Episodes
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Healing Sexual Religious Trauma Syndrome (with Dr Tina Schermer-Sellers)
In this week's episode, I speak with Dr. Tina Schermer-Sellers about the damage caused by evangelical purity culture and religious sexual shame. Dr. Tina traces how her own body-positive upbringing contrasted with what she saw in her therapy students' stories — a dramatic shift around 2000 toward...
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Faithfully Dissident Daughters: Reclaiming Christian Womanhood Beyond Patriarchy (with Chelsea Kim Long)
In this episode, I interviewed Chelsea Kim Long about her forthcoming book, Faithfully Dissident Daughters: Reclaiming Christian Womanhood Beyond Patriarchy. The conversation opens with a discussion of the Southern Baptist denomination's recent ruling restricting women from pastoral roles and the...
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"There, He Holds Her": Ministry, Mysticism, and Reclaiming a Stolen Life (with Meg Calvin)
Author Meg Calvin joins me on the podcast to share her journey from preaching at age 13 in the Methodist church to leaving full-time ministry in 2018. She reflects on how people-pleasing and unhealed childhood wounds drove her pastoral work, and we commiserate about the dysfunctional dynamics of...
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The Guru Gene: From Blind Faith to Clear Thinking (with Janice Selbie, MPCC)
In this week's episode, I welcome back a returning guest and good friend, Canadian author and former fundamentalist Christian, Janice Selbie. We discuss her upcoming book, The Guru Gene: From Blind Faith to Clear Thinking in an Age of Influence, dropping at the end of August. We explore why...
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Missionary Kid, Religious Trauma, and Leaving Christianity (with Josh Foster)
This week's conversation features an interview with Josh Foster, a former missionary kid turned licensed therapist who specializes in helping people recover from religious trauma. Josh recounts how his life changed dramatically at age five when his parents converted to conservative…
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Four and Twenty Blackbirds: Inside Mars Hill and the Trial of Paul Petry (with Rob Thain Smith)
This conversation features Rob Thain Smith — author of Four and Twenty Blackbirds: The Trial of Paul Petry, the Beginning of the End of Mars Hill Church. We discuss the rise and fall of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, led by controversial pastor Mark Driscoll. Rob shares his first-hand experience as…
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From Pulpit to the Path: Recovery, Deconstruction, and Christian Mysticism (with Paule Patterson)
This week's episode features a conversation with Paule Patterson — a former pastor turned Christian mystic and recovering alcoholic — to trace the arc of his remarkable personal journey. Paule shares how his struggles with addiction, the collapse of his ministry in Missoula, Montana, and how...
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Born and Razed: Surviving the Cult Was Only Half the Battle (with Beth Granger)
In this episode, I speak with Beth Granger, author of Born and Razed: Surviving the Cult Was Only Half the Battle. Beth shares her extraordinary story of growing up as a staff kid inside Grenville Christian College in Brockville, Ontario — a boarding school secretly operating as a cult under the...
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More Than Church Hurt: A Therapist's Guide to Religious Trauma Syndrome (with Morgan Piercy, LPC)
In this week's episode, I chat with Morgan Piercy, a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Kansas. She specializes in helping adults deconstruct from evangelicalism and Christian nationalism through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. Together we explore the clinical reality of Religious Trauma...
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Inside Opus Dei: The Catholic Cult Hiding In Plain Sight (with Gareth Gore)
In this week's episode, I finally had the chance to interview investigative journalist Gareth Gore about his book Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy Within the Catholic Church. Gore explains how he stumbled onto the story while investigating the 2017…
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Trying To Love An Invisible, Silent God: Chapter 4 From "Not So Shiny Not So Happy People"
I've finally had time to get this special episode out: another chapter reading from my 2024 book, Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work, edited by Tim Sledge. In this reading--Chapter 4--I pick up the story that follows...
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The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking Christian Nationalist Myths (with Dr Warren Throckmorton)
Just in time for the aftermath of the Christian nationalist-fuelled "Rededicate 250," I welcome back Dr. Warren Throckmorton. We discuss his new book, The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking The Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History, which challenges the historical claims of Christian...
