Cheri Jamison interviews Shelly Johnson, an ex-Mormon, mother of 7 children, gay woman trying to figure out life. Raised in a patriarchal Mormon family, she had to suppress every natural tendency for 40+ years, until she left the church to find a more authentic life and love. Now she and her girlfriend Mary share her story in their podcast, Latter-Day Lesbian.

“Deconstruction is like you’re flicking over that first domino. You can’t control it and that’s okay.” ~Shelly Johnson

www.latterdaylesbian.org

In her 7th episode, host Cheri Jamison interviews Gwen Fisher, ex-evangelical, newly-single mother, having left her lifelong faith, ended her marriage, and come out as gay all within the span of two years. She is now starting over and maneuvering a whole new life as a woman who belongs to herself alone for the first time.

She wanted to unpack the things she and many others had been taught about ourselves, our identities, gender, sexuality, and everything in between, so she started the podcast, “Saving Myself: How Purity Culture Wounds Us, and How We Can Heal.” 

“I started believing that I was good. Bottom line good… Not because of Jesus, but because of me; because that’s who I was inherently. ~Gwen Fisher

Podcast: http://savingmyselfpod.libsyn.com

In her 6th episode, host Cheri Jamison interviews Robert Welch, an entrepreneur from Kansas City, MO.

After homelessness, divorce, and his lowest point in life, Robert Welch had an epiphany about God that made him give up religion for a long time. A theater experience introduced him to the Norse Gods (Odin, Thor, Loki, etc) and much to his surprise he started feeling more and more connected to them and fulfilled spiritually. Now he is happy to call himself a Heathen.

"With the Norse Gods, I don't just have one Father, I have an entire family... They're not up on a pedestal, like the other God was, they're here with me." ~Robert Welch

In her 5th episode, host Cheri Jamison interviews Rev. Ogun Holder, who is now senior minister at Unity on the River in Amesbury, MA.

Originally from Barbados, Rev. Ogun grew up in the Wesleyan Holiness, a charismatic, evangelical movement (with great Caribbean rhythm and music) that came out of the Methodist tradition. Attending college in the U.S., a historical bible class propelled Ogun into a crisis of faith that ultimately led him to become a minister of a more open, inclusive, and practical approach to Christianity called Unity.

"Anything and everything that happens to you in your life is an opportunity for you to show up as God in that situation." ~Rev. Ogun Holder, Unity minister

www.pubtheology.com/ptlive

In her 4th episode, host Cheri Jamison interviews Mark Odland, a licensed therapist and consultant in the Twin Cities, who specializes in spiritual trauma and EMDR, a technique that helps clients heal from trauma quickly. In this nuanced conversation, we talk about what is spiritual/religious abuse, the layers of grief that come with making a change in your religious community, and how our brain processes the messages we receive from religious authorities growing up.

With his background in ministry and an impressive list of certifications, Mark offers a unique understanding and skill set for his clients who wrestle with their religious and spiritual issues, such as “How could God let this [trauma] happen?”

He also trains and educates other therapists spiritual trauma with his book and EMDRIA-approved online course, "Spiritual Trauma and EMDR: 7 Steps to Help Clients Heal."

"All trauma has a spiritual component. Even if someone isn’t identifying a personal God, if they don’t believe in God, something about trauma forces us to ask these existential questions, and it really stirs up questions of meaning and purpose, and our own mortality. ~Mark Odland, LMFT

Connect with Mark Odland:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bilateralinnovations

Check out his book and training for therapists: bilateralinnovations.com/online-trainings/

To learn more about EMDR or find a therapist, visit www.emdr.com or www.emdria.org.

In her 3rd episode, host Cheri Jamison interviews Matthew Kent. Even though Matthew was raised Baptist, he knew by age 10 that it wasn't for him. He went "church shopping," with his friends through high school, and left religion behind in young adulthood, and we talk about why....

In his mid-40s, the seeds of wisdom planted by his great gran, who was Abenaki Native American, started to blossom. He re-defined his concept of God, which led him to a whole new community of spiritual seekers and healers.

Now Matthew is the manager of Mindfulness and Meditation Technologies at Unity World Headquarters. He is also co-founder of Light of Truth, an organization that offers retreats, corporate yoga, and community service events in the Kansas City, MO area.

"Don't let [your spiritual path] get stagnant. Don't go 'yes, this is where I belong and I'll never believe anything else' because your consciousness evolves, and evolves, and evolves." ~Matthew Kent

Get in touch with Matthew Kent:

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.thelightoftruth.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelightoftruthkc 

Check out his book, "Truths for Inner Peace," amzn.to/2ErlGjS

For more info about 24/7 prayer line at Silent Unity (as mentioned in the podcast), visit www.silentunity.org or call 1-816-969-2000.

Cheri Jamison interviews Bradford Taylor, an artist, musician, and Prayer Associate at Silent Unity, a 24/7 prayer line. Bradford takes us through his courageous journey from abuse, gay conversion therapy, and alcoholism to owning his authentic self and maintaining his own sense of spirituality in the midst of suffering.

"Everything that comes to show the beauty that you will be, is in the shadow you have to go through." ~Bradford Taylor

B.T. Scott Creations, [email protected]

In her 1st episode, host Cheri Jamison interviews Tom Jacobs, a former Benedictine monk who went on to pursue a life-long dream to open a retreat center. Tom’s Catholic mother and Jewish father influenced his early childhood and religious education. When he entered St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, KS, he was counseled by Father Owen about his ambitions. Finally, Tom left the monastery, met his wife, and made his heartfelt dream a reality.

“Be the captain of your mind and not the captive of your mind... is an effective tool, but it takes a lot of practice.” ~Tom Jacobs

www.timbercreekretreat.org