⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️ Two weeks ago, Pastor Justin Zhong got behind the pulpit of Sure Foundation Baptist Church and made credible violent threats against Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Ray Comfort, John MacArthur and others. I unequivocally condemn political and religious violence in any form, and I believe that those who make threats of this sort should be investigated. I have reported both Zhong and his church, Sure Foundation Baptist Church, to the FBI for terrorist threats. I encourage...

Grab your copy of A Well-Trained Wife: https://amzn.to/4dbE3aE “Recruited into the fundamentalist Quiverfull movement as a young wife, Tia Levings learned that being a good Christian meant following a list of additional life principles––a series of secret, special rules to obey. Being a godly and submissive wife in Christian Patriarchy included strict discipline, isolation, and an alternative lifestyle that appeared wholesome to outsiders. Women were to be silent, “keepers of the home.” Tia...

On November 13, 2020, I shared an episode of the Preacher Boys Podcast featuring Bruce Kennedy discussing his experiences at North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, CA. On the episode, we discussed several scandals relating to this particular ministry, and one in particular was that of Norlan Macias - a former member of North Valley Baptist Church. Today, almost 4 years later, Macias has been arrested. The following is a statement from the County of Santa Clara: For release on July...

Check out the Psycho-Therapy Podcast: https://rebrand.ly/psychotherapypodcast Check out Figuring It Out: https://www.youtube.com/@figuringitouttv/videos Welcome to the Preacher Boys Podcast! In this episode, we delve deep into the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the healing journey from trauma and abuse. My guest today is Ashley Easter, the founder of Courage 365, an organization dedicated to supporting abuse survivors. For more information about Courage365, visit:...

I’m so glad to welcome Erica Smith, M. Ed to today’s episode of the Preacher Boys Podcast. Erica is an experienced, award-winning, and internationally recognized sexuality educator whose main area of focus is sex education for people leaving high-control religions. Connect with her here: https://www.ericasmitheac.com/ ✖️✖️✖️ Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys ✖️✖️✖️ If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, visit courage365.org/need-help ✖️✖️✖️ CONNECT WITH THE...

I highly encourage you to watch the past interview with Cathy that we referenced in the episode: https://youtu.be/DoPQVDE9c7k ✖️✖️✖️ Grab a copy of Ryan's book: https://amzn.to/45j7dl4 ✖️✖️✖️ BOOK DESCRIPTION: What would you do if you learned—from a podcast—that your dad (a pastor) was a serial sexual abuser? For Ryan George, this isn't a hypothetical question. He knew the faces behind the stories he heard. In fact, his mind flashed with memories of the abuse he'd endured from that same...

On June 2nd, 2023, the documentary series "Shiny Happy People" premiered on Amazon Prime. While the series' tagline promised to expose some Duggar family secrets, it ended up revealing much more, particularly the work and philosophy of Bill Gothard, the creator of the Institute in Basic Life Principles and the Advanced Training Institute. Gothard's curriculum was marketed as extremely helpful for families in protecting their children, but it ultimately caused incredible harm. Today, a year...

Purchase a copy of Baptistland: https://amzn.to/3R6MzP2 About the Book: It began with just wanting to tell the truth. But truth-telling has a way of snowballing. When Christa Brown first spoke out about the sexual abuse she endured in her Texas childhood church, she never imagined it would expose the ethical chasm at the core of the Southern Baptist Convention: male religious leaders so focused on institutional protection that they sacrifice the safety of children. A book about speaking out...

Grab a copy of Cait's book, Rift: https://amzn.to/4dMIoBN Raised in the Christian patriarchy movement, Cait West was homeschooled and could only wear clothes her father deemed modest. She was five years old the first time she was told her swimsuit was too revealing and to go change. There would be no college in her future, no career. She was a stay-at-home daughter and would move out only when her father allowed her to become a wife. She was trained to serve men, and her life would never be...

Joe Nucci is a psychotherapist and writer whose content contextualizes mental health misinformation, pop-psychology facts and fallacies, and culturally misconstrued ideas. Joe’s debut book will be released in 2025.  ✖️✖️✖️ Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys ✖️✖️✖️ If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, visit courage365.org/need-help ✖️✖️✖️ CONNECT WITH THE...

On today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Meg Applegate, the CEO of Unsilenced Project Inc., a non-profit on a mission to stop institutional child abuse by empowering self-advocates to promote lasting social change. At the age of 15, Meg was abducted by two strangers in the middle of the night from her California home and was told that “she was coming with them.” 8 hours later, she found herself at a lockdown treatment facility in Boise, Idaho. Then, 6 months later, she found herself in an...

Joe Nucci is a psychotherapist with thousands of hours of experience working with psychological and personal development issues. He specializes in treating anxiety, depression, complex trauma, couples, families, and adult children of dysfunctional families. I wanted to share this 8-minute sneak peek of our full interview – which will be released on May 12, 2024. In this clip, Joe reacts to a clip from megachurch pastor John MacArthur in which he said PTSD, ADHD, and OCD are not real but...

