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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.
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
Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhat happens when faith becomes a source of harm instead of healing?In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with therapist Morgan Piercy, who specializes in religious trauma, deconstruction, and identity rebuilding after high-control faith environments. Drawing from both clinical experience and personal background, Piercy explains how religious trauma forms, why it often surfaces after someone leaves a church, and how it reshapes identity, relationships, and mental health.The conversation breaks down key concepts like the overlap between trauma and deconstruction, the role of grief and loss of certainty, and how systems of control can operate within religious spaces. Piercy also introduces practical frameworks like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the BITE model to help listeners understand how belief systems can influence behavior, thought patterns, and emotional well-being.The episode also explores how pastors and faith leaders can better recognize signs of distress in their congregations, the psychological impact of purity culture and moral anxiety, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals navigating faith communities. Throughout the discussion, the focus stays on autonomy, agency, and the process of rebuilding a belief system that aligns with one's lived experience.This is a grounded conversation for anyone working through questions about faith, identity, and what it means to move forward after leaving a rigid religious environment.Resources & LinksMorgan Piercy Website: https://www.morganpiercy.comDeconstruction Counseling: https://www.deconstructionkc.comGuest Bio Morgan Piercy is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in religious trauma, faith deconstruction, and identity development after high-control religious environments. Her work focuses on helping individuals navigate complex trauma, anxiety, OCD, and the psychological impact of rigid belief systems. Drawing from both clinical training and personal experience, she uses evidence-based approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients rebuild autonomy and aliSupport the show
David Archuleta joins the pod to tell and expose all! We celebrate the release of his New York Times Best-Selling memoir, Devout. For the first time ever, David dives deep into his family abuse, extensive religious trauma, getting engaged three times to women to mask his sexuality, and planning his suicide. We explore his time on American Idol, leaving the music industry to go on a Mormon mission, and coming out as gay. Sometimes, you have to lose your faith in order to find yourself.
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
In this episode of BG Ideas, we welcome Rebekah Monroe, a current Clinical Psychology PhD student at Bowling Green State University and recipient of the 2023-2024 Graduate Teacher of the Year Award. Throughout this episode, we explore the various ways religious trauma shapes identity, often producing both positive and negative effects. Listen as Rebekah discusses different forms of religious trauma, including betrayal trauma and cultural hegemony, alongside her own research on the relationship between adverse religious experiences, specifically their interpersonal dimensions. This conversation also addresses sexual harassment and trauma in relation to religion, and how these experiences can be intertwined as it is a spectrum rather than a fixed binary. Do you want to see more from Rebekah? Follow her on LinkedIn here. A transcript for this episode can be found here.
In the first hour we get into spiritual narcissism, not as an abstract idea but as something that shapes real communities and does real damage. We talk about MAGA as a kind of cult identity, Trump as a case study in personality-driven power, and how prosperity gospel culture helped prepare the ground for all of it. We also get into religious trauma and why, at least for me, institutional Christianity isn't something that can be fixed from the inside. And we don't let progressive spaces off the hook either. The same patterns show up there too, just with different language.In the second hour we stop diagnosing and start asking what now. Becky talks about why she's still hopeful in spite of everything, and we get into the limits of satire in a culture that already feels like parody. We talk about the collapse of celebrity-driven leadership, the exhaustion people feel with national politics, and why real change may be happening in smaller, local, less visible ways. It's less about movements and more about relationships. Less about influence and more about staying human.LINKShttps://www.beckygarrison.comGaslighting For GodI 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
Send us Fan MailKen's Latest Substack(REPRISE) Today, I welcome back a great friend of the show—ethicist, professor, pastor, and prolific author, Dr. David Gushee. Over the years, David and I have talked through several of his groundbreaking works: The Moral Teachings of Jesus, Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies, Introducing Christian Ethics, and After Evangelicalism. But today, we're returning to the book that started a movement—Changing Our Mind—a book that, remarkably, has never stopped selling since its first release ten years ago.Industry veteran David Crumm recently reminded us that fewer than 1 percent of all books ever reach 40,000 copies sold. Most don't even hit 2,000. And yet Changing Our Mind continues to travel—passed hand to hand, heart to heart—because people still need it. David tells me he receives messages every week from readers whose lives have been transformed. That kind of impact is rare.We're diving into the story behind this book: what prompted David to write it, the initial response, and the personal price he paid. Lost invitations, Christian booksellers who wouldn't carry his work, and critics who lined up to condemn him. But also, we talk about the courage of those who dared to praise the book—and the remarkable stories that have come back from readers.We'll explore the deep divides in today's church—the boardroom wrestling matches, the “holy haters,” and the rise of Christian nationalism. And, in this Advent season, we'll ask: What needs to come to an end? And what new future are we longing for?We'll also hear what David is working on now, what he's seeing in the classroom, and what he hopes for in 2026. SHOW NOTESSupport the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you!Ken's Substack PageThe Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com
Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Halli Carbrey (@hallifaith.liberated) about leaving high control religion. Halli shares her story of growing up in a small, insular group called the Lord's Recovery, experiencing excommunication with her then-husband in 2019, and navigating the complex process of deconstruction while raising three children. The discussion explores themes of religious trauma, purity culture's impact on sexuality, the struggle to find identity beyond rigid belief systems, and the journey toward self-trust and authentic spirituality. Both women reflect on questioning deeply held beliefs, the loss of community when leaving religion, and finding healing through vulnerability and connection. Halli, who transitioned from being a Christian couples therapist to a religious trauma and sex coach, emphasizes the importance of rest, unconditional self-love, and creating safe spaces for others wrestling with similar experiences. Find Halli on Instagram! 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 new 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.
