Proudly on Record

Writer and podcaster DL Mayfield (they/them) joins us to unpack the deep harms of religious authoritarian parenting and the legacy of evangelical culture in America. DL grew up as a homeschooled pastor's kid, deeply immersed in end-times theology and evangelical purity culture. As a late-diagnosed autistic, non-binary parent, they share how reading, parenthood, and listening to their own kids ultimately led them out of the faith and into the work of helping others heal from religious authoritarian upbringings through their project, Strong Willed.We dig into the legacy of James Dobson and how his bestselling parenting books shaped generations of American families through ritualized corporal punishment disguised as godly love. DL makes a chilling case for how breaking a child's "strong will" doesn't just damage them in the moment, it severs their connection to their own inner knowing, setting them up for a lifetime of exploitation by abusers, employers, toxic relationships, and authoritarian systems.In this episode, we cover:Growing up evangelical, homeschooled, and convinced the world was endingHow James Dobson's parenting books shaped generations of American familiesWhy religious authoritarian parenting is a form of ritualized abuseThe connection between corporal punishment, fascism, and authoritarianismHow purity culture created safe havens for predators in the churchThe disturbing overlap between evangelical parenting methods and child sexual abuseHow disconnecting kids from their "strong will" makes them vulnerable for lifeReparenting yourself, honoring your inner child, and finding joy after religious traumaComing out as non-binary at 38 and going no-contact with familyWhy protecting children is the foundation of resisting fascismWhether you're deconstructing, healing from religious trauma, parenting differently than you were parented, or just trying to understand how American evangelicalism got us here, this episode is a vital listen.Find DL Mayfield:strongwilledproject.comStrongwilled Podcast@dlmayfield on Instagram & Threads

Vivian (she/her) is a Nigerian writer, singer, web designer, and queer activist working as a paralegal and first responder for STAG Initiative, a trans-focused NGO. Raised Catholic in an orphanage, she found her way to queer community through literature, social media, and underground gatherings, all while navigating a country where being LGBTQ+ is criminalized.In this episode, Vivian pulls back the curtain on what queer life in Nigeria actually looks like: the secret pride parties, the catfishing dangers, the NGOs fighting to protect their community, and the surprising ways wealth and class shape who faces consequences under the law. She also talks about the funding crisis hitting Nigerian queer organizations, the unique challenges facing trans people, and why she still calls Nigeria home.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tanya Johnson (she/her), licensed mental health counselor, clinical supervisor, and counseling professor, for a deep dive into the psychology of religious trauma and high-control groups.Dr. Johnson breaks down exactly how high-control religions use behavioral, emotional, thought, and information control to keep members compliant and disconnected from their own instincts. In this episode we cover:Why religious trauma is so hard to recognize and why we minimize itThe BITE model and how cults control every aspect of your inner worldHow high-control groups train you to interpret your emotions through their lensWhy anger is repressed in religious spaces and what that costs youThe connection between the fawn response and religious conditioningWhy neurodivergent people can have a unique relationship with high-control groupsHow to talk to loved ones who are still inside a high-control religionWhy leaving religion can feel like losing your identity and map for realityReclaiming your inner authority and learning to trust yourself againThe martyrdom complex and how it follows you out of the churchWhy doing it scared is the only way through conditioned guilt and fearDr. Johnson also shares resources for finding religious trauma informed therapists and her own courses for both clients and therapists in training.

