Content Note

This episode includes discussion of religious control, identity suppression, and recovery from faith-based harm.

This week on The Awakening, Tamara and I are joined by Sebastian, a guest from the UK who shares his journey out of a deeply conservative evangelical upbringing and into a life rooted in authenticity and healing.

Sebastian describes growing up in a high-control religious home, the fear and rigidity that shaped his early life, and how discovering paganism became a turning point that helped him reclaim agency over his own spirituality. Not long after leaving evangelicalism, Sebastian came out as gay and began the long work of healing from religious harm and abuse.

Today, Sebastian uses his voice to help others recover from religious trauma, offering support, validation, and community to those navigating life after faith.

Growing up in conservative evangelical environments

High-control belief systems

Discovering paganism as a path to freedom

Coming out after leaving religion

Healing from religious harm and abuse

Identity reclamation

Supporting others through deconstruction and recovery

Sebastian is an advocate and peer-support voice helping people recover from religious harm and abuse.

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@sebastiantheinfjt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Leaving religion often means losing community, identity, and certainty all at once. Sebastian’s story reminds us that freedom can be found beyond fear, and that healing becomes even more powerful when it’s shared.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music

Your Poison by Rox Knox

💬 Connect with your hosts

Heather — @happyheather | @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram @tamarajo321

🎥 Watch the show on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TheAwakeningPodcast-w6s

📩 Interested in being a guest

Email us at [email protected]

If this episode resonates with your own experience, listen gently and take breaks as needed. You deserve safety, freedom, and a community that honors who you truly are.

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2026

BIG Media

Content Note

This episode discusses early-stage deconstruction, identity disruption, and the emotional impact of leaving high-control religious belief systems.

This week on The Awakening, Tamara and I are joined by Reckless, a guest who is only four months into their deconstruction journey.

Rather than looking back with years of distance, this conversation happens in real time. Together, we talk through what begins to surface in the early stages of deconstruction, what often still needs to be unpacked, and why the beginning can feel disorienting, lonely, and overwhelming.

This episode is an invitation — especially for listeners who are new to deconstruction — to hear that confusion is normal, questions are allowed, and community is essential while healing and rebuilding life on the other side of faith.

Early-stage deconstruction

Letting go of certainty

Fear, grief, and identity loss

Unpacking beliefs and internalized shame

Why community matters in healing

Rebuilding without rushing

Learning to trust yourself again

Many stories of deconstruction are told after years of processing. This episode centers what it looks like at the beginning, when things are still raw and unclear. If you are early in your journey, you are not behind, broken, or doing it wrong. Healing does not require having all the answers.

The Awakening is a podcast for people navigating religious trauma, deconstruction, and rebuilding life after faith. We center honesty, survivor voices, and community over certainty.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music

Your Poison by Rox Knox

💬 Connect with your hosts

Heather — @happyheather | @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram @tamarajo321

🎥 Watch the show on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TheAwakeningPodcast-w6s

📩 Interested in being a guest

Email us at [email protected]

If you are early in your deconstruction journey, take this episode at your own pace. You do not need to have clarity to deserve support. You do not need certainty to belong.

If you want, I can also

Write a new listener invitation caption

Create a community-focused promo post

Help shape a follow-up episode for early deconstruction

This episode is such a gift to people who feel like they’re just beginning to wake up.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2026

BIG Media

Content Warning

This episode includes discussion of religious trauma, conversion therapy, coercion, emotional abuse, and threats of electroshock therapy. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

This week on The Awakening, Tamara and I sit down with Zachary Heath, a survivor of religious abuse whose story is both harrowing and deeply hopeful.

Zachary shares his experience growing up in a high control religious environment and surviving the IFB. After coming out as gay, his parents made attendance at conversion therapy a requirement in order to remain living in their home. As the therapy escalated toward the use of electroshock treatment, Zachary was able to escape just in time.

Today, Zachary is using his lived experience to give back. He is part of a nonprofit organization serving at risk youth, helping provide housing and stability, and working as a project director focused on building safe neighborhoods for young people who have nowhere else to go.

This episode is a powerful testimony to survival, resistance, and what healing can look like after religious trauma.

