In this episode, we explore Progressive/Reformed Judaism with Michel Laloum, Cantor at Temple Beth Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia. He was ordained as a Cantor at the Progressive Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and completed Rabbinic studies at the Academy for Jewish Religion, Jewish Theological Seminary and New York University. Temple Beth Israel Melbourne World Union for Progressive Judaism -- Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here.  Transcript...

Tim Costello is an Australian social justice advocate, community leader, and a prominent figure in the Christian faith, albeit a progressive form. He is known in Australia for his public commentary on political and ethical matters, often offering a perspective informed by his Christian faith and commitment to social justice. In this episode we talk to Tim about his commitment to his faith, and what that looks like now, having left fundamentalism decades ago. Tim's links: Tim Costello -...

In this episode, we talk with Dr Eben Alexander, an American neurosurgeon and author. In 2008, he suffered a coma caused by a rare and mysterious bacterial meningo-encephalitis of unknown causes. We talk with him about his own near-death experience and his book, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife. Dr Alexander's links: Eben Alexander Division of Perceptual Studies - University of Virginia School of Medicine Home - Scientific and Medical Network Home - The Galileo...

We recently stumbled upon a podcast we thought you'd love. Sexvangelicals is a sexual health podcast and education platform with the mission to support relationships in reclaiming sexuality following adverse religious experiences. This is one of their episodes, The Sex Ed We Wish We Had: Consent, Part 1 of 2. We hope you enjoy it. If you want to connect with Sexvangelicals then find them here: Sexvangelicals (website) Sexvangelicals (podcast) -- Want more IWATF? Check out our exclusive...

We talk with Ani Zonneveld about Progressive Islam and the life she lives as a Progressive Muslim. Ani is a writer, singer/songwriter, and founder & President of Muslims for Progressive Values, an international human rights organization that advocates for social justice and equality for all, a strong supporter of freedom of expression and of conscience, women’s rights and as an ally, LGBTQ rights.  -- Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here.  Transcript of this episode is...

In this episode, we talk with writer Bernard Warnick about humanity's obsession with certainty and ask, is certainty attainable? Bernard spent nineteen years as a judge of the trial division and later the Appeal Division of the Family Court of Australia before retiring from the bench in 2010. He developed a deep interest in the reasoning process and researched the works of neurobiologists, cognitive scientists, philosophers, linguists and other thinkers for ten years, culminating in his book,...

We're back for Season 5! In this episode we review the highlights of Season 4, let you know about the changes we've made and where the podcast is heading in 2024. -- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf  Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/

Brian and Troy used to be loyal Christian megachurch leaders. They’re not anymore. This new season explores life after Fundamentalism. Shortlisted for the 2022 Australian Podcast Awards. Find out more at iwasateenagefundamentalist.com/ and https://linktr.ee/iwatf  --- Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 

Emily John Garcés is an artist, poet, ex-missionary with YWAM, all-round creative enthusiast, and author of the memoir, Hitchhiking with Drunken Nuns. In this final episode of Season 4, we speak with Emily about her life as a YWAM missionary in Argentina and the Netherlands, and her unique perspective on the world we share. Despite her fundamentalist past, Emily has a positive view of the world and describes her use of art as a way of 'bridging what cannot be seen with the visible...

Maggie Rowe is an author, writer, director, & producer. Her memoir, Sin Bravely: A Memoir of Spiritual Disobedience, was named to NPR's Best Books of 2017. In this episode, we speak to Maggie about her childhood where she describes being tormented by the fear of Hell and not being truly saved. At 19 years old she admitted herself to an 'evangelical psychiatric institution' where she found an unlikely ally who encouraged her to break free of the fears that held her back, and to go forth...

Van Badham is an Australian playwright, novelist, journalist and activist who writes regularly for the Guardian. In this episode we speak with Van about her 2021 book QAnon and On: A Short and Shocking History of Internet Conspiracy Cults in which she investigates who is behind the internet cult and how it often intertwines with the world of Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christianity. She also tells about her year 'undercover' at Hillsong in Sydney. Van's links: Van Badham - Wikipedia QAnon and...

In 2021 we spoke with Bart Campolo, a secular community builder, counsellor and writer who served as the Humanist Chaplain at the University of Cincinnati. He is the son of Evangelical celebrity preacher and author, Tony Campolo, with whom he made a movie about leaving Evangelical Christianity. You can connect with Bart at bartcampolo.org/ and find his podcast, Humanize Me on all good platforms. You can stream Leaving My Father's Faith here: https://campolofilm.com/  -- Transcript of the...