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Spiritual Bypassing: How Religion Masks Grief, Trauma, and Hard Emotions (with Dr Terri Daniel)
This conversation features a return appearance by Dr. Terri Daniel of the Ask Dr. Death podcast. We discuss spiritual bypassing — a psychological phenomenon, originally coined by Buddhist teacher and psychotherapist John Welwood in the 1980s, which describes the use of spiritual or religious...
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Not In My Town! Life in Doug Wilson's Moscow (with Sarah Bader)
After speaking recently with Peter Bell for the last podcast, I'm bringing you a bonus episode: a conversation Sarah Bader, co-host of the Sons of Patriarchy podcast and a longtime Moscow, Idaho resident. We talk about what everyday life is like under the influence of Pastor Doug Wilson and his...
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Pete Hegseth and Doug Wilson: Patriarchy, Power, and Politics (with Peter Bell of the Sons of Patriarchy)
In this episode, I welcome Peter Bell from the Sons of Patriarchy podcast for a deep dive into the world of Doug Wilson. He's a self-ordained pastor from Moscow, Idaho who has spent decades building a network of Christian nationalist influence. Together we trace Wilson's origins, his…
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I Belong To Me: Recovery and Hope After Religious Trauma (with Tia Levings)
This week, I had the pleasure to interview returning guest Tia Levings about her new book I Belong To Me: A Survivor's Guide to Recovery and Hope After Religious Trauma. Tia explains that while her first memoir A Well-Trained Wife told the story of escaping an abusive marriage rooted in Christian...
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Revisiting "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting" (with Marissa Burt & Kelsey McGinnis)
For those who missed our December 2025 DDP Zoom call, this is it! I was able to reconnect with authors Kelsey McGinnis and Marissa Burt about their book The Myth of Good Christian Parenting. The conversation centers on Doug Wilson, a controversial Moscow, Idaho pastor who promotes Christian...
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Two Ex-Pastors Deconstructing Christianity Together (with Timmy Joe Gibson)
This week, I welcome new friend Timmy Joe Gibson for a deep dive into our parallel journeys: from passionate Christian ministry to atheism. Both former pastors, we share our experiences in faith: me as a Bible college teacher and PhD scholar who spent over 20 years in ministry across the US and…
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Part 1: A Conversation with Nick P from The Autistic Pod
This is a two-part podcast conversation between me and Nick from The Autistic Pod. To hear Part 2--where he interviews me--you'll have to head over to his platform to catch it. Our discussion begins by discussing Nick's experiences with ADHD and autism, exploring how neurodivergence affects...
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Yes, We WERE Teenage Fundamentalists! (with Brian & Troy from IWATF)
I had a great opportunity to interview Brian and Troy from the now-retired "I Was a Teenage Fundamentalist" podcast. They discuss why they ended their successful podcast after five years, with both hosts explaining they felt exhausted and had covered what they wanted to say about leaving...
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Money, Lies, and God: The Movement to Destroy American Democracy (with Katherine Stewart)
For the inaugural episode of 2026, I reached out to returning guest Katherine Stewart, author of a 2025 book entitled Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. Stewart, an investigative journalist who has tracked the religious right for 17 years, argues that…
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Weaponizing Christian Zionism and Christian Nationalism (with Brandt Burleson)
The final episode of The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast features a conversation with Brandt Burleson out of Houston, TX, who tells a wild story...as an employee of the Israeli Consulate in Houston a few years ago, Brandt was tasked with being an "interfaith liaison" between the State of Israel and...
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A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts: Spiritual Abuse And Life on the Other Side (with Katherine Spearing)
If you've been the victim of spiritual abuse--experienced in a wide variety of forms--it is imperative for you to gain the language, or vocabulary, to be able to describe what exactly happened to you. Moreover, education is one of the most critical aspects on the recovery journey. Author…
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Restart and Restore: Surviving Manipulative Cults and Relationships (with Rachel Bernstein)
This week I'm joined by my friend Rachel Bernstein, host of the IndoctriNation Podcast and author of a brand-new book entitled Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation. Rachel's book, along with a companion notebook for journaling and self-reflection, are super helpful…
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Surviving a Narcissistic Relationship (with Stacie Rae)
I'm joined this week by my very good friend Stacie Rae from Canada. Herself a survivor of a narcissistic relationship, Stacie now empowers those who are seeking not only to identify what narcissism is, but how to escape and rebuild their lives after leaving it all behind. Stacie works as a mentor...
