost everything and everyone in her former world. Today, identifying as an atheist/humanist, she is rebuilding her life and career as a paralegal in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.Support the show

Bess is back from rural Pennsylvania to share with us the rest of her story – at least up to current day Spring of 2022. In her mid 20s and wise beyond her years Bess talks university, working through anxiety and panic attacks, therapy, finding the love of her life, managing relationships with still believing family members, and finding community with other out of the box thinkers in her small town. Bess is an animal lover and her gentle, soft spoken connection with these non-humans offers some calm and serenity during these difficult days -- these days of discovery – these days of redefining the dreams of her youth – these days of finding freedom outside the confines of a religious order – these days of post pandemic uncertainty –  you'll even her rooster crowing in the background!Damn! Bess is a badass!!If you'd like to reach out to Bess, she'd love to chat with you. You can reach her at Bess569@yahoo.com.Bess is learning how to use her voice. She is Speaking Up. And Speaking Out. And in so doing, she is Finding Freedom. On the Other Side. One Story at a Time. #WereSpeaking#WomenBeyondFaith#FindingFreedom#OneStoryataTime#SpeakingUp#SpeakingOutSupport the show

Reagan's back! In this conversation she talks specifics regarding the multiple small businesses she runs here in the Greater Cincinnati area. Reagan is a career coach, professional photographer, CEO of a Nature Preschool, blogger, AND does speaking engagements. Whew! That makes me tired just typing it all out!!  Reagan continues to inspire me -- she's changing the world by being herself! Here's Reagan --  sharing more of her journey -- from evangelical homeschool kiddo to earth loving, tree hugging inspirational homeschool mama and entrepreneur. Enjoy the conversation. I'm pretty sure you, too, will continue to be inspired by Reagan's moxie. Find out more about Reagan at the links below:https://www.playfulacre.comhttps://www.instagram.com/playfulacre/https://www.facebook.com/playfulacrehttps://twitter.com/playfulacreSupport the show

Reagan is a mom and owner of multiple small businesses here in the Greater Cincinnati area. She grew up in the church. She and her family frequented the same homeschool circles as my family. Her people played on the same homeschool sports teams as my people. Her sister actually dated one of my favorite human's brother. We knew, and -- still know—a lot of the same people.I'm not sure how or when I was first introduced to Reagan's Instagram page. I don't think I realized at the time that she was someone from our homeschool past, I was just attracted to the passion and pizzazz she oozed.  I loved what she was saying about preserving the magic of childhood and getting kids out in to nature. She inspired me. Reagan was raising her kid the way I wished I would have raised my kids. She was teaching me things. One day last fall I put two and two together and realized our families used to do life in the same Cincinnati homeschool circles. And I wanted to know more. So -- I reached out and asked Reagan if she'd be interested in sharing her journey -- from evangelical homeschool kiddo to earth loving, tree hugging inspirational homeschool mama and entrepreneur. Luckily, for me and you, she said yes. Enjoy the conversation. I'm pretty sure you, too, will be inspired by Reagan's moxie. You can find out more about Reagan at the links below:https://www.playfulacre.comhttps://www.instagram.com/playfulacre/https://www.facebook.com/playfulacrehttps://twitter.com/playfulacre​  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Trigger warning: This episode contains material that may be difficult for some of our listeners to hear. Conversations cover porn, body shaming, Josh Harris, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, statutory rape,  purity culture and abortion. #porn #bodyshaming#JoshuaHarris #JoshHarris#IKissedDatingGoodbye#statutoryrape#purityculture#abortion#sexuallycurious#shamed#dating#relationships#courting#courtship#exvangelical#boymeetsgirl#findingfreedom#onestoryatatime#speakingup#speakingoutSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Bess is in her mid 20s. She lives in a small rural Pennsylvania town. As you'd expect, she's been surrounded by conservative christians as far as the eye can see for the entirety of her life.  Raised in the church and educated in christian schools, Bess never fit in. Everyone around her was exactly the same – same beliefs, same hobbies, same skin color, same EVERYTHING!  Sure, she made attempts to fit in, but as a young teen, Bess determined she could no longer pretend to be someone she wasn't. This authenticity and independence created turmoil within her family of origin -- particularly in the relationship with her father. It wasn't appropriate for a young girl to ask questions and think for herself. As an older teen, Bess and her dad came to an understanding that they'd just have to agree to disagree. However, as Bess' faith continued to erode, the conflict returned and this time not only with dad but  into the larger circle of Bess' immediate family.  Living authentically hasn't been easy.  Bess at times wishes she could just turn off her hunger for truth switch. But for some of us, this is impossible to do!!We are learning how to use our voices. We're Speaking Up. And Speaking Out. Finding our Voices. And in so doing, Finding Freedom. On the Other Side. One Story at a Time. Enjoy Bess. She's pretty f*&ing incredible!#WereSpeaking#WomenBeyondFaith#FindingFreedom#OneStoryataTime#SpeakingUp#SpeakingOutSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Responding to your questions -- Leah talks  work, Covid family relations, homeschool mama days and the kids subsequent trauma, as well as the movie Captain Fantastic with one of her crushes -- Viggo Mortensen. #WereSpeaking#SpeakUp#SpeakOut#FindingFreedom#OneStoryataTime#BraveAssBeauties#WomenBeyondFaithYou can reach us at womenbeyondfaith@gmail.com, Instagram or Facebook. New graphic by Dara Paul. Thanks, girlfriend! Special thanks to my personal assistant and editor @emmacatherine09Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

