POPULARITY
Tia Levings is the New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife and her newest book, I Belong to Me. She survived a Christian patriarchy cult, escaped a near murder-suicide, was excommunicated for telling her own story, and spent 15 years in intensive trauma therapy doing the work to put herself back together. Now she's handing you the map to healing from religious trauma.In this episode, Tia and I dig into the real mechanics of religious trauma recovery: why your body refuses to believe you're safe even when your brain knows it, what "aftermath" actually means (it's an agricultural word, and it will change how you see your own devastation), why grief work is not optional, and what agency has to do with the entire trajectory of your healing.Key Takeaways:What does it actually mean to "belong to yourself" after religious trauma has dismantled your sense of identity from the inside out?Why trauma survivors often write, speak, and even think about themselves in the passive voice, and what that reveals about the agency that was quietly stolen from themWhat the agricultural origin of the word "aftermath" tells us about why the most painful, raw season of your healing is also the most generativeWhy anger and bitterness after religious trauma aren't signs that something is wrong with you, and what they're actually trying to show youHow complex PTSD can keep a survivor locked in survival mode for years, making life-altering decisions in a state of ongoing shock without ever realizing itGet Tia's books:A Well Trained WifeI Belong to MeFollow Tia everywhere on social media! Her handle is @tialevingswriter Get Today's Free Resource:
Have you ever wanted to reclaim your power from everyone else's expectations? In our new live coaching series inside of The Bitching Hour!, we're digging into real questions, from real people who are doing the work.Today's conversation is all about breaking free from other people's expectations — from families who call your gifts "demonic," to exes who question your next move, to society's rules about how you're supposed to show up in the world.In this episode: (00:00) Introducing The Bitching Hour!(02:48) How to navigate the "murky, in-between" feeling of building something new inside old walls (07:03) Giving your younger and older parts a seat at the table(17:24) Energetic hygiene practices in shared spaces(33:39) Authentic self expression (48:07) Repulsion as a compass(53:47) How to handle spiritual gifts that are coming back onlineJoin The Bitching Hour for FREE with Zoey and Brittany: https://www.skool.com/the-bitching-hour-3959/about Listen to Part 2 over on The Bitching Hour! Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/033PY73jt5r75mBTKucpMU?si=DR-q9XsWTW2e0oF4Y-75Lg ✨ Take my FREE quiz! What's your intuitive style? Discover your unique intuitive gifts with my free quiz: http://zoeygreco.com/quizGet Your 10% off your yearly Numerology Report here: http://zoeygreco.com Don't miss the next pajama party! http://www.zoeygreco.comDid you love this episode? The Higher Self Hotline Team lovingly asks for your support! We'd be eternally grateful if you'd rate, review, and subscribe! We want to make sure you never miss a dose of divine guidance.If this conversation resonated with you, we hope you share it with someone you think would connect with the message. Stay connected with us and your higher self! Follow Zoey on socials.
In this episode, Dudley, Sam and David explore why so many Christians are questioning the messages they've heard in church and rediscovering the freedom of the true Gospel. Through honest conversation and grounded Bible teaching, they contrast performance-based religion with the Gospel of Grace, exposing how Manipulation, legalism, and self-effort can quietly shape our Faith.Together, they discuss the importance of biblical discernment, learning to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit, and understanding why the finished work of Christ is the foundation of genuine spiritual growth. They also address the growing conversation around deconstruction, the lasting effects of Religious Trauma, and how experiences with a toxic church can leave people wounded without defining their relationship with Jesus.This conversation invites believers to move beyond fear, striving, and confusion into the freedom, confidence, and hope found in Christ alone.We pray this message will encourage, challenge, and transform.As always, we invite you to share it with someone who needs it. Get Dudley's Weekly Word delivered right to your inbox every Friday! Click here to get access ➡️ https://dudleysweeklyword.com/opt-inFor more information and resources, visit https://kerygmaventures.com/podcast/ Follow and subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/41N9SAP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LEIxeo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerygmaventures Watch our "Conversations At The Ranch" series: https://bit.ly/conversations-at-the-ranch Watch our “Dudley's Monthly Message” series: https://bit.ly/dudleys-monthly-message
Bek Condello didn't choose the world she was born into. Raised inside the Geelong Revival Centre, a church she now describes as a cult, every aspect of her life was decided for her — what she believed, who she could trust, who she could marry, what she wore, and what would happen if she ever left. By the time she was an adult, she had never kissed anyone, never questioned the rules she'd grown up with, and genuinely believed the outside world was dangerous. In this conversation with Kate Langbroek, Bek explains why leaving wasn't the hardest part. The real challenge came afterwards: rebuilding an identity from scratch, grieving the parents she feels the cult stole from her, navigating a marriage that was never really her choice, and learning to trust her own instincts after a lifetime of being told not to. Bek also speaks candidly about the lasting impact of growing up in an environment where sex was framed as shameful, revealing how it contributed to a diagnosis of vaginismus after her wedding and the profound effect it had on her first marriage. This isn't simply a story about escaping a cult. It's about what happens when everything you've ever believed is stripped away, and you're left to answer one terrifying question: who are you when you've never been allowed to decide for yourself? Can You Handle a Girl Like Me? by Bek Condello is available now. If this episode raises concerns for you, support is available. You can find Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit their website for confidential crisis support. Support independent women’s media and get our biggest offer of the year. Subscribe here for 30% off your annual Mamamia subscription. Code applied at the checkout. Offer ends June 30. You can now watch our show in full length video on the Apple Podcast app - make sure your phone is up to date and we can't wait for you to see. CLICK HERE. What To Listen To Next: Listen: Harrison James: What Every Parent Should Know About Grooming Listen: Jessica Rowe On The Brutal Public Humiliation That Changed Her Forever Listen: Esther Perel: When You Choose Your Partner and Lose Your Family Listen: Georgie Tunny & Rob Mills: The Marriage And Baby Conversation Everyone Keeps Asking About Listen: The Love Of My Life Was My Best Friend. Then She Died At 34 Listen: Jeni Haynes Created 2681 Personalities To Survive Her Abusive Father Listen: Kate Ceberano Has Spent 40 Years Trying To Figure Herself Out Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here. Watch No Filter on YouTube. Follow us on Instagram here. Follow us on TikTok here. Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. CREDITS: Guest: Bek Condello Host: Kate Langbroek Executive Producer: Bree Player Audio and Video Producer: Julian Rosario Social Media Producer: Olivia Colman Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, we talk about all the things you hear from radical Christians - anti-gay, and anti-trans hate and lies, Christian nationalism, hypocrisy. It can be maddening and infuriating. We ask if those are real thoughts and questions, real concerns, or are they just repeating what they have been programmed to say??We even have some fun ask if they are real people or are they just bots?? And, most importantly, we talk about how to respond, especially when they just so happen to be family members. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Grab your shovels for a conversation about The Body—no, not that The Body. This one is by Bethany C. Morrow and we're not totally sure why that's the title! We talk about the protagonist, Religious Trauma, infidelity, that ending, and whether or not this is a horror novel. Next up on the podcast, it's an Othersode with returning guest Paul Tremblay, author of the new novel Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep! We'll be talking about the cult classic The Big Lebowski and having a spoiler-free chat about Paul's book on July 21. For our next Bookpisode, we'd love it if you'd read along and check out All Us Saints by Katherine Packert Burke on August 4! Alsooooo please leave us a rating and review. We love ratings and reviews!:30 – Hello! Mary's not here womp womp9:00 – Book intro10:35 – How does starting the novel in this way set the tone for the rest of the book?17:42 – Mavis as a character25:55 – Religious trauma and marriage30:05 – What even happened at Mavis' wedding?35:50 – A whole rainbow of infidelity48:39 – “Too good to be true?”52:12 – The ending1:02:43 – Is this horror?1:06:05 – Goodreads rating—why so low?1:19:34 – Mary's thoughts on the book1:21:32 – Ratings1:29:29 – What's Up Next? Kelli's had it with your shit!