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Taking Off The Tinfoil Hat: Christianity and Conspiracy Theories (with Cynane Shay)
This week's conversation features Cynane Shay, who goes by the name "Taking Off The Tinfoil Hat" on social media. She's an expert on the subject of Christianity and conspiracy theories, which is incredibly timely given the current situation regarding religion and politics in today's world. You…
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The Myth of Good Christian Parenting (with Marissa Burt and Kelsey McGinnis)
This is a great conversation featuring the co-authors of the soon-to-be-released excellent book, The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families by Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis. These dedicated authors now conclusively...
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Slavery, Misogyny, and Racism: It's All In The Bible (with David Johnson)
This week's episode features a wide-ranging and informative conversation with my good friend and returning guest, David Johnson, host of the Skeptics and Seekers Podcast. I've done a number of shows with David, both here and on his show, and we've teamed up a lot this year for his "Summer of...
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From Christian Rocker to Losing Jesus (with Mikee Bridges)
This week's episode features new friend Mikee Bridges, a former Christian rocker/grunge/punk musician who is also known for putting on the Tom Fest, an alternative Christian music festival that ran for 14 years. He also ran a Christian rock venue in Portland, OR, for many years. After getting out...
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Bonus Episode: Not So Shiny Not So Happy People Chapter 3 Book Promo!
In honor of my presentation at the Houston Oasis gathering on Sunday, the 24th of August, we are running a special promo sale that day on my book, Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work. This weekend you'll be able to purchase…
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America: Fed Into Trump's MAGA Woodchipper (with Frank Schaeffer)
Once again I'm joined by my good friend Frank Schaeffer to discuss all things politics, religion, Christian nationalism, and the effect Trump is having on both the evangelical church and America overall. As a passionate observer of what's going on in terms of current events--not just in America…
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An Ex-Evangelical and an Ex-JW Discuss Dr Robert Lifton's 8 Markers of Cults (with Stephen Mather)
Recently I reconnected with returning guest Stephen Mather, former Jehovah's Witness and co-host of the now-defunct Cult Hackers Podcast. As an organizational psychologist, and former JW, Stephen is uniquely positioned to inform listeners on the eight markers of cults identified by Dr Robert Jay...
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Shame-Sex Attraction: Surviving Conversion Therapy (with Dr Lucas Wilson)
I finally caught up with Lucas Wilson after months of emailing each other to set up this interview. And am I ever glad that I did! We had a fantastic conversation that I truly believe you will enjoy and learn a lot from. Lucas--or Luke--originally hails from Toronto, Canada, and as a young man...
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Vance Boelter: A Christian Assassin Radicalized by the New Apostolic Reformation
Recently, a listener asked me if I would explore the potential connections between Vance Boelter--the gunman who recently killed 2 Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, and wounded 2 more--and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). The question posed was this: "Was Vance Boelter radicalized by his...
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Project Esther: Weaponizing Antisemitism to Take Away Rights
Although Chris Shelton and I just did an episode on Project Esther recently, there were a lot of details that we didn't have time to dive into. As the story develops, and more information comes out, there have been some truly concerning developments that have taken place. Thus, in this special...
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Bonus Episode: The Cult of Trump and Project Esther (with Chris Shelton)
In this special bonus episode, former Scientologist Chris Shelton and I take a deep dive into a controversial new development in Trumpworld: Project Esther. This story originally broke a few weeks ago in The New York Times, and has now been picked up in other media outlets. The brainchild of The...
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The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us To Have (with Regina Cates)
This week's episode features an insightful conversation with Regina Cates, author of the book The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us To Have: A Call To Bravery, Peace, and Love. At first, when I heard the title of the book, I was understandably sceptical. I figured Regina was just another…
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The 7 Mountains Mandate: The Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy (with Matthew Boedy)
Christian nationalism, by its very nature, is anti-democratic. I have come to believe that not only is this true, but it poses a serious threat to democracy not just in America, but indeed the world. With Donald Trump back in power--aided and abetted by another overwhelming majority of...