She's back!!  Catch the rest of Andrea's deconstruction story here at Andrea B. Part 2!Born the 4th of 5 children to strict young earth creationist parents in the Midwest, Andrea B. was at church every Sunday. At the age of 9, she began attending summer camp at Kanakuk (think “Jesus Camp” Documentary) in Branson, Missouri. Attempting to grow in faith, confidence, and Christian characterAndrea buckled down intensifying her commitment to the faith.  Sold out for Jesus, Andrea was rebaptized. Attending purity retreats, See You at the Pole events and before school prayer study groups became her standard. She purchased an ichthys bumper sticker for a high school boyfriend. She was a Jars of Clay fangirl.  However, while still in high school Andrea took a world religions and philosophy course which revived her natural curiosity.While away at college, her fundie boyfriend insisted she grow her hair long and wear skirts. Slowly, she began to break away intellectually from fundamentalism.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Born the 4th of 5 children to strict young earth creationist parents in the Midwest, Andrea B. was at church every Sunday. At the age of 9, she began attending summer camp at Kanakuk (think “Jesus Camp” Documentary) in Branson, Missouri. Attempting to grow in faith, confidence, and christian character Andrea buckled down intensifying her commitment to the faith.  Sold out for Jesus, she was rebaptized. Attending purity retreats, See You at the Pole events and before school prayer study groups became the standard. She even purchased an ichthys bumper sticker for a high school boyfriend.However, while still in high school Andrea took a world religions and philosophy course which revived her natural curiosity. Slowly, she began to break away intellectually from fundamentalism. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Alyssa is a 27 year old spouse & momma of two who is still adjusting to the freedom of "life on the other side" after recently deconstructing her beliefs from the Evangelical Church.After her parents divorced at the age of 8, she and her two brothers were primarily raised by their mom in Wichita, Kansas in a very right-winged conservative household. She currently lives in the Kansas City area, but is hoping to move down south at some point next year. She has been working tirelessly throughout the last year or so to unlearn and dismantle all of the toxicity that she was raised to believe was "love" within the church and her religious family. She enjoys drinking coffee, blasting punk music on long car rides, and isn't the least bit ashamed of her potty mouth. She is dedicated to healing her religious and childhood traumas and living her life as authentically as possible :) Find her on TikTok at @alwaysauthenticalyssa where she posts very real and raw parts of her healing journey in hopes to connect with people who are on a similar path.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Deconversion Therapy is a comedy podcast about religion. Bonnie and Karen punch up at charlatans like Jim Bakker or Jerry Falwell Jr. They don't discuss real trauma rather they point listeners to other spaces for that. They have fun with old church memories and cover recent and past scandals and debacles.They've been at it for 3 years now!Growing up in the Southern Baptist church in South Florida Bonnie and Karen "met" when we they 1 year old (1969 or 70!). Both became Christians. Bonnie was always a bit more skeptical than Karen who grew up in a fully-Christian household.Bonnie left, went back and then finally called it quits.Karen became a missionary and seeds of doubt didn't arise until she was on the mission field in Thailand. It was a painful decade as things began to unravel.Bonnie worked in Hollywood and has lots of stories. She now works in real estate. Karen taught English at a university and still does mentors students online. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