The “seven deadly sins” are meant to sound like a warning, but I see them as a blueprint for how women get trained to distrust themselves. Pride becomes something to fear, envy becomes something to deny, hunger becomes something to control, lust becomes something to shame, rest becomes something to earn, and anger becomes something to swallow. When you stack all that together, you get a life where you second-guess your needs, minimise your desires, and keep trying to be “good” at the cost of your power. I walk through pride, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, sloth, and wrath, and I name the conditioning underneath: patriarchy, capitalism, purity culture, and the constant message that you are either not enough or too much. We talk about how envy can point to your vision, how hunger can be sacred information rather than a problem to fix, and why wanting more money, pleasure, space, or self-expression does not make you immoral. I also dig into the contradiction of “sex sells” while women are punished for desiring, and why reclaiming desire is often the fastest route back to self-trust. We go further into the parts you might call shadow: rage, taboo wants, jealousy, fantasies, and the fear of being labelled vain, selfish, or a slut. I share why letting these parts exist does not mean acting them out, it means integrating them so they stop running your life in secret. There's also a real-world thread on body image, ageing, and the exhausting trap of feeling like you should be different, plus a more honest approach to self-acceptance that leaves room for insecurities without letting them rule. More from me at KirstyDee.comText The Show/ Fan Mail Here
Religious Trauma
June is Pride Month — a time dedicated not just to parades and rainbow flags but to profound affirmation and resistance against discrimination. The skewed Christian view of pride involves a self-centered attitude, placing oneself above others. But the LGBTQ+ community is not declaring themselves above anyone else. Pride Month was born from a necessity to stand against oppression and claim a rightful place in society — not out of a desire to dominate, but a need to exist openly and safely! Let's set the record straight: It's about love, not arrogance. We talk about what Pride really is and how it's a powerful expression of love's triumph over shame. It's a celebration – not a sin!Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Welcome to the weekly MormonNewsRoundup where Al & Dives ruminate on the great and spacious Beehive!
In today's episode, I spotlight the excellent work being done by Chelsey at Wild Bloom Therapy, a channel dedicated to helping people navigate life after high-demand religions.Chelsey explores the often-overlooked topic of religious trauma and how it can continue to affect people long after they leave a faith tradition. Drawing from both her professional experience as a therapist and her personal experience as a former Mormon mom, she discusses common challenges including anxiety, chronic guilt, people-pleasing, fear-based thinking, difficulty trusting yourself, and nervous system dysregulation.Her channel covers a wide range of topics including:• Religious trauma and recovery• Faith transitions and deconstruction• Healing the nervous system• Mixed-faith marriages and relationships• Motherhood after Mormonism• Rebuilding confidence and self-trust• Emotional healing and personal growthIf you've experienced a difficult faith transition, know someone who has, or simply want to better understand the impact that high-demand religions can have on mental health, I encourage you to check out Chelsey's work.Visit Wild Bloom Therapy:https://www.youtube.com/@WildBloomTherapyIf you enjoy this content, please like, subscribe, and share. It helps more people discover resources that can support healing and growth after religious trauma.#ReligiousTrauma #FaithTransition #ExMormon #Mormonism #Deconstruction #MentalHealth #Therapy #ReligiousRecovery #WildBloomTherapy #PostMormonPlease consider making a donation by joining our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MormonNewsRoundup Email: kolob@mormonnewsroundup.org Website: https://mormonnewsroundup.org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonnewsroundup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormon_news_roundup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093511869924 X: https://twitter.com/NewsMormon New episodes LIVE every Sunday and Monday nights at 9:30PM ESTPlease like and subscribe and hit the notifications bell. Remember remember, no unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Most people who grew up in church have never actually met the real Jesus — not the real one.They've met Therapist Jesus. Political Jesus. Mascot Jesus. In this episode, we set those substitutes aside and go back to the Gospels to meet the real Jesus — the one who emptied rooms with his words, claimed to be God to his own people's faces, and ate dinner with everyone the religious establishment had written off.This is the final episode in our 3-part series:Pride Month → Hell & Judgment → The Real Jesus.In this video:
Guest InfoMelissa Duge Spiers is an award-winning essayist, screenwriter, and advocate for topics of religious and narcissistic abuse, utilizing her online platforms (TikTok and Instagram, known as “The Glory Whole”). Her memoir Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows won the 2021 Book Pipeline Unpublished Nonfiction Manuscript prize, with excerpts featured in The Huffington Post. Melissa's writing appears in magazines nationwide, and she's a contributor to Take the Fruit: An Anthology of Religious Trauma. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Barnard College at Columbia University and is based in California.SUBSTACK: https://substack.com/@melissadugespiersBOOK: https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/holy-disobedience/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the.glory.whole/TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@theglorywholeYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/
This week, Jess is joined by Kate Willsey, spiritual trauma therapist and coach, for a conversation about church hurt, religious trauma, and spiritual manipulation. We explore why spiritual wounds can run so deep, how people can begin healing after painful church experiences, and what churches can do to become healthier places of grace, safety, and restoration. Whether you've experienced church hurt yourself or want to better understand those who have, this conversation offers practical wisdom and hope.DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the cast members and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of Christ Community Church.