Continuing our hiatus series, we revisit one of our most downloaded episodes where we talked with Dr Josie McSkimming, author of Leaving Christian Fundamentalism and the Reconstruction of Identity.  She shares her own story as a teenage fundamentalist within Sydney Anglicanism and her ongoing clinical work with those leaving Fundamentalist Christianity. To contact Josie, please visit her website: https://mcskimming.com.au/  -- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links:...

Continuing with our series of hiatus repeat episodes, we revisit our 2021 Season 2 discussion on miracles and healings. Brian and Troy asked, did you ever see a real or verifiable miracle or healing when you were still a Christian?  -- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf  Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit:...

In this hiatus repeat episode, we revisit our 2021 Season 2 discussion on the prevalence of narcissists and psychopaths in Pentecostalism and our experiences with these kinds of people. We asked why the Church attracts these people and if Pentecostalism actually helps to create them. Warning: This episode touches on issues concerning psychological abuse. If you are in Australia and require support, please reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14. The articles mentioned in this episode: Narcissistic...

In this hiatus repeat episode, we revisit our 2021 Season 2 kick-off where we remembered some our favourite CCM artists, Brian's time as support crew for DC Talk's Australian tour, and a few songs that used to really move us. We think you'll enjoy this episode, even if you heard it the first time around. The links to the songs mentioned in this episode are: Living in Laodicea - https://youtu.be/g_8Pas8qoWc  Asleep in the Light - https://youtu.be/7XeEL0mRBHo  Creed -...

In our final episode for 2023, we talk with Janice Selbie, a former fundamentalist Evangelical Christian of over 40 years and now a counsellor and specialist in the area of religious trauma. Janice shares her own story and the work she does with others in helping heal the pain caused by religious trauma. This is the first of a two-part episode we did with Janice. You can find part two on Janice's The Divorcing Religion Podcast. In this episode, Janice referenced Steven Hassan's BITE Model of...

We talk with April Ajoy, a well-known viral TikToker, YouTuber and podcaster. She describes herself as a “recovering conservative, humorously detoxing religion.” Raised as a pastor's kid, April was deep in Evangelicalism to the point of working for The 700 Club and singing her original song, America Say Jesus on The Jim Bakker Show. While deconstructing from fundamentalism, she walked away from her Christian nationalist beliefs and began to make irreverent and funny videos lampooning modern...

Brian & Troy take a look at how divorce is presented in the New Testament and how the Church has handled it over the last 2000 years. Our hosts also reflect on their own experience and ask, do Jesus and the Bible really offer adequate guidance for the 21st century. Spoiler alert, no. The resources suggested in this episode are: Christian views on divorce - Wikipedia A Theology of Divorce – Religion Online Ep #69 - Troy Story II: Leaving My Marriage...and Church Ep #75 - Brian Walks Away...

Dan Barker served as an evangelical Christian preacher and composer for 19 years before leaving Christianity in 1984. He and his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor are the current co-presidents of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and he is co-founder of The Clergy Project. In this fascinating chat, he shares his journey out of faith and why he identifies as an Atheist today.  You can connect with Dan and his work at: Freethought Radio Podcast Freedom From Religion Foundation - Freedom From...

On the 17th of August 2023, Hillsong founder Brian Houston was found not guilty of concealing his father's sexual abuse. Australian Magistrate Gareth Christofi found Brian Houston had a "reasonable excuse" for not reporting the matter. In this special bonus episode, Brian & Troy speak with Nathan Zamprogno, who himself grew up in a Pentecostal Church in Northwest Sydney and was on the staff of the church where Frank Houston was parked ‘in retirement’. Nathan followed the trial closely and...

Catherine Quiring describes herself as a reformed people-pleaser, Exvangelical and an aspiring advocate for anti-oppressive spirituality. She is a licensed Mental Health Counsellor, and Self-Trust Coach. Catherine tells Brian and Troy why she believes the Evangelical god is a narcissist and that the symptoms experienced by those who have experienced covert narcissistic abuse are extremely similar to those experienced in high-control religious settings. You can connect with Catherine via: Her...

Picking up where he left off in Episode 79 - Troy Deals With His Religious Trauma in Korea, Troy journeys to Singapore in search of his next adventure. In this episode, he continues to unsuccessfully park his religious trauma and finds himself in a very glamourous scene in Singapore. He falls hard for a Chinese woman and they return to Australia to start a new life, but Troy is soon confronted by his religious baggage. --- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links:...

After Troy and Brian appeared on Stephen's podcast, Cult Hackers back in 2021, Stephen now brings his expertise to talk about cults from an organisational psychology perspective. He shares how organisational models help us understand cult leadership, coercive control dynamics and why people join and stay. You can find Stephen's podcast here: Cult Hackers and his website here: culthackers.com  --- Transcript of the episode is here. Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf  Doubting your beliefs?...