Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Email us: [email protected]

They Called Her Bitter: https://www.instagram.com/theycalledherbitter/

Deconstruction Doulas: https://www.deconstructiondoulas.com

Our NEW weekly series launches on February 16 with David French of The New York Times!

They Called Her Bitter, another weekly series in the SoP universe, with Sarah Bader of Sons of Patriarchy and Margaret Bronson of Deconstruction Doulas, launches February 19!

Gwen's Facebook post on her son Brooks and the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth: https://www.facebook.com/gwen.k.harris/posts/pfbid02AqEszuyGSBV87XzhAezQoXwT3CQD6MoVPV6Z6mbpjZ8ryKN1SVNSGkGoarc4bd3Ql?rdid=FldGczPObipCBKph

Summary

In this special episode of Sons of Patriarchy, Peter Bell interviews Gwen Harris, the mother of Brooks Potteiger (recently appointed pastor of Christ Kirk D.C., where Pete Hegseth attends), a pastor influenced by Doug Wilson's teachings. Gwen shares her perspective on Brooks' transformation from a caring individual to someone who embodies patriarchal values, and the impact of these changes on their family dynamics. She discusses the troubling parenting styles she witnessed, the decision to report suspected abuse to Child Protective Services, and the challenges of navigating a divided family. Throughout the conversation, Gwen emphasizes the importance of prayer, truth, and the hope for redemption for her son and others caught in similar situations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Special Episode 03:01 Gwen's Relationship with Brooks Potterger 06:13 Brooks' Transformation and Influence of Doug Wilson 08:54 The Impact of Parenting Styles on Children 12:06 Witnessing Abuse and the Decision to Report 14:59 The Emotional Toll of Reporting 17:57 Consequences of Reporting and Family Dynamics 33:05 Support from Law Enforcement 36:33 The Role of CPS in Family Dynamics 37:02 Advocating for Children in Crisis 39:32 Influence of Doug Wilson on Family Dynamics 43:56 The Impact of High-Profile Relationships (with Pete Hegseth) 48:57 A Mother's Plea for Redemption 54:53 Navigating Family Relationships in Crisis

Keywords

Doug Wilson, Brooks Potteiger, Gwen Harris, Pete Hegseth, Sons of Patriarchy, church abuse, parenting, Christian teachings, family dynamics, child protection, religious influence

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Deconstruction Doulas: https://www.deconstructiondoulas.com

They Called Her Bitter: https://www.instagram.com/theycalledherbitter/

They Called Her Bitter explores stories that often go untold, stories shaped by grief, endurance, and the cost of telling the truth; offering language, validation, and perspective for those untangling from coercive belief systems and structures.

Join Sarah Bader of Sons of Patriarchy and Margaret Bronson of Deconstruction Doulas for this NEW weekly series under the Sons of Patriarchy umbrella, beginning Thursday, February 19.

Search They Called Her Bitter on your favorite podcast catcher, or continue listening on Sons of Patriarchy (it will be on both feeds), and subscribe to the Sons of Patriarchy YouTube channel if you'd like to watch!

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Join us as we talk with Sarah Stankorb, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, and Russell Moore about abuse in the church, MAGA, the politicization of theology, racism, and everything else we've learned over the past few months and what the future looks like for the White Evangelical Church.

Find Sarah Stankorb: https://sarahstankorb.substack.com

Purchase Sarah's book: https://tinyurl.com/jyrzapy2

Find Kristin Kobes Du Mez: https://kristindumez.substack.com

Purchase Kristin's book: https://tinyurl.com/556v6dek

Find Russell Moore: https://www.christianitytoday.com/writers/russell-moore/

Purchase Russell's book: https://tinyurl.com/35rs8rmx

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Deconstruction Doulas: https://www.deconstructiondoulas.com

They Called Her Bitter: https://www.instagram.com/theycalledherbitter/

• Get to know Margaret and Deconstruction Doulas.
• The launch of They Called Her Bitter.
• Sarah and Margaret's relationship and goal for the new podcast.
• The protests at Cities Church, Christ Kirk D.C., and Christ Church Moscow all share patterns and people, why is no one talking about them?
• Hillary Clinton's article in The Atlantic, "MAGA's War on Empathy" and the mainstream thought of Allie Beth Stuckey, Joe Rigney, Doug Wilson, Pete Hegseth, Christian Nationalism, and the CREC.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

In this episode I spoke with an anonymous woman, her son, a former leader at Christ Church Santa Clarita, and Ray Davis (a retired pastor and trauma-informed counselor) about everything that happened at this CREC.

