In this podcast, Kim Honeycutt reconnects with Ana Del Castillo, a Women’s Rightness Expert and Certified Empowerment Coach with over 20 years of experience galvanizing women to embrace authenticity in their lives. This episode delves into pivotal moments in Ana's life that have contributed to her journey of self-discovery. The conversation navigates challenges within therapeutic communities, shedding light on the continuous process of self-awareness. Ana's wealth of experiences emphasizes the importance of compassion and interrupts patterns of self-flagellation. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of personal growth and authenticity.

What They Discuss:

• Reconnecting and discussing pivotal moments in Ana Del Castillo's life
• Focus on self-discovery and authenticity
• Exploration of challenges within therapeutic communities
• Highlighting compassion and interrupting self-flagellation
• Stressing gentleness in returning to oneself and promoting self-kindness for growth
• Exploration of therapeutic modalities such as peer therapy, gestalt therapy, and internal family systems (IFS)
• The transformative power of modalities like Mindlight, incorporating IFS and tapping techniques
• Emphasis on comparing oneself backward and celebrating progress
• Examination of psychological aspects of self-awareness, consciousness, and breaking patterns

About Ana:

Ana Del Castillo is a Women’s Rightness Expert and Certified Empowerment Coach with over 20 years of experience galvanizing women to stop trying to ‘do life right’ and instead be right, in their skin and lives. Through transformative experiences she helps them to discover the freedom of their inherent rightness, no matter the circumstances or events of their lives, and regain their vitality and happiness.

Ana has spoken to audiences all over the country and has coached women rock stars, entrepreneurs and house wives on the power and freedom of authentic rightness.  She’s been featured on NPR, The NY Post, People Magazine, and The Moth. She coaches, speaks, and leads courses on Rightness and she is married and lives in Austin with her husband, her dog and two cats.

Connect

Ana: https://linktr.ee/anadelcastillo

Kim: IG @kbhoneycutt

Join Kim as she talks with Tim Whitaker, the brilliant mind behind the New Evangelicals. Tim shares his experience within the Church and how he has used his deconstruction and reconstruction to assist and comfort many with religious trauma. Tim shares about his visit to the Asbury revival and does a deep dive into why he does what he does for those marginalized within the Church. This is an intense and necessary conversation!

About Tim:

Growing up, Tim always felt at home in evangelical spaces – until years later, when his studying and questions caused him to no longer be welcomed at in his church community. Brokenhearted, but undeterred, Tim continued to pursue a deeper understanding of faith, history, theology, and the evangelical church. The more he uncovers, the more he realizes the importance of advocating for the marginalized in the church, exploring the full depth and breadth of Christian faith traditions, and holding toxic churches and leaders accountable.

Connect:

Tim: www.thenewevangelicals.com and IG @thenewevangelicals

Kim: IG @kbhoneycutt

Michael Shahan is the real deal. His vulnerability, combined with his vast insight into the world of psychology, including the Enneagram, allowed for a fun and informative conversation. Join Kim and Michael as they nerd out on Polyvagal Theory with the Enneagram, couples therapy, and how to be an approachable psychotherapist. Basically, this is free therapy! Enjoy!

About Michael:

Michael Shahan is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist best known for utilizing the Enneagram in his practice and training other therapists and mental health professionals to do the same. His courses, “Enneagram for Therapists” and “Polyvagal Theory and the Enneagram,” are certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors for continuing education. He will also be presenting this year at the 2023 International Enneagram Association Global Conference. Michael is the father of two, lives in Kansas City, and has a semi-secret watercolor hobby that he practices regularly. 

Michael's Enneagram For Therapists Course is a 6-week training that begins April 25th.

