Our guest this week is comedian and former Jehovah's Witness, Doug Smith! He has appeared on CONAN, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, and This Is Not Happening on Comedy Central. Doug's family became Jehovah's Witnesses after his mom was converted by those pesky door-to-door missionaries. As you might imagine, there are all sorts of fun little things that come with being a JW kid - things like being the only kid in class that sits during the Pledge of Allegiance, having to leave the room during just about any sort of celebration, and of course, carrying around a card that forbids anyone from administering certain types of life-saving medical care. Doug is a very funny guy with a life story that, at times, might shock even some of you hardcore Pentecostal kids. I mean, the guy got stabbed in the face while fighting off a rapist (yeah, you read that right)! You can follow Doug on Twitter and Instagram @whodougsmith, find info about upcoming shows and download links to his album Barely Regal at www.dougsmithcomedy.com

Our guest this week is trans woman, blogger, and Army combat veteran Natalie Drew! Natalie was kind enough to share the story of her arduous, yet triumphant journey towards self-actualization and fulfilment. She also shares the hard details of her deployment in Iraq, and some of the lingering effects of violence. At a time when war seems to be hanging over our collective heads, Natalie’s story is a powerful reminder of the individual cost of conflict, and that peace is priceless. Be sure to follow Natalie on Twitter @natgrace79, and follow her journey at www.nataliegracedrew.wixsite.com/findingnatalie!

This week, we’re joined by comedian Walker Glenn! We discuss his upbringing in a small, conservative Christian community in rural California, parental lyric screening anxiety, and the distinctive “out-of-place” feeling that accompanies a person’s slow movement away from the beliefs of those around them. We had a great time talking with Walker, and we can’t recommend his standup enough! Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @WalkerJFGlenn, and check out www.walkerglenn.com for live dates and clips!

Before we begin our discussion with Walker, however, we simply had to talk about our old pal John Cooper of Skillet - the Tucker Carlson of Christian butt rock. If you haven't seen his latest soapbox post about deconstruction, you can find it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaAXAGZrKP4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 

Our guests this week are musicians Ash and Eric! Although the two of them grew up in very different church environments, they both found their place in the worship team at a kind of white collar church plant. As the church began to fray at the edges, they grew closer together, earning them the scorn of their fellow parishioners. The church was disintegrating around them, but getting out was not going to be easy… You’re going to love this story! Follow them on Instagram @ashandericmusic , check out www.ashanderic.com for updates, merch, and upcoming shows, and stream their brand new single “Autumn Hymn” on February 18!

Our guest this week is comedian, actor, writer, and producer, Nick Thune! As a young man, Nick was very involved in a large Seattle church. He held a leadership position within the youth program, but an appearance on a reality tv show lead to his ouster from the youth group, and prompted his move to Hollywood.

Nick’s story is one of a kind, and we were absolutely thrilled to talk to him! Find his most recent comedy special “Good Guy” on YouTube or Amazon Prime, follow him on Twitter @nickthune, and check out upcoming dates for his Velvet Loafers Tour at www.nickthune.com.

If  you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week, Sam and Casey discuss the recent Vanity Fair interview with former Liberty University president and Baptist edgelord idiot failure, Jerry Falwell Jr. At last, Jerry and his wife Becky are telling “their side” of the seedy story, and needless to say, it differs slightly from the established narrative… Poor ol’ Jerry is ready to torch the whole family in order to provide some context for his behavior, and Becky is with him all the way! Read the full article here: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/01/inside-jerry-falwell-jr-unlikely-rise-and-precipitous-fall/amp

Later, friend of the show and discord ride or die, Antony, joins in to talk about his upbringing in a small, insular northern Michigan religious community. His outlook on Christianity as a young guy was a lot different than ours, and we had a great time talking to him!

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week we're joined by musician and TikToker, Seth David. Seth is a former home schooler and Liberty University student turned composer, producer, pianist and absurdist. Follow Seth on TikTok @ivorytowercontent, and enjoy the episode!

Check out our first merch! You can pre-order the "Born Again Virgin" t-shirt at www.growing-up-christian.storenvy.com

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week we’re joined by author and podcaster, Erin Hosier! Erin’s memoir, “Don’t Let Me Down,” delves into her experiences navigating complex family relationships, and her eventual escape from the small town where she grew up. She also hosts a podcast called “Tell Me About Your Father,” which is an ongoing discussion about dads and father figures. One of her recent guests is our buddy Christian Nightmares, and it’s definitely worth checking out! For more information about Erin’s work, visit www.erinhosier.com.

Check out our first merch! You can pre-order the "Born Again Virgin" t-shirt at www.growing-up-christian.storenvy.com

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week we’re joined by our friends Bonnie & Karen, hosts of the hilarious podcast, Deconversion Therapy! We tackled some fun topics, and explored some theories about Joel Osteen’s toilet fund. If you’re not following them on social media, you’re missing out! Find them on Instagram and TikTok @deconversiontherapy, and enjoy their fantastic show wherever you listen to podcasts!

Check out our first merch! You can pre-order the "Born Again Virgin" t-shirt at www.growing-up-christian.storenvy.com

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

Our first merch item is available for preorder, and it's a doozy... Get yours at https://growing-up-christian.storenvy.com/