PODCAST · religion
Honoring the Journey
by Leslie Nease
Life is a journey, and we’re all walking our own unique path. But every now and then, we get the chance to step onto someone else’s path, to see the world from their perspective, and to learn from their experiences. That’s what we do here on Honoring the Journey. We walk alongside others, explore their stories, and then step back onto our own path—hopefully with new insights, deeper understanding, and a broader perspective for the journey ahead. Honoring the Journey is hosted by Leslie Nease, a former Christian Radio Host, Speaker & Writer and Contestant on Survivor China known as "Sister Christian". Leslie has since deconstructed her Evangelical beliefs, but is still deeply connected to God and is seeking to understand faith from every perspective. Let's journey together!
Episodes
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The Bible and LGBTQ Inclusion: Honoring the Journey of Colby Martin
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie revisits a conversation with author and former pastor Colby Martin after a technical issue ruined their first recording at the Wild Goose Festival. Colby shares his personal journey from being raised in a Baptist family and sensing a call to…
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The Power of Story Telling: Honoring Your Story with Keith Giles
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, host Leslie Nease sits down with Keith Giles — author, publisher, and co-owner of Quoir Publishing — for a wide-ranging conversation about the art of storytelling and the launch of his new science fiction imprint, Pink Beam Press. Keith shares free,...
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Overcoming Fear, Finding Faith: Honoring the Journey of Jason Becker
Today we welcome Jason Becker, host of the podcast “What the Hell Do I Know? with JB,” for a powerful conversation about faith, doubt, deconstruction, and spirituality. Jason shares growing up Southern Baptist, being taught fear-based salvation and repeatedly praying the salvation prayer into his...
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Religion & The Brain: Honoring the Journey of Dr. Shaleen Kendrick
What happens in our bodies when the beliefs we grew up with begin to unravel? In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie talks with Dr. Shaleen Kendrick, author of Your Three Brains, about her experience growing up as a megachurch pastor’s daughter and how understanding the brain and nervous...
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Religious Trauma & The Nervous System: Honoring the Journey of Kallie Klug
On today's Honoring the Journey, Leslie sits down with Kallie Klug a somatic practitioner, yoga instructor, and author of Tired of Being Good, to explore the concept of "fawning" as a biological stress response rooted in people-pleasing. They discuss how growing up in religious environments can...
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Let's Talk About Religious Trauma: Honoring the Journey of Vernique Esther
This conversation with Vernique Esther went so many places, and I loved every minute of it! Vernique grew up in a beautiful and sometimes chaotic mix of denominations, cultures, and ideas about God, shaped by her Haitian and West African roots. Her journey eventually led her into a legalistic...
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LSD to Galilee: Honoring the Journey of Rob Zahn
Today, Leslie has a conversation with Rob Zahn, a Lutheran pastor and author of LSD to Galilee. The episode weaves together Rob's unconventional path into ministry, the story of discovering his estranged father on his deathbed and uncovering his father's ties to a 1960s drug-smuggling...
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From Christian Worship Leader to Atheist: Honoring the Journey of Promise Backlund
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, we hear from the lovely Promise Backlund (Eve Was Framed), a former worship leader in Charismatic Churches, to discuss her deconstruction from an evangelical upbringing to eventual atheism. We explore themes like the fear of hell and losing salvation, the...
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Grief, Deconstruction & Holding Onto Jesus: Honoring the Journey of Rob Bell
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie sits down with writer, artist, playwright, and speaker Rob Bell—someone whose work had a tremendous impact on her own deconstruction journey. If you’ve spent any time questioning or reexamining the faith you inherited, chances are you’ve come across...
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Bridge Builder: Navigating Faith, Family & Deconstruction with Britt Hartley & Leslie Nease
Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie welcomes back Britt Hartley from No-nonsense Spirituality for a wide-ranging conversation about navigating relationships with family members who are still religious after leaving the faith. The two cover the emotional dynamics of deconstruction, including the...
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Funny Songs, EDM, Gay Christians, & More: Honoring the Journey of Kurt & Jason
Helpful links we discuss on the pod: Page on homosexuality and Christianity - www.kexc.us "You Should Know" song (topic of homosexuality and Christianity) - https://youtu.be/UNqMMsoVDZU?si=s3tkxcnypuSU8yAy INEVITABLE (dance, trance, electropop music) - www.inevitablemusic.org Kurplunk (various...
