Shows
The Divorcing Religion PodcastQuantas Ginn, MBA, MS, LMFT-S, CST - Sex Therapy for Purity Culture SurvivorsQuantas Ginn, MBA, MS, LMFT-S, CST (he/him) - Sex Therapy for Purity Culture Survivors My guest today is Quantas Ginn. Quantas is a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) professor teaching courses on Human Sexuality and MFT theories. His research interests include interracial relationships, perinatal parenting, and the intersection of religion and sexuality. Quantas also operates a private practice as a marriage, couples, and family therapist, and also as a Certified sex therapist. He works with individuals and couples on a variety of issues, including communication, conflict management, and sexual intimacy. I’m delighte...2025-05-0753 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDr. Kayden Vargas - From Conservative Christian to Nonbinary PsychologistDr. Kayden Vargas (they/he) - From Conservative Christian to Nonbinary PsychologistTW: Brief references to CSA Dr. Kayden Vargas (they/he) is a trans nonbinary poet, parent, and psychologist located in the traditional homelands of the Yakama Nation. Their poetry revolves around themes of small-town living, bicultural/bilingual/biracial life, trauma healing, and trans identity. Their clinical specialties include gender affirming healthcare, eating disorders, religious trauma, and queer psychosocial development. Kayden also works as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Heritage University, a small not-for-profit university that is both a Hispanic-Serving-Institution and Na...2025-04-3059 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastGlenda Jordan - Powerful PolyamoryGlenda Jordan - Powerful PolyamoryDIVORCED: Southern Baptist ChristianityMy guest today is a model, artist, and entertainer - and she will be speaking at the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture event in Seattle this May! Glenda Jordan lives in Las Vegas these days but grew up on a farm south of Nashville, Tennessee - where she was indoctrinated into the Southern Baptist faith from birth. After deconstructing religion in college, Glenda became involved in activism for various causes. Joining the third-wave intersectional feminist movement, Glenda believes that liberation from the patriarchy a...2025-04-231h 13The Divorcing Religion PodcastJeremy de Tolly - Liberate Your VoiceJeremy de Tolly - Liberate Your VoiceMy guest today is rock and roll musician, and heart-centered communication coach, Jeremy de Tolly. Jeremy works with those who have deeply shut-down voices, whose voices often became blocked starting in their childhoods. He understands the significance that parenting, school, and culture can have on our voices, and that, to return a voice to health, we need to address the expression aspects of these issues specifically. This led Jeremy to develop the Radiant Voices material and methodologies that he teaches now, both as a private vocal transformation coach an...2025-04-1656 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastLauren Elise Rogers - Sex Ed for You!Lauren Elise Rogers - Sex Ed for You!DIVORCED: Fundamentalist ChristianityCW: Frank discussions of s3xLauren Elise Rogers is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy & Relationship Coach. She is the founder of Sex Ed for You, where she provides clear, compassionate, and comprehensive guidance on intimacy, relationships, and sexual health. After being raised in a high-control religion and getting married at 21, Lauren fought her way out to become the person she needed most. Her desire to understand her relational missteps – like her decade-long marriage to her daughter's gay...2025-04-0955 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDr. Josie McSkimming - Gutsy GirlsDr. Josie McSkimming - Gutsy GirlsDIVORCED: ChristianityToday’s guest is Dr. Josie McSkimming, who joins us from Australia. She has previously been a guest on the Divorcing Religion Podcast and was also a speaker at CORT2023. Dr. McSkimming is a clinical social worker with more than 35 years experience – and personal experience with religious trauma. When I learned that she’d published a book about her life, I wanted to read it right away. Her book is called GUTSY GIRLS: Love, Poetry, and Sisterhood.Josie grew up in the shadow of her...2025-04-021h 00The Divorcing Religion PodcastHip-Hop Artist, Seven J - Betrayed by ChristianityHip-Hop Artist Seven J - Betrayed by ChristianityDIVORCED: ChristianityTW: Discussion of suicidal ideationRaised in the heart of Jacksonville, FL, amidst the grit and hustle of the city's most notorious zip code, Seven J emerged as a powerhouse in the world of hip-hop. His music is a testament to his roots, blending raw, lyrical prowess with harmonious melodies that captivate listeners and transport them to another world. With a resume that boasts performances in iconic venues from Los Angeles to New York, Seven J has left his m...2025-03-261h 08The Divorcing Religion PodcastEmily Hedrick - Resiliency in Tough TimesEmily Hedrick - Resiliency in Tough TimesDIVORCED: Mennonite EvangelicalismEmily Hedrick is a resilience coach specializing in religious trauma and compassion fatigue. A former Mennonite pastor, she holds an M.Div., is an ICF-accredited coach, and is a certified Forward-Facing (R) coach. In addition to being a former guest on the Divorcing Religion Podcast, Emily was a powerful speaker at CORT2022. How to Treat Your Body Like a Sacred Text is Emily's most recent book. Her expertise in trauma recovery, body-based practices, and navigating the impact of toxic religion equips her to e...2025-03-1954 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastAnn Russo, LCSW - Sexuality & Religious TraumaAnn Russo, LCSW - Sexuality & Religious TraumaDIVORCED: Fundamentalist ChristianityMy guest today is Licensed Clinical Social Worker ANN RUSSO.As the founder and director of AMR Therapy, Ann is a mental health advocate, educator, and thought leader specializing in addressing complex and often stigmatized topics such as religious trauma, sexual empowerment, ethical non-monogamy, queer identity, and inclusivity in mental health.Ann knows that understanding the impact of religious trauma on identity, relationships, and mental health is essential to healing religious trauma. To that end, she has developed what s...2025-03-1256 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJanice Formichella - EstrangedJanice Formichella - EstrangedDIVORCED: MormonismTW: References to abuse Janice Formichella is a breakup coach and the host of the podcasts Sex and the Solo Girl and Breakups, Broken Hearts, and Moving On. She is passionate about helping people from all backgrounds to beat their breakup, overcome loneliness, and make the end of a relationship the start of a powerful new beginning. Janice is also a survivor of domestic violence, an ex-Mormon, and an advocate for those choosing family distancing or estrangement. FIND...2025-03-051h 07The Divorcing Religion PodcastBeth Granger - Leaving the Cult Was Only Half the BattleBeth Granger - Leaving the Cult Was Only Half the BattleDIVORCED: Anglican CultWarning: This episode may be triggering for those who experienced abuse in childhood and adolescence.Beth Granger was the first staff-child born at Grenville Christian College, an elite private boarding school in Canada that was actually a cult - from which she did not escape until her 30s.Despite her cult leaders’ predictions that she would end up on the streets if she left, Beth went on to earn her Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University, beco...2025-02-261h 03