Is this the deadliest teaching in human history?An encore presentation of our most-listened-to episode ever — and maybe our most powerful. And honestly? It feels even more urgent now than when we first released it.In this episode, we unpack one of the most destructive ideas humanity has ever embraced — a belief system at the root of division, oppression, shame, and violence for centuries.It has fueled the mistreatment of ethnic groups, religious minorities, women, LGBTQ people, and so many others. And right now, it's everywhere again.What is this teaching? How does it still shape our world? And how do we break free from it?This conversation matters.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
This week, Anne Marie Gunn welcomes her friend Parisa Shirazi Chavoya to the podcast to discuss various movement practices and their impact on sexual health, the cultural impact of body hair in Iran and the U.S., The Vagina Monologues by V Ensler, and both Parisa and Anne Marie offer reflections on their spiritual journeys over the last decade or so. For folks sensitive to religious trauma, purity culture, and homophobia please listen with care.Parisa Shirazi Chavoya is a certified yoga, reiki energy healing, and sound therapy guide. She founded Parisa Yoga Shala in 2022 with the dream of supporting her community with their wellness and healing journey through accessible & trauma-informed embodiment practices.Parisa loves using the power of her voice, healing vibrations, and the sacred practices of yoga and reiki to guide people into deep meditative states to support nervous system regulation.She offers 1:1, couples, small group, and workplace wellness offerings throughout the Greater Milwaukee Area. You can learn more about her work at parisayogashala.com and on her Instagram @parisayogashala.
We're so excited to welcome comedian, author, and internet storyteller Kevin James Thornton (@kevinjamesthornton) to the Podcast this week to […] The post Laughing Through Religious Trauma with Kevin James Thornton appeared first on Queer Theology.
This one opened my heart wide open, and I cried with a friend straight after recording it. Chelsea Horton is a somatic coach, educator, and founder of Healing Embodied, where she trains wellness professionals to integrate somatics, creativity, and emotional healing into their work. A former worship leader with a master's in Dance and Movement Therapy, Chelsea went from the most devoted Christian you'd ever meet, engaged to her gay best friend for Jesus, to building a life and practice rooted entirely in embodied truth. Together we explore religious trauma, good girl programming, what embodiment actually means in daily life, and why your emotions are not a problem to solve but raw material for creation. Connect with Chelsea:www.healingembodied.com/connecthttps://www.instagram.com/healing.embodiedWORK WITH ME 1:1:❥Softening into self- 3 month 1:1 with Whats App Support:https://marina-yt.mykajabi.com/offers/PAWQhZHu❥❥1:1 Coaching with me: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWcZM5s9c2OjOLwoGMI5jE6rh_JAzjN2d_vCtuVe7e3pVGxw/viewformDOWNLOAD FOR FREE:Stay or Go: 5 Clarity Questions to Reconnect with Your Inner Knowing: https://marinayt.com/stay-or-go-guideAttatchment Practice: Discover the actual blocks beneath the surface so you can actually have the deep intimacy you crave: https://marinayt.com/attachment-practice Connect & Ground: 10 Incredible Somatic Practices for Nervous System Regulation: https://marinayt.com/connect-and-groundAlive & Aligned: 7 Embodiment Practices For Self Connection: https://marinayt.com/alive-and-alignedTrigger to Rooted: A step by step process of working with your triggers: https://marinayt.com/trigger-2-rooted VIEW MY COURSES & RESOURCES:https://marinayt.com/resources CONNECT WITH ME:Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/marina.y.t Subscribe to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@marinatriner Top Episode Quotes:"Embodiment is when you live, breathe, become the thing — instead of just knowing it conceptually. It's not a switch you turn on. Your body has to learn a new way of being." — Chelsea Horton"Sometimes what's familiar sucks. Sometimes what's familiar is harming you. But because it feels predictable, it feels safe. That's not embodied safety — that's familiar safety." — Chelsea Horton"The reason people end up in a psych hospital is because the one thing they didn't have enough of was being loved. That is our most fundamental human need." — Chelsea Horton"Your emotions are not a problem to solve. They're an energy with which you can create. Suddenly you become a choreographer of life." — Chelsea Horton"You're sitting on top of a treasure chest and you've never opened it. And what's inside? Your expression. Yourself. Your life. You finally get you back." — Chelsea Hortonreligious trauma healing, embodiment, somatic healing, good girl programming, shame healing, nervous system regulation, inner child healing, creative expression, trauma informed healing, emotional processing, dance movement therapy, familiar safety, embodied safety, deconstruction, people pleasing, deep within podcast, Chelsea Horton, Marina Triner, healing embodied, somatic coaching
Connect with Chris Tompkins: ARoadTripToLove.com Instagram @ARoadTripToLove Find Travis: travisstock.com Instagram: @travers03 Support the show at patreon.com/thenewmasculine.
We've walked through the theology, the scripture, the Greek and Hebrew — but today we're doing something refreshingly simple: Common sense.We explore the everyday wisdom that makes it absolutely clear: being LGBTQ — and loving who you love — is not sinful. Not even close.No clobber passages. No theological gymnastics. Just real life, real love, and real clarity.We break down:
In this episode, I talk with Promise Backlund about her book Gospel of Lies! She shares her experience growing up in evangelical Christianity, examining how fear, purity culture, certainty, and religious identity shaped her childhood and adult life. We dive into deconstruction, religious trauma, politics, sexuality, pleasure, and the complicated process of rebuilding meaning, identity, and awe outside of rigid belief systems. Listen to hear about: How faith was woven into every part of both our childhoods—from sunsets to sickness—creating a worldview where God explained everything and fear explained the rest. How fear of hell, thought policing, and religious perfectionism can overlap with anxiety and OCD, especially when introduced during childhood. Deconstructing during the late 2010s and how political shifts exposed tensions between teachings of love and exclusion inside evangelical spaces. An examination of Biblical stories like Adam and Eve, questioning themes of obedience, curiosity, punishment, and whether religious narratives discourage questioning and self-trust. How purity culture, worship environments, and restricted access to secular art shaped identity—and how reclaiming pleasure, curiosity, art, and personal agency became part of healing. Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba
Eric Feltes joined me for a powerful and honest conversation about healing from religious trauma, unlearning shame, and building confidence, intimacy, and self-worth.Growing up in a conservative evangelical environment, Eric shares what it was like to feel that being gay was incompatible with belonging, and how that early messaging shaped his identity. He opens up about the moment everything changed, and the years of work that followed as he began to untangle belief from identity and build a life rooted in authenticity.We talk about the root of shame, how it shows up in everyday life, and what it really takes to move beyond it. Eric also shares insight into why intimacy can be a challenge, and how it's something that can be learned and rebuilt over time.We also discuss his new program launching in June, designed to help gay men reconnect with themselves, their desires, and their relationships in a more honest and fulfilling way.This is a meaningful conversation about identity, healing, and what it takes to fully embrace who you are.