Surviving high control religious systems

Conversion therapy and coercion

Conditional love and parental control

Escaping religious abuse

Healing after religious trauma

Queer survival and resilience

Housing justice for at risk youth

Turning pain into purpose

Zachary Heath is a survivor, advocate, and project director working to create safe and stable housing for at risk youth.

Support Zachary’s project

https://upcurve.life/fundraiser/17/epic-youth-tennessee-at-risk-youth-neighborhood

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/zachary.heath21?igsh=azN1Mnh5djJocmho

TikTok

@zacharyheath21

Conversion therapy is abuse. Zachary’s story exposes how religious systems weaponize love and obedience and reminds us that queer lives are worth protecting. Healing is possible and purpose can be rebuilt even after profound harm.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music

Your Poison by Rox Knox

💬 Connect with your hosts

Heather — @happyheather | @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram @tamarajo321

🎥 Follow the show on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TheAwakeningPodcast-w6s

📩 Interested in being a guest

Email us at [email protected]

This episode covers heavy material. Please listen at your own pace and take breaks as needed. You deserve safety, dignity, and care.

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2026

BIG Media

Content Note:

This episode discusses trauma, nervous system responses, and embodied healing. While not graphic, the conversation may resonate deeply with survivors of abuse or religious trauma.

In Episode 17, we are joined by Jeffrey Shearer (Jeff), a trauma therapist who helps us explore what trauma really is, how it impacts our sense of self-worth, and why healing must involve both the mind and the body.

Jeff walks us through how trauma is stored in the body, the difference between hypervigilance and hypovigilance, and how these nervous system responses often develop as survival strategies. Together, we unpack why so many survivors struggle with self-worth and how learning to understand our bodies can be a powerful step toward healing.

This episode is grounding, educational, and deeply affirming for anyone navigating life after trauma.

1. What trauma is and how it shapes self-worth
2. How trauma is stored in the body
3. Hypervigilance vs hypovigilance
4. Nervous system responses and survival patterns
5. Why trauma-informed healing matters
6. Compassionate approaches to recovery

Jeffrey Shearer is a trauma therapist who specializes in helping individuals understand their nervous systems, rebuild self-worth, and move toward embodied healing.

🌐 Jeff’s Website:

https://www.jeffreyshearer.com/

Many survivors are told to “think differently” or “pray harder,” while their bodies remain stuck in survival mode. This conversation reminds us that trauma is not a failure of faith or character — it is a physiological response, and healing is possible when we approach it with compassion and understanding.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music: Your Poison by Roy Knox

💬 Connect with your hosts:

Heather — @happyheather | @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok: @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram: @tamarajo321

📩 Interested in being a guest?

Email us at [email protected]

If this episode brings anything up for you, pause when needed and tend to yourself with kindness. Your nervous system learned to survive — and it can also learn safety.

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2026

BIG Media

Content Warning:

This episode contains discussions of adoption trauma, physical abuse, sexual assault, incest, pregnancy resulting from rape, religious trauma, and deconstruction. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

In Episode 16, we sit down with George, a trans man who courageously shares his story of survival, identity, and religious deconstruction.

George recounts his experience of adoption, the abuse he endured within his family, and surviving rape by a sibling—an assault that resulted in a child. He speaks honestly about how Christianity and religious expectations were used to silence him, enforce shame, and deny safety, and how stepping away from those systems became essential to his survival and healing.

This is a deeply vulnerable conversation about trauma, truth-telling, gender identity, and what it means to reclaim your life when faith communities fail to protect the most vulnerable among them.

The Awakening is a space for religious trauma survivors to share their stories of how they survived, deconstructed, and began healing. We believe survivors. We name harm. We create room to breathe on the other side of faith.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music: Your Poison by Rox Knox

💬 Connect with your hosts:

Heather — @happyheather | @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok: @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram: @tamarajo321

📩 Interested in being a guest?

Email us at [email protected]

This episode covers intense and traumatic experiences. Please take breaks as needed and prioritize your well-being. Support is valid. Rest is allowed. You are not alone.

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2026

BIG Media

How the Church Still Pushes People Away

This week on The Awakening Podcast, Tamara and I sit down with David, a gay man whose story challenges one of the church's greatest lies.