Holy F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: Try Reading The Bible, Numbnuts!Get an extended (more comments!) and uncensored version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read, "There are a million smicks in a cl...2025-02-2430 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMarla Taviano - From Missionary to HereticMarla Taviano - From Missionary to HereticDIVORCED: Christian FundamentalismAuthor Marla Taviano knows what it's like to lose it all. In this poignant and humorous conversation, she shares about her missionary husband's infidelity while in the field, the loss of her marriage, and relinquishing some cherished beliefs. She also discusses the power of writing as a force for healing.FIND MARLA:IG: https://instagram.com/marlataviano Substack: https://marlataviano.substack.com Website: https://marlataviano.com Janice's Amazon Best-Seller Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now ava...2025-02-1952 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: Good Luck, You're Going to Need ItGet an extended (more comments!) and uncensored version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read, "There are a million smicks in a cl...2025-02-1334 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastLuis Cornejo - Born this way!Luis Cornejo - Born this way!DIVORCED: Chrisitan FundamentalismMy guest today is Luis Cornejo: A Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and the founder of Queer Magic Entertainment LLC. He also hosts the Queer Magic Podcast.A proud first-generation Guatemalan and Mexican American, Luis is passionate about empowering the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities through his work in mental health, fashion, and self-expression. As a speaker, model, and advocate, he uses his platforms to challenge oppressive systems, celebrate diverse identities, and inspire others to embrace their authentic selves. To...2025-02-1254 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJamin Coller - Almost A CultJamin Coller - Almost A CultTW: Mentions of suicidalityMy guest today is Jamin Coller – and if you got Rapture Anxiety after watching the 1970s Christian cult movie A Thief in the Night, you’ve already met Jamin’s dad! After th e movie, his dad started a fundamentalist church. A seminary graduate, pastor’s kid, and true believer, Jamin spent his first 40 years as a Bible scholar, theologian, worship pastor, national children’s speaker, and Christian educator. But the inconsistencies were too much.In this episode, Jamin shares about growing up with his c...2025-02-0559 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Annie Laurie Gaylor - Religion is Killing American WomenStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Annie Laurie Gaylor - Religion is Killing American WomenAnnie Laurie Gaylor is co-founder and co-president of FFRF – the Freedom from Religion Foundation. In addition to being a long-time women's rights activist, Annie Laurie is an accomplished author.Her book, Woe to the Women: The Bible Tells Me So, was first published by FFRF in 1981, and is in its 4th printing. In 1988, FFRF published her second book Betrayal of Trust: Clergy Abuse of Children, the first book documenting widespread sexual abuse by clergy. Her 1997 anthology, Women Without Supersti...2025-01-2948 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: Good, Honest, Trustworthy & Well-Adjusted CanadiansGet an extended (more comments!) and uncensored version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read, "There are a million smicks in a cl...2025-01-2727 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMalkie Schwartz - From Fundy to Freedom FighterMalkie Schwartz - From Fundy to Freedom FighterDivorced: Ultra-orthodox JudaismIn her early 20s, Malkie Schwartz chose to leave her ultra-orthodox Jewish community. Within 3 years, she founded Footsteps, the first organization in North America to help people who wish to leave the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and live in mainstream society. Footsteps gained notoriety in 2017, with the release of the Netflix documentary “One of Us.” To date, Footsteps has served over 1300 individuals. Malkie is also co-founder and board member of the Rights and Religions Forum. In 2023, the Rights and Religions Forum (RARF) launched the Borge...2025-01-2246 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: Baby Jesus in a RacecarGet an extended (more comments!) and uncensored version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read, "There are a million smicks in a cl...2025-01-2034 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Carol Merchasin - Suing Predatory Spiritual LeadersStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Carol Merchasin - Suing Predatory Spiritual Leaders Carol Merchasin is an attorney who leads a practice group litigating sexual misconduct in religious, faith-based and spiritual communities at McAllister Olivarius. She is an experienced investigator who has conducted dozens of workplace investigations, including those involving sensitive allegations made against top level executives. Carol’s current work shines a light on the failures of many spiritual centers and retreats, and the abuse of power by cult leaders.In this episode, Carol and I discuss cults, litigating spiritual leaders, and the need...2025-01-1556 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: No Jobs in HeavenGet an extended (more comments!) and uncensored video version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read, "There are a million smicks in a...2025-01-1324 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Mandisa Thomas - WTF, USA?!Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Mandisa Thomas - WTF, USA?! My guest today is activist and speaker Mandisa Thomas. Although never formally indoctrinated into belief, Mandisa was heavily exposed to Christianity, Black Nationalism, and Islam. In 2011, Mandisa founded Black Nonbelievers, Inc., as a non-profit, secular organization. Its goals include eliminating stigma, increasing visibility, and providing support and networking opportunities around non-belief in the African-American community. In addition to founding Black Nonbelievers, Mandisa is also the president. Today, Mandisa shares how Caucasians can support their BIPOC neighbors in light of the upcoming challenges and threa...2025-01-0852 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: Natural SupperGet an extended (more comments!) and uncensored version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read,"There are a million smicks in a c...2025-01-0628 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastLonnie Mann - GaytheistLonnie Mann - GaytheistDivorced: Orthodox JudaismLonnie Mann grew up Orthodox Jewish in New York. It's a strict, difficult lifestyle for anyone; but Lonnie found additional challenges growing up as he realized he was gay, and struggled to reconcile his faith and sexuality. Ultimately, Lonnie managed to leave the community. Eventually, he wrote a graphic novel about his experiences, with his partner Ryan Gatts helping provide artwork. Lonnie’s book is called Gaytheist: Coming Out of My Orthodox Childhood. FIND LONNIE:https://www.lonniecomics.com/Janice's Best-selling book Divorcing Reli...2025-01-0159 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: Get A Grip, BuddyGet an extended (more comments!) and uncensored version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read, "There are a million smicks in a cl...2024-12-3031 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Dr. Marlene Winell - Christianity Run AmokStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Dr. Marlene Winell - Christianity Run AmokDIVORCED: ChristianityDr. Marlene Winell is a licensed psychologist, educator, and writer. Her background includes 30 years of experience in human services, in both community and academic settings. She holds a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University and is the author of Leaving the Fold: A guide for former fundamentalists and others leaving their religion. Dr. Winell directs the organization Journey Free, which offers services for recovery from harmful religion. In 2011, she named "Religious Trauma Syndrome." Marlene i...2024-12-2559 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: A Very Atheist ChristmasEnjoy our Holy F*cking Comments Christmas special. You get one extra