Check us out: https://www.determinetruth.com What happens when the place that was supposed to feel spiritually safe becomes the source of deep pain? In this episode of the Determined Truth Podcast, we continue our conversation on religious trauma, spiritual abuse, PTSD, and moral injury with licensed trauma clinician Eric Winton. Together, we explore: The difference between church hurt, religious trauma, and moral injury Why some people struggle to even walk into a church building How trauma impacts the brain, emotions, relationships, and faith The danger of minimizing deep wounds with clichés like “just forgive and move on” Why healing often requires both safe community and trained professional help What pastors and church leaders need to understand about trauma-informed care How churches can become places of compassion instead of additional harm Why there is still real hope and healing after spiritual abuse This is an honest, nuanced, and compassionate conversation for: Pastors and church leaders Survivors of spiritual abuse or religious trauma Christians wrestling with deconstruction Anyone trying to understand PTSD, trauma, shame, and healing within faith communities If this conversation resonates with you, know this: you are not weak, crazy, or alone. Healing is possible.
In this episode, we continue our discussion on religious trauma and the psychological forces that keep people attached to harmful belief systems. We explore belonging, indoctrination, perfectionism, hyper vigilance, emotional suppression, internal fragmentation, and the struggle to develop an authentic moral compass outside rigid doctrine. We also discuss identity, fear, circumcision as male genital mutilation and how trauma becomes internalized within both individuals and communities. We are happy to once again have on Dr. Bahareh Sahebi to discuss this and her own personal experiences growing up in Iran, you can ding more of her work on Instagram @ dr._.bahar and on substack @ drsahebi .
In this week's main episode, Matthew chats with therapists Mark Karris and Anna Clark Miller about her new book, For God's Sake, a book about religious trauma syndrome and how those who suffer from it can find healing. If you want to call in to the Bonus Show, leave a voicemail at (530) 332-8020. We'll get to your calls on next Friday's Bonus Show. Or, you can email Matthew at matthew@quoir.com. Join The Quollective today! Use code "matthew50" to save 50% off a yearly subscription. Pick up the new book, Quantum Theology today, as well as The UnChristian Truth About White Christian Nationalism. Please consider signing up to financially support the Network: QuoirCast on Patreon Link mentioned in the show: https://lisasharonharper.substack.com/p/breaking-our-silence-in-the-clearing If you want to be a guest on the show, email keith@quoir.com. LINKS QuoirCast on PatreonQuoirCast on Patheos Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Guest Info:Chananya Abraham is a psychotherapist and coach with nearly two decades of experience helping parents, teens, and families untangle the emotional, generational, and religious patterns they inherited—often without realizing it. He specializes in working with families navigating the quiet weight of generational and religious/spiritual trauma, where values, faith, culture, and expectations collide with real human emotion. With a blend of depth, humor, and straight-talk, he helps families move from guilt, fear, and miscommunication toward clarity, connection, and choice. His work is about preserving what's meaningful, healing what's painful, and building homes where values are lived with integrity—not pressure. His goal is simple but ambitious: to help parents and children like each other as much as they love each other.https://www.cyuahtherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/sacredresiliencecoach/
Throwback Thursday (Originally aired: 11/16/25)Bunnie Xo sits down with Pastor Kimberly Jones for a powerful conversation about faith, redemption, and breaking generational patterns. Kimberly opens up about growing up in a strict Pentecostal home, the religious trauma she carried, and the years she spent running from the church. She shares her battle with addiction, her experience navigating multiple marriages, and the rock-bottom moments that ultimately led to her transformation.Kim reflects on the unlikely journey from a party girl who rejected religion to a pastor inspired by Rod Parsley's ministry. She talks about the criticism she's faced from the church, the role her father played in supporting her recovery, and how her early motivational videos paved the way for her platform today. Kimberly also gets candid about marrying a man she met on Facebook who later betrayed her, and how that heartbreak fueled her growth.Throughout the episode, she highlights the themes central to her ministry—self-love, forgiveness, resilience, and authenticity—and shares how her church has evolved along with her. Kimberly also discusses the books she's written to help others embrace transformation and healing.Pastor Kim- Website | YouTube | IGWatch Full Episodes & More: YouTubeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
I talked with Tia Levings about what it's like to come out of a world that shaped you completely and what happens after you leave; not just the belief system, but the habits, the fears, the voice in your head that doesn't feel like yours.Her new book, I Belong to Me, is really about that part. Not just what happened to her, but how you put yourself back together after.We talked about complicity. About how you can't just blame the system forever. At some point you have to look at yourself and ask what you carried forward.We talked about grief too. Not just what you lost, but what never got to happen, and what it takes to become someone you can live with._____LINKShttps://tialevings.com/https://substack.com/@tialevingsI Belong to Me on Bookshop_____I have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said. Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth. Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. The Gospel of Zip will be released in print and on Amazon Kindle, and as a full video on YouTube and Substack that you can watch or listen to for free.Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of The Gospel of Zip.Learn more at https://www.thegospelofzip.com/Follow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTubeIn Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast
In this episode, Tim Whitaker engages with Anna Clark Miller, a counselor and author of 'For God's Sake, Recovering from Religious Trauma,' shares her journey through high-control religion, the impact of spiritual abuse, and pathways to healing. Discover practical advice for navigating faith recovery, understanding empathy's role, and recognizing the influence of religious trauma on mental health. Learn more about Anna | Empathyparadigm.com Chapters 02:54 Understanding Spiritual Abuse 08:54 Navigating Trust and Community 12:03 The Role of Worship in Healing 18:02 Curiosity as a Tool for Recovery 21:07 Self-Compassion and Judgment 23:52 Conclusion and Resources ____________________________________________________ TNE Podcast hosts thought-provoking conversations at the intersection of faith, politics, and justice. We're part of the New Evangelical's 501c3 nonprofit that rejects Christian Nationalism and builds a better path forward, rooted in Jesus and centered on justice. If you'd like to support our work or get involved, visit our website: www.thenewevangelicals.com Follow Us On Instagram @thenewevangelicals Subscribe On YouTube @thenewevangelicals This show is produced by Josh Gilbert Media | Joshgilbertmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode we have on Dr. Sahebi to discuss religious trauma. In this conversation we explore the difference between religious trauma and simply being raised with a strict belief system. We discuss how fear based ideology can fracture identity, shape personality through constraint and organize entire family systems around obedience and belonging. The episode also examines gender dynamics, intersectionality, systems theory and Buddhist perspectives on interconnectivity. We ask how individuals can reclaim authenticity while remaining deeply connected to others. This is a nuanced discussion on trauma, belonging, identity, psychology, and the human need for meaning.Dr. Sahebi's substack - https://substack.com/@drsahebi
