Growing Up Fundie

By Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.

A podcast analyzing the true life experiences of everyday people who grew up fundamentalist, orthodox, or within any other strictly religious environment, and the impact (positive or negative) that

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FAQs about Growing Up Fundie:

How many episodes does Growing Up Fundie have?

The podcast currently has 177 episodes available.

Growing Up Fundie episodes:

July 30, 2025 The Debate that Went Viral: "What is Irrational About My World View?" from the Conversation Coalition
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Tiktok clips from this debate have garnered over 1.5 million views and counting
View the full video version of this debate here:
https://youtu.be/xbBY0S2w1aU?si=h9GEjXmA7H0lNGd6
From “What is Irrational About My World View?”
The Conversation Coalitions June 2024 live event in Nashville, TN.
Featuring Sydney Davis Jr. Jr. & Pedro Garcia
https://www.youtube.com/@TheConversationCoalition

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1h 28min
June 22, 2025 Growing Up Fundie, Ep. 158: Reacting to Reddit's Questions (Feat. Secular Rarity, and Gary Parker)
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(Watch the video-version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/swyLoDOBUK0 )
Gary Parker and Secular Rarity are long-time friends, and co-producers of “The Conversation Coalition,” A group of Nashville Atheist speakers seeking to have friendly and informative conversations with Christians.
They are also part of the team of producers leading NANOCON 2025, a convention of atheists and humanists across the united stats who gather to share ideas, build community, and help dispel the idea that in order to be a good person, you must also follow the teachings of the bible, or any other religion.
https://www.nanocon.rocks/
Gary Parker on “Growing Up Fundie”
https://youtu.be/A4yelpwe2mY?si=U8ft7fZ7MlnLU8t1
Secular Rarity on Growing Up Fundie:
https://youtu.be/3K1-G7y3Jwo?si=gaLlQYp0Y22EZ2xF
r/exchristian
https://www.reddit.com/r/exchristian/
r/exmormon
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/
r/christian
https://www.reddit.com/r/Christian/
r/deconstruction
https://www.reddit.com/r/Deconstruction/
______________________________________________________
Find more “Growing Up Fundie” here:
Website:
www.growingupfundiepodcast.com
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2EHJGf8kGbSV9SRbqsfYKS
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-up-fundie/id1602008078
Amazon Music:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad6ac91e-c2fb-47d6-8658-df8aed941eac/growing-up-fundie
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/sydneydavisjrjr
Buzzsprout Subscriptions:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/https://www.buzzsprout.com/1908164/supporters/new1908164/supporters/new
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QuI5etVfbJoTVAhbRGMkA
Discord:
https://discord.gg/XQNG4nD5
Our Subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrowingUpFundie/
Check out Sydney's other major project here:
https://staxbraceletproject.com/
Think you might make a great guest, or know someone who would be?
Apply for yourself, or nominate someone here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHiy8KYW38tyKUD6MbFmOwCKdeWVHAbIA9qst1RBQf4rRPXg/viewform?usp=share_link

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1h 60min
January 31, 2025 PROMO: "The Casual Scholars Podcast, Ep. 1: Adam Hinkle on Theater, Film, and Embracing Life Experiences"
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"The Casual Scholars" is a new podcast brought to you by the creator of "Growing Up Fundie," featuring interesting people who know a lot about interesting things.

In this sneak peek of Episode 1:
Adam Hinkle is a Chicago-based actor and filmmaker. He grew up on the east coast, primarily in the Philadelphia suburbs and attended college in Pittsburgh, PA, but relocated to Chicago in 2007 to pursue theatre and film.
Since then, he has appeared Off-Broadway and with various storefront theatre companies in Chicago, with a focus on television and film within the past several years.
He made his directing debut with 'The Park,’ a dramatic web series chronicling the trials and tribulations of a fictional group of outreach workers urgently trying to prevent gun and gang violence in a Chicago neighborhood.
This project took five years to complete and had a successful festival run, garnering several awards in the process. He also made his television debut on 'Chicago Fire,’ and his feature film debut in the horror-slasher "Haunt Season' that was released this past October.
https://adam-hinkle.com/
theparkwebseries.com
@arhinkle (IG, Threads, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube)
@arhinkle.bsky.social (Bluesky)
@adamrhinkle (Facebook)
https://mickeyosullivan.com/

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1h 26min
January 28, 2025 Growing Up Fundie, Ep. 157: "Why Are We Obsessed with Cults?" feat. Poulomi Saha
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Poulomi Saha is an Associate Professor & Co-Director of the Program in Critical Theory at UC Berkeley.
They lead a popular course called “Cults and Popular Culture,” which examines, among other things, the idea of naming something a cult, and the reasons human beings are so obsessed with them.
In an interview with Berkeley News, Saha discussed why it’s important to teach students, especially at a top research university like Berkeley, to look past the label and dig deeper: What was the original intention of a particular organization later labeled a cult? What did it offer? What were its practices? Who joined and why? What does it tell us about spirituality and culture in America?
“What makes a cult different from a religion or a sect, and why the word cult so often produces revulsion or compulsion. I am not interested in diagnosing cults, but rather in understanding how groups and beliefs come to take on that name, and all the feelings and reactions that come with it.”
Poulomi Saha, “Why Are We So Obsessed with Cults” Poulomi Saha on "Why Are We So Obsessed with Cults?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUPJZgo49uk
In her course on Cults, Poulomi Saha Has Students Look Beyond the Headlines
https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/09/12/in-her-course-on-cults-poulomi-saha-has-students-look-beyond-the-headlines/