 Kimberly Poovey is the founder of The Exvangelical Parent, a community of misfits, questioners, and wanderers, sharing our stories and navigating ethics, morality, and spirituality in parenting. We come from a wide variety of backgrounds and religious traditions, but we are all on a journey of deconstructing, reconstructing, and decolonizing our faith, (or lack thereof.) We aspire to raise good humans without religious baggage who will make the world a better, more just, and more loving place.For the last several years, I've been in the process of deconstructing and reconstructing my faith, and I don't yet know where I've landed. (Perhaps landing at all isn't the point.) Now, as parents, my husband and I are trying to impart morality, ethics, empathy, compassion, and social justice to our child without making those things irrevocably interwoven with a conservative faith tradition. It's a journey, and we are figuring it out as we go.I'm a writer, artist, wife, and over-caffeinated mom. Enneagram 9. INFP. After spending over a decade in the ministry world, I now write and create full-time. You can find my work on Scary Mommy, The Mighty, The Huffington Post, The Natural Parent, Parent Co, and Her View From Home.You can find Kimberly at https://theexvangelicalparent.com/ and on Instagram: @theexvangelicalparentSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Justice Renée, born trans-female, raised in Young Earth Fundamentalism was taught through shame to hate her trans identity. As a preteen, Justice dedicated her life to Jesus and dove heavily into ministry.  Steeped in fundamentalist culture it was not until 2019  when she opened up to her partner about her gender issues. Recently transitioned (woohoo!!), Justice is using her talents to amplify marginalized voices and improve the "Din of Conversation". She's challenging herself to deal with the fear and scariness of being in the public eye, stepping out from behind the camera. Enjoy Justice! She's a treasure!! PS Did you notice her tattoo??You can find out more about Justice and the communities she's involved in at:http://thetransverse.net/about-the-transverse/https://secularnorth.orghttps://twitter.com/leftintheleaveshttps://www.instagram.com/leftintheleaves/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Justice Renée, born trans-female, was raised in a Fundamentalist Evangelical Home. Her father was a leader in the Young Earth/Creation Science movement in Utah and surrounding states through the 1980s and 90s. She was taught through shame to hate her trans identity. In her preteens, Justice dedicated her life to Jesus and began ministry work with her church, AWANA, and CEF and gave her first evangelistic message at 13. She went on to get Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies with a Missions Emphasis from Frontier School of the Bible, was Youth Pastor in Nebraska, worked at Christian Camps, and a CrossWorld Missions Candidate preparing for missions in Thailand. In 2009, responding to the Housing Crisis, she founded “Tears of the Patriots”, a Tea Party Group connected with Libertarian and Christian Nationalism. Due to a myriad of reasons, Justice Renée re-examined her belief system over a period of 7 years ending with leaving the church. She opened to her partner about her gender issues in 2019 and transitioned in 2020. Currently, Justice Renée works as a Systems Engineer at Target, helps amplify diverse voices through Secular North Productions, and raises her two kids with her partner in a co-housing community. She shares her story with others to give hope and move communities forward through the “Din of Conversation”. She found freedom in acceptance and a path forward from the hate. Stepping out from behind the camera, Justice Renée has begun opening up in a more public way to build connections with others and amplify the "Din of Conversation".Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Speak your truth, Leah, even if your voice shakes. We matter. Our stories matter. And our voices need to be heard. #speakup#speakout#werespeaking#imspeaking#ourturn#exvangelicalSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Hey friends! Leah's back with an update and honest appraisal of the current state of affairs in which we find ourselves. She talks contracting COVID, extended family discord, fundie antivax friends, mental health struggles in the time of pandemic and more. Leah references Alan Alda (who played Dr. Hawkeye Pierce on TV's MASH back in the 70s & early 80s) and his advocacy to train STEM and medical professionals to communicate clearly and vividly. Here's a few links to a some of his resources.:https://www.aldacenter.orghttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/science-clear-vivid-podcast/id1535702219?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200https://omny.fm/shows/science-clear-and-vivid/If you're interested in being a guest on the WBF podcast, contact Leah at womenbeyondbelief@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

She's back for more!!!  We here at WBF are lucky to have Julie, aka Cornflower Girl, back to continue the conversation! She and I get hung up on our distinct versions of homeschooling (child-directed learning) and many of the casualties of evangelicalism. Pretty sure you're going to find the conversation pretty damn engaging!!Julie is a late diagnosed autistic who has amassed a sizable TikTok following for her relatable PTSD/neurodivergent and Exvangelical content. A writer and armchair philosopher, she lives in North Carolina with her husband, Phil and 2 neurodivergent kiddos. You can find Julie at www.musingsfromthecornflower.comOR on her IG handle or Tik Tok @cornflowerwomanSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Rachael is back!!  This recently deconverted beautiful mama of two sweet boys, wife, therapist, sometimes poet, and fierce advocate for those recovering from trauma continues her story. We talk stepping-stones leading to her deconstruction including Pete Enns (I'd never heard of him before!), the Liturgists Podcast and Bart Ehrman. Rachael believes in LOVE and imperfectly lives by that principle. Follow her work on Instagram @smallwords_bigstories or www.rcpstherapy.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Rachael is a recently deconverted mama of two sweet boys, a wife, a therapist, a sometimes poet, and a fierce advocate for those recovering from trauma. Rachael believes in LOVE and imperfectly lives by that principle. Follow her work on Instagram @smallwords_bigstories or www.rcpstherapy.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Charisse, born and raised in northern Utah, was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormonism) until 2017.  An abrupt divorce plunged her head-first into an existential crisis, leading her to walk away from the LDS faith and community. Leaving religion changed everything for Charisse - how she looked at herself and others -- she contemplated her very existence. She's been working on healing and navigating the religious trauma associated with those years in the church. One of the means Charisse has utilized to help process the trauma is The Existential Ginger podcast and platform. This platform provides a means for Charisse to share not only her voice -- but also the voices of others who find themselves on a similar journey. This Existential Ginger currently lives in Southern PA with her 3 four-legged pals (2 cats and a dog). She works as a Beer Sales Rep by day.  You can find out more about Charisse at https://linktr.ee/theexistentialginger.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Here's the rest of the story Joy's story!   A 59-year-old mother of six , Joy's an elementary school teacher and former fundamentalist, pentecostal Christian currently residing in the Pacific Northwest.Joy spent over 5 decades loving Jesus with her whole heart, mind, and strength. She taught her children to do the same. Her oldest, at about age 19 or 20, came home from a year abroad declaring she was no longer a Christian. This devastating news forced Joy on a search for answers that could help win her eldest back to Jesus. However, as many of us who've found ourselves in this very situation understand -- the evidence Joy discovered, after many months of reading, studying, and watching debates  completely dismantled those pillars she had erected to uphold her faith. And before she knew it, her entire belief system had collapsed with a deafening thud. The next several years were tremendously difficult and yet exhilarating as she left the church (her entire support system!!), ended her 30-year marriage, and started anew.During those troubled years, Joy wrote a memoir called Joy Unspeakable, Toxic Faith and Rose-colored Glasses, as a way to process and make sense of it all. "I chronicle the ways in which my rose-colored glasses (a metaphor for my faith) distorted reality and robbed me of agency from the time I was a small child until my 50s when the glasses finally fell off." You can find her memoir on Amazon -- here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Unspeakable-Toxic-Rose-Colored-Glasses-ebook/dp/B08NFNT2GCSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Julie aka Cornflower Girl is a late diagnosed autistic who’s amassed a sizable TikTok following for her relatable PTSD/neurodivergent and Exvangelical content. A writer and armchair philosopher, she lives in North Carolina with her husband, Phil and 2 neurodivergent kiddos. You can find Julie at www.musingsfromthecornflower.comOR on her IG handle or Tik Tok @@cornflowergrl Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Joy Hopper. She is a 59-year-old mother of six. An elementary teacher. And -- a former fundamentalist, pentecostal Christian who resides in the Pacific Northwest.Joy spent over 5 decades loving Jesus with her whole heart, mind, and strength. She taught her children to do the same. Her oldest, at about age 19 or 20, came home from a year abroad declaring she was no longer a Christian. This devastating news forced Joy on a search for answers that could help win her eldest back to Jesus. However, as many of us who've found ourselves in this very situation understand -- the evidence Joy discovered, after many months of reading, studying, and watching debates completely dismantled those pillars she had erected to uphold her faith. And before she knew it, her entire belief system had collapsed with a deafening thud. The next several years were tremendously difficult and yet exhilarating as she left the church (her entire support system!!), ended her 30-year marriage, and started anew.During those troubled years, Joy wrote a memoir called Joy Unspeakable, Toxic Faith and Rose-colored Glasses, as a way to process and make sense of it all. "I chronicle the ways in which my rose-colored glasses (a metaphor for my faith) distorted reality and robbed me of agency from the time I was a small child until my 50s when the glasses finally fell off." You can find her memoir on Amazon -- here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Unspeakable-Toxic-Rose-Colored-Glasses-ebook/dp/B08NFNT2GCThe picture Joy chose for this episode is of her falling out of a raft while attempting to maneuver a huge rapid. This reminds Joy of what her deconstruction felt like -- absolutely terrifying to be thrown off the boat, finding herself in the thick of the rushing current, but before too long -- she was okay. And free. And everything turned out just fine. :-)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