Dr. Lulu (Coach Udaku) is a queer Nigerian immigrant pediatrician, certified life coach, bestselling author, and advocate whose life defies every box society tries to put her in.In this conversation, she opens up about her own decades-long journey to understanding her identity and how navigating faith, culture, immigration, and medicine shaped every step of the way.Dr. Lulu shares the raw, unfiltered experience of learning her eldest child is transgender and how that moment cracked her world open and ultimately became her life's calling. She breaks down the critical difference between accepting and affirming a queer child, why siblings are the forgotten members of a transitioning family, and what parents absolutely must do before their child ever comes out to them.We also dive into the concept of "inviting in", a powerful reframe that puts the power back in queer people's hands, and her trademarked theory of reverse intersectionality, which transforms marginalized identities into tools for meaningful change.Check Out: https://drluluspridecorner.com/

Biconic breaks down what it means to be an AFAB (assigned female at birth) drag queen in a space historically dominated by AMAB (assigned male at birth) performers, how she built her drag persona inspired by Ursula, and why she chose drag queen over drag king.We talk about Texas's SB12 "drag ban", what it actually says, why it's deliberately vague, and how it's creating a climate of fear for performers and small businesses alike. Biconic shares what it's like to perform on the front lines of this legislation and why pre-complying with oppression is never the answer.We also get personal, from growing up as a military brat across 13 countries and 44 states, to knowing she was bisexual since kindergarten, to being closeted through a private Christian school and finally coming out at 18. Plus her wildest drag moments including sneaking through the streets of Dublin in a purple wig and asking Trixie Mattel and George Takei the closing question at an LA Pride panel.This episode is a love letter to queer joy, community organizing, and drag as political defiance.Topics Covered:What it means to be a sapphic/AFAB drag queenTexas SB12 drag ban explainedBisexual erasure and coming out later in lifeDrag as political resistance and queer historyBuilding community in hostile political climatesHow drag healing and queer joy are acts of defianceFind Biconic:Instagram: TheBiconicFacebook: Biconic Bi Icon

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we talk with Haley (she/her), a witchy, neurodivergent, queer single parent from Dallas, Texas, about religious trauma, evangelical deconstruction, purity culture, therapy, and reclaiming personal power.Haley shares what it was like growing up in charismatic church spaces, being shaped by perfectionism and rigid Christian expectations, and learning how church culture taught her not to trust her own voice. Together, we unpack how power, control, shame, and abuse operate inside religious systems and how those same patterns show up everywhere from family structures to broader cultural institutions.Haley opens up about leaving the church from her therapist’s couch, losing community in the process, and slowly rebuilding a life rooted in autonomy, healing, and self-trust. The conversation dives into purity culture, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, soul ties, consent, Internal Family Systems (IFS), queerness after divorce, and the complicated process of realizing you were never allowed to ask yourself what you actually wanted.Haley also shares how astrology, tarot, breathwork, and a more self-led spiritual practice have helped her reconnect with herself after years of religious conditioning. This is a powerful conversation about deconstruction, queer identity, nervous system healing, and learning to believe yourself again after systems of control taught you not to.

A. Elise Joy joins Proudly on Record to talk about growing up queer in Alabama, surviving Mormon purity culture, and finding a lesbian awakening through The L Word. The conversation also dives into Mormon purity culture, religious trauma, and deconstruction. Elise opens up about converting to Mormonism as a teenager, the shame and depression that followed church discipline around premarital sex, and the long process of leaving harmful theology behind. From there, the episode explores queer identity, healing after spiritual abuse, rebuilding a relationship with a supportive but complicated parent, and learning to trust yourself after years of being taught not to.

In this episode of Proudly On Record, the mic turns inward as host Elise is interviewed by cohost Kari about their own story.Elise discusses growing up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist church, being homeschooled, and living in an environment shaped by extreme religious control, isolation, and fear-based messaging.They share what it was like to be raised in a world where women wore long skirts, music and movies were heavily restricted, questioning was discouraged, and church culture shaped nearly every part of daily life.Elise talks about never truly connecting with Christianity even as a child, despite being deeply immersed in church culture. They reflect on the pressure of evangelism, the manipulation behind door-to-door witnessing, the effects of purity culture and silence around sex, and the emotional impact of being raised to believe that anything outside a narrow religious standard would lead to misery or destruction.The conversation also explores Elise’s queer awakening including their time at Liberty University, trying to fit into heterosexual expectations, and the long process of realizing they were gay after years of repression and lack of language for what they were feeling.Topics in this episode:Independent Fundamental Baptist church, homeschooling, Liberty University, religious trauma, deconstruction, purity culture, queer awakening, coming out, compulsory heterosexuality, church control, family relationships, and queer identity.