comment in this episode to celibrate the holidays. Get an extended (more comments!) and uncensored version of this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A com...2024-12-2336 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: The Power of MythA much longer video version of this episode is available for Patrons: http://www.patreon.com/godlessmomHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the misogynist and hateful comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet.This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read,"There are a million smicks in...2024-12-1633 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Yasmine Mohammed - Fighting Religious TyrannyStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Yasmine Mohammed - Fighting Religious Tyranny DIVORCED: IslamCW: Violence and SA briefly mentionedI am honored today to speak today with human rights activist Yasmine Mohammed, who is founder and president of Free Hearts Free Minds, and the author of the book Unveiled: How the West Empowers Radical Muslims. From elevating the voices of marginalized freethinkers on her podcast, to creating a global network of allies across religious and political divides through co-founding and co-directing the CLARITy Coalition, Yasmine is one of the most prominent an...2024-12-1553 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Alice GreczynStrong Women in Secular Spaces: Alice GreczynWELCOME to Strong Women in Secular Spaces, a special Divorcing Religion podcast series highlighting women's courage, creativity, resilience, and strength. Alice Greczyn is an actress, author, and activist. Raised in a fundamentalist Christian home, Alice's book Wayward: A Memoir of Spiritual Warfare and Sexual Purity resonates especially with those who are recovering from religious trauma and purity culture indoctrination. In reclaiming her own bodily autonomy, Alice has embraced modeling, pole dancing, and producing adult content for Playboy and OnlyFans, in addition to acting and writing.2024-12-1154 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: There Are A Million Smicks in a ClueHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet.This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read,"There are a million smicks in a clue and you don't even have a smick,"Since then, this comment has worked its way into ou...2024-12-0929 minHoly F*cking CommentsHoly F*cking Comments: The Lake of FireHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the misogynist and hateful comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet.This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read,"There are a million smicks in a clue and you don't even have a smick,"Since then, this comment has worked its wa...2024-12-0925 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastAshlen Hilliard, MSc - Cult Intervention SpecialistAshlen Hilliard, MSc - Cult Intervention SpecialistDIVORCED: Church of ChristTW: Cults, trafficking, and one mention of SAAshlen Hilliard (she/her), MSc, is a Cult Intervention Specialist and the founder of People Leave Cults. She has been featured on NewsNation, HuffPost, BET+, and more. As a Cult Intervention Specialist, Ashlen collaborates with a team of experts to offer guidance and support to families with loved ones entangled in cult-like groups or relationships. In this episode, Ashlen discusses growing up in and leaving the Church of Christ, her work with individuals s...2024-12-041h 00Holy F*cking CommentsComing Soon: The Holy F*cking Comments PodcastHoly F*cking Comments is judgment day for holy trolls. It is a reckoning for the self-righteous, a sentencing for the sanctimonious. This is the podcast where we review the best comments we’ve gotten this week as atheist women on the internet. This podcast was the direct result of the best comment of all time. A comment on my YouTube channel a good 9 or 10 years ago that read, "There are a million smicks in a clue and you don't even have a smick,"Since then, this comment has worked its way into...2024-12-0200 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJason Pollick - Confessions of a Former PriestJason Pollick - Confessions of a Former PriestDivorced: ChristianityJason was an atheist as a teenager, so he was as surprised as anyone when he had a spiritual experience that told him to become a priest. He tried to avoid this call, but eventually became an Anglican priest, a vocation he lived for 12 years. After being diagnosed with PTSD in 2019 because of his experiences in the church, he spent 2 years on disability for mental health reasons. During that time, he began to question his faith and discovered he could no longer support t...2024-11-271h 00The Divorcing Religion PodcastDavid Fitzgerald - Jesus Isn’t RealDavid Fitzgerald - Jesus Isn’t RealDivorced: Southern Baptist ChristianityAuthor David Fitzgerald is an award-winning writer, historical researcher, and atheist activist who lectures internationally at universities and secular events, and is a frequent guest on many podcasts. David has been a passionate advocate for atheism, civil rights, counter-apologetics, and secular humanism his entire adult life. He is best known for his books Nailed, and The Complete Heretic's Guide to Western Religion, including Jesus: Mything in Action. David’s latest book is PLAYING GOD: An Evolutionary History of World Religion, Volumes 1-3.In this epis...2024-11-2059 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastEric Skwarczynski - Preacher Boys: Exposing the IFBEric Skwarczynski - Preacher Boys: Exposing the IFBDIVORCED: Independent Fundamental Baptist, ChristianityCW: Child abuseEric Skwarczynski is an ex-fundamentalist on a mission to shed light on the darker sides of high-control religious environments. As the host of the Preacher Boys podcast, he interviews survivors, experts, and authors on topics such as trauma recovery, mental health, power dynamics, fundamentalist thinking, and relationships.Today Eric shares about his experiences growing up in an IFB family and school, including why he left the IFB – and eventually divorced religion altogether. He also shares some of...2024-11-1357 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastRichard A. Kiers - Christian Cult SurvivorRichard A. Kiers - Christian Cult SurvivorDivorced: Fundamentalist ChristianityCW: Brief mention of CSA and suicidalityMy guest today is author and cult survivor Richard A. Kiers. Richard was born in Canada to Dutch parents. When he was 10, Richard’s parents joined a Group called "The Move" and relocated their family to a commune in British Columbia in 1972. It turned out that The Move was a cult, led by Sam Fife, which at one time had over 40,000 members. Richard wrote a book about his cult experiences called Swindled by Faith: A Tim...2024-11-0656 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastPhil Zuckerman - Exploring SecularismPhil Zuckerman - Exploring SecularismPhil Zuckerman is a sociology and secular studies professor at Pitzer College in Claremont, California. Phil founded the first Secular Studies department in the United States in 2011. Secular Studies is an interdisciplinary program focusing on manifestations of the secular in societies and cultures, past and present. Today Phil shares his own experiences with secularism. We also discuss differences between American, French, and Scandinavian concepts of secular and religious life, and what it means to be a moral person. FIND PHIL:https://philzuckerman.com/Earlybird tic...2024-10-3056 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastSusanna Guarino - Religious Trauma in RelationshipsSusanna Guarino - Religious Trauma in RelationshipsDivorced: Christian FundamentalismToday’s guest is musician and therapist Susanna Guarino. Susanna is a licensed mental health counselor in private practice in NY specializing in religious trauma, spiritual abuse recovery, and couples’ therapy. Susanna’s own parents met in a neo-puritanical Christian cult. She spent a lot of her childhood learning