"It’s so important that we take the time to check in with ourselves, especially when our relationship to the future brings a certain kind of weariness." YWAIs 2021 shaping up to be better than 2020?? Is anyone else struggling with Uncertainty? Yoga for Uncertainty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLlFSWgK2y4Braver Angelshttps://braverangels.orgUseful Idiots Podcasthttps://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/useful-idiots-trump-reign-taibbi-podcast-1115406/Unregistered Podcasthttp://www.thaddeusrussell.com/podcastThe Hill -- Risinghttps://thehill.com/hilltv/rising#Recovering from Religionhttps://www.recoveringfromreligion.orgSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Wendy grew up in a conservative right-winged home with an Evangelical Christian mother and Atheist father. The church she attended with her mother and brother was a Missionary Church.Wendy's life included submission, obedience and following rules, with guilt and shame as an integral part of her mindset. After attending a 1-room church school for 7 years (A.C.E. – Accelerated Christian Education curriculum), she was able to attend a more “normal” Christian school for the rest of her high school. Wendy went on several overseas short-term mission trips in high school. This further cemented her goal of being a career missionary. She met her 1st husband (who was a Missionary Kid from Papua New Guinea) at Prairie Bible College. After they were married, they pursued their missionary career in Brazil. They had 3 kids and were part of the mission for 15 years. After many difficult events and challenges, Wendy’s first marriage ended. This was around the same time she started to question her conservative Christian beliefs.She left her marriage, left the church, started a new career and rebounded into a 2nd marriage all around the age of 40. The 2nd marriage involved blending 2 families. That turned out to be very stressful with crisis after crisis. That marriage ended after 8 years, in 2018. Back in 2017, Wendy started the Women Beyond Belief podcast and interviewed over 35 women. These women shared their harrowing stories of leaving religion. During that year, the #MeToo movement became mainstream. This created some difficult issues which Wendy found too challenging and stressful to deal with. Wendy tried to rebrand the podcast under the Just Us Women title but finally decided to end the podcast. Wendy passed me the torch and I continue the tradition of creating space for women who have left religion to share their stories. Today, Wendy is trying to find her way on her own as a single-income household with her youngest still at home. She is learning to find romance and fun again through online dating. You can listen to many of the archive episodes of the Women Beyond Belief and Just Us Women podcasts. They are now under the umbrella title, Virtual Life Podcast.https://virtuallifepodcast.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Skylar Camp is an angry feminist who lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her two young kids, who describe themselves as her best friends. They have one cat and three nearly-dead plants. She writes creative non-fiction that mostly focuses on deconverting from Evangelical Christianity.You can connect with Skylar on Instagram @skylarcampwrites.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