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Walking Away from MAGA: Honoring the Journey of Steven Francisi
What happens when someone wakes up and starts to question their entire life? He was MAGA, happily patriarchal and deep in evangelicalism, but one day he began to question it all. In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Steven Francisi, founder of Healing Roots On Up and author…
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Unbelieve: Honoring the Journey of Marla Taviano
Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie interviews Marla Taviano — a former evangelical Christian author who wrote books for conservative Christian wives and later went through a very public deconstruction. Marla shares her journey from being deeply embedded in evangelical Christianity (as a...
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Shalom and The Un-spun Gospel: Honoring the Journey of Lisa Sharon Harper
In today’s episode, Leslie talks with theologian and activist Lisa Sharon Harper about her faith deconstruction. Lisa traces her family's centuries-deep American roots, from enslaved ancestors to Indigenous heritage and describes how a 2003 pilgrimage retracing the Trail of Tears forced her to...
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Let's Talk About Deconstruction: Honoring the Journey of Phil Drysdale
In this episode, titled “Let’s Talk About Deconstruction”, Leslie interviews Phil Drysdale, a Scotland-based psychotherapist, researcher, and founder of Deconstruction Network, for a wide-ranging conversation about the psychology of deconstruction. Phil shares his own journey from a…
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Changing Our Mind About LGBTQ: Honoring the Journey of David Gushee
Today, Leslie sits down with David Gushee, a Pastor and Professor of Christian Ethics who is also a writer of one of the most influential books of Leslie’s deconstruction process—Changing our Mind. Leslie invites David to share his journey with us all trough being a Southern Baptist convert to a...
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Testify to Love: Honoring the Journey of Melissa Greene
Today, Leslie invites Melissa Green, a former member of the beloved Christian music group Avalon, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about faith deconstruction, spiritual evolution, and the courage to question inherited beliefs. Melissa traces her journey from growing up in the...
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From the Alter to the Stage: Honoring the Journey of LJR
Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Luke Justin Roberts (LJR) — a recording artist she found on TikTok. Luke was a former worship leader who grew up deeply embedded in evangelical and homeschool culture. They talk about his winding spiritual path from devoted churchgoer to…
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Rethinking Hell, The Bible & The Nature of God: Honoring the Journey of Brian Zahnd
Today, we chat with pastor and author Brian Zahnd for a wide-ranging conversation about faith deconstruction, theological reimagining, and the journey of losing — and rediscovering — Jesus. Brian shares how, after 30 years of ministry, he found himself rethinking core evangelical doctrines...
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Songs of Peace in Times of War: Honoring the Journey of Savannah Locke
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie has a conversation with Savannah Locke — artist, songwriter, and podcaster — for a rich, wide-ranging conversation about faith deconstruction, religious trauma, and spiritual reimagining. Savannah shares her personal journey from confident…
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"What the Hell Did You Expect Me to Do": Honoring the Journey of Chris Kratzer
Today, Leslie speaks with Chris Kratzer, a former Lutheran and Southern Baptist evangelical pastor who spent over 20 years in ministry before undergoing a profound faith deconstruction. Chris shares how ambition and ego initially drove him into the contemporary megachurch world, how a series of...
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Honoring the Journey: A Deep Dive Into Quantum Theology
This special episode of Honoring the Journey is an insightful group conversation between Leslie and five guests — physicist Jenny Nielsen, mathematician-turned-writer Nish Dubashia, theologian John Van de Lair (South Africa), philosopher Eric English, and author/publisher Keith Giles — all...
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From Fear to Freedom: Honoring the Journey of Pastor Joe Smith
Today, Leslie sits down with Pastor Joe Smith, who leads Maison Church in Gainesville, Florida — a progressive, welcoming congregation formed from a merger of two churches. Joe shares his faith deconstruction journey, beginning in the Free Will Baptist tradition, where childhood teachings…
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Faith Funk: Honoring the Journey of Michael Camp
In today’s episode, Leslie reunites with returning guest Michael Camp to discuss his new book Faith Funk, which explores how people become trapped in high-control religious systems and the psychological toll — including anxiety, depression, and PTSD — that results from toxic faith experiences....
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Leaving Mormonism: Honoring the Journey of Megan Verno
In this episode of Honoring The Journey, Leslie talks with Megan Verno — a therapist, writer, and founder of Novo Nexus — about their parallel journeys out of high-control religions (Megan from Mormonism/LDS, Leslie from Evangelical Christianity). They explore the striking similarities between...