__________________________________

Find more “Growing Up Fundie” here:
Website:
www.growingupfundiepodcast.com
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2EHJGf8kGbSV9SRbqsfYKS
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-up-fundie/id1602008078
Amazon Music:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad6ac91e-c2fb-47d6-8658-df8aed941eac/growing-up-fundie
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/sydneydavisjrjr
Buzzsprout Subscriptions:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/https://www.buzzsprout.com/1908164/supporters/new1908164/supporters/new
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QuI5etVfbJoTVAhbRGMkA
Discord:
https://discord.gg/XQNG4nD5
Our Subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrowingUpFundie/
Check out Sydney's other major project here:
https://staxbraceletproject.com/
Think you might make a great guest, or know someone who would be?
Apply for yourself, or nominate someone here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHiy8KYW38tyKUD6MbFmOwCKdeWVHAbIA9qst1RBQf4rRPXg/viewform?usp=share_link

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52min
January 20, 2025 Growing Up Fundie, Ep 156: The Threat of Christian Nationalism in America (feat. Andrew Seidel)
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View the visual version of this episode here:
https://youtu.be/gcp7w5AypU8

What is Christian Nationalism?
Christian nationalism is a form of religious nationalism that focuses on promoting the Christian views of its followers, in order to achieve prominence or dominance in political and social life.
Separation of Church and State (Definition & Details)
https://www.freedomforum.org/separation-of-church-and-state/
American Progress . Org
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/christian-nationalism-is-single-biggest-threat-to-americas-religious-freedom/
“A History of Christian Nationalism” from NPR.org
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/09/1260150915/a-history-of-christian-nationalism
Christians Against Christian Nationalism
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/statement
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‪@AndrewLSeidel1‬ is an author and attorney who has defended the First Amendment for more than a decade, both in and out of court.
Andrew dedicated his career to challenging religious privilege, and battling Christian Nationalism. He is currently the VP of strategic communications with “Americans United” (https://www.au.org/get-involved/)
He speaks and writes extensively about religious freedom; and has been profiled by BBC News, Buzzfeed, International Business Times, and more.
Andrew's books:
“The Founding Myth: why christian nationalism is unamerican”
https://a.co/d/6s0bYGt
“American Crusade, how the supreme court is weaponizing religious freedom”
https://a.co/d/eoUQlMg
Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/
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1h 19min
January 04, 2025 Growing Up Fundie, Ep. 155: Kelley Laughlin on Homelessness, History, & Gems
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Watch the YouTube version of this episode here:
https://youtu.be/qObbkKvJ9rQ?si=hvepS4FmVs0yoo8j

Kelley Laughlin was raised Lutheran until the age of 14, when he first began questioning what he was being told. He continued to read, research, and search for the truth until joining the military both literally and figuratively put the Bible back into his hands.
Once out of the military, years of drugs and homelessness threatened his path until fatherhood awakened his curiosities, and helped him recognize the importance of his path, and the future of his family.
Sydney and Kelley co-hosting Talk Heathen -https://www.youtube.com/live/lvRTs6EooAI?si=5qHpt_ZvIhoPXjMR
Giordano Bruno: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giordano_Bruno
__________________________________

Find more “Growing Up Fundie” here:
Website: www.growingupfundiepodcast.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2EHJGf8kGbSV9SRbqsfYKS
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-up-fundie/id1602008078
Amazon Music:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad6ac91e-c2fb-47d6-8658-df8aed941eac/growing-up-fundie
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/sydneydavisjrjr
Buzzsprout Subscriptions:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/https://www.buzzsprout.com/1908164/supporters/new1908164/supporters/new
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QuI5etVfbJoTVAhbRGMkA
Discord:
https://discord.gg/XQNG4nD5
Our Subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrowingUpFundie/
Check out Sydney's other major project here:
https://staxbraceletproject.com/
Think you might make a great guest, or know someone who would be?
Apply for yourself, or nominate someone here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHiy8KYW38tyKUD6MbFmOwCKdeWVHAbIA9qst1RBQf4rRPXg/viewform?usp=share_link

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43min
August 25, 2024 Growing Up Fundie, Ep. 154: Lynn Daren on Discovering She Wasn't Alone
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Spiritually speaking, Lynn was raised as a devout Catholic, before her family later transitioned into a more Charismatic-leaning Christian church.
As an adult, however, Lynn realized that (despite her actions and intentions growing up) she has actually been a non-believer for over 20 years. She has also been bi-sexual as well.
Lynn is currently a lawyer-turned-freelance-editor who edits books, articles, screenplays, and everything in between. She is also a writer, and recently published a Bible fan fiction novel called “The Prophet Steven.”
Hear her story in her own words on this episode of “Growing Up Fundie” and then check out her book, linked below:
https://www.amazon.com/Prophet-Steven-adventure-biblical-distortion-ebook/dp/B0D1RM8LJS/

