Jeremy is joined this week by therapist and end-of-life doula Kathleen Mack. Kathleen describes her lifelong curiosity about people's minds and experiences, stemming from her own mental health struggles and early fascination with human behavior. Kathleen shares how her father’s death influenced her and led her to pursue training as a death doula, w…

Rebekah Monroe - Religious Trauma Research My guest today is Rebekah J. Monroe, who identifies as a white queer woman with lineage in the Osage and Cherokee Tribes. Rebekah goes by the pronouns are She/Her/They. Currently, Rebekah is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student, co-founder of the non-profit NARC-RT (which stands for North American Resear…

Jeremy is joined this week by fellow licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Sex Therapist, Caitlin Weber. Caitlin Weber discusses her journey into the mental health field and her path to becoming a systems-oriented therapist with a focus on sex therapy. Jeremy and Caitlin discuss the pervasive influence of religious norms on cultural attitudes to…

Lindsey Doolittle - Recovering from Religion & Suicide Loss TW: Today we will be discussing issues related to suicide Lindsey Doolittle was introduced to me as a documentary film maker who recently focussed her lens on Dr. Darrel Ray’s work at Recovering from Religion (see below for more information on this documentary). In speaking with Lindsey, I…

Jeremy is joined this week by the dynamic duo of Naoko Ellis & Derek Gladwin from the University of British Columbia where they founded the Systems Beings Lab, a collaborative research collective that tackles the complexity of modern issues. In this episode, Derek and Naoko discuss emerging collaborative spaces in academia to address the climate em…

Nikole Mitchell - From Pastor to Only Fans Model Divorced: Evangelical Christianity CW: Frank discussions about sexuality Today’s guest has previously appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, CBS – and today she is a guest on the Divorcing Religion Podcast! I’m talking about Pleasure Coach NIKOLE MITCHELL. Raised in the Evangelical Christi…

Our first prescriber on the show! Jeremy is joined this week by Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Rachel Jones, owner of Cup of Tea Psychiatry. Jeremy and Rachel talk about her winding path through nursing school and into the psychiatric side of the field, how the for-profit medical model creates an unhealthy environment for both patient…

Linda Martin - Religious Exemptions are Killing Kids Divorced: Followers of Christ Cult CW: Child abuse and death due to faith-based exemptions Linda Martin was born into the Idaho Followers of Christ sect, leaving the church at age 16. It is estimated that the child mortality rate for the Followers of Christ between 2002 and 2011 was 10 times that…

Jeremy is joined this week by artist and mental health advocate Jenna Knapp. Jenna is an artist in residence with the labyrinth at the Lynden Sculpture Garden on the north side of Milwaukee. Jeremy and Jenna talk about her mental health journey prior to creating the labyrinth, how and why labyrinths can be so helpful to mental health, and the commu…

Clint Heacock - Is Christianity Killing Democracy? CW: USA politics & religion Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast Follow Janice and the Conference on Religious Trauma on Social Media: Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net Twitter: https://twitter.com/divo…

A blast from the past! Jeremy is joined this week by Rachel Beam, owner of Understand You, LLC. Jeremy and Rachel were in the same cohort at Marquette University way back in the day, and Rachel shares her journey in the field up to now opening her own practice. Jeremy and Rachel discuss some of their memories of what grad school did and did not pre…

Jeremy is joined this week by the fabulous Emily Vander Velden for a great chat. Emily talks about specializing in EMDR to work with trauma, how being a parent is a juggling act with being a therapist, and shares about getting her recent ADHD diagnosis. Jeremy and Emily talk about self-care, and how holding space for others is such a powerful exper…

Dr. Danielle Kramer - Taylor Swift and Deep Fake Porn Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast Follow Janice and the Conference on Religious Trauma on Social Media: Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion Twitter: http…

Jeremy is joined this week by Alyssa Zajdel to jump into the world of sports psychology and performance. Jeremy and Alyssa talk about different sports requiring different mindsets, the difference in support that elite athletes can get from club or high school sports, and how it was not fun for student athletes or mental health professionals when CO…

Sandy Bigtree & Philip Arnold - The Religious Origins of White Supremacy Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast Follow Janice and the Conference on Religious Trauma on Social Media: Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcerel…

Jeremy is joined this week by the incredibly insightful Alita Taylor. Jeremy and Alita talk about the shortcomings of the medical model, the secondary trauma of working in a failing system, and Alita shares her expertise about Open Dialogue, a practical and philosophical approach to navigating mental health crises. We also chat about Finnish metal …

Hannah Abbasi - From Christian to Muslim to Secular Humanist, Part 2 Divorced: Islam In our last episode, we were introduced to Hannah Abbasi. Hannah grew up in a Christian home but converted to Islam in her teens due to family influences on her father’s side. In today’s episode, we learn more about what it was like for Hannah to live and study in …

Jeremy is joined this week by author, activist, and poet Mark Green to talk about his new book Round We Dance. Jeremy and Mark talk about the need for a book on how to do rituals, why ritual is so important to the human psyche, and how to approach ritual outside of an organized religious setting. It’s a wide-ranging chat that covers a lot, and the …