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The Wilderness Priest: Honoring the Journey of Father Pete Nunnally
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Father Pete Nunnally — an Episcopal priest who calls himself "the Wilderness Priest" — about his nature-based church called Water and Wilderness Church near Washington, DC. Pete shares how the church meets outdoors, rain or shine, along…
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All Those Opposed: Honoring the Journey of Jen Nielsen
What happens when the questions you’ve been taught to silence refuse to stay quiet? Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie talks with Jen Nielsen (@allthoseopposed), who shares her powerful journey out of the LDS Church—the doubts that started it, the cost of following them, and why she’s chosen…
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The Justice of Jesus: Honoring the Journey of Rev. Joash Thomas
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, I sit down with Rev. Joash Thomas—priest, public theologian, and author of The Justice of Jesus. Joash shares his journey from an Indian Pentecostal upbringing in Mumbai, to political consulting in Georgia, to a powerful awakening that led him into human...
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Bonus Episode: Let's Talk About the Bible with Former Pastor, Joe Boyd
This episode is a deep dive conversation between Leslie and Joe Boyd, a former pastor and biblical scholar, exploring how to approach scripture during deconstruction. They discuss the challenging journey of questioning long-held beliefs about biblical inerrancy, examining how the Bible was...
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The Courage & Humility to Say "I Was Wrong": Honoring the Journey of Josh Harris
Today on Honoring the Journey, we have a powerful conversation with Josh Harris, author of "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," as he shares his journey of reckoning with the impact of purity culture. Harris openly discusses how he came to recognize the harm caused by his influential book after years of...
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Leaving the Lord's Recovery: Honoring the Journey of Halli Carbrey
Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Halli Carbrey (@hallifaith.liberated) about leaving high control religion. Halli shares her story of growing up in a small, insular group called the Lord's Recovery, experiencing excommunication with her then-husband in 2019, and navigating the...
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From Southern Baptist to Mainline: Honoring the Journey of Beau Stringer
It's the 100th Episode of Honoring the Journey today!! Leslie welcomes Beau Stringer, a former Southern Baptist preacher who transitioned to mainline Christianity. Beau shares his journey from growing up in an evangelical bubble in West Texas, serving as a youth pastor at 19, and eventually...
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Slutty Grace: Honoring the Journey of Jeromy Johnson
Today we honor the journey of Jeremy Johnson, host of the Slutty Grace podcast, as we explore our parallel journeys of religious deconstruction. Both of us were raised in evangelical fundamentalist Christianity, and we discuss how we moved from rigid theological certainty to a more expansive,...
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Empty Chairs Community: Honoring the Journey of Justin Telthorst
This episode of Honoring the Journey is a deeply personal conversation with Justin Telthorst, who shares his journey of coming out as gay at age 25 while remaining within the Catholic Church—a path that defied the common narrative of leaving religion behind. Growing up in a conservative Catholic...
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The Faith Between: Honoring the Journey of Faith Beyond Conservative and Liberal
Today, Leslie brings back a past guest: Jonathan Foster. They chat about navigating the "messy middle" of faith deconstruction—the space between conservative and progressive Christianity where people seek compassion, curiosity, and nuanced thinking rather than quick reactions. They discuss...
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Snarky Faith: Honoring the Journey of Stuart Delony
Today on Honoring the Journey, we chat with Stuart Delony, a former pastor turned satirist and creator of the "Snarky Faith" podcast and column. Stuart shares his colorful journey from growing up as a Southern Baptist kid whose mother took him to tent revivals seeking healing for his disabled...
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God, Sex & Rich People: Honoring the Journey of Mattie Jo Cowsert
This episode features Mattie Jo Cowsert, author of "God, Sex and Rich People: Recovering the Evangelical Testimony," in a deeply personal conversation about growing up in evangelical purity culture, deconstructing faith, and finding autonomy. Mattie Jo shares her journey from being raised in a...
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The Top 10 Things I Used to Teach but Don't Believe Anymore: Honoring my Journey with Leslie Nease
In this, the first episode of Season 6, and our first episode of the year, I decided to do a little life update and read an entry from my Substack about some of the doctrines I used to teach that I do not believe anymore. This essay from my Substack has spurred a lot of real, deep conversation in...
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Only Us: Honoring the Journey of Jaxon Phoenix
Today we welcome Jaxon Phoenix, an author and hand pan musician, to discuss his new book "Only Us: Searching for Truth About the Identity of God and Humanity." The conversation delves into Jaxon’s personal journey of faith, deconstruction, and healing from religious trauma. Together, we explore…
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A Conversation with My Daughter: Honoring the Journey of Stephanie Nease
In this special episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie sits down with her oldest daughter, Stephanie, for an open and vulnerable conversation about faith, family, and personal transformation. Together, they reflect on their shared history, the impact of religious upbringing, and the challenges…
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No-Nonsense Spirituality: Honoring the Journey of Brit Hartley
In this episode, we welcome Brit Hartley, an atheist spiritual director, to discuss her personal journey of deconstructing from Mormonism and religion at large. Brit shares her upbringing in a loving Mormon community, the cognitive dissonance she experienced as a teenager, and the pivotal moments...