Visit Her Website Here: https://endtimes.fun

Check out Sydney's other major project here:
https://staxbraceletproject.com/
_________________________________________________________

Find more “Growing Up Fundie” here:
Website:
www.growingupfundiepodcast.com
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2EHJGf8kGbSV9SRbqsfYKS
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-up-fundie/id1602008078
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/sydneydavisjrjr
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QuI5etVfbJoTVAhbRGMkA
Discord:
https://discord.gg/XQNG4nD5
Our Subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrowingUpFundie/
More about the host, Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.
sydneydavisjrjr.com
Think you might make a great guest, or know someone who would be?
Apply for yourself, or nominate someone here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHiy8KYW38tyKUD6MbFmOwCKdeWVHAbIA9qst1RBQf4rRPXg/viewform?usp=share_link

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58min
July 22, 2024 Growing Up Fundie, Ep. 153: "Surviving Bill Gothard," Lindsey's Story
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View the visual version of this episode here:
https://youtu.be/lZFazV_SdfU

Lindsey grew up in a religious family that devoutly followed the now-infamous IBLP IBLP organization, or “The Institute in Basic Life Principles.”

Made infamous by documentaries like “Shiny Happy People,” on Amazon Prime (which Lindsey was also featured in), this church was lead by Bill Gothard, a man who somehow convinced, and still convinces, people across the world to live by rules and values he somehow didn’t have to follow himself.

In this episode, Lindsey tells us, in detail, her experience being one of the chosen “Gothard Girls,” and how spending time with Bill Gothard one-on-one shaped her young mind, and lead her to the crusade she now leads to spread awareness of his terrible legacy, and destroy the facade of “goodness” and “holiness” he managed to create.

Find more about Lindsey via her Linktree below:

The Cult Chronicles

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Cultchronicles

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecultchronicles/?hl=en

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2h 47min
July 11, 2024 Growing Up Fundie, Ep. 152: Christian Content Creator, Eric aka The Investigative Millennial
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Eric’s YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@theinvestigativemillennial9381
Our discussion on why Skeptics leave the Church:
https://youtu.be/XpUYnlhfATY?si=uuZtDGj_uAqcu9do
Our OG Livestream from June 13th 2023:
https://www.youtube.com/live/w07vEeqW7vM?si=M5w4WWB3QXb3l4Dd

______________________________

Tell me what you think of the show here:
https://forms.gle/R7giKgimVAUJfQ477

Find more “Growing Up Fundie” here:
Website:
www.growingupfundiepodcast.com
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2EHJGf8kGbSV9SRbqsfYKS
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-up-fundie/id1602008078
Amazon Music:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad6ac91e-c2fb-47d6-8658-df8aed941eac/growing-up-fundie
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/sydneydavisjrjr
Buzzsprout Subscriptions:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/https://www.buzzsprout.com/1908164/supporters/new1908164/supporters/new
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QuI5etVfbJoTVAhbRGMkA
Discord:
https://discord.gg/XQNG4nD5
Our Subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrowingUpFundie/
More about the host, Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.
sydneydavisjrjr.com

Think you might make a great guest, or know someone who would be?
Apply for yourself, or nominate someone here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHiy8KYW38tyKUD6MbFmOwCKdeWVHAbIA9qst1RBQf4rRPXg/viewform?usp=share_link

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1h 43min
July 05, 2024 Growing Up Fundie, Ep. 151: Misty on Ever-Evolving Relationships, Body Image & Deconstruction
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On Growing Up Fundie, Episode 151. Misty walks us through her family’s decades-long journey through the gamut of Christian denominations, and the college assignment that finally opened her eyes to what she really believed.
__________________________________

Tell me what you think of the show here:
https://forms.gle/R7giKgimVAUJfQ477

Find more “Growing Up Fundie” here:
Website:
www.growingupfundiepodcast.com
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2EHJGf8kGbSV9SRbqsfYKS
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-up-fundie/id1602008078
Amazon Music:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad6ac91e-c2fb-47d6-8658-df8aed941eac/growing-up-fundie
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/sydneydavisjrjr
Buzzsprout Subscriptions:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/https://www.buzzsprout.com/1908164/supporters/new1908164/supporters/new
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QuI5etVfbJoTVAhbRGMkA
Discord:
https://discord.gg/XQNG4nD5
Our Subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrowingUpFundie/

More about the host, Sydney Davis Jr. Jr.
sydneydavisjrjr.com

Think you might make a great guest, or know someone who would be?
Apply for yourself, or nominate someone here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHiy8KYW38tyKUD6MbFmOwCKdeWVHAbIA9qst1RBQf4rRPXg/viewform?usp=share_link
Support the show
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1h 58min

FAQs about Growing Up Fundie:

How many episodes does Growing Up Fundie have?

The podcast currently has 177 episodes available.

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