fire and brimstone theology and memorizing verses from the King James Bible. FIND SUSANNA:website: http://www.goodearthcounseling.commusic: https://susannarose.bandcamp.com/track/winter-days and http://www.susannarose.comS...2023-10-1853 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastUthman Khan - Overcoming Islamic IndoctrinationUthman Khan - Overcoming Islamic IndoctrinationOvercoming Islamic IndoctrinationDivorced: Fundamentalist IslamUthman Khan completed his traditional religious degree from an Islamic Madrasa in the UK. He also received his Master of Arts from Hartford International University in Islamic Studies, focussing on Muslim Christian Relations. Uthman is currently a PhD student of Sociocultural Anthropology at the University of Alberta. His current historical research is on idolatry and idol worship of 7th Century Arabia; however, his anthropological ethnography is focussed on religious trauma in Canada. Additionally, Uthman is an Alberta Licensed Health and Nutrition Practitioner and...2023-10-111h 11The Divorcing Religion PodcastMike Phillips - I Like MikeMike Phillips - I Like MikeDivorced: Fundamentalist ChristianityMy guest today is former pastor and current sex and trauma therapist, Mike Phillips. Mike is a Twitter friend I’ve come to respect as a deeply compassionate and professional therapist. He currently specializes in using Internal Family Systems and EMDR therapies, and his focus for sex therapy is on BDSM, sexual dysfunction, sexual repression, and polyamory.FIND MIKEhttps://mikeinsac.com/https://twitter.com/sacwriterSupport this podcast on Patreon (starting as low as $2/month) and get access to bonus co...2023-10-0456 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastChris Johnson - The Atheist BookChris Johnson - The Atheist BookMy guest today is New York-based photographer and filmmaker, Chris Johnson. I first heard of Chris through my friend and mentor, Dr. Marlene Winell, who was featured in his beautiful coffee table book A BETTER LIFE: 100 ATHEISTS SPEAK OUT ON JOY AND MEANING IN A WORLD WITHOUT GOD.In this episode, Chris shares what it was like to interview prominent atheists from around the world, including James Randi, Julia Sweeney, Penn & Teller, and Steven Pinker, for his book and his documentary film called “A Better Life: An Exploration of Jo...2023-09-2751 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastE.V. - From Moonie to AtheistE.V. - From Moonie to AtheistDivorced: Unification ChurchMy guest today is E.V., who left the Unification Church (aka The Moonies) after being a devoted member for 25 years. Her story is interesting and her liberation delightful.Support this podcast on Patreon (starting as low as $2/month) and get access to bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/janiceselbie Thanks to my newest patrons: Marie, Mary, and Peter. Every dollar helps.Tickets now available for CORT2023: https://www.religioustraumaconference.org/Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.d...2023-09-2057 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDivorcing Religion is More Fun than FundamentalismI Was A Teenage Fundamentalist & Divorcing Religion Crossover ShowGuests: IWATF hosts Brian & TroyToday’s show is a special audio-only crossover episode with my Aussie mates, Brian & Troy, hosts of the incredibly popular I Was A Teenage Fundamentalist podcast. Brian & Troy both were both megachurch leaders – until they saw the light. I love the work these guys are doing and I think you will, too. I hope you enjoy our funny, irreverent, and candid conversation.Find Troy & Brian:https://www.iwasateenagefundamentalist.com/https://twitter.com/WasTeenage2023-09-1348 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastRyan Hernandez - Escaping the Alliance of the Holy Family CultRyan Hernandez - Escaping the Alliance of the Holy Family CultSupport this podcast on Patreon (starting as low as $2/month) and get access to bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/janiceselbie Thanks to my newest patrons: Lois, Hayley, and Amy. Every dollar helps.Recordings from the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference now 50% off here https://www.religioustraumaconference.org/register with discount code SPECIAL50Tickets now available for CORT2023: https://www.religioustraumaconference.org/Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcastFollow Janice and the...2023-09-081h 07The Divorcing Religion PodcastScott Okamoto - Asian American ApostateScott Okamoto - Asian American ApostateSupport this podcast on Patreon (starting as low as $2/month) and get access to bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/janiceselbie Thanks to my newest patrons: Lois, Hayley, and Amy. Every dollar helps.Recordings from the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference now 50% off here https://www.religioustraumaconference.org/register with discount code SPECIAL50Tickets now available for CORT2023: https://www.religioustraumaconference.org/Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcastFollow Janice and the Conference on Religious Trauma on...2023-09-0859 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJessica Robin - Recovering from Islamic OppressionJessica Robin - Recovering from Islamic OppressionTW: Child abuse, religious abuseToday’s guest is Jessica Robin, a program creator and group facilitator with Free Hearts, Free Minds (FHFM) - the charity founded by CORT2021 speaker Yasmine Mohammed. FHFM focuses on former Muslims at risk of persecution or execution for what they think or who they love. Jessica has a bachelor of behavioural science in psychology, as well as being a certified coach. Though Jessica has always been secular, she is passionate about Islamic issues and human rights.In this episode, Jessica sh...2023-08-1758 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastBrett Harper - Exposing the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI)Brett Harper - Exposing the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI)Divorced: Baptist ChristianityTrigger Warning: CSA, kidnapping, abuseToday’s guest is troubled teen industry survivor and activist Brett Harper. Having survived a Troubled Teen Industry program that left him with traumatic, life-long injuries and disabilities, Brett has made it is his purpose in life to raise awareness about child abuse in the troubled teen industry. Brett uses the hashtag “Spare the Rod” as a call to action that challenges those in authority to lead with love, empathy, and compassion instead of with a heavy hand.2023-08-101h 04The Divorcing Religion PodcastDr. Gillie Jenkinson - Post-Cult CounsellingDr. Gillie Jenkinson - Post-Cult CounsellingDivorced: Fundamentalist Christian cultGillie Jenkinson, PhD, is a cult survivor, accredited psychotherapist, international speaker, and Director of Hope Valley Counselling. For over 25 years she has specialised, as therapist and researcher, in the challenges faced by those who have experienced coercive, cultic and spiritual abuse.Gillie’s book ‘Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse: A Workbook for Recovery and Growth’ will be published by Routledge in May 2023 and is available for pre-order.In this episode, Gillie shares her experience of being involv...2023-08-0255 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMarie Lerch - Divorcing Religion While Married to a PastorToday’s guest is Marie Lerch. I started following Marie when she made social media posts about her own deconstruction - while remaining married to a current pastor.Marie was raised by her grandmother until age 13, at which point she entered Canada’s foster care system. After 3 years in foster care she met her husband, and they’ve now been married 27 years.Today, Marie shares about Divorcing Religion while remaining happily married to her Christian husband, stressing the importance of communication and the help she received through Internal Family Systems therapy.FIND MARIEh...2023-07-1957 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJimmy Snow - Jimmy Snow Was Born in the DirtJimmy Snow was Born in the DirtGuest: Jimmy SnowDivorced: MormonismToday’s guest is internet personality Jimmy Snow, formerly known as Dear Mr. Atheist and Mr. Atheist. Jimmy is now the executive producer of The Line, a channel for skeptic-minded call-in shows.On today’s episode, Jimmy dishes about growing up in a Mormon family and what it was like to Divorce Religion and grow into himself. FIND JIMMY:https://www.youtube.com/@qnaline/abouthttps://twitter.com/JimmyASnowSup...2023-07-0555 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDr. Coco Owen - The Courage to DoubtDr. Coco Owen - The Courage to DoubtDivorced: Seventh Day AdventismDr. Coco Owen is a licensed psychologist who has a private practice working with people recovering from religious trauma and in various stages of deconstruction. She grew up Seventh-day Adventist in Southern California and went to Adventist schools from kindergarten through college—including a two-year stint at a church boarding school. After a deep crisis of faith during her last year of college, Coco became an atheist and left the church completely. That began a long and sometimes painful psychological, spiritual, and cre...2023-06-1655 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastChris Shelton - Scientology SurvivorChris Shelton - Scientology SurvivorDivorced: Church of ScientologyMy guest today is author, consultant, anti-cult activist, podcaster, YouTuber, and former Scientologist Chris Shelton. A member of Scientology for 27 years, of which he spent 17 in the Sea Org, Chris left Scientology in 2012, and in 2015 published his book Scientology: A to Xenu.Today, Chris shares what it was like growing up in Scientology, signing a billion-year contract, and eventually learning that he had devoted his entire life to a cult.FIND CHRIS:Chris Shelton's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisSheltonMsc2023-06-0759 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastConnie Baker - Christian CodependencyConnie Baker - Christian CodependencyDivorced: Fundamentalist ChristianityCW: Sexual abuse, ChristianityConnie A. Baker, MA, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in recovery from religious abuse. Connie’s life mission is to educate, validate, and advocate for religious abuse survivors. In 1990, she suffered life-shattering spiritual abuse and had NO ONE to talk with about it. She has since created a number of resources to help others recovering from spiritual abuse.Connie’s book is called TRAUMATIZED BY RELIGIOUS ABUSE: Discover the Cultures and Systems of Religious Abuse and Reclaim Your...2023-06-0252 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastSeth Andrews - Magical Thinking & MisinformationSeth Andrews Magical Thinking & MisinformationDivorced: Christianity CW: U.S. politics Seth Andrews is a former evangelical and Christian broadcaster who now hosts The Thinking Atheist…one of the most popular podcasts and online atheist communities in the world. The Thinking Atheist is not a person. It is an icon encouraging all to reject faith and pursue reason and evidence. Seth has authored five books, including his latest offering, “Christianity Made Me Talk Like an Idiot.” He also hosts a second podcast, "True Stories with Seth Andrews." In this episode, Set...2023-05-2648 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMahrs Schoppman - The Colonization of our BodiesMahrs Schoppman - The Colonization of our BodiesDivorced: Evangelical ChristianityMahrs Schoppman is a queer & trans somatic psychotherapist with a private practice based out of his home office in the redwood trees of Occidental, California. Mahrs specializes in working with the queer community and with those who live with the embodied traumatic impacts of growing up in an oppressive religious environment. He is passionate about walking with people on their journeys of reclaiming embodied knowing, sensation, emotional range, and vitality as a means of recovering from the learned dissociation that comes with restrictive r...2023-05-1753 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJessica Barksdale - Family SecretsJessica Barksdale - Family SecretsCW: CSA, sexual coercionAuthor JESSICA BARKSDALE has written 16 books, including novels and poetry, with a short story collection coming out this year. She currently teaches a course for UCLA Extension on novel writing. The subject of Jessica’s most recent novel, What the Moon Did, resonates with stories I’ve heard from clients in my counselling practice.Themes in this book include adolescence, vulnerability, coercion, and family secrets, with the underlying message summarized as: No matter how we try to hide our pasts, the truth finds its way...2023-05-1057 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastIsaiah Bell - From Cult Survivor to ComposerIsaiah Bell - From Cult Survivor to ComposerDivorced: Evangelical cult “The Move”CW: CSA is mentioned in this episode.Isaiah Bell is a Canadian tenor, writer, composer, and artist who grew up in Canada in an evangelical cult. I recently had the opportunity to attend his one-man, cabaret-style opera called “The Book of My Shames,” which he describes this way:“I’m a good and happy modern gay, thanks very much... But there’s this other me that’s at odds with all that; this tender part that has been left behind in the da...2023-05-101h 02The Divorcing Religion PodcastJena Miyu - Rebuilding Identity Post-ReligionJena Miyu is the co-owner of a YouTube channel called The Atheist Network Group “The Flavor” with her boyfriend, Oz. Jena was raised a Baptist Christian and has been an atheist for nearly 4 years. She has been part of the online atheist community for the same amount of time. Jena has co-hosted, produced, and run several different shows and channels.In this episode, Jena shares some of the challenges related to rejecting Christianity as a Black woman, mourning losses without belief in gods, and rebuilding identity post religion.FIND JENA:YouTube: https://youtube.com...2023-04-2658 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDr. Ling Lam - Spiritual RefugeeDr. Ling Lam - Spiritual RefugeeDivorced: Fundamentalist ChristianityDr. Ling Lam is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a part-time practice in Palo Alto and San Francisco. He is also a Lecturer in the Counseling Psychology Department at Santa Clara University, where he teaches courses on Complex Trauma, Crisis Intervention, LGBT Counseling, Family Therapy, Couple Therapy and Multicultural Psychotherapy. In this episode, Dr. Lam discusses his own challenges with cultural shifts, spiritual awakenings, and embracing his sexuality as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community..For more from Dr. Lam, join us...2023-04-1247 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastErica Smith - Sex After Purity CultureErica Smith - Sex After Purity CultureErica Smith is an award-winning sexuality educator and consultant with over 20 years of experience. She has provided comprehensive sex education and advocacy to young women and LGBTQ+ youth in Philadelphia’s juvenile justice system, worked in abortion care, and supported HIV+ and transgender adolescents and their families.Erica developed the Purity Culture Dropout™️ Program to provide the sex education we missed growing up in purity culture - a program that is accurate, queer inclusive, trauma informed, compassionate, and comprehensive.On today’s episode, Erica shares some of the e...2023-04-0545 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastAngel De Santis - Surviving God’s Twisted LoveAngel De Santis - Surviving God’s Twisted Love Divorced: The Children of God cultCW: CSAANGEL DeSANTIS Angel grew up in the apocalyptic Christian cult known as The Children of God. She managed to leave the cult about 14 years ago, and has been on a healing journey ever since, by building her brain and sharing her thought processes with others.Angel is a mental health advocate, cult survivor, & storyteller, in