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Broadening the Narrative: Honoring the Journey of Nicki Pappas
Today we welcome my longtime friend, Nicki Pappas, for a deeply personal and vulnerable conversation. Nicki shares her story of growing up in the Southern Baptist church, navigating fundamentalist spaces, and ultimately deconstructing her faith. We also explore themes of spiritual abuse…
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A Sacred Spiritual Quest: Honoring the Journey of Michael Gungor
Today we welcome singer-songwriter and spiritual explorer Michael Gungor for a candid conversation about faith, deconstruction, and personal transformation. Michael shares his upbringing in a charismatic church, his early success as a worship leader, and the pivotal questions that led him to...
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Leading with Love: Honoring the Journey of Malynda Hale
In this episode of Honoring the Journey, we chat with Malynda Hale—a singer, actress, podcast host, activist, and the new executive director of The New Evangelicals. The conversation explores Malynda’s upbringing in a progressive Christian household, her experiences navigating conservative...
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The Narrow Way: Finding Hope & Humanity Amid Division with Ben Cremer
Today we are sharing a special, timely episode of Honoring the Journey where Leslie invites Ben Cremer back to the show to dive deep into the challenges of navigating grief, polarization, and faith in today’s divided world. Through honest conversation, personal stories, and a powerful parable…
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Brian Recker is Back to Discuss "Hell Bent" on Honoring the Journey!
In this episode, Leslie welcomes back Brian Recker to discuss his new book, "Hell Bent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love." Together, they dive into Brian’s journey from a strict evangelical upbringing to a more open, love-focused faith, exploring how…
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The Transformational Power of Audacity: Honoring the Journey of Rachel Dickson
Rachel Dixon joins us today to share her powerful story of self-discovery, faith, and authenticity. Growing up in a deeply religious environment, Rachel navigated the complexities of identity, conformity, and spirituality, ultimately embracing her true self and advocating for wholeness as a...
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A Pastor Talks Deconstruction: Honoring the Journey of Rev. Joseph Yoo
Today we welcome Reverend Joseph Yoo for an open conversation about faith, deconstruction, and creating inclusive spiritual communities. Joseph shares his personal journey as a pastor’s kid in a multi-generational ministry family, his experiences with conservative and evangelical traditions, and...
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Naked Pastor: Honoring the Journey of David Hayward
Today we honor the journey of David Hayward, known as the "Naked Pastor", who shares his profound journey of deconstructing faith. David discusses his background as a pastor, the origins of his Naked Pastor persona, his educational and theological journey, and the critical moments that led to his...
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Rapture Trauma & Deconstruction Part 2: "The Rapture" From a Scriptural Perspective
In this episode of "Honoring the Journey," Leslie welcomes author and theologian Keith Giles to discuss rapture theology and its impact on those raised in fear-based religious traditions. Building on feedback from a previous episode, they explore the origins of rapture theology, its scriptural...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Life is a journey, and we’re all walking our own unique path. But every now and then, we get the chance to step onto someone else’s path, to see the world from their perspective, and to learn from their experiences. That’s what we do here on Honoring the Journey. We walk alongside others, explore their stories, and then step back onto our own path—hopefully with new insights, deeper understanding, and a broader perspective for the journey ahead. Honoring the Journey is hosted by Leslie Nease, a former Christian Radio Host, Speaker & Writer and Contestant on Survivor China known as "Sister Christian". Leslie has since deconstructed her Evangelical beliefs, but is still deeply connected to God and is seeking to understand faith from every perspective. Let's journey together!
HOSTED BY
Leslie Nease
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Honoring the Journey have?
Honoring the Journey currently has 124 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Honoring the Journey about?
Life is a journey, and we’re all walking our own unique path. But every now and then, we get the chance to step onto someone else’s path, to see the world from their perspective, and to learn from their experiences. That’s what we do here on Honoring the Journey. We walk alongside others, explore...
How often does Honoring the Journey release new episodes?
Honoring the Journey publishes regularly with 124 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Honoring the Journey?
You can listen to Honoring the Journey on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Honoring the Journey?
Honoring the Journey is created and hosted by Leslie Nease.
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