Hannah Abbasi - From Christian to Muslim to Secular Humanist, Part 1 Divorced: Christianity PART 1 – FROM CHRISTIAN TO MUSLIM My guest today is Hannah Abbasi, a transplant to New York City from Austin, Texas. As an adult, she has also lived in Qom, Beirut, and Cairo. At the University of Texas at Austin, Hannah studied Religious Studies, Middle Eas…

Jeremy is joined for a fascinating conversation by Kelsey Philippi from ERA Wellness. Kelsey shares her journey of becoming a therapist from a background in biology and research before eventually landing in the mental health field, how couples and families exist as their own ecosystems, and how nature helps us to ground, center, and heal. To learn …

Melanie Trecek-King - Critical Thinking is Power Divorced: Religious Fundamentalism Melanie Trecek-King is an Associate Professor of Biology at Massasoit Community College, where she equips students with empowering critical thinking, information literacy, and science literacy skills. Melanie loves to share her “teach skills, not facts” approach wit…

This week Jeremy is joined by the ultra-talented Lane Moore. Lane is a comedian, actor, author, and musician. Moore is the creator of the hit comedy show Tinder Live, bestselling author of How To Be Alone and You Will Find Your People, the frontperson in the band It Was Romance, and host of the podcast I Thought It Was Just Me on Patreon. Jeremy an…

Jeff Beaumont - Trafficked by Scientology Divorced: Scientology CW: Trafficking, forced labour, self-harm. Jeff Beaumont was born into Scientology and educated at the local Scientology school in Vancouver, BC, Canada. At age 14, he was kidnapped and trafficked to the USA to perform labour in the Sea Org branch of Scientology. During that time, Jeff…

Jeremy gets the chance to sit down with the delightful Kit Weathers for a neurodivergent chat. We talk about Kit’s journey from pastor’s kid, to missionary, to deconstructing and becoming a sex therapist and religious trauma recovery coach, with some mental health diagnoses sprinkled in. Kit and Jeremy talk about finding the good parts of church ou…

Matthew Remski - Conspirituality Divorced: Roman Catholicism Today’s guest is journalist and author MATTHEW REMSKI. In addition to being the author of 8 books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, Matthew is co-host of the wildly popular Conspirituality Podcast. I asked him to join me after hearing his presentation “When Spirituality is a Broken Spac…

Jeremy is joined this week by Elise Birch for an open, authentic chat. Elise shares their unique journey into the mental health field, and the niche areas they focus their practice working with. Jeremy and Elise explore the complexities of art therapy, highlighting its benefits in processing trauma and expressing emotions, even in telehealth settin…

Seth Andrews - Our Lord & Saviour, Taylor Swift Divorced: Christianity CW: U.S. politics Don’t worry, this episode is not ALL about Taytay - but she is a happy part of it. Today’s guest is Seth Andrews, a former evangelical and Christian broadcaster who now hosts The Thinking Atheist…one of the most popular podcasts and online atheist communities i…

Jeremy is joined this week for a great chat by Dr Gabby Miniscalco. During our talk Dr Gabby shares some insights into the immigrant experience and the pressures of conforming to American culture while grappling with her Polish identity, feeling caught in between worlds but not belonging in either. The conversation delves into the trauma and grief …

Dr. Darrel Ray - All About Sex Divorced: Christianity CONTENT WARNING: Today I’m speaking with Dr. Darrel Ray all about sex. From Purity Culture to ethical nonmonogamy to sex and aging – we cover it in this episode! Dr. Darrel Ray is the founder and President of the Board of Directors of Recovering from Religion. He holds a Masters’ Degree in relig…

Jeremy is joined this week by the authentic and genuine Becca Ferguson. Becca and Jeremy talk about growing up in conservative households that didn’t talk about mental health, Becca’s horror stories with her own therapy, and getting to a place where she now helps other therapists build the practice of their dreams. It’s a fun chat that covers a lot…

Erin Harrop - Eating Disorders & Christianity Divorced: Fundamentalist Christianity CW: Eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation Erin Harrop (they/them) is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver, where their research centers eating disorders, weight stigma, and weight-inclusive approaches to h…

Jeremy is joined this week by the incredibly insightful David Hayden. Jeremy and David talk about growing up with the desire to help others from an early age, the various chapters of growth therapists go through with their clients, and David’s winding path with different modalities that allow for deeper healing with clients. You can learn more abou…

Nick Khatiam - Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses Divorced: Jehovah’s Witnesses CW: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Today I’m speaking with Nick Khatiam, from the NW of England. Nick began his further education in English Literature but really began to focus on academic pursuits with his master's degree, in which he studied psychology. His research project focused…

Jeremy is joined this week by Dr Christine Henry for an authentic conversation about the many facets of Neurodivergence. Jeremy and Christine talk about getting diagnosed later in life while already working in the field, the intersections of being a mental health professional while advocating as a parent, and how Autism and ADHD have a lot of diagn…

