Deconstructing Mamas

"We never had certainty we just thought we did. We convinced ourselves we could absolutely be sure. Now we know the truth and the next step is to find peace in that uncertainty and maybe even be happy about it, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves." Marla Taviano in her new book “Whole” (with a nod to words by Rilke) 

Our episode this week is with Marla Taviano, the author of several books, some of our favorites being her trilogy of poetry called Unbelieve, Jaded, and Whole. Marla is into: books, love, justice, globes, anti-racism, blue, gray, rainbows, poems (and a hundred other things). She reads and writes for a living (and a life). She's a single mom to four freaking awesome grownish kids. And we especially love this: Marla is on a mission/ quest/ journey to live wholeFARTED (not a typo).

Some of the topics we explore are these:

• Being able to “find peace in the uncertainty” and “have patience with everything unresolved in your heart.”
• What makes her "FART?" (and find out what might make you FART as well.)
• The normal deconstruction process of unbelieving, becoming jaded and then moving toward wholeness.
• Poetry as an instrument of healing both for us and our kids.
• Navigating the ebb and flow while trying to parent and deconstruct at the same time.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were breathe, jaded, free, FART, certainty, unbelieve, embrace, whole. Find out why when you listen.

You can find Marla at the following:

Instagram: @marlataviano

Facebook: Marla Taviano

Website: itsmemarla.com

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

"Our fight is not against men but against the systems of imbalanced power that keep women and nonbinary people from flourishing in the fullness of our gifts and offering this world the best we have to offer.” Liz Cooledge Jenkins 

Our episode this week is with Liz Cooledge Jenkins, preacher, writer and author of the book, Nice Churchy Patriarchy. Liz has a gentleness, yet brilliance about her and this conversation couldn't have been more enlightening and engaging.

Some of the topics we explore are these:

• The definition of the Patriarchy and some insidious ways it has harmed both women, men and non-binary people.
• The different faces of misogyny.
• The systems of imbalanced power.
• Should we have a matriarchy?
• Supporting our kids in new belief systems while we are still wading through the toxic beliefs of our childhoods.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were swinging, rapper, imbalance, Stratego, flourishing and insidious. Find out why when you listen.

You can find Liz at the following:

Instagram: @lizcoolj and @postevangelicalprayers

Website: lizcooledgejenkins.com

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

“If I widen the lens and see this concept from a new perspective, then yes, I do matter. I do have purpose. I’ve just redefined my view of purpose. I’ve taken the pressure off. And I’ve started to find fulfillment, contentment, and gratification in small actions that matter." Sarah W. Bragg 

Our episode this week is with Sarah W. Bragg, mom of two teens, author of the new book, Is Everyone Happier Than Me?, and podcast host.

Sarah's humor, combined with her tenderness and strength, lends itself to an incredible conversation.

Some of the topics we explore are these:

• Where her spiritual journey falls into the thoughts that keep her up at night.
• Healthy boundaries with social media. Fostering connection without comparison.
• Building true connection with ourselves, especially if we have spent our lives being told that connection to self was unimportant or wrong.
• The role of play and pleasure in coming back to ourselves.
• Redefining purpose.
• What really matters?
• The valuable role of curiosity.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were pressure off, play, pleasure, edges, Real Housewives, and 3 am. Find out why when you listen.

You can find Sarah at the following:

Instagram: @sarahwbragg

Facebook: Sarah Washington Bragg

Website: sarahbragg.com

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

“Christian Nationalism is harmful to both Christianity and the country.” April Ajoy 

Our episode this week is with April Ajoy, author of the new book, Star-Spangled Jesus, former Christian Nationalist, podcast host and deconstructing mom of two.

April has a fierce passion to recover from the wounds of toxic Christianity and how it plays out in the political arena and to help others do the same. If you feel like you would like to understand more about exactly what Christian Nationalism is and learn more about the hope we still have in this volatile time in our history, this podcast episode is for you.

Some of the topics we explore are these:

• How Christian Nationalism began and why it's so dangerous.
• Why it's important to disentangle faith from politics.
• Advice for those of us who feel conflicted, but are afraid of the personal and social consequences of questioning our beliefs.
• How we prevent becoming what we’ve walked away from.
• Parenting through curious faith and the current political climate.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were things like demons, witchcraft, big tent, pressure off, loosely, empathy, Christian Nationalism, and liberate. Find out why when you listen.

