Sons of Patriarchy

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Religion & Spirituality
**Sons of Patriarchy**

What happens when biblical patriarchy, christian nationalism, and a theology of authority and submission become the pillars of a movement? Scores of abuse stories in marriages, schools, churches, families, and more. Though these ideas have filtered throughout the United States for decades, they found a home in Moscow, Idaho, through the ministry and work of Doug Wilson. From there, they have influenced churches across the United States, and across the world.

In this series, you’ll hear from experts on all aspects of these movements, and the stories of abuse from those who survived. Some are Christian, some are not, but one thing they’ve got in common?

They’re finally speaking out.

This is their story.

Latest Episodes:

Test Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

How to Talk to Your Christian Nationalist Friends and Family (and Those You Don't Like) Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Our scheduled episode for tomorrow has to be pushed back to next week (the reason why will be apparent when you listen), so I pulled this one out of the hopper!

I spoke with Caleb Campbell of Disarming Leviathan and Pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona.

Need some sanity in this age of extreme political unrest, the takeover of our government, self-professed Christ Nationalists climbing the political ladder, all the while you're trying to figure out your friend or family member who seems to be enamored with it all?

This is the conversation you need.

Buy Disarming Leviathan here: https://tinyurl.com/5xbpvvzy

Follow Disarming Leviathan's work here: https://tinyurl.com/3vvkb3zr

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

The Kind of Abuse NO ONE Talks About (But Might be the Most Pervasive) Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

In this last episode of Season 1, I spoke with Dr. Karen Roudkovski, a Licensed Professional Counselor with her own practice, and an expert on trauma and abuse, with her own story of the same.

Karen ties in every theme of Sons of Patriarchy Season 1, gives language to those searching and hurting, a listening ear to those who want to speak out, and the compassion to speak into those lives who have been destroyed by leaders of the church.

May the end of Season 1 give you hope, peace, understanding, and the courage to move forward in the grace of the Savior.

Because Jesus himself understands what you went through, are going through, and will go through. A sympathetic redeemer who heals you.

Find Karen here: https://tinyurl.com/38knuc7h

Buy Understanding Spiritual Abuse here: https://tinyurl.com/2wcyxab2

Buy Spiritual Abuse Assessment here: https://tinyurl.com/2pp2cu3e

Buy Spiritual Abuse Recovery Workbook here: https://tinyurl.com/yvre52ua

Buy Counseling Through the Storm here: https://tinyurl.com/35u2cyv3

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

She Was Counseled by Doug Wilson's Father Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Find Mountain City Christian Counseling here: https://tinyurl.com/3rjb6vra

Are you in the PCA, and need help navigating your situation? Contact: https://tinyurl.com/56sb2c3b

Free live workshops of the PCA Book of Church Order (BCO): https://tinyurl.com/bdcs7xrt

Read and discuss the PCA report on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault: https://tinyurl.com/4cx9n538

Donate to Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew: https://tinyurl.com/ms6ba2ky

In this episode I spoke with Colleen McConnell, former member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Orlando, Florida, and Megan Owen, founder of Mountain City Christian Counseling, who was formerly counseled by Jim Wilson, Doug Wilson's late father.

Colleen's story shares similarities with every story we have profiled save one difference, she won her case in the PCA. So we look into when women "win," what that means for their relationship with the church and its leadership, as well as their marriages (or former marriages). Megan (and her family) were horrifically abused by her ex-husband, and you'll hear what kind of counsel came from the mouth of Jim, which then starts making more sense of Doug. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Because for these men and leaders, a woman who's too opinionated needs to be put her in place.

Below them.

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

A Former TradWife On What It's REALLY Like Being a TradWife Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

I had the opportunity to sit down with Tia Levings to talk about her 2024 memoir, A Well-Trained Wife, her journey through the Patirarchy.

Our second-to-last episode of Season 1, Tia's story weaves through every theme we have covered in this series. She made stops in the IBLP, Gothard, SBC, PCA, and CREC circles. She was controlled, manipulated, silenced, abused, and more.

She was nearly sacrificed to the Patriarchy, on the altar of the cult.

But she got out. May her story help you too.

Buy Tia's book, A Well-Trained Wife here: https://tinyurl.com/aw2ynk5r

Follow Tia on Substack here: https://tinyurl.com/ypfm6h2h

Find Tia's website here: https://tinyurl.com/y6v38dt3

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

#TherapyToo: When Therapy Hurts Jan 10, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Join Peter in this special episode as he talks with producers (and survivors) Amy Nordhues and Jennifer Kramer about their upcoming documentary, #TherapyToo.

They need your help!