I know you've been clamoring for more of Jessica's beauty and badassery! You're in luck! Here's more of her story! #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #womenspeakup #womenspeakout #dysautonomia #eosinophilicesophagitis #chronicillness #deconvert #emptythepews #exvangelical #psalm34:14Jessica grew up swimming in christian fundamentalism. Despite the christian education, life at home was hard -- raised by a single dad and an abusive bipolar manic depressive mother who was in and out of her life. A revolving door of blended families, domestic violence, sexual assault, neglect, and mental and emotional abuse were the norm. The christian schools grounded her and offered structure and stability. She found an identity and safe space to find refuge from the instability at home. But it wasn’t enough. Jessica attempted suicide at the tender age of 10. Life was extreme. Ample finances granted travel to over 20 countries, outdoor educational school for weeks at a time, and a christian fundamentalist camp every summer. To outsiders, life looked like rich privilege, but money and Jesus were tied up in family power in a bid for approval and acceptance. In high school, Jessica became involved with a particular brand of Christianity focused on uncovering the Jewish identity of Jesus. This led her to 2 tours to Israel while still in high school, followed by a move to Israel for a year only 2 days after graduation. During her time in here she began a relationship with a Chabad Israeli Jew, which led to the discovery of her own sexuality. Jessica’s experiences (both personal and humanitarian oriented) in Israel set in motion her deconversion from fundamentalism. By her sophomore year of college at Kent State University, Jessica no longer identified as christian. Jessica transferred to Temple University in 2007 and met an Israeli Jew. He followed her back home due to family obligations. She married him, had a baby shortly thereafter and divorced by early 2011. After completing a human rights program in Rwanda, she graduated in December 2011 with a Bachelors in Applied Conflict Management, a beautiful two year old greeting her off the stage. During this time, each of her Christian friends fell off the face of the earth. She dated, continually reinventing herself and attempting to discover her true north all while raising her child as a single mom. In 2013 Jessica met her current husband. They had a baby and married, but were soon beset by a myriad of serious undiagnosed health issues besieging Jessica. It was not until 2018 that Jessica had some answers for the conditions plaguing her: Dysautonomia, gastroparesis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, arthritis, small fiber neuropathy, and other debilitating issues. She currently resides in Ohio, with her husband and a 10 and 5 year old. She is happily atheist. A skeptic, realist, who is deeply uncomfortable with spirituality and religion, abhorring anyone and anything that discourages the asking of questions. Jessica enjoys evidence-based medical and cosmic science, fantasy book series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, piano, writing, gaming, animals, and dark humor. She is currently wading the intimidating waters of motherhood, marriage, medical professionals, and autonomy, striving to seek balance, while helping her children navigate life. And she does these things with while being chronically ill and preparing her funeral. She sports a tattoo in Hebrew on her back, obtained after deconversion. Part of it says “Desire peace, and hunt it down” Psalm 34:14.It’s a damn good conversation. You’ll be blown away by Jessica. She’s a brave, badass woman! #findingfreedom #onestoryataSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Jessica grew up swimming in christian fundamentalism. Despite the christian education, life at home was hard -- raised by a single dad and an abusive bipolar manic depressive mother who was in and out of her life. A revolving door of blended families, domestic violence, sexual assault, neglect, and mental and emotional abuse were the norm. The christian schools grounded her and offered structure and stability. She found an identity and safe space to find refuge from the instability at home. But it wasn’t enough. Jessica attempted suicide at the tender age of 10. Life was extreme. Ample finances granted travel to over 20 countries, outdoor educational school for weeks at a time, and a christian fundamentalist camp every summer. To outsiders, life looked like rich privilege, but money and Jesus were tied up in family power in a bid for approval and acceptance. In high school, Jessica became involved with a particular brand of Christianity focused on uncovering the Jewish identity of Jesus. This led her to 2 tours to Israel while still in high school, followed by a move to Israel for a year only 2 days after graduation. During her time in here she began a relationship with a Chabad Israeli Jew, which led to the discovery of her own sexuality. Jessica’s experiences (both personal and humanitarian oriented) in Israel set in motion her deconversion from fundamentalism. By her sophomore year of college at Kent State University, Jessica no longer identified as christian. Jessica transferred to Temple University in 2007 and met an Israeli Jew. He followed her back home due to family obligations. She married him, had a baby shortly thereafter and divorced by early 2011. After completing a human rights program in Rwanda, she graduated in December 2011 with a Bachelors in Applied Conflict Management, a beautiful two year old greeting her off the stage. During this time, each of her Christian friends fell off the face of the earth. She dated, continually reinventing herself and attempting to discover her true north all while raising her child as a single mom. In 2013 Jessica met her current husband. They had a baby and married, but were soon beset by a myriad of serious undiagnosed health issues besieging Jessica. It was not until 2018 that Jessica had some answers for the conditions plaguing her: Dysautonomia, gastroparesis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, arthritis, small fiber neuropathy, and other debilitating issues. She currently resides in Ohio, with her husband and a 10 and 5 year old. She is happily atheist. A skeptic, realist, who is deeply uncomfortable with spirituality and religion, abhorring anyone and anything that discourages the asking of questions. Jessica enjoys evidence-based medical and cosmic science, fantasy book series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, piano, writing, gaming, animals, and dark humor. She is currently wading the intimidating waters of motherhood, marriage, medical professionals, and autonomy, striving to seek balance, while helping her children navigate life. And she does these things with while being chronically ill and preparing her funeral. She sports a tattoo in Hebrew on her back, obtained after deconversion. Part of it says “Desire peace, and hunt it down” Psalm 34:14.It’s a damn good conversation. You’ll be blown away by Jessica. She’s a brave, badass woman! #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #womenspeakup #womenspeakout #dysautonomia #eosinophilicesophagitis #chronicillness #deconvert #emptythepews #exvangelical #psalm34:14 Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Whew! It's been a hot minute since we've chatted. Here's a brief update of what's been going on over the last few months recorded at a lovely riverside cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains.Interviews with badass women starting back up in the very near future. You can get in touch with us on FB and Instagram @WomenBeyondFaith. Or via email at WomenBeyondFaith@gmail.com.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