Demise Of the Daybells | The Lori Vallow Daybell & Chad Daybell Story
Lori Vallow still believes she'll be exonerated.In a March 2025 Dateline interview, she maintained her innocence. She claimed visions from Jesus. She showed no remorse.Her son Colby is left to figure out how to live in a world where his mother killed his siblings — and still thinks she was right.This is Part 5 of "The Chosen Ones" — the conclusion of our psychological examination of spiritual abuse and religious trauma through the Daybell case. Today we focus on the aftermath: how survivors rebuild when the person who harmed them never acknowledges what they did.We examine: Colby Ryan's prison calls with his mother The March 2025 Dateline interview How the AVOW community and conference circuit moved on The secondary trauma of systems that don't collapse The path to healing for spiritual abuse survivors Religious Trauma Syndrome and what recovery looks like This episode is for anyone following the Daybell case who wants to understand the human cost beyond the headlines. And it's for anyone who has left a high control religion and is figuring out what comes next.The apocalypse Chad Daybell predicted never came. The world kept turning. But for the families of Tammy, Charles, Tylee, and JJ — the world ended anyway.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 #DaybellCase #ColbyRyan #LoriVallow #ReligiousTrauma #SpiritualAbuse #CultSurvivor #Healing #Aftermath #Deconstruction
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
FIND JANICE:Janice Selbie's best-selling book, Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook, is available here: https://amzn.to/4mnDxuoReligious Trauma Survivor Support Groups happen online Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with others for support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/servicesNeed help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/janiceselbieThe Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular mental health clinician. The views expressed by guests on the Sex & Power Podcast are not necessarily held by the host.Support the show
CNN is re-airing their special on the rise of Christian nationalism — and I'm re-releasing this conversation with Tia Levings because it is more relevant now than when it first aired. Tia will be featured in the CNN special, and her book A Well-Trained Wife went viral on YouTube after this episode first dropped (with "wife spanking" landing in the top four search terms — yes, really). If you prefer to watch on YouTube, here you go: https://youtu.be/aU6CcgskrUE Tia Levings is the New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, a memoir of her escape from Christian patriarchy. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Salon, Huffington Post, Newsweek, and the Amazon docu-series Shiny Happy People. In this conversation, we go deep on: What "quiverfull" ideology really is — and how it connects to the tradwife movement today Christian domestic discipline (aka non-consensual BDSM in church clothes) The "fundy baby voice" — what it is, who's using it, and why it matters politically Why joy is now an act of rebellion against high-control systems How to resist without burning out — and why rest counts as resistance What Tia thinks is actually keeping us safer right now (it might surprise you) Timestamps: 0:00 – Re-intro + why this episode is back 1:00 – Original intro from the Re-Invention Room 3:25 – Tia's story begins: mainstream Christianity to fundamentalism 7:31 – What "quiverfull" really means 10:16 – "Hitting me was no longer taboo. It was holy." 13:20 – The pressure to be a "good girl" & wanting to be chosen 18:36 – The skinny, weak, take-up-no-space agenda 23:50 – The sadness that crawls up your legs like ivy 29:18 – The "fundy baby voice" explained 33:31 – Karoline Leavitt, Katie Britt & women in patriarchy 35:10 – Hypersexualization and modesty culture 40:09 – Where do we go from here? Tia's take on the current moment 48:29 – Does Tia feel spiritually supported? 52:15 – How to discern intuition from programming 54:00 – Advice for people who are overwhelmed by the news 57:07 – Why Tia calls them Mikey, Dougie & Petey 58:07 – How to find Tia & her books Tia Levings' links: Tia's book: A Well Trained Wife: https://amzn.to/4uffTVN Pre-order Tia's new book: I Belong To Me: https://amzn.to/46D7jWH Tia Levings Writer: Instagram | Substack 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 email AllisonHare.com Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording today Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com 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
Sex & Power: Chris Tompkins - The Truth About Shame: Chris Tompkins on Love, Liberation, and LGBTQ ResilienceChris Tompkins is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who specializes in working with adult gay men. He is also the author of the APA award-winning book Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent's Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground. Chris has a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, with a specialization in LGBTQ Affirmative Psychology. In addition to being a therapist, Chris is a writer and public speaker. His work has been featured on TEDx, NBC, HuffPost, Psychology Today, The Advocate, and more.Today, Chris shares his experiences growing up with non-affirming religion and the shame that it caused him as he recognized his same-sex attraction. From first romantic experiences to coming out to family, Chris candidly discusses his journey, highlighting the normalcy of curiosity and the power of self-compassion. FIND CHRIS:https://linktr.ee/aroadtriptolove?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=85ae724f-a9c8-49bf-9b08-78de90aa052eFIND JANICE:Janice Selbie's best-selling book, Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook, is available here: https://amzn.to/4mnDxuoReligious Trauma Survivor Support Groups happen online Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with others for support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/servicesNeed help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:https://linktr.ee/janiceselbieThe Sex & Power Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular mental health clinician. The views expressed by guests on the Sex & Power Podcast are not necessarily held by the host.Support the show
