Between Two Worlds

Between Two Worlds

By Scott TroutReligion & Spirituality
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Between Two Worlds episodes

  • 8. Witchcraft, Hinduism, and Fundamentalists in Connecticut-- Irina Barsky (Part 1)

    A Real Spiritual Rollercoaster with Irina Barsky. Irina has lived in seven different countries, visited over thirty, and been exposed to nearly every major religion. She is an IT project manager for a major company in Amsterdam, Scott and Joey’s improv classmate, and a feisty ginger with an important story to tell.

    Irina's Story:

    It is one of how the supernatural intermingles with the world in some unpleasant ways and how to make sense of it. Her dad is Russian/Austrian and her mom is Colombian. They brought an open minded approach to the world that allowed Irina to experience all sorts of beliefs from an early age. From the pews of a Catholic mass, to the revival tent of an evangelist, to the pumpkin black magic test of a Venezuelan witch doctor, to the teachings of a Hindu guru, and even to the rigid home of some Connecticut Christians, Irina has experienced it all and developed some strong opinions about religion along the way. Now she resides in Amsterdam, still prays to “God” because that is what she is used to, and believes more in assertiveness than in any sort of organized religion. Her story is a warning of just how twisted our religious good intentions can become.


    Questions for the Community:

    -What does the term fundamentalists mean to you? 

    -Where does one cross the line between extreme devotion to one’s belief and not imposing that devotion on others? 

    -What do you believe about the paranormal—something in our heads, souls of the unresolved departed, or part of the cosmic battle between light and dark crashing into our human existence?  


    Follow Irina on Instagram: @irinoskyb  

    Message Us:

    You can e-mail (https://[email protected]/) us your questions directly

    or follow us on Instagram or facebook (@betweentwoworldspodcast) and become part of the conversation.

    Also find us on YouTube: (BetweenTwoWorlds - YouTube)

    57 min
  • 7. Sex, Baptism, and That One Russian Baby Video-- Douglas Turner (Part 2)

    Douglas’ experience of being attracted to the same sex and being a Christian, including whether or not he can truly be himself within the church not knowing how everyone feels about his sexuality, as well as his experience of true friendship that came from opening up about his story.  

    Also discussed was baptism and why someone would do it, the nature of faith and how even something like gravity we believe on faith, and sex and when it is at its best. Scott argues that sex is best when it is separated from performance, and that Christianity tries to bring commitment fully into the picture with sex. Lastly, Joey told us about a Russian baby baptism video and how one night stands can get really weird.” 

    Questions for the Community: 
    What do you think makes sex the most beautiful possible? 
    To what extent does sexuality define the identity of a person? 
    Have you been baptized and what did it mean to you? 
    You can find Douglas on instagram: @douglasturner

    Follow us on Instagram @betweentwoworldspodcast

    Original Release: 8/21/20


    52 min
  • 6. Defined By Something Other Than Sexuality --Douglas Turner’s Story of Same Sex Attraction and Christianity

    Former fashion designer for Tommy Hilfiger, Scott’s co-worker with the Navigators in Amsterdam, and a Brit on a team with six Americans, Douglas Turner, shares his story of same sex attraction and Christianity. His has been a journey of figuring out what defines him: the people around him, the “religion” he was raised in, his sexuality, or his relationship with Jesus; as well as how to find true connection with other people. 

    Topics Discussed:

    • How a desire for social work and a Christian co-worker in the fashion industry opened up Douglas’ eyes to what a relationship with Jesus could look like. 
    • How that personal relationship was different than his religious upbringing.
    • Ways in which we project someone’s sexuality onto them.
    • Douglas’ encounter with Jesus while biking the streets of Amsterdam.
    • And how spiritual connection with someone can better than sex.
    • Links:
      -Follow Douglas on Instagram @douglasturner__
      -Follow the Nav work in Amsterdam on Instagram @niamsterdam
      -Join the same program that helped Douglas ask questions about the Christian faith: www.alpha.org/try-alpha/
      -Join social work programs in Amsterdam, such as Serve the City: www.stcamsterdam.nl