We welcome back Bethany, 26 years old, married mom of two, to the Women Beyond Faith podcast!In this episode the conversation moves to pornography, marital relationships, working through tough stuff, isolation, misguided christian counsel, sex in marriage after receiving the Purity Culture narrative, pregnancy, parenting during deconversion, forgiveness, second chances, secular higher ed institutions, finding freedom, autonomy as women, and working hard to become the best version of oneself! Bethany brings me to tears -- yet again. There's something so esoteric and mystical in speaking to someone of the 'next generation' who embodies such beauty and a wisdom beyond her years...Young, fierce women like Bethany put forth a hope in humanity that I'm clinging on to! “Hope is the Thing With Feathers” -- Emily Dickinson:Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune without the wordsAnd never stops at all.Enjoy the conversation. #braveassbeauty #womenspeakup #wewillnotbesilent #femalevoices #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #motheranddaughter #outspokenandopinionatedSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Former conservative homeschooled good girl turns into outspoken liberal feminist.Bethany, 26 years old, is a married mom of two young boys. Currently enrolled in college with a 4.0 GPA, Bethany also loves painting, yoga, music, movies and reading. After rejecting the faith she was raised in, she's now embracing the beauty within. Bethany has found a peace filled freedom this side of faith. We talk Purity Culture, homeschooling, failing to fit in to the christian cultural norms, giving up on dreams, amazing homeschool mamas and more. Enjoy the conversation. #braveassbeauty #womenspeakup #wewillnotbesilent #femalevoices #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #motheranddaughter #outspokenandopinionatedSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Here's an opportunity to meet a few of the phenomenal women in my local circle; Kellie, Jillian & Dara. They briefly talk life under quarantine. Prompts were provided to get the conversation started -- if they so chose. We've attempted to keep it apolitical (for the most part). No bashing. No shaming. And do our best to rise above all of that negativity and offer some positive energy to the world. Basically - we wanted to know how women are surviving the pandemic this side of faith? If you, too, would like to participate here's the How To:1. Utilize a voice recorder. Apple has Voice Memo. You can use Zoom or any other recorder.2. Check the quality. Adjust as needed. You may have to change rooms or lock yourself in the closet or something creative like that. If you have a microphone, please use it.3. Email me the finished product womenbeyondfaith@gmail.com4. My producer will get them edited and then we'll put them out there to share with the world. The idea is we'll put a few clips together for each episode. 5. Let me know if you have any questions, ideas or better questions to add to the list.Here's what I've got (but feel free to ad lib) & no need to answer all of them. Please pick and choose.1. Brief Intro: Name (or pseudonym), where you live in this great big world, and the basics of your faith deconstruction story. 2. What are you grateful for today?3. Who are you checking in on or connecting with today?4. What are you struggling with most during the pandemic? 5. What are you doing for your mental health today?6. How are you getting outside today?7. How are you moving your body today?8. How are you managing the household today? Kiddos, partners, work, online schooling (kids or you)?9. What beauty are you creating, cultivating or inviting in today?10. How has leaving faith challenged and/or made easier living out this new day to day reality?#femalevoices #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #lovewillholdustogether #womenbeyondfaithSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Dana, a former missionary who took evangelicalism as far as she could. She grew up in a baptist church and family in California. Homeschooled for 6 years, she dedicated her youth to saving non-believers from the torment of “hell”. To prepare for full time ministry, she attended the New Tribes and Moody Bible Institutes and earned degrees in Biblical Studies and Linguistics. Dana fully left Christianity shortly after her final mission trip in Thailand in 2010 after concluding that mission work is purely colonization. She began working to help fellow deconverts process their grief by hosting a support group in Chicago and by being outspoken about her experiences on social media and in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. In 2016 she received er Masters degree in Special Education. She is a teacher and therapist to children with disabilities and is a political activist for abolitionist causes, including the abolition of misogyny from the view of intersectional feminism.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Former fundie Proverbs 31 homeschool mama, Melissa, just graduated with a degree in Women's Studies. She has an expansive resume; author, childbirth educator, doula, belly dancer, mom to 5 and grandma to 8 (just to name a few). Searching at the tender age of 17 for the best way to raise her baby, Melissa found church. Today at 50, Melissa's unabashed ambition to be a life long learner and question everything led her in to uncharted territories. This perpetual hunger for knowledge and understanding brought her to a space where her christian faith no longer made sense. We talk surviving the pandemic, regrets during our child rearing years, hypocrisy within the church, supposed friends rejecting us and much more.In leaving Christianity behind, Melissa is experiencing newfound joy and freedom. Excited about the future, she's living her best life here in the Midwest with her hubby of 33 years by her side. Enjoy Part 2 of her story. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Former fundie Proverbs 31 homeschool mama, Melissa, graduates this May with a degree in Women's Studies. She has an expansive resume; author, childbirth educator, doula, belly dancer, mom to 5 and grandma to 8 (just to name a few). Searching at the tender age of 17 for the best way to raise her baby, Melissa found church. Today at 50, Melissa's unabashed ambition to be a life long learner and question everything led her in to uncharted territories. This perpetual hunger for knowledge and understanding brought her to a space where her christian faith no longer made sense. We talk surviving the pandemic, regrets during our child rearing years, hypocrisy within the church, supposed friends rejecting us and much more.In leaving Christianity behind, Melissa is experiencing newfound joy and freedom. Excited about the future, she's living her best life here in the Midwest with her hubby of 33 years by her side. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

