You have to hear this story! He's always wanted to help people. When he became a strong Christian, it was saving people from the lake of fire. If Hell was real, Wiley was compelled to do everything in his power to save people from it. He would stand outside ATMs on busy Friday nights preaching to people. He was attracted to an aggressive form of Christianity. Having exactly the right doctrine was very important to him. So much so, that he and his wife later struggled to find the right...

Amanda is realistic about life's difficulties, but also very hopeful. She wears her heart on her sleeve and hopes her story will help others going through similar challenges. I loved her wise words about living with mental illness and how, although better off today, she still has ups and downs. She's a kindhearted person with a great sense of humor. I loved getting to chat with her. Her story is such an important one to tell. Amanda is a newly deconverted Christian that wonders where her...

I've never met anyone so committed to Christianity at such a young age. He understood his faith incredibly well. At 7 yrs. old his friends ask him to debate an adult atheist! By 10 yrs. he's preaching & giving altar calls. This was a child who loved the Bible & lived his faith. Things continue like this into college. One night at church Jeremy watched a preacher call forward a blind man for healing. After a while, the man was not healed. This troubled Jeremy & became an important...

Dave was recently diagnosed with ALS and has been given 2 to 5 years to live. He's been going around the country speaking about his experience. Today Dave joins me to share what his focus has been since the diagnosis. Dave quit his job and has been living his best life now. He's writing his own story, as he puts it. Life is a collection of moments. It's about allowing ourselves to really capture those moments and enjoy them. He was an inspiration to talk to. Carpe the f*****g diem! 

Raised evangelical baptist in California. Homeschooled K-6, she survived child abuse. Trained as a missionary. Deconverted in her 20’s & began helping others, hosting a support group in Chicago. In 2013: interviewed by the Chicago Tribune. She has a Biblical Studies degree, B.A. in Applied Linguistics & Masters in Special Ed. from Univ. of Illinois-Chicago. She's a political activist, teacher, tutor, therapist to children & is writing a book on deconversion from the view of...

At 4 years old Misty gets Selective Mutism. She spent many days playing by herself and being, "in her head". As early as 11 years old she notices depression. Her years with Selective Mutism pave the way to be a nun, taking a vow of silence. Misty's mom thinks she should be a writer. Tragically, her mother is later diagnosed with cancer and passes away. Misty wonders if God wanted her mother to die, since her mother didn't think Misty should be a nun. Misty learns to grieve without God's help.

A truly inspiring story! Christianity was everything for Timoree. It helped her w/sobriety, mental illness & was a source of comfort. When her faith fractures, it's very scary. The most important things in her life were at stake. Somehow, she found the courage to face this challenge head on. She tells her husband and children that she is not a Christian. Her son is a youth pastor! The beautiful thing about her story is the emphasis on relationships. The value of having good people in our...

Janice brings amazing insight regarding how we see faith through the lens of our personality. As Christians, there was always the danger of fundamentalism becoming our identity. Now an Agnostic-Atheist, Janice's focus is helping others. Janice was an all-or-nothing Christian. Her life took a turn when her husband went to school to be a pastor. She submitted by wearing a head covering and not wearing jewelry or make-up. Later her daughter becomes ill, marriage gets difficult and a family...

Today I speak w/Cheryl Abram, author of Firing God. Check it out on cherylabram.com. Her Louisiana family is full of deacons & ministers. She attended church 6-days/week! Things get tough & she gives God one last go. Her pastor gives her a book-she tells God to F*** off. On a lighter note, she cracked me up w/her story of watching Hitchens debates secretly in her room. So awesome & so hilarious! She elaborates on the meaning of Firing God. I loved her explanation so much. It was...

Joy was 3 when separated from her family w/o warning. She was raised by a fundamentalist Christian family in Idaho. As a child her feet get run over by a lawnmower. She later goes in front of the church to be healed. As an adult she becomes a missionary in Taiwan & raises 6 kids in the church. Her daughter's views change! Joy questions her own beliefs-her daughter's excited to hear it! Joy tells all her kids her new views. Her message: unconditional love and support, no matter what they...

Today I had the privilege to meet Cass Midgley! His podcast (Everyone's Agnostic) was the first one I found that shared deconversion stories. It's been so encouraging to me through the years! He's an open book & a straight shooter. The longer you listen, the more you'll discover an incredibly insightful, compassionate and generous human being. Cass earned a Masters in Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University in 2013…as an atheist. His pursuit of love took him to Christianity and...

I want to update all of you on what's been happening since the last episode. This is a brief update on some personal stuff and also some podcast stuff.  I'm currently editing my episode with Cass Midgley of Everyone's Agnostic podcast. That will be out in the coming days. Thanks for being such awesome listeners! I appreciate you all.