“We can disagree and still love each other” is often framed as maturity or respect — but what happens when that disagreement puts real people at risk? In this episode, we confront how “just disagreeing” about LGBTQ+ lives, identities, and inclusion stops being neutral and starts becoming dangerous.We examine the real-world consequences of polite harm, the myth of neutrality, and the cost of silence when injustice is dressed up as belief or civility. This is a call to move beyond comfort and into responsibility — for families, allies, and anyone who claims to love LGBTQ+ people.Because love that refuses to protect is not love at all.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
What do you do if you have religious trauma, but don't want to abandon your faith?Catherine Quiring is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in helping ex-evangelicals overcome religious trauma. In this episode, she shares what that looked like for her, how to know if you have limiting thoughts leftover from controlling doctrine, how to keep your faith while you separate from systems of control & how to find your own thoughts in a sea of “shoulds.” This episode originally aired June 12, 2023 If you like this episode, you'll also like episode 156 with Joshua Harris: SHOULD SEX BE SAVED FOR MARRIAGE? Guest:https://www.instagram.com/catherinequiringhttps://www.cqcounseling.com/https://www.facebook.com/cqcounseling Host: https://www.meredithforreal.com/ https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/ meredith@meredithforreal.comhttps://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/ 01:00 — Why harmful church experiences are more common than we think03:00 — Fear tactics, hell doctrine & covert narcissism04:00 — Codependent faith & the pressure to feel God05:00 — OCD spirituality & micromanaging your soul06:00 — When people become “projects,” not peers07:00 — Catherine's story: trauma at seven11:00 — Deconstruction vs. deconversion (not the same)12:00 — “You're in or you're out” — high-control community dynamics13:00 — Wheaton College & the first cracks in certainty14:00 — Reimagining God: from judge to shepherd15:00 — Releasing harmful doctrine & reclaiming the divine16:00 — Why this healing can take 20 years17:00 — Step negative three: just notice how you feel18:00 — Interoception vs. judgment19:00 — Exploring Christian possibilities (hello, Jinger Duggar)20:00 — Interoception vs. introspection21:00 — Digging yourself out vs. listening to your body22:00 — Your body has a language23:00 — The painful “playback” of manipulation24:00 — Talking to yourself like a friend would25:00 — Reclaiming the parts that helped you survive26:00 — When submission theology hits marriage27:00 — The hidden pressure on men to be “the voice of God”28:00 — Boundaries, anxiety & interrupting the cycle29:00 — When honesty strengthens (or exposes) a marriage30:00 — Practical healing recap31:00 — Resources for staying Christian — but freer32:00 — Books that unlock self-trust33:00 — Curiosity as a spiritual superpower34:00 — The Order of St. Hildegard & anti-oppressive faith35:00 — Finding community after deconstruction36:00 — Where to connect with CatherineRequest to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/
Valentine's Day can be beautiful for some — and deeply complicated for others. In this episode, we make space for those who feel unseen, pressured, or left out by traditional narratives of love.We explore why romantic love is often treated as the ultimate measure of worth, how that harms LGBTQ+ people and their families, and what it means to reclaim a broader, more honest definition of love. This is an invitation to opt out of shame, redefine belonging, and remember that your life, your timing, and your way of loving are already enough.Because love was never meant to be narrow — it was meant to make room.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.
This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.In this episode, Tia Levings—bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife and survivor of Christian fundamentalism who appears in the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People—returns to dig deeper into what happened after escaping her high‑control marriage and the broader world of Christian patriarchy and homeschooling that enabled it. She talks about navigating the court system and custody battles with an abuser who knew how to weaponize “godly fatherhood,” how churches and pastors closed ranks around him, and what it really takes to rebuild a life, parenting, and identity after years inside complementarian theology, Quiverfull‑style gender roles, and domestic violence justified with Bible verses.Tia also shares how writing, advocacy, and connecting with other survivors of religious abuse, authoritarian homeschooling, and Christian nationalist culture have become part of her healing—and why she believes telling messy, complicated stories about faith, family, and freedom is one of the most powerful ways to push back on the systems that trained her to stay small and silent in the first place.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 violence, religious and spiritual abuse, child and family trauma, and brief mentions of suicidal thoughts.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 AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:You're going to love Hungryroot as much as we do. For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/culty and use code culty.Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.Make this Valentine's Day one to remember with matching underwear from MeUndies. To get exclusive deals up to 50% off, go to MeUndies.com/culty and enter promo code culty.Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/culty for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/culty. Ready to stop paying more than you have to? New customers can make the switch today and for a limited time, get unlimited premium wireless for just $15 per month. Switch now at MintMobile.com/culty.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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