You can find April at the following:

Instagram: @aprilajoy

Tiktok: @aprilajoy

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

“Your soul is waiting for you to say yes to it again.” Rachel Marie Martin 

Our episode this week is with Rachel Marie Martin, the ever-popular social media site called "Finding Joy."  She is the author of three books, the biological mom of seven, the bonus mom to four and the daughter of church planters.

Rachel has a fierce passion to be vulnerable and tell her story in all its "rawness."  Why is she so raw? Because that’s her heart and in sharing she hopes you too unearth and celebrate your own bravery, story and purpose.

If you feel like you have lost your "spark" or don't know if you are allowed to or find yourself unable to truly experience joy, this podcast episode is for you.

Some of the topics we explore are these:

• Rediscovering your spark, especially for those of us who feel lost or stuck in your own story.
  
  
• What a "soul map" is and how to create it.
  
  
• How we can get our spark backin the midst of wiping baby butts and driving kids all over creation.
  
  
• Wisdom for those who are just feeling so overwhelmed in their day-to-day.
  
  
• Helping our kids to love their own story and embrace who they are early on, perhaps fanning their “spark” so they never lose it.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were things like "soul map" and "unstuck" and "brave"  "wondering." Find out why when you listen.

You can find Rachel at the following:

Website:  Finding Joy

Instagram: @finding_joy

Facebook:  Finding Joy

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

Body and spirit marry in the chapel of the soul. They marry every minute of every day, in all activities and in all inactivity, in all thoughts and in all actions, or they marry not at all. (If) They don’t marry, we do not know sexuality with soul, and therefore our sexuality remains incomplete and insufficiently human. We do not find the soul of sex by spiritualizing the body but by coming to appreciate its mysteries and by daring to enter into its sensuousness. --Thomas Moore

Our episode this week is with Dr. Kelly Edmiston, who erves as the Lead Pastor at the Vineyard Church in Stafford, Texas. She enjoys suburban life with her husband Ben, and their three children. Kelly's passion is the intersection between spirituality and sexuality and providing space for all people to learn to live free from shame.

If you have been harmed by purity culture, don't know what to do with yourself and your own sexuality or if you struggle with receiving pleasure and especially if you don't know how to broach the subject with your kids, this podcast episode is for you.

Some of the topics we explore are these:

• The harm of purity culture and why parents who are "deconstructing their faith" struggle to talk to their kids.
• Contemplative practices for kids of every age when it comes to the intertwining of the body and the soul.
• Why pleasure matters and how it can lead us to God.
• How parents can embody a "sex-positive" message.
• Difficult topics such as hookup culture, masturbation, pornography or sexual identity within the framework of spiritual sexuality.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were things like "toenails" and "reparent" and "desire" and "practices" and "authority." Find out why when you listen.

You can find Kelly at the following:

Substack: Kelly Edminston

Instagram: @kmedmiston

Facebook: Kelly Michelle Edmiston

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

I found the freedom to take up space instead of trying to conform to a mold forged in the fire of the empire. The truth is that to become comfortable in my skin and with my scars, I had to leave a place where scars had to stay hidden. In the space of the wilderness, I learned to like all that was OTHER about me. And I hope you give yourself permission to like all that is OTHER about you, too.
Jenai Auman

Our episode this week is with Jenai Auman, a Filipina-American mom, author of the book, Othered, storyteller and artist. She lives in Houston, TX with her husband and two boys. Drawing from her years of church ministry experience, education, and trauma-related training, she writes on healing, hope and the way forward for those who have experienced spiritual abuse and religious trauma.

If you feel “othered” and unwelcome in traditional Christian spaces, this podcast episode is for you.

Some of the topics we explore are these:

• Marginalization within the church.
• How Jenai's personal journey as a biracial individual shaped her understanding of belonging and exclusion, both within the church and in broader society.
• How people who feel marginalized by the church can cultivate a sense of belonging within themselves, even when the community around them fails to provide it.
• How the journey toward self-belonging impacts the way we relate to others, especially those who may still be part of the religious institutions that caused harm.
• Wisdom for parents who want to guide their children through the process of finding or creating their own spiritual belonging.
• How to navigate the balance between teaching our children about faith and protecting them from the potential harm that can come from toxic religious environments
• Some practical ways to create a family culture that embraces belonging and inclusion.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were things like "empire" and "safe" and "chosen" and "EMO Joanne Gaines." Find out why when you listen.