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Helping People To Escape From Christianity (with Tim Mills)
It's finally arrived! This week's long-overdue discussion is here, featuring a super informative and helpful conversation with Tim Mills, host of "The Harmonic Atheist" podcast and YouTube channel. As a faithful Christian virtually all of his life, Tim has an unbelievable testimony--and this is…
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Change Your Life Script: Dealing with Limiting Beliefs (with Austra Putnina)
This episodes features a wide-ranging and super helpful discussion with Austra Putnina, host of the "Chase The Impossible" podcast. Originally from Latvia, Austra now lives in Estonia--and has an amazing backstory. Ever struggle with the impostor syndrome? Ever struggle with those "tapes" that…
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Two Chapters From My Book "Not So Shiny Not So Happy People!"
I'm excited to be sharing the next two chapters from my book that came out last September. It's called Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work, and was edited by my good friend Tim Sledge. If you haven't picked up a copy of the…
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What Happens When Jesus Isn't Enough? (with Rob Connelly)
This episode features an insightful conversation with former Southern Baptist Convention pastor--and now exvangelicala life coach and guide--Rob Connelly. After spending 37 years as a dedicated evangelical Christian, serving as a worship leader and pastor, Rob finally deconstructed his faith and...
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Should You Be Concerned About Trump's Project 2025 Agenda? (with Chris Shelton)
In this episode I'm joined once again by my very good friend, Chris Shelton, to revisit the issue of Trump's Project 2025 agenda. How concerned should you be, going forward? Last summer I started alerting listeners about the dangers posed by Project 2025's Mandate for Leadership, all designed as...
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Holy Terror Classic Edition: Catching up with Conway & Siegelman - A MindShift Sequel
Welcome to the first episode of The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast for 2025! This inaugural episode features a catch-up conversation with two old friends, Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman. They are the authors of the classic 1978 work on cults and mind control entitled Snapping: America's Epidemic of...
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Interspirituality: Ten Words To Make The World A Better Place (with Lauryn Axelrod)
For this final podcast of 2024, I recently connected with Lauryn Axelrod--she's an interfaith/interspiritual minister, chaplain, spiritual director, and teacher out of Vermont. This is an especially poignant interview, as I've talked to several people this year about concepts of spirituality....
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Rift: Breaking Away From Christian Patriarchy (with Cait West)
I recently caught up with returning guest Cait West, who has just come out with a great book entitled Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away From Christian Patriarchy. Cait grew up in what is called the "stay-at-home-daughters" movement, which is a version of Christian patriarchy that, while seemingly...
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Blue Jellyfish Syndrome: Mental Health After Leaving Religion and an Abusive Marriage (with Karen Unrue)
This week's guest features author Karen Unrue, whose book Blue Jellyfish Syndrome: How To Break Free From Stigma and Maintain Hope While Living With a Mental Illness is a great resource for those who have left either controlling religion or abusive relationships behind. But simply escaping is far...
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Bonus Episode! The Violent Take It By Force: Christian Nationalism is a Threat to American Democracy (with Matthew D Taylor)
In this special election special bonus episode, I reached out to returning guest Matthew D Taylor, who has just come out with a brand-new book called The Violent Take it by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy. For those who are still undecided about their vote in the...
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Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown (with Annie Dawid)
This week's episode takes an in-depth look at the tragic murder/suicide that took place in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. Cult leader Jim Jones was responsible for not only controlling and manipulating his numerous dedicated followers, in the end, he forced nearly 1000 of them to commit suicide or…
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Breaking! Updates to Project 2025 and the Cult of Trump (with Chris Shelton)
If you've been following the storyline of what's happening to Project 2025, The Heritage Foundation, and Trump's presidential campaign, then you'll be familiar with some of what Chris Shelton and I discuss in this episode. There have been a number of important developments in this ongoing...
About this show
Reconstruction after Deconstruction--after leaving destructive religious dogma behind!
Hosted by
Dr Clint Heacock
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