Leslie Nease, a former evangelical and Survivor China contestant, opens up about the moment her fear-based faith cracked and the grace that finally brought her home.

From Survivor to Heretic is Leslie’s raw, courageous story of what happens when a lifetime of evangelical certainty begins to crack. Her journey didn’t unravel because of scandal—or fame—but because she finally slowed down enough to listen. To Buddhists. To Mormons. To gay flight attendants. To the very people her fear-based faith had warned her about.

Their kindness undid something in her.
Their humanity sparked questions she had never been allowed to ask.
And the God she discovered as a result didn’t match the God she had been taught to fear.

In this episode, Jeromy Johnson and Leslie walk through the tender terrain of deconstruction, religious trauma, evangelicalism, Christian nationalism, and the long, slow unlearning that leads toward spiritual healing and progressive Christianity. This isn’t a story about losing faith, it’s the story of coming home to a God who was never threatened by doubt, curiosity, or a widening circle of love.

If you’re navigating your own journey out of fear and into freedom, this conversation offers companionship, compassion, and a reminder that you’re not alone. There are more of us out here than you think.

Jim Carrey Rhino Birth

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Grace doesn’t hold back. She breaks the rules, softens hearts, and loves without apology. The open, universal, unapologetic love of God. Together we’re building a braver, more honest space. Thanks for your support and for listening.

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