Website: https://amynordhues.com

Trailer: https://www.therapytoofilm.com/watch

Documentary: https://amynordhues.com/therapy-abuse-documentary/

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

This OPC Minister Groomed Young Girls at his Church (Part 2) Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Find all the documents here: https://www.facebook.com/patriarchysons

Are you in the OPC and need help? Contact the Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition: https://www.presbyterianadvocacycoalition.org

Caroline Garcia Osborne and an anonymous woman share their stories of grooming, spiritual abuse, and sexual battery at the hands of Boyd Miller of Covenant OPC in La Grange, Georgia. If you listened to Theresa Garcia Robertson's story, these are the women she referred to at the end of her episode.

When this episode goes live head over to the Sons of Patriarchy Facebook page. There you find hundreds of pages of documents: Facebook messages, timelines, presbytery reports, everything. Theresa, Caroline, and the anonymous woman have given us access to everything. Let's do something about this.

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

What CORPORAL PUNISHMENT Looks Like in the Home Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

In this episode we spoke with Sheila Wray Gregoire, founder of Bare Marriage and the author of many books, and Marissa Burt, author of the upcoming Brazos book "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families."

Dominion theology begets dominating over families. Sex becomes a conquering act, not the beautiful union of a man and a woman who love one another. Women are receptacles for the pleasure of men, marriage a plan for taking over the world, and spanking kids the key to obedience and warriors in the quiver of the father. Mothers required only because they're needed for the birth, not because they contribute anything, but because men can't do it on their own.

Sex is beautiful, families are beautiful, and children are beautiful. But none of these are ultimate. All of these are wonderful blessings of God. But none are tools for our gain.

The Savior came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many. The King who came not to rule, but to give.

Buy Sheila's book The Marriage You Want here: https://tinyurl.com/5y6rjdxh

Buy Sheila's book She Deserves Better here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8afrsw

Buy Sheila's book The Great Sex Rescue here: https://tinyurl.com/4t4yna7b

Buy Marissa's book The Myth of Good Christian Parenting here: https://tinyurl.com/my89we6j

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

The INSANE Reason the PCA Excommunicated this Woman Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

Are you in the PCA, and need help navigating your situation? Contact: https://tinyurl.com/56sb2c3b

Free live workshops of the PCA Book of Church Order (BCO): https://tinyurl.com/bdcs7xrt

Read and discuss the PCA report on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault: https://tinyurl.com/4cx9n538

Donate to Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew: https://tinyurl.com/ms6ba2ky

Here's Joyce's interview on Bare Marriage: https://tinyurl.com/36zcp3ya

Find Donna Westcott's blogg here: https://tinyurl.com/862jbvyb

Meet Joyce Rohe, former member of Rio Vista Community Church (PCA) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lynna Sutherland, the founder of Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew (and a PCA member herself), and Donna Westcott, a licensed professional counselor (and critic of "Biblical" counseling). What happens when you go against your church elders' wishes by divorcing your abusive and absent husband? They skirt the "process" and discipline you without trial. What happens when you try to navigate that very system? They use it against you. What happens when you try to seek "biblical" counseling for all the pain this causes you? They convince you it's your fault, that there's sin residing in you. In short, you're excommunicated.

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.

This Denomination Treats Women Like OBJECTS Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

Media inquiries: https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com/contact

Patreon: patreon.com/sonsofpatriarchy

Website: sonsofpatriarchy.com

Donate: https://donorbox.org/sons-of-patriarchy

The counterpart to Episode 13, It's Only a Matter of Rank. This time we have Beth Allison Barr (James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University, and author of numerous books), Sheila Wray Gregoire (founder of Bare Marriage, and author of numerous books), Cait West (yes, again!), and Hannah Oliver.

The men are trained as leaders, and the women, as followers. The virtuous woman *only* stays at home, homeschools her children, satisfies her husband, and makes sure there's no ugliness in her. They are to stay silent, unless, of course, they've been approved to teacher other women to... stay silent. You can speak, as long as you tell other women not to.

At the same time women are more liable to deceit than their male counterparts they also hold the power to cause their brothers to stumble. It's a whiplash, a system wherein you're told to be feminine, but not too feminine, smart, but not too smart, put together, but not independent.

In summary, it's impossible. A standard you can never live up to. But there's another way, the way of Jesus. He who gladly took a rank below his, to give you a rank above yours.

Buy Beth's book Becoming the Pastor's Wife here: https://tinyurl.com/53bepjff

Buy Beth's book The Making of Biblical Womanhood here: https://tinyurl.com/yc7336tk

Buy Sheila's book The Marriage You Want here: https://tinyurl.com/5y6rjdxh

Buy Sheila's book She Deserves Better here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8afrsw

Buy Sheila's book The Great Sex Rescue here: https://tinyurl.com/4t4yna7b

Buy Cait's book Rift here: https://tinyurl.com/y7j85csy

Sons of Patriarchy is brought to you by:

Producer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Peter Bell

Original Music, Sound Design, and Mixing: https://aaronfeeneymusic.com/

Social Media: Sarah Bader

Graphic Design: Anonymous Survivors

SURVIVORS - THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU BE HEARD.