SAVING (DIS)GRACE

My friend Jake takes us through his conservative background that was filled with anxieties and oppressed curiosities. College was the first place and time he was allowed to ask some hard questions, and come to some conclusions he knew would not please his family. Living in LA he has the freedom to live out his own values, but it is something that still presses on his mind and heart. 

The year 2019 was absolutely wild for my dear Megan. She fell in love, got engaged, was diagnosed with cancer, got married, and underwent several surgeries...all while still pursuing her doctorate. I am deeply honored to be able to share her story with you all, and cannot thank her enough for her transparency. In this episode Megan shares her own faith background, and beautifully articulates the way it has impacted her relationship to her body (both pre-cancer and now). 

My friend Tony has grown up about as classically American Dutch as can be. This episode brings some helpful insights to both the cultural and religious aspects of that life. You'll get a lot of laughs and hopefully some inspiration as he shares some of his growing pains, plans for the future, and his current goal of boosting his instagram following (@tonydykstra). 

For this special episode, I sit down with my one and only sister! She and I have been through it all together and I'm so thankful for her wisdom along the way. Soph shares with me her shared and unique burdens having grown up as a "child missionary". She also gives us a peek into her own radicalization and how her love for agriculture influences her current view on the world. 

In addition to quoting the great Dr. Brené Brown, Bre also walks us through her life story. From Belize to private schools to churches in SoCal, she has kept her heart, mind, and eyes wide open. Bre's main focus now is keeping grace and understanding at the center of her conversations. I loved hearing that reflected in our chat. 

Erin challenged herself to be vulnerable during this interview, and let me tell you I was blown away! She so gracefully expresses the pain and confusion purity culture can cause even inside a healthy marriage. Erin also shares the grief and isolation she and Jason have felt as they wait for God's timing for an addition to their family. You may want to have some tissues handy for this one <3 

I really enjoyed chatting with Cait about how traveling the world has changed her perspective on life and religion. She also shares about her fear of Hell despite moving into a universalist stance, and the heartbreak she feels with her queer friends when they are not accepted by their Christian families. Be sure to check out her travel blog for fun stories and great tips! 

Dyvon shares about his days protesting the police, strategically circumventing nepotism, and framing economic systems as religions.