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we sit down with Jess Grace Garcia, a queer Christian, polyamorous community builder, and co-host of Queer Consciousness, to talk about what its like being a trans-queer-poly pastor.Jess shares their journey growing up in an evangelical, cult-like church environment and what it took to deconstruct those beliefs while still holding onto spirituality. We dive into what it means to be both queer and Christian, how polyamory can exist outside of harmful relationship hierarchies, and why building intentional queer community is so important for healing.From navigating purity culture and religious trauma to creating spaces like Queer Fire, this conversation explores how we can redefine faith, relationships, and belonging.We also talk about:What polyamory actually looks like in practice (and what people get wrong)The difference between hierarchical vs non-hierarchical relationshipsDeconstructing evangelicalism and purity cultureQueer spirituality and redefining ChristianityReligious trauma and healing through communityBuilding safe, inclusive spaces for queer and questioning peopleFollow Jess Grace Garcia:Instagram, TikTok, and more: linktr.ee/jessgracegarciaQueer Fire LA: @queerfirelaQueer Consciousness Podcast: @_queer.consciousness

In this episode, we sit down with Arden Coutts (they/them), a queer trans author based in rural Nebraska who writes emotionally driven fiction centered on grief, resilience, found family, and queer identity. Arden shares their journey growing up in a small town, discovering their identity over time, and navigating life as a trans man in a rural community where LGBTQ+ resources and community spaces can be difficult to access.Arden discusses how storytelling became a powerful tool for healing after the death of their father and how their personal experiences with loneliness, mental health, and identity shape the characters and worlds they create. Their work spans multiple genres including romantic suspense, fantasy, horror, and post apocalyptic fiction, all grounded in complex emotions and morally gray characters.Throughout the conversation, Arden opens up about their evolving relationship with gender identity, transitioning, top surgery, and the challenges of accessing gender affirming healthcare in remote areas. They reflect on the importance of language, representation in books and media, and how finding the right words to describe yourself can be a deeply validating experience for many LGBTQ+ people.Arden shares how they are now building queer community online through LGBTQ+ writing retreats and creative spaces that bring writers together for connection and support.This episode dives into topics like queer representation in literature, rural LGBTQ+ experiences, trans identity, mental health, and the healing power of storytelling. Keywords: LGBTQ+ podcast, trans author interview, queer storytelling, trans identity, rural LGBTQ experience, queer books, found family fiction, LGBTQ writers, gender identity journey, mental health and storytelling, queer representation in literature, Proudly On Record podcast

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we continue our conversation with disability advocate, nurse, and creator Ryann “Ry” Mason (Chronically_Ry). Ry shares what it is like living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects collagen throughout the body and can cause joint dislocations, chronic pain, fatigue, and mobility challenges.Ry talks about growing up hypermobile, becoming an ER nurse and dancer, and eventually transitioning to using mobility aids and a wheelchair after her body could no longer safely sustain the physical demands of her career. She opens up about the emotional process of losing mobility, learning to ask for help, and redefining identity through disability.Throughout the conversation, Ry also dives into disability advocacy, accessibility barriers, and the realities of navigating healthcare and insurance systems as a disabled person. From the difficulty of obtaining properly fitted wheelchairs to misconceptions about wheelchair users and ambulatory disability, Ry explains how much of the world is still built without disabled people in mind.The conversation also explores important topics like disability etiquette, accessibility in public spaces, disability representation in media, and why community is essential for people navigating progressive or degenerative conditions. Ry shares practical advice for able-bodied allies who want to support accessibility and inclusion, along with encouragement for anyone learning to live with a disability.Follow Ryann Mason:Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @chronically_ryKeywords:Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, EDS, Ryann Mason, Chronically Ry, disability advocacy, wheelchair user, ambulatory wheelchair user, chronic illness, hypermobile EDS, disability awareness, accessibility, disability rights, healthcare accessibility, chronic pain, disability community, disability representation, living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, invisible disability, mobility aids