This episode is not for the faint of heart, and the first 10 minutes makes that clear.

There are no shepherds there.

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

If you're in Australia and need help with a DV situation please call: 1800RESPECT

A conversation on Doug Wilson's pernicious and pervasive influence in Canada and Australia with Wes Bredenhof, who has pastored Reformed churches in Canada and Australia, and Camille de Vos, who was born and raised in the Free Reformed Churches of Australia.

We have episodes upcoming on the influence of Doug, Christian Nationalism, abuse in the church, and more, across Europe, Africa, South America, and parts of Asia.

May the global church take notice.

The Good: https://tinyurl.com/53btkpvb

The Bad: https://tinyurl.com/49zfbp6r

The Ugly: https://tinyurl.com/yrwfzv5a

Camille's practice: https://tinyurl.com/4re2h6xz

Camille's Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/mrp66bec

Camille's Substack: https://tinyurl.com/mrycwa6e

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Our scheduled episode for tomorrow has to be pushed back to next week (the reason why will be apparent when you listen), so I pulled this one out of the hopper!

I spoke with Caleb Campbell of Disarming Leviathan and Pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona.

Need some sanity in this age of extreme political unrest, the takeover of our government, self-professed Christ Nationalists climbing the political ladder, all the while you're trying to figure out your friend or family member who seems to be enamored with it all?

This is the conversation you need.

Buy Disarming Leviathan here: https://tinyurl.com/5xbpvvzy

Follow Disarming Leviathan's work here: https://tinyurl.com/3vvkb3zr

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

In this last episode of Season 1, I spoke with Dr. Karen Roudkovski, a Licensed Professional Counselor with her own practice, and an expert on trauma and abuse, with her own story of the same.

Karen ties in every theme of Sons of Patriarchy Season 1, gives language to those searching and hurting, a listening ear to those who want to speak out, and the compassion to speak into those lives who have been destroyed by leaders of the church.

May the end of Season 1 give you hope, peace, understanding, and the courage to move forward in the grace of the Savior.

Because Jesus himself understands what you went through, are going through, and will go through. A sympathetic redeemer who heals you.

Find Karen here: https://tinyurl.com/38knuc7h

Buy Understanding Spiritual Abuse here: https://tinyurl.com/2wcyxab2

Buy Spiritual Abuse Assessment here: https://tinyurl.com/2pp2cu3e

Buy Spiritual Abuse Recovery Workbook here: https://tinyurl.com/yvre52ua

Buy Counseling Through the Storm here: https://tinyurl.com/35u2cyv3

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Find Mountain City Christian Counseling here: https://tinyurl.com/3rjb6vra

Sign up for an upcoming Mountain City Christian Counseling retreat here: https://tinyurl.com/59tuu6ra

Are you in the PCA, and need help navigating your situation? Contact: https://tinyurl.com/56sb2c3b

Free live workshops of the PCA Book of Church Order (BCO): https://tinyurl.com/bdcs7xrt

Read and discuss the PCA report on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault: https://tinyurl.com/4cx9n538

Donate to Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew: https://tinyurl.com/ms6ba2ky

In this episode I spoke with Colleen McConnell, former member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Orlando, Florida, and Megan Owen, founder of Mountain City Christian Counseling, who was formerly counseled by Jim Wilson, Doug Wilson's late father.

Colleen's story shares similarities with every story we have profiled save one difference, she won her case in the PCA. So we look into when women "win," what that means for their relationship with the church and its leadership, as well as their marriages (or former marriages). Megan (and her family) were horrifically abused by her ex-husband, and you'll hear what kind of counsel came from the mouth of Jim, which then starts making more sense of Doug. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Because for these men and leaders, a woman who's too opinionated needs to be put her in place.

Below them.

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

I had the opportunity to sit down with Tia Levings to talk about her 2024 memoir, A Well-Trained Wife, her journey through the Patirarchy.

Our second-to-last episode of Season 1, Tia's story weaves through every theme we have covered in this series. She made stops in the IBLP, Gothard, SBC, PCA, and CREC circles. She was controlled, manipulated, silenced, abused, and more.

She was nearly sacrificed to the Patriarchy, on the altar of the cult.

But she got out. May her story help you too.

Buy Tia's book, A Well-Trained Wife here: https://tinyurl.com/aw2ynk5r

Follow Tia on Substack here: https://tinyurl.com/ypfm6h2h

Find Tia's website here: https://tinyurl.com/y6v38dt3

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.