You can use code FLIPYOURLID for $50 off at michaelshahan.com 

(direct link with code- https://michaelshahan.com/discount/FLIPYOURLID?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fenneagram-for-therapists-an-enneagram-course-for-therapists-and-mental-health-professionals)

And here's a link to his retreat in Costa Rica: https://trovatrip.com/trip//central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica-with-michael--shahan--oct-2023

We (Larissa and Kim) had the absolute privilege of interviewing Brian McLaren. As many of you know, Brian is a well-known spiritual influencer who has made significant contributions to the world of faith and spirituality. In this episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with him to discuss his life's work, including his four stages of faith development.

We dive deep into who Brian is as a person, his books, and his passion for creating a new kind of Christianity that is inclusive, compassionate, and committed to social justice.

If you're interested in exploring new ideas and perspectives on faith and spirituality, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Tune in now and join us in the conversation!

What We Discuss: 

-Faith vs. Certainty 

-Theology of Change 

-Criticism

-The Four Stages of Faith Development

-How Brian Played a Role in Larissa and Kim's Coming Out Story

-Shaping the Future of Church 

-Mental Health in the Church 

The Four Stages of Faith Development:

The Four Stages of Faith Development that Brian described (after briefly talking about a few of the other models/descriptions that other theologians, psychologists, etc., have put forth) are:

Simplicity — You're either for us or against us.  It's all or nothing.

Complexity — There's more than one way to do things.

Perplexity — Everyone has an opinion.  Who knows who is right?

Harmony/Humility — Seek first God's Kingdom… love God, love neighbors… in essentials unity… focus on a few grand essentials.

About Brian:

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for "a new kind of Christianity" - just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a core faculty member of The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and is a co-host of Southern Lights. His newest books are  Faith After Doubt (January 2021), and Do I Stay Christian? (May 2022).

Connect With Brian:

www.brianmclaren.net

Attorney Lori “Mouth of the South” Murray and Kim sit down and explore Lori’s firsthand experience with the Alex Murdaugh trial. Lori has been on CourtTv and many other media outlets, helping us understand the many facets of this notorious S.C. trial! Lori was in the courtroom during the Murdaugh trial, giving us an idea of the climate. Join them as they discuss the legal and psychological aspects of the Murdaugh family and trial! This powerful podcast combines the two professional worlds that Kim absolutely loves: legal and psychology!

They Discuss:

• TikTok and Attention
• Details of the trial
• Post-psychological impact for all directly involved
• Diagnosis of Alex Murdaugh
• Psychopathy vs. Sociopath
• Narcissism
• Drug addiction & Drug cartel
• Empathy
• Small town mentality

About Lori:

Lori is an aggressive litigator and negotiator focusing on criminal defense and personal injury matters. As a former prosecutor, she has the experience needed to navigate the unknowns of the legal process.

Connect with Lori:

www.lorimurraylaw.com

TikTok: @lawyerlori and IG: @lorimurraylaw

Kim and Tasha Hunter dive into a comparison of the trauma system between the church and the military. Tasha provides her personal account as a Black lesbian who is former military and someone who was deeply entrenched in the church system.

They Discuss:  

• Surviving and Thriving 
• Psychedelic Assisted Therapy 
• Importance of Community 
• Recognizing trauma within authority figures
• Don’t ask, don’t tell psychological damage

Also, please note there is some discussion of sexual assault within the military. Please take care of yourself around this difficult trigger. 

Tasha's Bio:

Tasha Hunter, MSW, LCSW is Black, queer Internal Family Systems therapist and consultant. She is the owner of Ascension Growth Center, PLLC which is located in North Carolina. As a United States Air Force veteran, she primarily serves Black and BIPOC women and the LGBTQ+ community. She is the author of her memoir, "What Children Remember," contributing author in the anthology " She Lives Her Truth", and host of the podcast " When We Speak". She is passionate about speaking about adult child trauma, suicide, and collective healing and liberation.