In this episode, Tia Levings returns to talk about her new book I Belong to Me - a guide to healing and recovery after high-control religion and other controlling environments. Tia walks through what she calls the steps before the steps: the audacity, the centrality, the willingness to want something different before you're even ready to name what happened to you. We talk about why language can free you and trap you at the same time, how cult-hopping happens and why, what developmental stages get stolen in high-control systems, and how somatic and body-based modalities opened up healing that talk therapy alone couldn't reach. This is a grounded, honest conversation about what it looks like to start to become the protagonist of your own story.Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy and I Belong to Me: A Survivor's Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma. She writes about the realities of religious trauma, evangelical patriarchy, and the Trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and the HuffingtonPost. She is an experienced interviewee, speaker, and podcast guest, and has appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Find her on social media @TiaLevingsWriter.Tia's Book:I Belong to MeTia's Recommendation:Heart the LoverEverything in ColorConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show
Learn what healing looks like after 40 years of identity collapse in Christian patriarchy. Tia Levings is a New York Times bestselling author, featured in Amazon's "Shiny Happy People," who escaped Christian fundamentalism, recovered from religious trauma, and now decodes why patriarchal family structures mirror the theocratic policies taking shape in American government right now. In this episode, Tia walks us through: The mechanics of silence culture and why it protects abusers How to identify when you're in a high-control group (it's rarely obvious) Why women brought into patriarchal power structures become scapegoats What healing actually looks like (not spiritual bypassing, not "I'm grateful it happened") The healing modalities that work for complex PTSD after religious trauma How modern politics is the scaled-up version of the family systems she lived in This is a warm, grounded conversation about one of the most urgent cultural issues we're not talking about clearly enough. Books mentioned: A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy (https://amzn.to/4tTCvug) I Belong to Me: A Survivor's Guide to Recovery and Hope After Religious Trauma — released May 5, 2026 (https://amzn.to/4epEiCy) Find Tia: Website: https://tialevings.com/ Substack: https://tialevings.substack.com/ Social: @TiaLevingsWriter Viral first appearance on Culture Changers Podcast "What Christian Patriarchy Doesn't Want You To Know" - https://youtu.be/aU6CcgskrUE Rather watch on YouTube? https://youtu.be/tCeYbmwcnXA Ready for your own megaphone for change - the podcast that grows? Schedule a free clarity call with me here: https://allisonhare.com/freecall Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com
Religion is wrong, you are not broken. You are beloved. A viral meme claimed your smallest sin is “infinitely offensive” to a holy God — but don't worry, Jesus covers you.We're calling that what it is: spiritual shame dressed up as devotion.In this episode, we dismantle the idea that you're a cosmic disappointment and reclaim a deeper truth:You were never vile.You were never a liability.You are already beloved.The truth is, when God looks at you, when God sees you, you are perfect.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Frank talks with Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting, about evangelical parenting, obedience, spanking, authority, and the long shadow of family values politics.This is a personal conversation about a world Frank knew from the inside, and about what happens when fear and control are called faith._____https://www.marissaburt.comhttps://www.kkramermcginnis.comThe Myth of Good Christian Parenting_____I have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said. Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth. Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. The Gospel of Zip will be released in print and on Amazon Kindle, and as a full video on YouTube and Substack that you can watch or listen to for free.Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of The Gospel of Zip.Learn more at https://www.thegospelofzip.com/Follow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTubeIn Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast
Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhat does religious trauma actually look like inside high-control Christian environments?In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Tia Levings, author of A Well-Trained Wife and I Belong to Me, to unpack her experience inside Christian fundamentalism and her journey out. Tia shares what life looked like inside a patriarchal, high-control religious system and how those environments shape identity, relationships, and personal agency.We explore how theology, culture, and authority structures work together in these spaces. Tia explains how belief systems are reinforced through obedience, how questioning is discouraged, and how survivors often internalize blame for harmful outcomes. She also discusses how movements like the Institute in Basic Life Principles and figures like Doug Wilsoninfluence broader religious and political culture.The conversation goes deeper into the concept of religious trauma and how it can mirror symptoms associated with PTSD. Tia walks through common patterns survivors experience, including loss of identity, fear responses, and difficulty trusting themselves after leaving. She also explains why rebuilding a sense of self is often harder than leaving the environment itself.We also examine the connection between high-control religion and broader political movements, including Christian nationalism. Tia highlights how these belief systems scale beyond individual households into larger cultural and political influence.Finally, Tia shares what healing looks like. Her latest book, I Belong to Me, focuses on recovery, autonomy, and rebuilding identity after leaving high-control environments. This episode offers a practical and honest look at what it takes to move forward.Buy the book, I Belong to Me A Survivor's Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781250374271Guest BioTia Levings is an author and advocate focused on life inside high-control religious environments and the recovery that follows. She is the author of A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy and I Belong to Me. Her work centers on religious trauma, deconstruction, and helping survivors rebuild identity and autonomy after leaving fundameSupport the show
