Deconstructing the Myth

My guest today Esther Goetz shares her story of growing up as a missionary kid who is now a deconstructed adult. She shares her experiences and wisdom about how to navigate a shifting faith in light of being a parent and someone who receives criticism for her public deconstruction platforms. We have such a great chat in store for you!

estherjoygoetz.com

@estherthedollymama

@momsofbigs

Facebook:

Deconstructing Mamas

Moms of Bigs

Esther, the Dolly Mama

Deconstructing Mamas podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deconstructing-mamas/id1612182466

Today I get to chat with singer/songwriter Alanah Sabatini who is a former evangelical worship leader. We discuss her deconstruction, how it impacted her songwriting and life, her new single “True Colors,” and more!

Instagram

@alanah.don’t.wanna

TikTok

Alanahsabatini.bandcamp.com

Discord https://discord.com/invite/6Gfdkw77m8

True Colors (Hymn Rewrite of ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’

My guest today is Grace Dellis—the creator and curator of Hyssop + Laurel, a grassroots arts and literary magazine for religious deconstructionists. We discuss her deconstruction journey, the intersection between trauma and religion, and the bridge that art can make for creatives leaving behind toxic religous systems and idealogies.

Instagram:

@gracedellis

@hyssopandlaurel

hyssopandlaurel.com

Her chapbook “Signs and Wonders”:

https://bottlecap.press/products/wonders

Today’s guest is podcaster, speaker, former pastor, and musician Matt Kendziera who shares his story of being kicked out of the urban church he started and suddenly finding himself on the outside looking in and deciding to try a new approach. We discuss his new book Bring it Home: The Adventure of Finding Yourself after Being Lost in Religionand on how to keep joy in the middle of our deconstruction experiences.

Check out

www.mattkendziera.com

Podcast: Chasing Goodness

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chasing-goodness-formerly-jesus-never-ran-faith-that/id1456202761

Amazon Link to “Bring it Home”

https://a.co/d/2ECZ2C8

Audible Link

https://www.audible.com/pd/Bring-It-Home-Audiobook/B0BVPQ46M4?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Today’s guest is Keith from @unnecessarynoisesman . As a neurodivergent who found the Evangelical environment he grew up in to be extremely detrimental for his mental and social health/development, Keith shares some of his darkest moments, how he found the way through them, and how he hopes to build a brighter future for those who may find themselves in similar situations through a unique community called Arcem. We discuss his views on the dangers of corporate religion, the importance of personal spirituality and development, and new ways to think about religion outside of the framework we’ve always known.

Follow him on Instagram at @unnecessarynoisesman

My conversation today is with Cynthia Vacca Davis about her book “Intersexion: A Story of Faith, Identity, and Authenticity” concerning her intersex friend Danny. We discuss how seeking to bring Danny’s story to the public caused unique tension in the Evangelical spaces Cynthia was a part of, as well as how to navigate the grey spaces of our faith by pressing into the core call to love others well.

cynthiavaccadavis.com

Lake Drive Books Author’s Page:

https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/#authors

Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Intersexion-Story-Faith-Identity-Authenticity/dp/1957687061?nodl=1&dplnkId=b1cc8725-c085-46b3-beba-5bb3eb2f6150

Barnes and Noble Link:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/intersexion-cynthia-vacca-davis/1141792977

Welcome to Season 3! Today’s guest is a prolific writer who has been a source of comfort and wisdom for me and so many others experiencing deconstruction.

Liz Milani from the Practice Co. discusses the power of nuance, the importance of naming and unnamming things during deconstruction, and how deconstruction intersects with parenting.

Connect with Liz at

www.thepracticeco.com

Instagram:

@thepracticeco

In today’s episode we answer questions we received during this past season about the podcast and our own spiritualities.

Nervous about discussing your deconstruction journey with critical relatives and friends? This episode is for you! We unpack 8 tips that can help you navigate uncomfortable conversations based around deconstruction.

1. Take honest inventory of the situation

2. Reframe your goal in “coming out” about deconstruction so it’s not based on their response alone

3. Be educated

4. Remember you don’t have to share everything all at once

5. If there is a boundary you want to set, rehearse it ahead of time

6. Say how you would like to be supported

7. Circle back to common ground

8. Have someone safe you can follow up with afterwards

In our final episode of Season 2 we deconstruct the concept of slavery in the Bible concerning how it compares to chattel slavery in America and how Christian leaders and preachers have incorporated the Bible in their arguments for and against slavery.

Join us, Liz Mall (Biola M.A. in Christian Apologetics) and historian Jenny White (Harvard M.A. in Museum Studies) as we begin to deconstruct slavery in the Bible together by asking the tough questions and providing resources to get you started on your own journey of digging below the surface of the Bible’s toughest passages.

Check out our show notes at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1itk0mgw9pmeWXCir1C7YW076N6KjJPQ8ksdoWL6Eb1w/edit