addition to being a yoga teacher in LA.She has a YT channel and has developed seve...2023-03-3055 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastTatyana Russell Chipp - Adoption, Religion, and LGBTQ+ LifeTatyana Russell-ChippDivorced: ChristianityCW: Adoption, sexual assault Today on the Divorcing Religion Podcast we will be exploring adoption – particularly religious adoption – with all of its sticky tentacles and residue, especially for those adoptees who outgrow their adoptive parents’ religious beliefs.Tatyana Russell-Chipp was adopted from Russia into a Canadian Christian family. She was a pastor and ministry leader for about 10 years but deconstructed her faith altogether following significant spiritual abuse. In this interview, Tatyana shares candidly about abandonment issues related to being relinquished at birth and then fearing additional abandonment by coming...2023-03-2459 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastZorah Khan - My Leap to FreedomZorah Khan - My Leap to FreedomDivorced: Islamic cult*I apologize for some background noise in this episode from my noisy furnace – but it’s worth listening to this amazing story of hard-won freedom!Zorah Khan understands both cultural oppression and religious indoctrination, having grown up in an Islamic cult from childhood. In addition to being deeply fear-based, the cult also endorsed the suppression of joy, freedom, and segregation from wider society.In her own words: “My opinions and freedom were always in the hands of someone else. This conditioning ran so deep t...2023-03-2356 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMary Byler - AMISH MISFITMary Byler Divorced: Traditional Amish lifestyle and beliefsCW: CSAMy guest today is advocate, podcaster, and newly published author Mary Byler. Mary grew up Amish, and since escaping has focussed attention on the child sexual abuse that plagues many Anabaptist and other closed religious communities, including Amish ones.Her new book is called Reflections and Memories of an Amish Misfit.Mary will be joining us as a speaker at CORT2023 in October: https://www.religioustraumaconference.org/RESOURCESMary’s book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP...2023-03-2348 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMarie LePage - PSYCHEDELICS: THE UNF*CKENINGMarie LePage - PSYCHEDELICS: THE UNF*CKENINGDivorced: Evangelical/nondenominational Catholicism*Note* Do not try psychedelics without first conferring with your doctor. For some people, it is never safe to use psychedelics. Use of psychedelics is not legal in many states and countries.MARIE Le PAGE describes herself as a life doula, life coach, community organizer, and plant-medicine sitter. Marie understands personally the pain and trauma of growing up in an emotionally neglectful and spiritually abusive household. Upon discovering plant medicine, Marie started their awakening and integration experience. They now find joy in coaching...2023-03-1550 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastWillie Cartwright - Saved to SaneWillie Cartwright - Saved to SaneDivorced: ChristianityWILLIE CARTWRIGHT is a speaker, entrepreneur, author, and advocate. Willie is a professional person, having received a B.S Degree in Finance and earned an Executive MBA.Though he and his wife now own several successful businesses, Willie and his sister were raised by a single mother in the public housing neighbourhoods of Birmingham, Alabama.As a child, he was relentlessly bullied due to his thick glasses and stutter. His stepfather was so verbally abusive that Willie threatened to kill him.Raised in a strict...2023-03-1058 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDr. Josie McSkimming - Rebuilding IdentityREBUILDING IDENTITYDr. Josie McSkimmingDivorced: Evangelical ChristianityGet your tickets to the Conference on Religious Trauma here: https://religioustraumaconference.org/Dr. Josie McSkimming is an Australian social worker, psychotherapist, lecturer, and researcher. She has been in full time private practice since 2000, specializing in relationship therapy and adult mental health.In her book Leaving Christian Fundamentalism and the Re-construction of Identity, Dr. McSkimming details the stories of those who have left Christian fundamentalist churches and how they change after they have left.In this episode, we discuss what’s in...2023-03-0859 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastChristy Powell - Exploring SexualityChristy PowellDivorced: Fundamentalist ChristianityChristy Powell (he/him) is a Texas-based counselor and activist with a focus on religious trauma and romantic and sexual relationships of all sorts and sizes. Christy works with clients to explore questions of gender and orientation, kink and polyamory, out of control sexual behavior, and healing from religious shame.We first connected when I was a guest on the Secular Sexuality show on YouTube, where Christy is one of the hosts. Today, Christy and I discuss his journey from fundamentalist Christian virgin to sexually liberated atheist....2023-03-0351 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMarty Shoemaker - Sex, Psychology, & HumanismDr. Martin Shoemaker SEX, PSYCHOLOGY, AND HUMANISMDivorced: Evangelical ChristianityDr. Martin Shoemaker was raised in a devout evangelical Christian home in California. While attending Fuller Seminary, his faith was fragmented by studying theology and secular psychology at the same time. He left the church and finished his PhD in clinical psychology, eventually discovering humanism through friends in Canada. For the last several years, Marty has volunteered as a humanist chaplain in British Columbia, which is where we met at a local event for atheists, skeptics, and humanists. In this episode, Dr. Shoemaker discusses h...2023-03-011h 11The Divorcing Religion PodcastLuna Corbden - Mormon ManipulationLuna Corbden Mormon Manipulation Divorced: MormonismLuna Lindsey Corbden was born into the LDS (Mormon) Church and left the faith at age 26. Autistic and gender fluid, they are an advocate for marginalized people within or at the fringes of authoritarian religions, particularly Mormonism. Their book, Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control, helps religious trauma survivors unpack their conditioning by deconstructing the manipulation techniques used by the LDS church. Today, we discuss what led Luna to divorce Mormonism, as well as some of the specific manipulation tactics used by the Mormon church to dr...2023-02-2748 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastRyan Stollar - The Bible: No Friend to ChildrenRyan Stollar THE BIBLE: NO FRIEND TO CHILDREN RYAN STOLLAR is a researcher, advocate, and author. He was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school graduation before attaining both a Master of Human Services in Child Protection and A Master of Arts in Eastern Classics. He has worked with high school students in homeschool communities and is co-founder of the viral website HOMESCHOOLERS ANONYMOUS.An advocate for children and abuse survivors, Ryan has run numerous social media campaigns for child advocacy organizations. He is a “child liberation theologian,” and his upcoming book is called The Kingdo...2023-02-2248 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJerusha Lofland - Homeschool HellJerusha Lofland HOMESCHOOL HELLDivorced: Fundamentalist Christianity and IBLP CultJerusha Lofland was homeschooled by extremists in Michigan, along with her 10 younger siblings. Her quest for truth led her first out of Bill Gothard’s IBLP cult, then away from Evangelicalism, then freed her from religion altogether. In this episode, Jerusha shares what it was like growing up in an extremist Christian household with very little freedom to explore the outside world - and what it was like to set herself free. FIND JERUSHA:Jerusha blogged her journey from Christian fundamentalism to a...2023-02-171h 07The Divorcing Religion PodcastEmily Hedrick - Finding and Leaving Progressive ChristianityEMILY