Sarah Westbrook MS, LPC, NCC - Trauma Bonded Divorced: Mormonism/LDS You never forget your first kiss, your first love…or your first trauma bond. 16-year-old Sarah believed her boyfriend would save her from her dysfunctional home. When her parents discovered that they’d committed the sin of premarital sex, the aftermath left the two teenagers irrev…

Jeremy is joined this week all the way from North Carolina by the delightful Michelle Moseley. Jeremy and Michelle discuss their own experiences with religious trauma, and the intersection of religion, patriarchy, and capitalism in the workplace. They also touch on issues such as body image concerns and the challenges of reconnecting mind and body …

Ian Bushfield - Humanism in Canada Today’s show is all about Humanism! Here is the definition of Humanism, from Humanist Canada: Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life based on a profound respect for human dignity and the conviction that human beings are ultimately accountable to themselves and to society for their actions. It is a secular wo…

Jeremy is joined this week by the fabulous Amber Kerby. Jeremy and Amber talk about plain ol’ ordinary therapy, and how and why we as professionals expand our approaches once we’ve spent more time in the field. Nonordinary therapies Jeremy and Amber discuss are Ketamine Assisted Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Psychedelic Integration, along w…

Lisa Kohn - Addicted to The Messiah Divorced: Unification Church (The Moonies) CW: Suicidality; abandonment; substance addiction My guest today was a speaker at the very first Conference on Religious Trauma in 2021. Lisa Kohn is a Unification Church Second Gen, and she is the award-winning author of TO THE MOON AND BACK: A CHILDHOOD UNDER THE INFLU…

It’s the Wellness with Jenn and Jer episode! Jeremy has the serendipitous chance to sit down with Jenn Sowers for this episode. They talk about what nature informed therapy is and how it helps, the importance of community while working in the mental health field, and ways to reconnect to the natural world in our tech-driven go-go-go society. To lea…

Dawn Knoche Anthony - Mom of 9 who Divorced Religion Divorced: Fundamentalist Christianity CW: Domestic abuse, miscarriage Dawne Knoch Anthony was in an abusive marriage justified by religion. She got out and now gives back to the community to help others. A survivor of domestic abuse and religious trauma, Dawne has redefined her life with resilien…

Jeremy gets the chance to sit down with religious recovery consultant Janice Selbie this week. Janice is a Registered Professional Counselor and is the founder of the Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT), the host of the Divorcing Religion podcast, and runs the Shameless Sexuality workshop series. Janice and Jeremy talk about how leaving fundament…

The Margaret Atwood Episode Margaret Atwood is the author of more than 50 books of fiction, poetry, critical essays, and graphic novels. Her work has been published in more than 45 countries. The Testaments, her most recent novel, is a co-winner of the 2019 Booker Prize. It is the long awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, now an award-winning TV …

This week Jeremy is joined for a wide-ranging chat by the incredibly insightful Emily Lapolice. Jeremy and Emily talk about trauma informed yoga and the Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga program where she is a mentor, facilitator, and trainer. We talk about intergenerational trauma, religious trauma, and decolonizing mental health spaces. We also…

Dorian Ortega - Dismantling Systems of Oppression Dorian A. Ortega is a licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of F.L.Y. Radical Therapy, LLC. First Love Yourself (F.L.Y.) Radical Therapy is a therapeutic approach centering BIPOC and LGBTQIA+. It’s about loving yourself through collective social liberation awareness and healing with e…

Jeremy is joined this week by fellow LMFT Mahrs Schoppman. Jeremy and Mahrs talk about some of the intersectionalities of queerness and religious trauma, why group therapy can be such a powerful tool for healing, and why churches don’t want you to be comfortable in your own skin. For more info about Mahrs’s practice, you can head over to therapywit…

Philip Moss - Athletes in Action Exposed Divorced: Christianity CW: Child abuse, sex/purity culture Philip Moss grew up in a small midwestern ultra conservative farming community and Reformed Church tradition, after which he attended a conservative Christian College and then spent 7 years with the Campus Crusade for Christ (cult) as a basketball pl…

Jeremy is joined this week by fellow nerdy therapist Greg Schoeneck. Greg and Jeremy talk about walk-and-talk therapy and how it helps with trauma, therapeutic tabletop role playing games (like D&D), and how therapy can look different from the sterile, medical model and meet more people where they’re at in their authentic lives. You can learn more …

Jeremy Low - Intense Christianity led to Intense Depression Divorced: Christianity and Navigators CW: SUICIDAL IDEATION in the last half of show Jeremy Low began his search for friendship and purpose during his polytechnic days, and eventually found himself deeply committed to the Navigators, a Christian campus ministry run by a fundamentalist miss…

Jeremy is joined this week by founder of the Secular Therapy Project, Dr. Darrel Ray. Jeremy and Darrel talk about the need for secular therapy, how religious groups have changed their approach to therapy over the years, and why activism is so needed to create safe, secular spaces. Dr. Ray talks about some of his previous research on sex and secula…