Good Christian Girls

I talk with Hilary Sparrow, Founder and CEO at Denver Psychotherapy Group, about leveraging Ketamine as a tool in therapy. We also discuss the intersection between spirituality and expanded states of mind via substances like Psilocybin.

I talk with David Hayward, a.k.a. Naked Pastor, about views on the Bible and life after leaving the church. We discuss deconstruction as a "way of life" and look at growing past the need for approval or permission from spiritual authorities. David was a pastor for 30 years and is now an artist with a message of love. His works are sometimes critical of the church and speak to themes such as sexism, homophobia and spiritual freedom. Learn more about Naked Pastor at www.nakedpastor.com.

I talk with Brandon Flanery, author, influencer and co-founder of the LGBTQ+ Christian dating app believr about why people are leaving the Christian church. Brandon also shares about his experiences as a dedicated believer, missionary and pastor from the lens of a queer person. You can find Brandon at brandonflanery.com or on Instagram, Tik Tok and other socials at @flanbran.

Not everyone who grew up in a Christian home will relate to this podcast. And just because you had a Christian upbringing doesn't mean you experienced religious trauma. I'm taking a few minutes to define spiritual abuse and clarify the difference between having a general, American Christian-ish childhood vs. growing up in the extremes of fundamentalism and manipulation in the name of God.

I talk with Selah Lodge, self described former "professional Christian" and now an atheist. It was studying theology at Vanderbilt that led to: realizations about the Bible, seeing the emotional manipulation of the Evangelical church and ultimately the breakdown of a deeply ingrained religion. We talk about mega church memories, parenting as new "non-Christians" and just catch up on life. 

I talk with Sary Dobhran, Somatic coach and owner of Body Wise Mount Shasta, about learning the story and the wisdom of our bodies. Sary was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and, as a trauma survivor herself, has made it her passion to study and teach healing. She shares her story of seeking safety, dignity and belonging and provides us with some tools for connecting to our bodies. You can learn more about Sary's practice at bodywisems.com. 

I talk with Gretchen Baskerville, author of "The Life-Saving Divorce". Many churches and organizations like Focus on the Family aren’t realistic about abuse in Christian marriages. They recommend you keep praying, reject the idea of divorce, and always reconcile. The result is often depression, suicide, homicide, or domestic violence. Family research has found that in reality divorce saves lives, tens of thousands of lives every year. Gretchen breaks down myths about divorce and shares a different perspective — one that offers freedom and hope for people leaving destructive relationships. 

For more information, find Gretchen in these places:

Website: https://LifeSavingDivorce.com

Twitter http://twitter.com/GGBaskerville

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/gretchen.baskerville/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gretchenbaskerville/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRgtUNfTlYIRDt8iOK6XPKQ

Gretchen's Book: "The Life-Saving Divorce: Hope for People Leaving Destructive Relationships" available here: Paperback: https://amzn.to/3cF1j25  Or eBook: https://amzn.to/3CCBsnr   If you share an Amazon account with your ex, you can buy the PDF here: Online 

I talk with Angie McCarty, a United Methodist Minister and former abstinence/purity educator who no longer buys into that way of thinking. Angie is formally studying sexual ethics as part of a doctoral program and we talk about the harmful messages and analogies of purity culture, the way the promises of the purity movement haven't come true, and the new conclusions she is coming to.

I talk with Missy Lopez who was adopted as an infant into a white, homeschool, Evangelical family. Missy shares her journey "coming out" as a person of color, as she puts it, after having been raised with well-intentioned, yet damaging Christian messaging around her biological family and lineage. Missy's journey of deconstructing her faith and discovering a key cornerstone of her identity is captivating, heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time. To get in touch with Missy reach out to [email protected]. 

I talk with Mackenzie Maltby (@MackenzieMaltby) an influencer and voice in the intersectional feminist and faith deconstruction sphere. Mackenzie was raised by Christian "celebrities" always in the limelight and learned early to do and say the right things. We talk about choosing new paths, being real and trading perfection for something better.