HEDRICKDON’T F*CK THE FLOCKDivorced: Mennonite ChristianityIn addition to having her M.Div, Emily Hedrick is a Certified Trauma Support Specialist, a certified Forward Facing coaching practitioner, and a religious-trauma informed spirituality coach. Deconstructing since age 17, Emily roamed religious circles as an atheist for over a decade,and spent four of those years as a pastor! Godless since 2020, Emily enjoys connecting people with others who understand and empathize with experiences of religious harm. Today, Emily shares her (sometimes painful) deconversion journey and experiences as a female pastor, including relationship instructions fou...2023-02-171h 03The Divorcing Religion PodcastMary Burkhart - Leaving The Black ChurchMary Burkhart: Leaving the Black ChurchDivorced: Apostolic ChristianityTW: CSA, suicidal thoughtsMary Burkhart grew up in the Apostolic/Pentecostal Christian traditions and was heavily indoctrinated into her faith, remaining devout for over 20 years. Her deconstruction journey took her to some very dark places, and nearly cost Mary her life. She is now a Religious Trauma Life Coach, after 10 years of personal religious deconstruction. On this episode of the Divorcing Religion Podcast, Mary shares about her journey, as a Black woman, out of faith and into coaching others recovering from RTS....2023-02-1049 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDavid Teachout - When Bible College Kills FaithDavid Teachout Divorced: ChristianityDavid Teachout has his Master’s in both forensic psychology and counseling psychology, and he is currently working on a doctorate in clinical psychology. He grew up as a Christian fundamentalist, attending a bible college where he received a BA in theology and psychology - and deconverted in the middle of it all! This year, David spoke at the Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT2022) about navigating marriage when one spouse leaves religion and the other remains a Believer. In this interview, David shares what it was like to lose his faith while att...2023-02-0958 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastRick Pidcock - Courage to QuestionRick PidcockDivorced: Christian FundamentalismRick is a graduate of Bob Jones University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible. He recently completed a Master of Arts degree in worship from Northern Seminary. After twenty years of leading worship in churches, Rick embarked on a season of spiritual healing where he learned to face his wounds and discover the wonders he had long been suppressing. His journey led him off the stage and drew him home. As a freelance writer, he is also a stay-at-home father of five children and produces music under t...2023-02-0352 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJennifer French - Trapped in a Mystical CultJennifer French Divorced: Christian mystical cultJennifer French is a cult and religious recovery counsellor with a Master’s degree in the psychology of coercive control. She was a member of a Christian mystical cult for 11 years, and this year she addressed us at the Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT2022). Jennifer is host of the Project Hope Podcast for families and friends with loved ones in high-control/high-demand groups. Today, she shares what drew her to a cult and how she eventually left.FIND JENNIFER:https://www.jennifer-french.com/https://www.instagram.com...2023-02-0156 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastPesach Eisen - From Orthodox to AdvocatePESACH EISENDivorced: Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic JudaismPesach Eisen is a trained psychotherapist and researcher with a focus on the intersection of religious disaffiliation and mental health. Pesach was raised in an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish faith community, from which he gradually departed during his 20s. Today, we explore what it was like to grow up in such a fundamentalist environment, and how he Divorced Religion.Contact Pesach:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/choice-and-rebirthhttps://footstepsorg.org/T: @pesachologySupport this podcast on Patreon and get access to bonus content...2023-01-271h 03The Divorcing Religion PodcastAngela Soffe - Rising StarAngela SoffeDivorced: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism)Angela Soffe was raised in the Philippines in an Argentine-American family. She is a rising star in the music world whose work and story have been featured in independent films, commercials, and podcasts worldwide. Her music reflects moving out of personal darkness and the challenges of stepping away from 30 years in Mormonism. We met when Angela agreed to speak at the inaugural Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT2021). Today, Angela opens up about what it was like to lose her faith and the challenges...2023-01-2552 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastElam Zook - Amish NonconformistELAM ZOOKDivorced: Traditional Amish ChristianityElam Zook is a writer, activist, and community organizer addressing Amish and plain community issues. His work has been published in The Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies. Elam's efforts were instrumental in organizing the groundbreaking Disrupting History: Reclaiming Our Amish Story conference, which challenged conventional narratives of Amish life. Elam refers to himself as “nonconforming Amish.” Today, we will be discussing the pressing need for Amish children to receive a better education than is currently required under United States law.Find Elam:http://theam...2023-01-211h 03The Divorcing Religion PodcastCaleb Lack - Treating religious fear & anxietyDr. CALEB LACKDivorced: ChristianityCaleb W. Lack, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma. A licensed clinical psychologist, he is an award-winning educator and bestselling author of six books. He specializes in the treatment of children and adults with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.Dr. Lack is the former director of the Secular Therapy Project, which aims to bring together non-religious persons seeking mental health treatment with secular, evidence-based providers. He spoke at the Conference on Religious Trauma in 2022 on the topic of Overcoming Fear...2023-01-1852 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastClint Heacock - From Missional Metalhead to Ex-ChristianClint Heacock Divorced: Evangelical ChristianityDr. Clint Heacock is an ex-evangelical pastor and Bible college teacher of over 20 years who is now committed to helping formerly religious people unpick their indoctrination, mind control, and conditioning - and take back their lives. You may recognize Clint as the host of MindShift podcast, and as a speaker at the Conference on Religious Trauma earlier this year (CORT2022). In this episode of the Divorcing Religion podcast, Clint gets personal about life in and out of religion.FIND CLINT:https://mindshiftpodcast.co.uk/https://twitter.com/M...2023-01-131h 00The Divorcing Religion PodcastDavid Smalley - Mothers, Music, & Mental HealthDavid C. SmalleyDivorced: ChristianityIn addition to being a successful comedian and actor with over 100 million views on TikTok, David C. Smalley has also hosted his own podcast for over 12 years, making over 600 episodes, downloaded some 60 MILLION times. The David C. Smalley podcast includes discussions that are inspiring and funny, with cordial debates on skepticism, religion, spirituality, politics, and more. I was privileged to join David on one of his episodes to discuss religious trauma and recovery, and in this episode of the Divorcing Religion podcast I chat with him about his former faith, h...2023-01-1152 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDavid Smalley - Mothers, Music, & Mental HealthDavid C. SmalleyDivorced: ChristianityIn addition to being a successful comedian and actor with over 100 million views on TikTok, David C. Smalley has also hosted his own podcast for over 12 years, making over 600 