So we've had a hard time knowing how to move forward with the WBF podcast during this time of crisis. We finally came up with what we believe to be is a not so terrible idea -- and -- we're hoping it helps in some way to keep us connected during this time of pandemic. We invited people to offer a 5, 10 or even 15 minute update of what life is looking like at their house. Some daily quarantine prompts were provided to get the conversation started. And, we encouraged those with kiddos to try and get them involved, too. We've attempted to keep it apolitical (for the most part). No bashing. No shaming. And do our best to rise above all of that negativity and offer some positive energy to the world. Basically - we wanted to know how women are surviving the pandemic this side of faith? If you, too, would like to participate here's the How To:1. Utilize a voice recorder. Apple has Voice Memo. You can use Zoom or any other recorder.2. Check the quality. Adjust as needed. You may have to change rooms or lock yourself in the closet or something creative like that. If you have a microphone, please use it.3. Email me the finished product womenbeyondfaith@gmail.com4. My daughter will get them edited and then we'll put them out there to share with the world. The idea is we'll put a few clips together for each episode. 5. Let me know if you have any questions, ideas or better questions to add to the list.Here's what I've got (but feel free to ad lib) & no need to answer all of them. Please pick and choose.1. Brief Intro: Name (or pseudonym), where you live in this great big world, and the basics of your faith deconstruction story. 2. What are you grateful for today?3. Who are you checking in on or connecting with today?4. What are you struggling with most during the pandemic? 5. What are you doing for your mental health today?6. How are you getting outside today?7. How are you moving your body today?8. How are you managing the household today? Kiddos, partners, work, online schooling (kids or you)?9. What beauty are you creating, cultivating or inviting in today?10. How has leaving faith challenged and/or made easier living out this new day to day reality?#femalevoices #findingfreedom #onestoryatatime #lovewillholdustogether #womenbeyondfaithSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

She's back!! Join us for more of April's Journey as we talk managing unequally yoked marriage, parenting this side of faith, adoption, her incredible mom and dad -- #heroes. I actually had the extreme privilege of asking April a few lively questions from the Proust Questionnaire. If you didn't fall in love with April last episode, you're surely going to do so today. Lace up those running shoes (or not), grab those headphones (or not), and pull up Meet April Part 2 on your favorite podcast app! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

April, maker of cult charts, was born in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. Raised in a Southern Baptist home, April took the teachings preached from the pulpit more seriously than did her parents. April believes the doctrine of Hell, was the primary catalyst of her nervous breakdown shortly after 9/11. April is married with 3 children.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

She's baaaaaack!! Godless Mama -- our first guest in 2020 -- will titillate the senses! We talk trauma and therapy, LGBTQ advocacy, fighting on behalf of our kids, contentment, the 2020 election, and getting out the Vote."I'll be goddamned if this crappy world is the one that gets foisted on my kid and I will fight that battle on whatever fronts necessary."Tracey in her own words -"I believe that the only hope for humanity lies in the embrace of evidence-based thinking. Whether the subject is religion or science or politics or anything in between, an earnest desire to ascertain reality demands that we seek the best available evidence, acknowledge our biases, do our best to compensate for them, and be willing to adjust our worldview accordingly. This is necessary even (perhaps especially) when doing so is difficult - in other words, all the time. Intellectual honesty is uncomfortable. Personal growth usually is too. It is easy to talk ourselves into believing that only others suffer the impairment of cognitive bias, or that we are otherwise exceptional and therefore exempt from the rules we expect others to follow. It feels good to be right and even better to be righteous, whereas admitting fallibility can be awkward, humiliating, or painful. But we must resist the siren song of comforting self-delusion and struggle, however clumsily, to reserve the highest standards for ourselves. Moving beyond superstition and tribalism isn't just about the satisfaction of being right: It's about making the world a better place. It's about clearing away the excuses and the ignorance that too often get in the way of seeing our common humanity, and finding our way to a more ethical, more moral, more productive society. This is what I want for my child. It is what all children deserve. And so it starts with me."You can find Tracey at:m.me/GodlessMamathegodlessmama@gmail.comhttp://www.godlessmama.com@TheGodlessMama Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

"I'll be goddamned if this crappy world is the one that gets foisted on my kid and I will fight that battle on whatever fronts necessary."Tracey in her own words -"I believe that the only hope for humanity lies in the embrace of evidence-based thinking. Whether the subject is religion or science or politics or anything in between, an earnest desire to ascertain reality demands that we seek the best available evidence, acknowledge our biases, do our best to compensate for them, and be willing to adjust our worldview accordingly. This is necessary even (perhaps especially) when doing so is difficult - in other words, all the time. Intellectual honesty is uncomfortable. Personal growth usually is too. It is easy to talk ourselves into believing that only others suffer the impairment of cognitive bias, or that we are otherwise exceptional and therefore exempt from the rules we expect others to follow. It feels good to be right and even better to be righteous, whereas admitting fallibility can be awkward, humiliating, or painful. But we must resist the siren song of comforting self-delusion and struggle, however clumsily, to reserve the highest standards for ourselves. Moving beyond superstition and tribalism isn't just about the satisfaction of being right: It's about making the world a better place. It's about clearing away the excuses and the ignorance that too often get in the way of seeing our common humanity, and finding our way to a more ethical, more moral, more productive society. This is what I want for my child. It is what all children deserve. And so it starts with me."You can find Tracey at:m.me/GodlessMamathegodlessmama@gmail.comhttp://www.godlessmama.com@TheGodlessMama Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