      Follow us and DM us your answers on Instagram @betweentwoworldspodcast

      Intro song by: Matthew Lee Lohr

      Outro song by: Jan-Pieter Eversdijk

      Original Release 8/14/20


      52 min
    • 5. Escape from An Orthodox Monastery--Kristina Jak’s Story of Spirituality Away from Christianity

      Improv actor, professional artist, and practitioner of Radical Honesty, Kristina Jak, shares her journey to find “the one true way.” It all started in Russia where she was born and things took a turn toward religion when her dad found the Russian orthodox faith. His deep dive split the family and left Kristina with a lot of black and white thinking. When she moved in with her mom in Finland she was exposed to a much different spiritual environment where no one cared much for organized religion. Kristina was left with competing narratives, and sought out the most holy place she could find: a monastery. Of all places, she must be able to find God here, but all she found was more dogma, more join us and never leave, and more rules. After escaping she found herself turning from one “true way” to the other.   

      Recently, she has found healing from the religious rule-following she had submitted to, starting with finding her own voice and her own sense of autonomy with her beliefs. She is still on the journey and is learning to follow her body as the best guide she has for what to do next.   

      Kristina is also a wonderful artist, you can follow her on instagram or on her website at:
      https://kzhacius.wixsite.com/kristinajakart  


      Follow us and DM us your answers on Instagram @betweentwoworldspodcast

      Intro song by: Matthew Lee Lohr

      Outro song by: Jan-Pieter Eversdijk


      1 hr 3 min
    • 4. --A short update so far and a nervous co-host--

      Today is just a short update by Joey, he was nervous so give him some love.


      You can also e-mail us your questions directly or follow our facebook page and become part of the conversation.

      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Betweentwoworldspodcast-109259547523943
      YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCobwHrUQ8G7oGrgduPbAX7w

      9 min
    • 3. Down to Talk About Anything --Joey Vervaart’s Search for Meaning as an Agnostic

      Tech wizard, co-host, and soon to be communications savior of the Dutch economy, Joey Vervaart shares his story of faith, which is largely still in progress. Check out the video for this episode here.  Not raised in any sort of religious background, Joey is truly down to talk about anything. He has friends in all sorts of spiritual practices and loves hearing about why they believe what they believe. Though he hasn’t defined what is out there yet, he believes something is, and this podcast is all part of the journey of figuring it out.

      Want to show Joey some love? Follow him on any social media platform @Livewithjoey.

      Follow us and DM us your answers on Instagram @betweentwoworldspodcast

      Intro song by: Matthew Lee Lohr

      Outro song by: Jan-Pieter Eversdijk

      Original Release 7/24/20


      54 min
    • 2. Navigating Creativity as a Christian--Scott Trout’s Story of Faith

      Actor; missionary; and host of the Between Two Worlds podcast, Scott Trout, shares his story of faith. **Check out the  video of it here.** He gets into why he came back to Christianity in college, the difficulties of being a Christian and an actor, how his wife (Briana) and him ended up in Amsterdam, what they actually do here, what the future holds for them, and Scott’s final message to the world: being creative actually brings you closer to God. As adults we need more of it, not less.  

      Follow us and DM us your answers on Instagram @betweentwoworldspodcast

      Intro song by: Matthew Lee Lohr

      Outro song by: Jan-Pieter Eversdijk

      Follow the Navigator group and their work with the international students in Amsterdam on Instagram: @niamsterdam

      Original Release 7/17/20


      55 min
    • 1. Scott and Joey the Introduction--What Between Two Worlds Is All About--

      Hey everyone and welcome to the first episode of Between Two Worlds, a podcast about belief, unbelief, and everything in between. Check out the video of this episode here!

      In this first episode you will meet the two hosts of the podcast.
      Scott Trout the creator and Joey the tech wizard.
      Together they make other people's stories of faith, religion, and spirituality come to life.
      In this episode Scott and Joey explain to you who they are, how they know each other and also what the podcast is going to be about.

      Follow us and DM us your answers on Instagram @betweentwoworldspodcast

      Intro song by: Matthew Lee Lohr

      Outro song by: Jan-Pieter Eversdijk

      Original Release on 7/10/20


      31 min

    About Between Two Worlds

    From the publisher's feed

    A podcast about belief, un-belief and everything in between.