MindShift Podcast

Latest Episodes:

042: Disentangling Yourself from Religion (with Valerie Heacock Cunningham) Oct 26, 2018

Show notes

Catch this great conversation between myself and my sister, Valerie Heacock Cunningham! This is a 1-year update from our podcast we did last year entitled "Surviving a Fundamentalist Upbringing." What's changed in both of our lives since last year? How have we processed the traumatic experiences from our evangelical and fundamentalist past, and moved past it? How have we disentangled ourselves from religion, and how has that changed us? Find out in this episode!

041: Earning a Black Belt in Cognitive Dissonance (with Dr Josie McSkimming) Part 2 Oct 19, 2018

Show notes

Catch the second half of my conversation with Australian Dr Josie McSkimming, a clinical social worker and ex-evangelical who now focuses on helping those who come out of controlling and fundamentalist religions.

In this second half of our conversation, Josie and I delve a bit more into her book, "Leaving Christian Fundamentalism and the Reconstruction of Identity." This piece of "reconstruction after deconstruction" is hugely important, and in this episode we get into a great discussion about the dynamics around what this looks like.

Special Edition: Exploring The eXvangelicals: A Documentary (with Andy Herndon) Oct 14, 2018

Show notes

In this special bonus edition of MindShift Podast, I interview Andy Herndon as we discuss his important upcoming domentary film entitled "The eXvangelicals: A Documentary."

Not only do we get into Andy's own backstory of deconstructing his former evangelical faith, we discuss what led him to start this journey of documenting the many stories of people from the ex-evangelical community.

Find out how you can be involved in this exciting project by listening in!

040: Earning a Black Belt in Cognitive Dissonance (with Dr Josie McSkimming) Part 1 Oct 12, 2018

Show notes

Part 1 of my conversation with Dr Josie McSkimming from Sydney, Australia, focuses on her own backstory in evangelicalism, and how she escaped the system.

Now a clinical social worker who counsels those who have left religion behind, she has since authored the book "Leaving Christian Fundamentalism and the Reconstruction of Identity."

Find out more in this fascinating conversation with an ex-fundamentalist from Down Under!

039: Deconstructing the Predatory Parenting of Evangelicalism (with Cindy Wang Brandt) Part 2 Oct 05, 2018

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In this Part 2 episode with Cindy Wang Brandt from Taiwan, we get into more specifics around how exactly one might classify raising children within evangelicalism as "predatory."

Is it good and right for parents to pass along core values that are important to them? Including their own religion? Or should parents give children the space and autonomy to choose their own path spiritually?

Find out more in this thought-provoking conversation!

038: Deconstructing the Predatory Parenting of Evangelicalism (with Cindy Wang Brandt) Part 1 Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

Should raising children in an evangelical Christian environment be considered "predatory" on the part of the parents?

My guest today, Cindy Wang Brandt from Taiwan, believes that in certain circumstances it absolutely is predatory. Children may not have the capacity or awareness to filter out teaching that may, in the end, prove to be abusive or harmful to their psychological, sexual, and relational development.

Find out more in Part 1 of this fascinating conversation!

037: Living Life Without an Agenda (with David Hayward) Part 2 Sep 21, 2018

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In this second episode with David Haward, "the Naked Pastor," we get even more in depth processing the experiences of those who are deconstructing their former faith.

David breaks down exactly just how all-pervasive religion can be, as well as the effects on their followers. Thus, leaving such a context--where we formed relationships and our very identities--is extremely difficult.

It will likely take us...the rest of our lives! Join us on the journey.

036: Living Life Without an Agenda (with David Hayward) Part 1 Sep 14, 2018

Show notes

Are you an ex-evangelical who is deconstructing your former evangelical faith? Then you will benefit from this very helpful conversation with Canadian ex-evangelical pastor David Hayward, who is also known as "The Naked Pastor."

I learned so much from this very practical conversation--coming from a man who not only walked away from the church (and quite possibly the Christian faith too), but who also now sees it as his mission to help others with their journey of deconstruction and discovery.

In this episode we discuss David's backstory and then get into the practicalities of what deconstruction actually looks like in the real world.

035: Deconstructing Your Faith: The Long and Winding Road (with Chris Stroop) Part 2 Sep 07, 2018

Show notes

In this second half of my conversation with self-confessed "exvangelical" and Twitter personality Chris Stroop, we finally get to the conclusion of Chris's story of deconstructing his former beliefs and ultimately walking away from the evangelicalism he grew up with.

We also delve into the background of the Religious Right in America, tracing their roots back to the early days of fundamentalism. Chris develops how that reactionary and militant movement still finds its expression not just in American right-wing politics today, but also is heavily involved in trying to win what they view as a "global culture war."

034: Deconstructing Your Faith: The Long and Winding Road (with Chris Stroop) Part 1 Aug 31, 2018

Show notes

Part 1 of my conversation with fellow ex-evangelical and "Twitter personality" Chris Stroop features an exploration of his own journey out of evangelicalism.

What happened to Chris when, as a student in a Christian high school, had a crisis of faith? Like so many, he sought help from a pastor friend...but was that encounter successful in keeping him in the faith?

Find out more about Chris and his journey in this episode!

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