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we sit down with Ryann “Ry” Mason to talk about what it was like growing up near Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Raised Methodist in the foothills of Appalachia, Ryann shares how she experienced church culture differently than many of her peers, while still feeling the powerful influence of evangelical politics and Liberty University’s presence in her hometown.From witnessing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in the Bible Belt to navigating bisexual identity and bi-erasure, Ryann opens up about coming out, dating across genders, and what it means to be visibly queer in a small Southern town. She shares the impact of receiving death threats after publicly dating a woman, attending one of Lynchburg’s first Pride events, and realizing that safety and acceptance are not guaranteed just because you grew up somewhere.We also explore what changed when she moved from rural Virginia to San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood, experiencing a thriving LGBTQ+ community for the first time. This conversation dives into bisexual erasure, queer life in Appalachia, church upbringing, Pride culture, and the emotional complexity of being both an insider and outsider in your own hometown.Keywords: Ryann Mason, Liberty University, queer in Appalachia, bisexual in the South, Lynchburg Virginia, LGBTQ Bible Belt, bi erasure, Methodist church, evangelical culture, Pride in Virginia, queer Southern story, Proudly On Record podcast

Remmy (he/him) joins Proudly on Record to share a powerful story of leaving Evangelical/Southern Baptist Christianity, coming out as trans, and finding freedom through secular witchcraft and atheism. Remmy explains what it means to be a secular witch working with energy and intention rather than deities while unpacking the fear-based teachings of the church which includes anti-LGBTQ sermons, purity culture gender roles, rapture/Left Behind anxiety, and “Hell House” scare tactics.Remmy also talks candidly about living with Tourette’s syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, the damage caused by being told to “pray it away,” and the reality of medical gaslighting and misdiagnosis in a small-town Bible Belt environment. The conversation centers on chosen family, going no contact for safety when boundaries are ignored, and the healing that comes from finally getting accurate diagnoses, supportive community, and language for your identity. Remmy ends with a message to his younger self: your involuntary movements and words are not your fault and you deserve care, safety, and peace.

In this episode, we sit down with Heather Hester, an ally, host of 'More Human. More Kind.' and author of 'Parenting with Pride', to talk about what it really means to choose your child over fear.Heather shares the story of her son coming out in a crisis moment that cracked open her faith, challenged her evangelical upbringing, and launched her into full deconstruction. We talk about unlearning fear-based religion, navigating mental health and online safety, and what allyship actually looks like beyond rainbow T-shirts.Heather is the kind of mom many queer kids wish they had. The one who listens, does her own work, sets boundaries with family, and says, “When someone tells you who they are, believe them.”Topics of Discussion:• Parenting through crisis and self-harm• Religion, fear, and deconstruction• Supporting LGBTQ+ teens with real conversations• Setting boundaries with non-affirming familyLink to Heather’s free guide, Five Ways to Have Real Conversations with Your Queer Teen: https://rebrand.ly/heatherhesterRFThis episode is for parents, allies, and all of us queer kids healing from what we never received.

Joy (she/her) joins us to talk about growing up as a Jehovah’s Witnesses in Appalachia and what happens when a high-control religion isolates you from community, culture, and even your own instincts.We dig into disfellowshipping, apostacy, and other dirty little Jehovah's Witness secrets. We also talk about bisexuality, religious stigma, family rupture, and what it looks like to stop performing a relationship with a parent who doesn't accept you.Finally, Joy reflects on reclaiming Appalachia and the long work of unlearning white supremacy and Christian nationalism while still loving the mountains that formed you.