And -- we're back with Bekah! You don't want to miss the second half of her story as Bekah continues to WOW and amaze with her maturity and badassery. Sit back, get those feet up, grab a glass (or mug) of your favorite beverage and be prepared to be blown away by this awe-inspiring female apostate!Bekah was shaped by many things, places and identities she would now categorize as "formerly." The last 3 years have been an intensive process of learning who she is currently. Labels aren't popular these days but they can be helpful to give you an expedient snapshot of someone. This is a short list of Bekah's former and current "labels."She is formerly: A Louisianiana fundamentalist, charismatic christianan executive assistanta recreational nudista sexually repressed dater-of-mena cake decoratorShe is currently: a resident of Asheville, North Carolinaan agnostic with atheist tendenciesa kickass massage therapistA cult survivor with religious traumaa sexual abuse survivor living with Complex PTSDa lesbian in a long term, long distance relationship----------Blog: RebekahHopes.wordpress.com instagram: bekahhopesemail: bekah.hope@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Bekah was shaped by many things, places and identities she would now categorize as "formerly." The last 3 years have been an intensive process of learning who she is currently. Labels aren't popular these days but they can be helpful to give you an expedient snapshot of someone. This is a short list of Bekah's former and current "labels."She is formerly: A Louisianiana fundamentalist, charismatic christianan executive assistanta recreational nudista sexually repressed dater-of-mena cake decoratorShe is currently: a resident of Asheville, North Carolinaan agnostic with atheist tendenciesa kickass massage therapistA cult survivor with religious traumaa sexual abuse survivor living with Complex PTSDa lesbian in a long term, long distance relationship----------Blog: RebekahHopes.wordpress.com instagram: bekahhopesemail: bekah.hope@gmail.comSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Bethany Angstadt grew up as a pastor's daughter and youth group superstar in suburban Ohio. Her conservative evangelical upbringing was shattered when she began to discover her queer identity in high school. After working through years of shame and fear, her coming out story doubles as her coming out of faith journey.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Megan, a Canadian now living in New Zealand with her husband and young daughter, is no stranger to change. Having a strong faith, Megan fought hard to understand her Christian identity in a close-knit, non-religious family. But after having her daughter and reading a mountain of books that were supposed to strengthen her faith, it unraveled. She is now living abroad, picking up the pieces of her identity, and discovering freedom from dogmatic religion, freedom to be her fullest and truest self.Here's a note from Megan regarding her Deconversion booklist referenced in the podcast:Here are some of the books that I read while going through deconversion. Through these works, you can trace the unraveling of my faith, my growing understanding of the real world, and the building of a new spiritual awareness. Why I Believed by Kenneth W DanielsJesus interrupted by Bart EhrmanFinding God in the Waves by Mike McHargueSapiens Yuval Noah HurariPale Blue Dot by Carl SaganGod is not great by Christopher HitchensThe Sacred Depths of Nature by Ursula GoodenoughWhen God is Gone, Everything is Holy by Chet RaymoThe Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan WattsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Emma - Emma, our middle child, was born in to our uber religious family in 1998. She was always a compliant, easy to parent kid with an innocent wide-eyed demeanor. Emma trusted us absolutely as parents to lead her in the way she should go (Proverbs 22:6). During Emma's senior year of high school, I finally felt the courage to share the god's honest truth with her -- no longer did I believe said god was REAL and the master over our destiny! This led Emma on her own journey of self-discovery. She started asking herself questions such as -- What do I now believe about the world? And, as a young woman, what is my place in it?Today Emma finds herself a Senior at the University of Cincinnati studying Communications and Marketing. Emma's first love is traveling. This summer she taught English to kids in Eastern Europe. When not teaching, she and her friends explored much of Europe expanding their awareness of other cultures and world religions. Emma is super excited to graduate from college, pack her backpack and start navigating her next grand adventure. You can find out more about Emma on her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/emmacatherine09.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)

Meet Catherine –Catherine lives in SE England in a little town outside of Brighton. Catherine, born a bit of a free spirit, always had questions related to life and her place in it. She ran away from home at 17 and was immediately shunned by everyone within her Jehovah Witness community. In her mid-twenties Catherine found herself in an abusive relationship, hit a depressive stage and returned home repentant to her family and former JW Community. She was allowed back in to the fold and stayed in for another 10 years. During that decade, Catherine married and had 2 children. Her youngest child, at two years of age, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. JWs don’t believe in accepting blood transfusions. Catherine, removed from her JW circles as she spent 5-6 years in and out of hospitals, became conflicted and began to question the indoctrination she had received since she was a child. Today Catherine is out and proud! Join us for what is a fabulous heartfelt conversation between two mamas maneuvering the waters this side of faith. You can find Catherine at Support for ex JW Women on FB or on Instagram @supportforexjwwomen.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=8739294)