episodes, downloaded some 60 MILLION times. The David C. Smalley podcast includes discussions that are inspiring and funny, with cordial debates on skepticism, religion, spirituality, politics, and more. I was privileged to join David on one of his episodes to discuss religious trauma and recovery, and in this episode of the Divorcing Religion podcast I chat with him about his former faith, h...2023-01-1153 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMatt Dillahunty - The Godfather of AtheismDivorced: ChristianityToday’s guest is skeptic, magician, and snake-breeder Matt Dillahunty!Raised Southern Baptist, Matt once considered becoming a minister. Eventually, he lost all belief in the tenets of Christianity and became an atheist. In addition to being a well known speaker and debater, Matt has hosted and co-hosted numerous popular shows on atheism including NonProphets Radio and The Atheist Experience. Currently, Matt is hosting the popular show “The Hang Up” on You Tube. In this episode of the Divorcing Religion Podcast, Matt shares his journey out of Christianity and how it impacte...2023-01-0259 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastJillian Aurora - Unapologetic WomanJillian is a women's self-worth group facilitator as well as a family mediator who practices in Boise, Idaho. Jillian has 13 years of experience working in the mental health field and has her bachelors in criminal justice, with a minor in psychology. Jillian's primary passion is facilitating support groups and courses to women through her practice at Goddess LLC, where she specializes in empowerment and self-worth. Jillian has served on the Idaho Mediation Association board for three years and has served as the interim Vice President for one year. Jillian is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation...2022-12-2652 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastBeatrice Weber - From Powerless to PowerhouseBeatrice Weber was raised in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and was married off to a Rabbi in an arranged marriage before graduating high school. She is a published Author, speaker, education advocate, and mother of 10.In 2019, she filed a complaint with NYC and NYS on behalf of her youngest son, since he was not receiving a basic education. In 2020 she was featured in a New York Times video Op-ed, calling on the politicians and education officials to step in and ensure that all children in NYS receive an education.Contact Beatrice:https://beatriceweber.c...2022-12-191h 02The Divorcing Religion PodcastHemant Mehta - The Friendliest AtheistHEMANT MEHTADivorced: JainismHemant Mehta is the founder and editor of FriendlyAtheist.com, a YouTube creator, and podcast co-host. He is a former National Board Certified math teacher in the suburbs of Chicago and continues to coach a competitive public speaking team. He has appeared on CNN and FOX News and served on the board of directors for Foundation Beyond Belief and the Secular Student Alliance. He has written multiple books, including I Sold My Soul on eBay and The Young Atheist's Survival Guide. He also edited the book Queer Disbelief. Today, Hemant shares candidly...2022-12-1346 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastCourtney Heard - QAnon VictimsToday’s guest is my friend in real life, Courtney Heard. We met when I was preparing the first Conference on Religious Trauma and she offered me her marketing expertise. As two atheists, we clicked immediately. Through the years we have co-hosted a podcast together (Godless Moms Podcast) and now, with her husband John, Courtney has launched a new podcast that is extremely timely: The Q-Dropped Podcast. Survivors of Religious Trauma Syndrome will recognize the angst her guests share around how the Q conspiracy has alienated them from loved ones swept up in the cult. FIND COURTNEY:2022-12-0555 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastErin Louis - Wife, Mother, StripperErin Louis: Wife, Mother, Author and StripperDivorced: CatholicismErin Louis was raised a soft Catholic and is a former stripper and author. She has written 3 nonfiction books about stripping:Dirty Money: Memoirs of a Stripper https://amzn.to/3UdTAfR (her memoir)Think you want to be a Stripper? (an insider's look at the industry), https://amzn.to/3EJxsEf andExpose Yourself (a book about atheism, humanism, and critical thinking). https://amzn.to/3ilSAZEErin has most recently published a book of short erotic stories and co-authored a cr...2022-11-2856 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMandisa Thomas - Black Nonbeliever, Kick-ass LeaderToday's guest is New York City native Mandisa L. Thomas, who is the founder and president of Black Nonbelievers, Inc. While Mandisa escaped religious indoctrination, today she shares candidly about overcoming other harmful forms of indoctrination and why she started Black Nonbelievers.Contact Mandisa:http://www.blacknonbelievers.orgIG: @mandisa0904T: @mandy0904Support this podcast on Patreon and get access to bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/janiceselbieSPECIAL THANKS to our newest patrons: Sacha, Anne, Paul, and Sheila!Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/r...2022-11-2156 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastDr. Bradley Onishi of SWAJBradley Onishi grew up in a nonreligious home in California before his extreme conversion to evangelicalism at age 14. By age 20 he was married and leading a 200-student youth group. After 7 years in ministry, he decided to pursue his Masters in Theology at Oxford University - where he ended up deconstructing his faith. Today, Dr. Onishi is a social commentator, scholar, writer, teacher, coach, and co-host of the Straight White American Jesus (SWAJ) podcast, a religion and politics podcast that focuses on Christian Nationalism in the United States.His writing has been published in the New York Times, L...2022-11-1451 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastMarlene Winell - Coming OutDivorced: ChristianityDr. Marlene Winell is a psychologist and author of Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion. She is a pioneer in the field of religious trauma, having worked in religious recovery for over 30 years, and she originated the term “Religious Trauma Syndrome.” After I read her book and attended one of her retreats, Dr. Winell became my friend and mentor. She has spoken at each of my Conferences on Religious Trauma, as well as made a guest appearance at the Shameless Sexuality: Life After...2022-11-0748 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastShirley Fessel - Domestic Violence, in Jesus' NameShirley Fessel is a religious domestic abuse survivor advocate with Masters in both Counseling and Education from Wichita State University. Raised Catholic, Shirley married a Baptist minister who suffered from mental illness and abused Shirley and their children. Shirley was eventually able to flee with her children and begin building a safe life for herself with no help or support from her religious community. Putting her counseling and communication expertise to work, Shirley developed the Redemption from Biblical Battering workbook, a self-help workbook for abused women of faith which provides a faith-based path to freedom from spiritual and domestic...2022-10-3159 minThe Divorcing Religion PodcastAlice Greczyn - The Mindf*cks of FaithTrigger Warning: SuicidalityAlice Greczyn is an actress, writer, and the founder of Dare to Doubt. Midwest-raised and L.A.-based, the Eurasian performer is best known for her role as Mads Rybak on Freeform’s The Lying Game, and occasionally someone recognizes her from the Twitch-streamed all-girls Dungeons & Dragons group Girls, Guts, Glory. Alice is fascinated by the subjective experience of life which she explores through acting and storytelling. Her own story includes a painful but rewarding transition out of evangelical Christianity, a journey that inspired her to found DaretoDoubt.org, a resource site for people de...2022-10-131h 09