In this episode, Tim Whitaker engages with psychotherapist SC Neely about her new book 'Healing Sacred Wounds' and explores religious and spiritual trauma, its impact on mental health, and pathways to healing. They discuss how childhood religious environments shape adult beliefs, the neurological effects of trauma, and practical steps for recovery. SC Nealy's Website | Lgbtcounselingdmv.com Chapters 05:55 The Impact of High Control Religions 12:08 Navigating Parenting and Religion 23:20 Navigating Trauma and Resilience 28:59 Building Healthy Relationships and Community 37:42 From Victim to Survivor: Redefining Identity 43:44 LGBTQ+ Counseling and Community Support ____________________________________________________ TNE Podcast hosts thought-provoking conversations at the intersection of faith, politics, and justice. We're part of the New Evangelical's 501c3 nonprofit that rejects Christian Nationalism and builds a better path forward, rooted in Jesus and centered on justice. If you'd like to support our work or get involved, visit our website: www.thenewevangelicals.com Follow Us On Instagram @thenewevangelicals Subscribe On YouTube @thenewevangelicals This show is produced by Josh Gilbert Media | Joshgilbertmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens to your identity when the system that formed you was built to erase it? In this deeply personal and clear-eyed conversation, New York Times bestselling author Tia Levings returns to A World of Difference with her new book, a survivor's guide that meets you wherever you are on the road to recovery. Whether you were raised in high-control religion, are navigating the aftermath of leaving, or are simply trying to understand why you still silence yourself in rooms where it feels unsafe to speak, this episode is for you. In This Episode: Why personhood itself becomes the problem inside high-control religious systems, and what it costs to live there How "quiet is good, quiet is safe" becomes a form of self-policing that follows you long after you leave What relearning "no" looks like for someone who had consent conditioned out of them Why recovery isn't a tidy upward arc, and the danger of skipping the transition period The pull to cult-hop and how healing your sense of internal belonging makes you less vulnerable to manipulation The moment Tia first knew, truly knew, that she belonged to herself About Tia Levings: Tia Levings is the New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife and her new book I Belong to Me: A Survivor's Guide to Recovery and Hope After Religious Trauma. Her work decodes the fundamentalist influences in news and culture, and has appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and the Huffington Post. She appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series Shiny Happy People and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction & Cold Open 01:07 — How Tia showed up differently writing I Belong to Me 03:22 — Living in a framework where your personhood is the problem 06:25 — "Quiet is good, quiet is safe" — two kinds of silencing 08:27 — Relearning "no" after having it conditioned out of you 11:30 — Suffer well: how doctrine functions as a control mechanism 14:20 — Die to self, the JOY acronym, and reclaiming a disappeared self 17:20 — Why leaving isn't as simple as just leaving 20:01 — What recovery actually looks like — the swamp, the crash, the transition 23:55 — Cult-hopping, fawning, and staying wary of gurus 31:23 — "I had no self" — building identity and belonging to yourself 37:49 — Outro and final reflections Find Tia Levings at: Pre-order I Belong to Me and get Tia's thank-you gifts Social media: @TiaLevingsWriter (all platforms) Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode with someone who needs it. Visit https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com for more resources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I joined Melissa Duge Spiers to talk about her upbringing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and what it means to leave a high-control religious system.We talked about the structure of that world and how it shapes identity, behavior, and relationships.Melissa talked about generational trauma and how it lives in the body, not just in memory.We talked about sexuality, repression, and the ways people try to reclaim control after leaving.And we talked about why these conversations continue.Because what happens in private systems like this doesn't stay private._____LINKShttps://melissadugespiers.substack.com_____I have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said. Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth. Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. The Gospel of Zip will be released in print and on Amazon Kindle, and as a full video on YouTube and Substack that you can watch or listen to for free.Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of The Gospel of Zip.Learn more at https://www.thegospelofzip.com/Follow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTubeIn Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast
In this episode of Honoring The Journey, Leslie talks with Megan Verno — a therapist, writer, and founder of Novo Nexus — about their parallel journeys out of high-control religions (Megan from Mormonism/LDS, Leslie from Evangelical Christianity). They explore the striking similarities between their experiences, including the loss of identity, community, and self-trust that comes with religious deconstruction, as well as specific LDS practices like the temple ceremony and excommunication culture. The conversation touches on patriarchy, LGBTQ+ issues as a catalyst for doubt, the concept of religious trauma, learning to trust one's own authority, and finding spiritual freedom beyond organized religion. Megan shares details about Novo Nexus, her support group and coaching program for those rebuilding their identities post-religion, and both women offer encouragement to listeners who may be in the midst of their own deconstruction journey. **I had some audio issues I tried working around in production with Megan's sound. My apologies for the quality! You can still hear her, it's just slightly muffled at times. Thanks! Find out more about NovoNexus here! Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here.Interested in working with Leslie as your Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.comIf you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire.Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here!If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What happens when a simple video of leading worship sparks a viral "kerfuffle" north of a million views? This week, the guys sit down with Courtney Lancaster from the "Heal/Create" podcast to unpack the "Holy Trinity of Christian Outrage": religion, gender roles, and the deconstruction movement. Courtney shares the story behind her unexpected Instagram traction after posting a video of herself leading worship and opening up about her "faith reorganization." The conversation explores the tension of staying within a faith tradition while holding views that differ from conservative evangelical norms. Key Discussion Points: The "Mean Christian Comments" Game: Courtney and the hosts react to actual comments from her viral post, ranging from questions about women in ministry to accusations of "New Age psycho-babble." Theology of Shame vs. Trauma Recovery: A deep dive into why many were raised with the identity of "shame and depravity" (the idea that God is only good because we are bad) and how trauma-informed therapy offers a different lens on our value as "well-loved children of God." Worship Lyrics and Integrity: Courtney explains why she refuses to sing songs that rehearse a shame narrative, such as certain lyrics in "Reckless Love," arguing that a child shouldn't have to "earn" or "deserve" a parent's love. Post-Christianity and Individualism: The crew debates the concept of "post-Christianity"—stripping out parts of the faith one likes while discarding the rest—and whether this leads to a "narcissistic" echo chamber or a healthy "faith reorganization." The Future of the Church: Reflections on the closing of Mountain View Church and the hope that more "centered-set" spaces will emerge where people can wrestle with divergent ideas without being "kicked out." Information Overload: Andy and Courtney discuss how our brains aren't designed to handle the "woes of the world" delivered via 24/7 digital feeds, and the importance of "touching grass" to maintain mental health. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE us this week!Contact Us: brosbiblesbeer@gmail.com Leave Us A VoicemailYouTubeSimpleCastSpotifyApple PodcastsFacebook XInstaBros Bibles & Beer is: Jeff, Zack & Andy Find us wherever fine podcasts are distributed. Oh, and share us with a friend this week! Grace. Peace. Cheers! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Anthropic has sought the help of Christian theologians to make Claude, their A.I. model, more ethical, but they are also meeting with representatives from other religious and philosophical traditions. Should this make us more optimistic about tech companies controlling the future? The Atlantic has a story about the popularity of John Mark Comer even among non-religious young adults. Is his advocacy of contemplative Christian practices the answer to digital secularism our culture has been searching for? Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, co-author of "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting," talks with Skye about the explosive rise of evangelical parenting books in the late 20th century and the prosperity theology behind them. She says the same ideas are still popular today, but they are taking new forms. Also this week—debriefing the Stuckey vs. French debate. Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/156212705/ Getting Schooled - Feminism 201: https://www.patreon.com/posts/156190692/ 0:00 - Show Starts 3:37 - Theme Song 4:01 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order 6:28 - Allie Beth Stuckey and David French 27:21 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Get the AG1 $76 Welcome Pack for free when you order from https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST 28:50 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org 29:23 - Raising AI to Be Ethical 40:14 - Are People Turning to Spiritual Practices? 51:36 - Interview 58:42 - Children as Programmable Machines 1:06:11 - Authoritarianism and Parenting 1:15:50 - Christian Parenting and Trump 1:29:03 - End Credits Links Mentioned in News Segment: David French on the Allie Beth Stuckey Show: https://pod.link/1359249098/episode/YjcxMTA1N2EtMzllZi0xMWYxLThlNzUtZDNiMzYyODYxMjQ1?view=apps&sort=popularity Can AI be a child of God? https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/04/11/anthropic-christians-claude-morals/ The Atlantic on Spiritual Practices https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/john-mark-comer-spiritual-practices/686586/ Other Resources: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families (Breaking the Cycle of Religious Trauma and Corporal Punishment) by Kelsey Kramer McGinnis: https://amzn.to/4d1A0iv Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
So many people are asking the same question right now:What can I actually do that makes a difference?In this episode, we slow things down and get practical.Not perfect. Not performative. Not someday. Now.We share five real, tangible ways you can show up for LGBTQ+ people — as an ally, a parent, a friend, a neighbor, and a human being. From advocacy andvoting, to supporting queer creators and businesses, to getting involved locally,listening deeply, and sharing affirming resources that change lives.You don't have to do everything. You just have to do something. And the best time to start—or to ramp it up—is now.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Send us Fan MailThe church is changing the names of it's young women age groups and is suing Mormon Stories, and somehow all of it connects — tithing scams, Prop 8 money, the MAGA cult, and what happens when you've been off the hamster wheel long enough to actually see it spinning. Also: Mormonism, Scientology, and the possibility they use the same marketing firm.Want more? Our full archive of 200+ Mormons on Mushrooms episodes — past conversations, stories, and musical adventures — now lives in on Supercast.
What happens when the community meant to protect you becomes the source of your deepest wounds? In Episode 302, Barrett is joined by Heather Foy (and Tamara) of The Awakening Podcast for a powerful discussion on escaping religious trauma and the systemic harm often found within organized faiths.Heather shares her personal journey of deconstruction—the complex, often painful process of dismantling long-held beliefs to find an authentic self. The conversation pulls no punches, diving into the damaging reality of purity culture, the struggle of leaving high-control religious groups, and the "shame threads" that often persist long after leaving. Whether you are currently navigating your own deconstruction or seeking to understand the impact of religious abuse on mental health, this episode offers a roadmap for "healing loudly" and reclaiming autonomy through community and therapy.Key Topics: #ReligiousTrauma #Deconstruction #PurityCulture #HeatherFoy #TheAwakeningPodcast #HighControlGroups #HealingJourney #ReligiousAbuseSurvivor #AllAboutNothingPodcastThe Awakening Podcast | EpisodesThe Awakening Podcast | FacebookBarrett Gruber | LinktreeThe All About Nothing: Podcast | LinktreeClick here for Episode Show Notes!As always, "The All About Nothing: Podcast" is owned and distributed by BIG Media LLC!Check out our network of fantastic podcasts!Click Here to see available advertising packages!Click Here for information on the "Fair Use Copyright Notice" for this podcast.Mentioned in this episode:BIG Media Copyright 2026BIG Media LLCZJZ DesignsCheck out the 4th of July Heart Designs for this Independence Day! Visit zjzdesigns.com!ZJZ DesignsEverplay Summer 2026Summer Leagues are registering now for the Summer 2026 leagues including Kickball, Softball, Bowling, Soccer, Pickleball and more! Visit everplaysocial.com for details and registration!Everplay Sports & Social League
We've been told for years: be the resistance.But what if that's why so many people fighting for love and inclusion feel exhausted?Inspired by a talk from Glennon Doyle, this episode flips the whole idea:We are not the resistance. We are the river.The current of belonging has always been moving — widening across history no matter who tried to stop it. Our role isn't just to argue or brace against the world… it's to step into that flow, find our place in it, and live the kind of life that invites others into the water too.Joy isn't a distraction from advocacy. It's one of its most powerful tools.Because fear can demand compliance — but only love creates movement.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
In this vulnerable and powerful episode, Andrea shares the moment she realized she had achieved external success — title, salary, status — yet felt completely empty inside. What looked like accomplishment was actually misalignment.Through her story of career pivots driven by fear, shrinking under cultural and workplace expectations, and surviving layered trauma, Andrea unpacks the real signs of misalignment — from anxiety and insomnia to hollow wins and the endless achievement treadmill. ...CHAPTERS(00:00) – Sobbing despite external success(01:10) – Misalignment isn't ingratitude(02:20) – Career shaped by others' expectations(03:30) – Good at it doesn't mean it's yours(04:30) – Shrinking in marriage and motherhood(05:45) – Corporate pressure and gender bias(07:00) – Mental health breaking point(07:30) – Physical signs of misalignment(09:00) – Hollow wins and Sunday dread(11:30) – Whose dream are you living?(14:00) – Ambition vs. obligation(15:30) – 5 steps to realignment(19:00) – The 30-minute truth audit(00:00) – Sobbing despite external success(01:10) – Misalignment isn't ingratitude(02:20) – Career shaped by others' expectations(03:30) – Good at it doesn't mean it's yours(04:30) – Shrinking in marriage and motherhood(05:45) – Corporate pressure and gender bias(07:00) – Mental health breaking point(07:30) – Physical signs of misalignment(09:00) – Hollow wins and Sunday dread(11:30) – Whose dream are you living?(14:00) – Ambition vs. obligation(15:30) – 5 steps to realignment(19:00) – The 30-minute truth auditRESOURCES Goal Getters GuideTAG ANDREA ON INSTAGRAM@andreadlc_coachCONNECT WITH KANDULAKandula BlogsYoutubeInstagramLinkedIn. . .ABOUT ANDREA DE LA CERDAAndrea De La Cerda is a highly accomplished communications professional with over 25 years of experience in the fields of advertising, communications and marketing. Throughout her career, Andrea has held key positions in renowned advertising agencies, brand consultancies and in-house marketing departments before creating Kandula. She possesses a deep understanding of consumer behavior and market trends, allowing her to develop innovative communication strategies that resonate with diverse audiences. Andrea received both her B.A. in Advertising and Business Administration and a M.A. in Education from Pepperdine. She is currently pursuing her Accreditation in Public Relations and is a member of PRSA.. . .WORK WITH USKandula works with nonprofits, entrepreneurs, educational institutions, and established brands dedicated to expanding their influence and amplifying their impact through purpose-driven communication strategies. Reach out to work with us!