David grew up in a loving, affirming home, supported by his family and encouraged to be fully himself. And yet, the church still did profound damage. Through shame-based theology, subtle messaging, and spiritual pressure, David internalized harm that ultimately led him to deconstruct out of Christianity entirely.

Today, David identifies as an atheist, not because he lacked love or support growing up, but because the church could not offer him a God that felt safe, honest, or life-giving.

In this conversation, we talk about:

1. Why affirmation at home doesn’t cancel out church harm
2. How theology, not family, is often the deepest wound
3. What deconstruction looks like when belief no longer makes sense
4. The freedom — and grief — that can come with walking away

This episode is especially important for parents, allies, and anyone who believes the church is harmless if someone is “loved enough” elsewhere.

Follow, add, and subscribe so we can go live with you, hear your stories, and continue building a space rooted in honesty, healing, and accountability.

Heather

TikTok: @happyheather

Instagram: @happyheathersmiles

Tamara

TikTok: @feralatheistjezebel321

Instagram: @tamarajo321

📺 YouTube

@TheAwakeningPodcast

📘 Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/share/1C9xMvSeRw/

📩 Interested in being a guest?

Email us at: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: “Your Poison” by Rox Knox

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2026

BIG Media

A Story of Adoption, Trauma, Faith, and Reclaiming Identity

This week on The Awakening Podcast, we sit down with Hal, who courageously shares his deeply personal and painful journey through adoption, loss, religious trauma, and self-discovery.

Hal was adopted from Russia and came to the United States at just 22 months old, where he was raised by his mom and dad. After the devastating loss of his mother to cancer, Hal went on to attend Clemson University. While there, he suffered a traumatic brain injury that altered the course of his life.

During his recovery, Hal found himself surrounded by a group of Pentecostals who attempted to cast demons out of him, interpreting medical trauma as spiritual failure. The harm deepened when his father told him he was going to hell for being gay, leaving Hal wrestling with shame, identity, and belonging.

Today, Hal identifies as spiritual and no longer associates with the God of the Bible, choosing instead a path focused on healing outside of the religious frameworks that caused him harm. Hal has chosen to remain private, and we deeply honor that choice.

This episode is raw, tender, and profoundly human — especially for those navigating:

1. Religious trauma
2. Parental rejection
3. Spiritual abuse
4. Identity after faith

You are not alone.

Follow, subscribe, and add us so we can go live with you, hear your stories, and continue building a community rooted in honesty, healing, and accountability.

Heather

TikTok: @happyheather

Instagram: @happyheathersmiles

Tamara

TikTok: @feralatheistjezebel321

Instagram: @tamarajo321

📺 YouTube

@TheAwakeningPodcast-w6s

📘 Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/share/1C9xMvSeRw/

📩 Interested in being a guest?

Email us at: [email protected]

Intro & Outro Music: “Your Poison” by Rox Knox

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2025

"The Awakening Podcast" is solely owned by it's host and is distributed by BIG Media LLC | Independent Podcast Network!

BIG Media

Episode 13 — Shipped Away in the Name of God: Tabatha’s Story

This week on The Awakening, we sit down with Tabatha, who shares her deeply painful and courageous story of being adopted into a strict Christian family whose love was conditional on conformity.

When Tabatha’s trauma and humanity didn’t fit their idea of a “perfect Christian child,” she was sent away to a troubled teen program in Jamaica, where she experienced further harm and lasting trauma.

After surviving her past and reclaiming her voice, Tabatha founded Survivors Unrestrained — an organization dedicated to helping survivors of institutional, systemic, and religious abuse find community, support, and connection with one another.

During the conversation, Heather and Tamara also highlight a petition we encourage listeners to sign: the Protect Kids Act, which seeks to increase protections for children in youth residential programs. Your signature can help push for real change in how vulnerable young people are treated.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music:

Your Poison by Rox Knox

🌐 Connect with Survivors Unrestrained:

Website: https://survivorsunrestrained.org/

✍️ Sign the Protect Kids Act petition:

https://www.change.org/p/pass-the-protect-kids-act-protect-children-in-youth-residential-programs?recruiter=1395789295&recruited_by_id=a3986430-c44b-11f0-82c5-19d258e4bb7f&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard&utm_medium=copylink&fbclid=IwT01FWAOu1vhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR4Nc-vqi8YTsL5UAZIONLWb-LAHT_PDFC3gpjA1S4bmCMGqQfaejE_QHHwuWA_aem_x5kyRIUhRPqlhUbnXX1gIQ

💬 Connect with your hosts:

Heather — TikTok: @happyheather | Instagram: @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok: @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram: @tamarajo321

📩 Interested in being a guest?