You can find Jenai at the following:

Website: jenaiauman.com

Instagram: @jenaiauman

Facebook: Jenai Auman

Threads: @jenaiauman

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

One purpose of healing is to be able to experience joy. Our subconscious seeks what is familiar. Joy without guilt is not familiar to many. (Chelsea Haines)

We start off Season Six (can you believe it?) with Chelsea Haines, otherwise known as @yourgutsygal and the founder of the Gut Health Agency. So many of you have asked "what do we do now" to move into a healthy and wholistic body/spiritual space, and if this is you, this podcast episode is for you.

On this episode, we explore the idea of healing our nervous system through our gut, but it's certainly not just our physical gut, but also our inner "gut" as it communicates with our souls. Some of the topics we explore are these:

• How our physical, emotional and spiritual are intertwined and why that's so important in our healing.
• How trauma as a result of high-control religion might produce chronic physical symptoms and how we can heal from that.
• Neuroplasticity and memory reconsolidation and how this might be key in our healing journeys.
• Why joy is so often paired with guilt and how we can work to experience pure joy in our lives.
• How all this plays out in our parenting journeys.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were things like "energetic sponges" and "edges" and "random bombardment" and "" and "firm wall." Find out why when you listen.

You can find Chelsea at the following:

Website: theguthealthagency.com

Instagram: @yourgutsygal

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

We tend to look for answers outside ourselves. From books. Church. From friends or family. Even from society. We are called deeper, to sink down inside ourselves, where what we need is intertwined with what the Divine has to offer us. The place where we can trust and rest and then go and do. (Esther Goetz)

Our guest this week is our very own Esther Goetz. Esther is a deconstructing mama of four, an author and spiritual director, dedicated to helping you take your next step in the growth of your soul.

On this episode, we explore the very important idea of reclaiming our internal authority that was taken away from us by high-control religion, culture and even family systems.

We chat in depth about these ideas:

• The value of spiritual direction, what it is not and what it is.
• The difficulty of moving from external authority to internal authority. Some of the messages we’ve received in high-control religion.
• The importance of embarking on this journey to discover ourselves and take up the mantle of making decisions from a place of internal authority.
• Some practical tools for reclaiming our own internal authority.
• Taking the practices of spiritual direction and applying them to our parenting.
• Resources that Esther has for those who find themself parenting and in this ever-evolving faith journey.

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were things like "companionship" and "connection" and "divine spark" and "holy listening" and "midwifery." Find out why when you listen.

LASTLY, we have a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT at the end of the podcast about a resource that's coming up in the summer! WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT!

You can find Esther at the following:

Website: estherjoygoetz.com

Spiritual Direction: Heard and Held

Spiritual/Author Spaces:

Facebook:  Esther, the Dolly Mama
Instagram: @estherthedollymama

Moms of Big Kids:

Facebook: Moms of Bigs
Instagram: @momsofbigs

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting

“We are meaning-making machines. Chaos is uncomfortable, and thinking that everything that happens to us is due to random chance feels cold and impersonal. The brain seeks out patterns and order when they are not necessarily present.” Sarah Henn Hayward

Our guest this week is Sarah Henn Hayward. Sarah is a mom of two, an author and our first self-proclaimed agnostic/atheist on the podcast. To say that our conversation was fascinating and enlightening would be an understatement.

On this episode, we explore these topics:

• Unpacking the realization that so much of our former faith was about control and distraction from the realities of life. We were looking for safety and consistency and a formula to explain all of life’s pain.
  
  
• Embracing the uncomfortable choas/mystery/the "I don't know"
  
  
• What happened when Sarah finally said the words "I don't believe in God" out loud
  
  
• Deconstructing faith when it leads to actual de-conversion or agnosticism/atheism
  
  
• Navigating parenting with a partner who is still believes in God.
  
  

Our favorite words from this podcast episode were things like "mystery" and "wonder" and "peace" and "what if." Find out why when you listen.

You can find Sarah at the following:

Website: sarahhennhayward.com

Instagram:  @shaywardwrites

Facebook:  Sarah Henn Hayward

Brilliant Beaver Guidebook - Audio Version
Engage kids aged 6-9 with fun, screen-free activities from the world of scouting