Zoe (she/her), an Episcopalian, theater/music kid, and editor of a college lit journal, shares what it actually felt like to realize she’s asexual and aromantic. It wasn't a dramatic “aha,” moment, but it was noticing the absence of what everyone else seemed to describe. From thinking attraction was a movie trope to realizing her “crushes” were really about deep conversation and shared interests, Zoe breaks down the difference between libido and attraction, why aromanticism can be harder to define, and how a queerplatonic partnership sounds like the dream.Together, we talk about the pressure of romance-as-a-milestone, the infantilization and “you just haven’t met the right person” assumptions, and what it means to build a full, satisfying life rooted in friendship, community, and companionship without forcing yourself into a script that doesn’t fit. If you’ve ever googled “what do romantic feelings feel like,” this one might land.

This episode is for anyone learning safety after survival.In Part 3 of our relationship mini-series, we talk honestly about something people don’t warn you about enough: healthy relationships can be deeply triggering, not because they’re wrong, but because they’re safe.When your nervous system has been wired for chaos, peace can feel unsettling. In this conversation, we unpack what it actually looks like to build safety after survival, especially when anxious and avoidant attachment styles collide.We talk about:Why “boring” can actually mean regulatedAnxious vs avoidant attachment in real-life conflictHow space + time limits changed the way we fightWhy conflict can build trust instead of destroying itLearning to feel “held but free” in a secure relationshipThis isn’t about perfection or doing relationships right.It’s about repair, self-awareness, and learning how to stay present when your body wants to panic, flee, or fix everything immediately.If conflict makes your whole system shut down…If safety feels unfamiliar…If you’re healing while still very much human, this episode is for you.We’d love to hear from you:What’s your attachment style? How do you handle conflict?Share your experience in the comments.

Kit Sargent (they/them) is the host and creator of the Queer Consciousness podcast, a show built around one deceptively complex question: “What does being queer mean to you?”Kit shares what it was like growing up in evangelical Christianity (“fundy-light”), being homeschooled, and later walking away from the faith they were raised in. What followed was a full-scale deconstruction.Kit also speaks candidly about late-diagnosed ADHD (and being “peer-reviewed autistic” by their autistic friends), how neurodivergence shaped their experiences in school and relationships, and what it was like to rebuild community after stepping away from church spaces, eventually finding connection through podcasts and online queer networks.If you’ve ever felt like you had to earn love by performing the “right” version of yourself, this episode will feel like a loving hand on your shoulder.

We sit down with Shelly Ayers who is a high school counselor, Appalachian writer, and “true mountain child” from Stinking Creek, Tennessee (yes, it’s real). Shelly talks about the deep pull of Appalachia: the clan-like ties to land and kin, the pressure to protect your people, and what it means to tell your truth.Together, we unpack growing up Pentecostal and all the shouting, speaking in tongues, fear of hell, and lingering “spiritual warfare” wiring that can take years to unlearn. Shelly shares how queerness and deconstruction were inseparable for her: the early prayers not to be gay, the church roles she slowly stepped away from, the years of healing work, and the hard-earned peace of building a life rooted in love instead of fear. We also talk about code-switching accents, chosen family, staying vs. leaving the mountains, and how community can be found anywhere—church pews, bar regulars, tattoo shops, and the people who become home.If you've ever loved your roots and had to leave to survive...this one's for you.

Rachel (she/her) joins Holy Homo Healing Hour to talk about leaving Mormonism. A lifelong LDS member, Rachel breaks down the everyday realities of Mormon culture: the pressure to perform obedience, the gendered power structure of the priesthood, missions, and the way purity culture shapes adults long after they’re married. She also unpacks the moment everything shifted in 2015 with the LDS baptism policy that barred children of openly gay parents unless they disavowed their family, and the real harm that followed.From there, Rachel shares how she became outspoken about LGBTQIA+ education inside the church, built support resources to help queer members and parents, and eventually got pushed out when her focus stayed on safety and love—not “staying on the covenant path.” We talk about parenting a non-binary child, the church’s more recent trans-exclusionary guidance, and what it looks like to choose your kid (and your integrity) over an institution.

