MindShift Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Deconstructing Your Former Beliefs (with David Hayward, The Naked Pastor) Dec 17, 2021

Show notes

This final episode of 2021 features another returning guest and good friend from Canada--David Hayward, "The Naked Pastor."

A former evangelical pastor like me, David and I go way back and share a lot in common since we both left both our ministries and our former faiths behind. I wanted to reconnect with him after we were on a panel last year's CORT 2020 conference on religious trauma.

In addition to some live deconstructing, we get into the subject of David's artwork--the messages and themes that are so prevalent in his work. I think you will find this final episode of the year both insightful and helpful along your journey.

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Follow David on Twitter @nakedpastor

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Deconstructing: When Your Authentic Self Breaks Through (with Dr Josie McSkimming) Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

This week's guest is another returning friend--Dr Josie McSkimming from Sydney, Australia.

I reached out to her recently because I was interested in speaking with her about not only her backstory in Christian fundamentalism, and how she got out of that system, but also about her work as a psychotherapist who specializes in helping clients recover from such afflictions as religious trauma syndrome.

As she views it, our authentic or preferred self is the one we need to recover, rebuild and reconstruct after leaving religion or a cult group behind. How do we do it? Listen in to find out more information and helpful resources.

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Follow Josie on Twitter @josiemcskimming

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Re-Release! Surviving a Fundamentalist Upbringing (with Valerie Cunningham) Nov 19, 2021

Show notes

This episode is something I've wanted to do for a very long time--a re-release of an old recording I did with my sister Valerie way back in 2017 when she came to visit me in North Wales.

We sat down and shared stories of what it was like to grow up in not just a fundamentalist home, but actually a cult--the Bill Gothard Bible cult. Hearing Valerie's story will move you...perhaps even to tears.

I hope you get a lot out of this re-released episode.

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#TexasTaliban: Inside the Texas Abortion Law (with Peter Montgomery) Nov 05, 2021

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This week's episode couldn't be more timely--discussing the draconian and hugely controversial Texas abortion law, Senate Bill 8 (SB8).

Now that it is finally being argued at the Supreme Court, we have to ask: will the Christian dominionists who have played the long game in terms of appointing conservative and anti-abortion judges finally succeed in overturning Roe v Wade? This has been their strategy and they have been working at this for literally decades.

That Texas even attempted to pass this law in 2021 is merely testament to not only the 3 conservative judges appointed during the Trump era--with the assistance of the Christian Right--it is a landmark case that is highly unconstitutional and threatens the rights of not just women, but the LGBTQ community also.

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Follow Peter on Twitter @PeteMont

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Bonus Episode: Divorcing Religion Workshop (with Janice Selbie) Nov 01, 2021

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This special bonus episode features a conversation with my very good friend, Religious Recovery Consultant Janice Selbie! Starting the 7th of November, she is running another one of her amazing "Divorcing Religion" workshops. We've talked about this before, but I wanted to touch base with Janice to give her a chance not only to promote the workshop, but to explain why such a thing is so needed for those of us who have left religion or high-control groups behind. In addition to this chat, we also get into CORT 2022--the Conference on Religious Trauma she is putting together for next year. Stay tuned for more information about this excellent conference as well! For more information about the Divorcing Religion, click https://www.divorcing-religion.com/ Follow Janice on Twitter @Wise_Counsellor Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018 Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!

Inside the Dominionist Agenda of The Family (with Jonathan Larsen) Oct 15, 2021

Show notes

This week's guest is Jonathan Larsen, managing editor over at The Young Turks (TYT) Network.

Ever since he and his colleagues obtained the formerly-secret invitation list to the yearly National Prayer Breakfast that The Family--otherwise known as "The Fellowship Foundation"--wanted desperately to keep a secret, Jonathan has been doing some great investigative reporting on this uber-secretive, dominionist Christian organization.

First reported on by Jeff Sharlet in his book, and later Netflix series "The Family," this clandestine evangelical organization has been actively working the corridors of power worldwide for decades, building relationships and seeking out "key men" to win to Christ--in the hopes that they will influence their nations and spheres of influence for the Kingdom of God.

Find out more by listening in!

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Follow Jonathan on Twitter @jtlarsen

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Bonus Episode: How Religion Affects Our Mental Health (with Rachel Bernstein) Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

In this special bonus episode, which I've long been promising is indeed coming, I was able to interview therapist Rachel Bernstein of the IndoctriNation Podcast.

This is actually Part 2 of two episodes we did--for the first half of the chat, you'll have to head over to the IndoctriNation podcast to catch Part 1. There, we discussed my backstory in evangelicalism, my deconstruction, and the journey to rebuild since leaving Christianity behind.

In this episode, we focus specifically on the important question: how does religion affect people's mental health? What resources are available for those of us who have left it behind, and now need to reconstruct our lives from the ground up?

I hope you will find this conversation with Rachel both enlightening and educational.

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Follow Rachel on Twitter @RBernsteinLMFT

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Evil Geniuses: Explaining America's Vast Wealth Inequality (with Kurt Andersen) Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

Kurt Andersen is a returning guest, this time to talk about his sequel to Fantasyland, which is his excellent and thought-provoking work, Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America--A Recent History.

How exactly does it function as a sequel to Fantasyland? In this followup book, Kurt reveals that the vast wealth and income inequality in America was not by accident, but by design--the work of the "evil geniuses" he identifies in the book. And not only did the evil geniuses succeed, the "fantasy-industrial complex" he identified in Fantasyland is hard at work, providing a distraction for all the poor workers who have been screwed out of what should have been rightfully theirs.

For more information on Kurt, his writings and podcasts, check out his website.

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Follow Kurt Andersen on Twitter @kbandersen

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A Conversation with Seth Andrews, Host of The Thinking Atheist Sep 17, 2021

Show notes

For those two or three people who are unaware of who Seth Andrews is, all we have to say is "The Thinking Atheist" and you'll understand everything.

Seth and I had a fantastic conversation recently in which we discussed his backstory, his views on being a former "Fox News Christian," dominion theology and the recent Texas abortion law, and more. In this wide-ranging conversation, we covered a lot of ground and had an amazing time doing so. I am certain you'll enjoy spending an hour or so with Seth, the host of The Thinking Atheist.

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Follow Seth on Twitter @SethAndrewsTTA

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Bonus Episode: Ten Things Christians Wish Jesus Hadn't Taught (with Dr David Madison) Sep 05, 2021

Show notes

In this special bonus episode, I'm welcoming back returning guest Dr David Madison, who was on the podcast several years ago.

Our mutual friend Tim Sledge suggested I interview him about his new book, Ten Things Christians Wish Jesus Hadn't Taught. This very readable book--designed to be read through easily in one sitting--is aimed primarily at Christians who are open to questioning their faith, and potentially dialoguing with others about some of the questions, doubts, and cognitive dissonance they may have been harboring, but were afraid to admit.

Available now on Amazon--click the link here to purchase this excellent resource!

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Check out the Debunking Christianity Blog

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