Religion, Power, and the Stories That Shape Who We Are with Kaia Badger

What happens when the worldview that shaped your identity, relationships, and understanding of reality no longer makes sense?In this episode of Brave New Worlds, Nathan sits down with Kaia Badger—former ministry leader, biblical studies scholar, and content creator under the handle of Reconstructing Kaia—for a conversation about faith, doubt, identity, power, and the challenge of rebuilding a meaningful life after deconstruction.Drawing from her experience growing up in evangelical Christianity, earning a degree in biblical studies, working in ministry, and later transitioning as a trans feminine non-binary person, Kaia shares the personal journey that led her to question not only her faith, but the systems and structures that shaped it. The conversation explores the social and historical forces that influence religious belief, the emotional cost of leaving tightly knit communities, and the difficulty of separating the positive aspects of religion from the power structures that often accompany them.ABOUT KAIA BADGERKaia Badger is a content creator, biblical studies scholar, and former ministry leader exploring the intersections of religion, power, gender, and identity. After spending more than a decade in ministry and earning a degree in biblical studies, Kaia began a personal journey of questioning, deconstruction, and reconstruction that ultimately reshaped both her worldview and her sense of self.Today, she creates content through Reconstructing Kaia, where she examines religious narratives, institutional power, and the ways belief systems influence culture, relationships, and identity. Her work is driven by a desire to create a world where religion is no longer weaponized to reinforce harmful hierarchies—particularly around gender and sexuality—while helping people approach their beliefs with curiosity, humility, and compassion.LINKSFollow Kaia Badger:Instagram: @reconstructingkaiaTikTok: @reconstructingkaiaYouTube: @reconstructingkaiaThreads: @reconstructingkaiaBluesky: @reconstructingkaiaIf you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with someone who enjoys thoughtful conversations about belief, identity, culture, and creating a braver new world.