In today's episode, I discuss why I shut down the Preacher Boys Facebook group for two weeks and what I hope changes. ✖️✖️✖️ Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys ✖️✖️✖️ If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, visit courage365.org/need-help ✖️✖️✖️ CONNECT WITH THE...

Ashley Easter is a passionate advocate committed to guiding individuals toward liberation and empowerment. With an unwavering dedication to helping others break free from abuse and oppression, Ashley channels her energy into creating a space where individuals can unlock their full potential. Driven by a profound belief in the possibility of a life beyond trauma, Ashley's mission is to provide resources and support for those navigating the journey from victimhood to empowerment. Whether...

Magic Mind made this episode possible! Get 20% off your first order of Magic Mind by visiting MagicMind.com/PreacherBoys and using the discount code PREACHERBOYS20 ✖️✖️✖️ If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, visit courage365.org/need-help ✖️✖️✖️ CONNECT WITH THE...

Today is the 300th episode of the Preacher Boys Podcast, and a lot has happened since episode one… The podcast journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From taking a seat with Chris Hansen to joining forces with Paris Hilton in protest to my appearance on TV in Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals, the show has opened doors I never could have anticipated. On today’s episode, I want to take a few minutes to break down some of my favorite memories from the last couple of years – from...

Over its impressive 26-season run, Law and Order: SVU has consistently mirrored real-life events in its gripping fictional storylines. From the Chris Brown domestic abuse case to the Casey Anthony investigation and the Michael Jackson allegations, the show has always stayed on top of the headlines. It should come as no surprise that, in 2015, SVU aired an episode that echoed the current headlines around one of the most popular reality TV families, The Duggars. ✖️✖️✖️ This episode was made...

Dr. Laura Anderson is a psychotherapist, trauma resolution coach and consultant, writer and educator specializing in complex and developmental trauma, dynamics of power and control and religious trauma based out of Nashville, TN.  ✖️✖️✖️ Resources Mentioned: – When Religion Hurts You: https://amzn.to/3TQgdso – Sexual Healing: https://amzn.to/3Q1RcK2 – The Wisdom of the Body: https://amzn.to/3TUuHrv ✖️✖️✖️ If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, visit...

Olivia Plath -- who entered public awareness through the TLC reality series Welcome to Plathville – recently sat down for an interview with Vogue Magazine. The article, Olivia Plath on Christian Fundamentalism, Welcome to Plathville, and Deconstructing, spoke to me personally as a former fundamentalist. I wanted to share a video reacting to the article and give some of my biggest takeaways. ✖️✖️✖️ Resources Mentioned: – Olivia's article in Teen Vogue:...

Scott Coley exposes the inner workings of the religious right’s propaganda—and how Christians can resist it. Good evangelical Christians are Republican. It seems like it’s always been this way.   That means the propaganda is working.   Scott Coley trains a critical eye on the fusion of evangelicalism and right-wing politics in Ministers of Propaganda. This timely volume unravels rhetoric and biblical prooftexting that support Christo-authoritarianism: an ideology that presses Christian...

I came across a video on Instagram recently of famous pornstar Asa Akira, who eventually became Pornhub’s Ambassador and host of the Pornhub Podcast in 2018. This clip was from a 2012 episode of her original podcast, DVDASA, which she co-hosted with actor and artist David Choe, who you might recognize from the hit Netflix series Beef. It’s admittedly an older clip, but it’s new to me – and I want to talk about it because the viewpoints expressed in the video have been regurgitated many times...

Today on the show, Eric Skwarczynski is joined by Dr. Steven Hassan. Dr. Hassan is a licensed mental health professional, a recognized expert on cults and undue influence, and possesses professional experience both in the US and abroad. His work encompasses various areas, including consultation, coaching, public speaking, media appearances, activism, writing, research, teaching, intervention, and recovery services, as well as expert consulting and testimony to aid individuals and families...

Eric Skwarczynski sits down with friends, survivors, and fellow Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals cast members Kathy Durbin and April Avila to discuss John Wilkerson, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond. ✖️✖️✖️ Links Mentioned: Wilkerson's Original Statement About the Doc/Protest: https://youtu.be/B9ErrUtJsWg Jack Trieber Cover-Up: https://youtu.be/Bay8Jp6TcLA David Gibbs History: https://youtu.be/NDC43Ce7U18 David Baker & David...

Shelly Snow Pordea is a dynamic figure, renowned as a speaker, publishing consultant, and author of the captivating Tracing Time trilogy. This trilogy, a compelling narrative of women navigating the complexities of life while endeavoring to protect themselves and their loved ones, has consistently ranked among the top one hundred Time Travel Romance books on Amazon Kindle, attesting to its widespread popularity. In addition to her success in fiction, Shelly has ventured into the realm of...

Andrew Pledger talks about his work exposing the dark history of Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, through his new podcast, Beyond BJU. ✖️✖️✖️ If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, visit courage365.org/need-help ✖️✖️✖️ CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: preacherboyspodcast.com https://www.youtube.com/@PreacherBoys https://www.facebook.com/preacherboysdoc/ https://twitter.com/preacherboysdoc https://www.instagram.com/preacherboysdoc/ https://www.tiktok.com/@preacherboyspod To connect...