April talks of her parents immigration from Korea, the origin of their Christianity, Korean superstitions & being raised Presbyterian. She's forced to speak in tongues as a child, later goes to Seminary & becomes a youth pastor. She feels stress, sickness and depression as a Christian. Church history opens her eyes. When she stops going to church, her sickness stops & her liberation begins! She taught in Georgia Public Schools 24 years, loves travel & spends time getting new...

Austrian Graf & Steve Birss of Lethbridge, Alberta discuss their song "Heathen" and share their diverse journeys out of Christianity. Each raised by a single mom, but their mothers influenced them in unique ways. We talk about the Jesus movement, leg lengthening, calvinism & Christian tattoos. We hear about the impact of drug dealing & jail, overcoming an eating disorder & healing from trauma. One of the best takeaways: we have the power within ourselves to overcome life's...

Dauv Evans talks with me about his book "Emancipation of a Black Atheist". In 2012, he got married, had a child & moved out-of-state. He also began questioning why he believed in God.  When Dauv tells his mom he's not a Christian, she initially responds predictably. Later he discovers her feelings were much more complicated. Dauv's wife becomes an ex-Christian. They also tell her family. The two families have various & intriguing responses. This story will resonate with anyone who has...

Raised fundamentalist, Leah is intensely aware of the threat of hell & the rapture as a little girl. In high school she asks unwelcome questions & makes controversial statements in church. This leads to atheism. Although her theology becomes progressive, she finds herself sucked back into fundamentalism. Mental health struggles become dangerous. *Trigger warning re: abuse (emotional, physical, sexual) and suicide. Leah eventually turned a corner. Hearing about her experience was...

Studying for a doctorate in clinical psychology, Andrew is an atheist. Former Pentecostal minister (MDiv-Princeton) with a certain calling to missions in India. The Bible was causing psychological distress, so he realized he must address mental health. He experiences psychedelics and attends Burning Man. His dream is to help people heal from religion and dogmatic ideologies, as he has. He offers private coaching, speaks at events, facilitates workshops and blogs at http://lifeafterdogma.org

Gary was born in Utah and raised a Mormon. He even dreamt of Joseph Smith at 4 years old! Gary had a strict upbringing. He also moved around the country a lot growing up. Just after High School he ends up married and has a son. Soon Gary finds himself homeless, then in jail and later he endures a heart wrenching tragedy.   Gary's story is truly inspirational! He has endured some incredibly difficult circumstances in life. He is now an atheist ex-Mormon and doing great!

Richard describes his deconversion as more of a realization. We discuss the Satanic Panic of the 1980's & harm done when kids are indoctrinated. Richard has always loved music. He talks about how his favorite music clashed with his mother's views. We talk about travel, teaching special education and mental health too.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiqHic5KZlTZHLxnySukujQ @ChurchTales https://twitter.com/ChurchTales [email protected]

Dan sought out good reasons to believe. It's this journey that leads to atheism. When he tells his parents, things go over much worse than anticipated. Dan is now part of the Secular Student Alliance at Baylor U. He has a great Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCabcNd5rdI-FlHW6ecXQvLQ/featured. He is also host of the show, Truth Wanted, a call-in show about getting to the bottom of beliefs. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/229569754409166/ Twitter: @ObjectivelyDan

Here's a quick update :) Thanks for listening!

Nicki's story has so many twists and turns, I loved it! Her Dad saw Jesus in his truck. Her mom became a prophet. Nicki learns to read people, crack eggs on their head & help women become pregnant through prayer. She goes to beauty school and rebels, then become's the prodigal child. She meets the perfect Christian husband & starts a family. When doubts persist, she seeks life-changing counseling. The fallout is significant. As an ex-Christian, Nicki finds her friendships are...

Christine's family moved from New York to Oklahoma, so her mom could be an evangelist. Her childhood memories include, nearly memorizing the movie Jesus of Nazareth & road trips to see evangelists! Christine struggled with guilt from "not feeling it, like other Christians felt it". Nevertheless, Christine sought God with all her heart. She is now an atheist and started the brand new podcast, Forsaking Faith with her friend Heather Bailey. It's much needed! Check it out and tell a...

I had such a great time talking with Eva! We discuss a variety of topics: How people on the island are still recovering from hurricane Maria, politics in Puerto Rico and some awesome work being done by Secular Humanists of Puerto Rico. She shares news of a first ever conference of freethinkers in South America! We touch on Eva's path to Humanist Agnostic-Atheism about halfway through. Eva tells some great stories and has a great sense of humor!