In this Holy Homo Hangout Hour, Kari and Elise continue their relationship mini-series by diving into toxic relationships, especially the subtle, covert kind that makes you feel like you’re losing your mind. They unpack love bombing, hidden emotional manipulation, and the “small” comments and behaviors that slowly chip away at your confidence (until you’re monitoring moods, walking on eggshells, and blaming yourself for everything).They also talk about why toxic dynamics can feel addictive, how religious conditioning (forgiveness without change, not trusting your gut, “unconditional love”) can keep people stuck, and the big takeaway: when you’re in survival mode, you can’t be your best partner because you’re surviving. This episode focuses on the toxic patterns and the red flags; the healing + safe relationship conversation is coming in the final installment.

In this episode, we sit down with author, blogger, and long-time witch Yvonne Aburrow (they/them).Yvonne shares their journey out of high-control Christianity, through atheism, and into paganism and Wicca, unpacking what it looks like to rebuild your beliefs after religious trauma. We discuss the many books they have written and how their work centers on queer, trans, disabled, and neurodivergent folks who still want real spiritual depth without the shame.We also get into the Satanic Panic, what coven life is like, how polytheism and animism fit together, and how Wiccan practice is rooted in pleasure, nature, and community. Yvonne offers super practical advice for anyone curious about paganism or witchcraft, including how to spot red flags in groups so you don't jump from one high-control situation into another.If you're deconstructing, witch-curious, or just a nerd who loves mythology, this one's for you.

In their very first Holy Homo Hangout Hour, Kari and Elise finally hit record on the conversations they usually have after the podcast ends. This time, they are talking about first queer relationships, especially when those firsts happen later in life.They unpack puppy love that shows up “late,” why lesbians get stereotyped for U-hauling, secret first loves that never got closure, and the messy overlap of best-friend love and romantic love. They also talk about the particular grief of breakups shaped by internalized homophobia, compulsive heteronormativity, and religious trauma, and what it means to grieve years later when you finally feel safe.Join the conversation: What did you learn from your first queer relationship? Share your story in the comments or in our DMs on Instagram at @holyhomohealinghour.

TW: Rapture anxiety, hell imagery, exorcism, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harmTheo (they/he) grew up Pentecostal in rural southeastern Kentucky, where church meant all-day services, speaking in tongues, and constant warnings about the rapture. As a kid, they went to bed terrified that a blood-red moon meant Jesus was coming back and leaving them behind.In this episode, Theo shares how fear-based faith, “journey through hell” church events, and even a nearly staged exorcism shaped their early understanding of God, self, and mental health.We talk about questioning a God who sends most people to hell, being told depression was a demon, and discovering as an adult that they are likely intersex, a secret their family never intended to name.Theo also shares what it has been like to embrace their transmasculine identity, start testosterone, cut off the hair everyone else loved, and navigate a rocky relationship with a mom who insists it is all “made up.”From small-town surveillance and public school prayer circles to online queer community, walkable New York streets, and building chosen family in Louisville, Theo reflects on what real healing has looked like for them and what they would say to baby Theo now: keep being unapologetically you.

TW: Purity cultureIn this episode, we sit down with Mary B. (she/her) who is a New York City–based speaker, author, and host of the Found Family podcast. Mary B. traces her winding spiritual journey: from small-town Episcopal and Methodist pews, through Young Life and the World Race, into the soft patriarchy of “reasonable” evangelical spaces where certainty felt safer than questions.Together we talk about purity culture, sexual shame, and the quiet “gay panic” of Subarus, flannels, and sapphic movie scenes that slowly cracked open her understanding of herself as bi. Mary B. shares how therapy, queer friends, and a growing disconnect with non-affirming theology eventually led her to walk away from a church she’d poured years into—and toward Pride, queer Bible study, and a faith that actually makes room for her full self.We also get into people-pleasing, spiritual authority, and the moment she realized that the men on stage are not the voice of God—they’re just dudes. This is a story about found family, sacred queer spaces, grief, and the deep relief of finally letting the “sleeping bear” of your sexuality wake up.