Email us at [email protected]

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2025

"The Awakening Podcast" is solely owned by it's host and is distributed by BIG Media LLC | Independent Podcast Network!

BIG Media

pisode 12 — Bad Theology, Bad Papers, and Bad Pastors: A Week of Christian Scandals

This week on The Awakening, we’re switching things up. Instead of interviewing a guest, Heather and Tamara dive into several current scandals shaking up the Christian world.

We’re talking:

• A failed college paper that somehow turned into a cry of “persecution”

• Women who continue to carry water for the patriarchy — and why it’s so harmful

• The newest wave of controversy surrounding Harvest Christian Fellowship and Pastor Greg Laurie

It’s messy, frustrating, and honestly… a little too on-brand for modern evangelicalism. Join us as we break it all down with honesty, humor, and a whole lot of side-eye.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music: Your Poison by Rox Knox

💬 Connect with your hosts:

Heather — @happyheather | @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok: @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram: @tamarajo321

📩 Interested in being a guest?

Email us at [email protected]

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2025

"The Awakening Podcast" is solely owned by it's host and is distributed by BIG Media LLC | Independent Podcast Network!

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Episode 11 — From Evangelical to Wiccan: Brooke’s Journey Into Freedom and Parenthood

This week on The Awakening, we sit down with Brooke, a young woman whose spiritual path has taken her from evangelical Christianity to embracing Wicca. Brooke opens up about what led her to deconstruct, how she discovered a more empowering and earth-centered spiritual practice, and what parenting looks like when you’re healing from religious trauma while raising the next generation.

Her story is honest, brave, and full of insight about reclaiming identity, intuition, and personal power after leaving high-control faith spaces.

🎶 Intro/Outro Music: Your Poison by Rox Knox

💬 Connect with your hosts:

Heather — @happyheather | @happyheathersmiles

Tamara — TikTok: @feralatheistjezebel321 | Instagram: @tamarajo321

📩 Interested in being a guest?

Email us at [email protected]

If you like what you here, check out other great pods on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

Barrett and Zac host The All About Nothing: Podcast, discussing everything from news and politics to entertainment and sports! All About Nothing, but All About Something too!

Zac and Barrett host What The Pod Was That with Cari Simmons, available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

Take a deep dive down the rabbit hole with Amii on the pod Welcome to Wonder Land.

Check out Black White and Blue In the South, With Dr. Jumelle Brooks and Bill Kimler!

Politically Speaking with Erica Sampson, Kirsten Pruitt, and Emily Mayer is a sharp, engaging podcast breaking down politics with insight, wit, and a fresh perspective.

The Preach Jacobs Podcast is hosted by Columbia South Carolina's very own Ambassador, Hiphop Artist, Columnist and Owner of SoulHAUS Art Gallery, Preach Jacobs!

All of these fantastic podcasts can be found on the BIG Media LLC Podcast Network!

FAIR USE COPYRIGHT NOTICE The Copyright Laws of the United States recognize a "fair use" of copyrighted content. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act states:

NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 106 AND 106A, THE FAIR USE OF A COPYRIGHTED WORK, INCLUDING SUCH USE BY REPRODUCTION IN COPIES OR PHONO RECORDS OR BY ANY OTHER MEANS SPECIFIED BY THAT SECTION, FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS CRITICISM, COMMENT, NEWS REPORTING, TEACHING (INCLUDING MULTIPLE COPIES FOR CLASSROOM USE), SCHOLARSHIP, OR RESEARCH, IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT.

This Video/Audio in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above. If you have any specific concerns about this usage, or our position on the Fair Use Defense, please contact us at [email protected] so we can discuss amicably.

Thank you.

Mentioned in this episode:

BIG Media LLC Copyright 2025

"The Awakening Podcast" is solely owned by it's host and is distributed by BIG Media LLC | Independent Podcast Network!

BIG Media