Connect with Tasha:

www.tashahunterlcsw.com

IG @tashahunterlcsw

Join Kevin Sweeney, host of The Church Needs Therapy podcast and author of The Making of a Mystic: My Journey with Mushrooms, My Life as a Pastor, and Why It's Okay for Everyone to Relax" and "The Joy of Letting Go" as he and Kim discuss the ingredients of surrender and how it might not be what we think it is. Kevin is a calm, compassionate man whose perspective on his relationship with God is refreshing and very encouraging. His new book is fire! Check out our podcast and grab his new book, "The Joy of Letting Go."

• Love
• Surrender
• Learning from the mystics
• Letting go of what you created
• Being in self not being obsessed with SELF

Ether Perel quote, “Love rests on two pillars: surrender and autonomy. Our need for togetherness exists alongside our need for separateness. One does not exist without the other.”

Larissa and I had the absolute honor of interviewing David Hayward, who you probably know as the NakedPastor! David is known for his expansive artwork that depicts the unfortunate experience of many people in parts of the Christian world, and he does it in a way that is incredibly healing. David lives in Canada with his wife and grown children. His experience in the church and in the world as the NakedPastor is intriguing and inspiring. And a side note, David will be here in Charlotte, NC April 2023 to speak on our icuTalks stage!

What we discuss:

• The dream that flipped David's lid
• The story behind The NakedPastor
• Being our most authentic selves
• David's theological journey
• Diverse communities make our lives fuller
• Feeling safe in connection
• Potluck community
• Healing happens when we are safely seen and heard
• Being heard without being hurt

David's Bio:

David Hayward was ordained to the ministry in 1987 and left in 2010. He's been running the NakedPastor blog since 2005, where he posts his provocative cartoons and articles. He launched an online community called The Lasting Supper, a place for people to change without being judged or instructed, and where they can learn to become spiritually independent. He's been cartooning, making art, writing, speaking, and coaching around his core passions: personal authentic freedom, the power to change our own lives, and the creative spirit to make our world a better place. He and his wife live in eastern Canada. They have three adult children.

Connect with David Hayward on IG and FB @nakedpastor and on his website: NakedPastor.com

For David's new book, Flip It Like This: NakedPastor.com/FlipItLikeThis

Mako and Kim discuss his expansive knowledge about abortion, including his book Abortion Policy and Christian Social Ethics in the United States. Mako shares about his Asian-American culture and his love for Jesus. Mako gives a refreshing and thought-provoking description of restorative versus retributive justice. Mako is the Director of the Anastasis Center and schools Kim about its meaning.

Mako Nagasawa (BA/BS Stanford University; MTS Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary) is the Director of The Anástasis Center for Christian Education and Ministry. He and his team write curriculum, and teach, on how early Christian restorative justice and healing atonement are relevant for today’s racial and political issues, for emotional development, and ministry today. Mako has contributed to NIV God’s Justice Bible (2016) and Honor, Shame, and the Gospel (2020). He has lived in Christian intentional communities since 1995 and lives with his wife Ming in Dorchester, MA.

Connect with Mako on his website AnastasisCenter.org

Christian, Gay, Rejected, & Repurposed with Mike Maeshiro

Kim Honeycutt interviews the amazing Mike Maeshiro. In this episode, they discuss Mike's involvement with Bethel Church and how he's been treated since he came out. Mike discusses each of the clobber passages and declobbers them! Mike shares very openly about how much he didn't want to be marginalized and mistreated by people for simply being who he is and how he continues to resolve the pain of being rejected by Christians.

• Mike's Flip Your Lid Moment: Coming Out
• How Bethel Church Responded
• Declobbering The Clobber Passages
• Relationships Since Coming Out
• Non-Affirming Friends
• The Irony of What's Taking Place In The Church
• The Hot Seat

Mike Maeshiro is the founder and CEO of Numa, a spiritual intelligence organization that equips people in theology, spirituality, and faith. Mike is gay, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and a queer theology enthusiast. He is the author of the book #themikeboard and also travels the world teaching on spiritual intelligence, supernatural discernment, queer theology, emotional health, and redemptive deconstruction.

Connect with Mike on his website www.mikemaeshiro.com and on IG @mikemaeshiro