Lucas Wilson, editor of Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors' Stories of Conversion Therapy, joins us to unpack how conservative Christianity frames the world in stark binaries and how those behavioral scripts police gender, sexuality, and personal identity throughout our society. We swap Liberty University party stories and trace the difference between official conversion therapy programs and everyday conversion practices. This episode offers some clarity for anyone unlearning scripts that they never chose.

TW: Suicidal Ideation, Parental DeathFreddy (he/him) is a teacher, activist, and comic-book community builder from Washington DC. He identifies as a queer Christian and is currently exploring the United Church of Christ. We talk about holding faith and queerness together, moving from rigid church spaces to fully affirming community, and why “love your neighbor” has to look like action. Freddy also shares a provocative interpretive take, a queer reading of the Gospels that includes his theory that Jesus might be gay.

TW: Death of a parent at a young ageJess (she/her) grew up where church wasn’t just on Sundays, it was in the air. In this conversation, the ex–Southern Missionary Baptist, queer mom, grad student, and aspiring horror novelist traces a path from small-town indoctrination to hard-won clarity. We talk about the rumor-mill “witch hunt” that trailed her as a teen, losing her dad and carrying adult grief too early, and why deconstruction sometimes happens in two waves. Jess wrestles the pull between compassion and boundaries with family, parenting without heaven/hell shortcuts, and shifting from “atheist missionary” energy to an ethical critique of the church that leaves room for people who still need faith.

TW: Conversion therapy, domestic violence, sexual assault of a minor, spiritual warfare, and cult dynamics.Adam (he/him) revisits his journey from Independent/Southern Baptist upbringing to agnostic spiritualist. He shares early church memories alongside the trauma that shattered his safety there. Adam recounts being outed twice, pushed into conversion therapy, and scapegoated during a year-long missions program. Finally living openly and four years of therapy reframed worthiness, love, and consent. Today, Adam’s “healing weave” blends boundaries, community, nature time, tarot/astrology, and a firm refusal of manipulation.

TW: Purity culture, spiritual warfare, cult dynamics, abuse, drugs This week, we sit down with Danielle (she/her) as she traces her religious path from Presbyterian roots to a high-control “house church” steeped in spiritual-warfare theology and her eventual deconstruction from evangelical culture.She describes recognizing how spanking doctrine, political partisanship (especially during the Trump era), and her pursuit of a psychology degree set her down the path of deconstructing from her faith.Now identifying as agnostic, Danielle focuses on compassion, nuance, and intellectual honesty. She builds community through genuine friendships outside church walls and celebrates life without needing divine justification.

TW: Drug Addiction, Abuse, Hate SpeechChloé (she/her) is a Kentucky-born activist who has spent a decade working in domestic and sexual violence clinics.Raised by her grandmother after losing her mother to addiction, Chloé grew up in a small, Baptist town and attended what she calls a “cult school,” where creationism replaced science and queer people were condemned from the pulpit. Her quiet prayers for God to take away her queerness eventually gave way to acceptance.Now a spiritual progressive rather than a religious one, Chloé has reclaimed the compassion that first drew her to her faith.

TW: Abuse, Suicide, Death, Birth Trauma, InfertilityAlpha (she/they) was raised in a lineage of deeply conservative Catholics dating back fifteen generations. Their deconstruction and queer awakening happened side by side in high school sparked by compassion for queer friends and a dawning awareness of her own bisexuality.Years later, a near-death experience during childbirth reshaped their beliefs again. Losing her fertility and nearly her life, they found peace in the idea that death is calm and meaning is self-made. "If your structure is suffocating you, get new rules."