Grab a copy of Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows: https://amzn.to/4s0pygnAs an Amazon associate, a small portion of every purchase made through this link helps support this podcast!✖️✖️✖️Melissa Duge Spiers is an award-winning essayist, screenwriter, and advocate for topics of religious and narcissistic abuse, utilizing her online platforms (TikTok and Instagram: “The Glory Whole”). Her memoir Holy Disobedience won the 2021 Book Pipeline Unpublished Nonfiction Manuscript prize, with excerpts featured in The Huffington Post. Melissa's writing appears in magazines nationwide, and she's a contributor to Take the Fruit: An Anthology of Religious Trauma. Also a runner, cheese lover, and life-long vintage collector, Melissa holds a B.A. in English Literature from Barnard College at Columbia University and is based in California.✖️✖️✖️About Holy Disobedience:“Spiers's writing is propulsive and intelligent.” —Tia Levings, author of the New York Times bestselling A Well-Trained WifeHoly Disobedience is a gripping, unflinching story by Melissa Duge Spiers about growing up in the shadow of control, silence, and secrets within the strict, fundamentalist Seventh-day Adventist Church. When Melissa learns that her father, a respected pastor, was a serial child predator shielded by the church, her world implodes. But this revelation is only the beginning.From being beaten for resisting a childhood home perm to seducing a forbidden public-school athlete to reclaim her autonomy, Melissa's early years were shaped by repression, shame, and indoctrination. Her escape from high-control religion launched her into a life of risk: Wall Street jobs, New York nightclubs, Hollywood hookups, and a series of abusive relationships. And yet, in these extremes, she was searching. Through self-reflection and finding her voice, and through an unexpected friendship with her father's first victim, Melissa slowly reconstructs the self she was never allowed to know.Holy Disobedience is not just a survivor's tale. It's a story of fierce honesty, radical freedom, and the beautiful mess of becoming whole.✖️✖️✖️Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys✖️✖️✖️If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, visit courage365.org/need-help✖️✖️✖️CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:preacherboyspodcast.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@PreacherBoyshttps://www.facebook.com/preacherboysdoc/https://twitter.com/preacherboysdochttps://www.instagram.com/preacherboyspodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@preacherboyspodTo connect with a community that shares the Preacher Boys Podcast's mission to expose abuse in the IFB, join the OFFICIAL Preacher Boys Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1403898676438188/✖️✖️✖️The content presented in this video is for informational and educational purposes only. All individuals and entities discussed are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due legal process. The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers.✖️✖️✖️Music by Lou Ridley — “Bible Belt” | Used with permission under license.This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/PreacherBoys and get on your way to being your best self.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/preacher-boys-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
People can't give what they don't have, and many people simply don't have approval to give. But remember, this has nothing to do with you. When faced with the rejection and disapproval of others, it's important to separate your well-being from someone else's approval. It's just their opinion, and it doesn't have to mean anything to you. It's not about your worth in any way whatsoever, it is about but their lack of approval, and the fears and false teachings that fuel that.How can we break free from the approval of others?Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Charles Vallow tried to get help. He reached out to Lori's family. He documented her threats. He told police he was afraid.Nobody intervened. Five months later, he was dead.This is Part 4 of "The Chosen Ones," our psychological examination of spiritual abuse and religious trauma through the Vallow-Daybell case. Today we analyze why people watch abuse unfold in high control religion and don't act — the psychology of complicity, loyalty, and the conviction that faithful people don't do terrible things.Melanie Gibb was Lori's best friend. She was the last person to see JJ alive. She heard Chad Daybell's zombie doctrine, participated in castings, knew the children were missing — and accepted explanations until police called.Alex Cox was Lori's brother. According to prosecutors, he killed Charles, killed Tylee, killed JJ, and was involved in Tammy's death — all because he believed Chad Daybell's doctrine that they were zombies who had to be destroyed.Chad Daybell's children testified at his murder trial. They defended him.Everyone around Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow saw something. Most saw too late. Some never saw at all.This episode asks: When someone you love becomes dangerous, what do you do? And if you stay silent, are you protecting them — or complicit?Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#ChadDaybell #LoriVallow #MelanieGibb #AlexCox #TrueCrimeToday #CultComplicity #Enablers #SpiritualAbuse #ReligiousTrauma #HighControlReligion
Loving queer kids today requires honesty: they are growing up in a world that actively questions their right to exist, to be safe, and to belong. In this episode, we speak plainly to parents, caregivers, and allies about what LGBTQ+ kids need — not someday, but right now — in a cultural and political climate that is increasingly hostile.We confront the real harm caused by silence and “good intentions,” challenge adults to move beyond private support into public protection, and name advocacy as a non-negotiable part of love. This episode is a call to action for anyone who claims to care about queer kids.Because love that doesn't protect is not love — it's abandonment.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
In Part 2 of our conversation with author Tia Levings, we go even deeper into what it actually takes to leave a high-control Christian fundamentalist marriage and rebuild a life on the other side. Tia shares more about how religious doctrine, patriarchy, and fear were used to justify control, submission, and abuse, and how difficult it can be to recognize harm when it's framed as God's will or “biblical womanhood.”We talk about spiritual abuse, domestic abuse in religious communities, and the psychological gymnastics required to survive when obedience is treated as virtue and autonomy is treated as sin. Tia unpacks the long-term impact of purity culture, religious trauma, and coercive control, especially for women and children raised inside authoritarian belief systems. We also dig into grief, anger, and the slow, radical work of reclaiming agency after leaving a marriage and a faith structure that demanded self-erasure.As always, we look at the bigger patterns: how fundamentalist Christianity and other high-demand belief systems create conditions where abuse is normalized, victims are silenced, and leaving comes at an enormous personal cost. Tia's voice is clear, compassionate, and unflinching—and her story is a powerful reminder that survival itself can be an act of defiance.Paperback copies of A Well-Trained Wife are available February 20, and you can pre-order Tia's upcoming book, I Belong to Me, coming May 5. Follow her at tialevings.com and on social media @tialevingswriter.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of domestic and spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and misogyny.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.