Leaving Eden Podcast - podcast cover

Leaving Eden Podcast

Leaving Eden LLCwww.patreon.com

A podcast about the IFB Cult as told by survivor Sadie Carpenter, with her co-host Gavri'el HaCohen. This podcast covers the IFB, the history of the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement, other cults, other religions, and the real and present threat that cults and cult ideologies pose to society as a whole. Our goal is to promote freedom of mind, freedom of thought, and freedom of religion.


General Content Warning: In general we talk about a lot of potentially triggering topics on this show, including but not limited to suicide and mental health, racism, misogyny, PTSD and PTSD symptoms, child abuse, mental, physical, and sexual abuse, and spiritual abuse including guilt, shame, and fear. In most episodes we’ll mention at least a few of these topics, but we try very hard to avoid graphic detail unless it’s relevant to the story we’re telling, and we do our best to give the audience a heads-up before going into detail on any of these topics.


For press and other inquiries, contact LeavingEdenPod@gmail.com


Join our Patreon for extended, uncensored, and ad-free versions of most of our episodes!

https://www.patreon.com/LeavingEdenPodcast


Join our Facebook group to join in the discussion with other fans!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/edenexodus


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Episodes

Ep. 179: Revelation, The Rapture, and the End Times (Part 3)

In this episode, we continue our deconstruction of revelation and finally get to the seven seals and the seven trumpet judgements. Sadie realizes that hell is not actually a "bottomless pit" and that "bottomless pit" appears nowhere in the Bible outside of the King James Version. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leaving Eden Podcast theme song, Rolling River of Time on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lB7RwSQ9X5gn...

May 06, 20241 hr 41 min

Chad Harris on Growing Up as an IFB/IBLP Missionary

On today's episode, Chad Harris (AKA Archraddish) discusses growing up as an IFB/IBLP missionary in Belgium and The Netherlands, and traveling around the US asking IFB churches for support. We discuss the particular stresses that this life puts on a child, and the systemic and explicit racism that perpetuates these missions organizations. Maranatha Baptist Mission's "Purposes, Precepts, Policies and Practices" can be found here. https://web.archive.org/web/20150218202200/http://www.maranathabapt...

Apr 29, 20241 hr 9 min

Ep. 178: Revelation, The Rapture, and the End Times (Part 2)

In this episode, we continue our discussion of Revelation, the rapture and the end times. This episode covers the topics of literalism, futurism vs. preterism vs. historicism, dispensationalism, and what happens to physical bodies in the event of the rapture. Sadie goes on an extended quest to figure out what the "seven spirits of god" are. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leaving Eden Podcast theme song, Rolling River of ...

Apr 22, 20241 hr 34 min

Olivia Plath Speaks Out in Teen Vogue (Feat. Eric Skwarczynski)

In this episode, Eric Skwarczynski of the Preacher Boys Podcast joins Gavi to discuss Olivia Plath's recent interview in Teen Vogue, The Matrix, and gas station food. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leaving Eden Podcast theme song, Rolling River of Time on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lB7RwSQ9X5gnt1BDNugyS?si=jVhmqFfYRSiruRxekdLgKA. Join our Facebook Discussion group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/edenexodu...

Apr 15, 20241 hr 6 min

Ep. 177: Revelation, The Rapture, and the End Times (Part 1)

In this episode, we begin our multi-part series exploring the book of revelation, the rapture, and the end times. In this first part, we cover just the text of revelation itself. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leaving Eden Podcast theme song, Rolling River of Time on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lB7RwSQ9X5gnt1BDNugyS?si=jVhmqFfYRSiruRxekdLgKA. Join our Facebook Discussion group! https://www.facebook.com/grou...

Apr 08, 20241 hr 37 min

Ep. 176: Christian Hoaxes (April Fools Special)

On today's episode, in honor of April Fools Day, we discuss three christian hoaxes. These hoaxes include the urban legend of Hitchhiker Jesus, the Chronovisor (the Vatican's secret device which can see back in time), and the phenomena of Stigmata. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leaving Eden Podcast theme song, Rolling River of Time on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lB7RwSQ9X5gnt1BDNugyS?si=jVhmqFfYRSiruRxekdLg...

Apr 01, 20241 hr 19 min

Ep. 175: The Cult of Consumerism

On this episode, we discuss cult-like tendencies that surround consumer behavior in luxury market segments and loyalty around certain name-brand products. Topics include luxury watches, musical instruments, and skincare. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leaving Eden Podcast theme song, Rolling River of Time on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lB7RwSQ9X5gnt1BDNugyS?si=jVhmqFfYRSiruRxekdLgKA. Join our Facebook Discu...

Mar 25, 20241 hr 37 min

Ep. 174: Reactions to "I Kissed Dating Goodbye"

On today's episode, we read through our listeners' experiences with the book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris, and purity culture in general. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leaving Eden Podcast theme song, Rolling River of Time on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lB7RwSQ9X5gnt1BDNugyS?si=jVhmqFfYRSiruRxekdLgKA. Join our Facebook Discussion group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/edenexodus Join our subr...

Mar 18, 20241 hr 26 min

Ep. 173: Dav and Bethany Deconstructing (Feat. Chad Harris) (Girl Defined / Fundie Snark)

Dav Beal, husband of Bethany (of Girl Defined fame) is no longer a christian. In fact, over the course of many years, Dav has deconstructed his faith and is now an atheist. We discuss how mixed-faith marriages can make this work, and what this means for Bethany's content going forward. We are joined by Chad Harris (AKA Archraddish) for his take, as somebody who deconstructed from fundamentalist christianity into atheism. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpo...

Mar 11, 20241 hr 24 min

Ep. 172: Mary Cosby Cult Leader? (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City / RHOSLC)

On today's episode, we discuss Mary Cosby, her husband and step-grandfather (yes you read that right) Robert Cosby Sr, and Faith Temple Pentecostal. Mary Cosby has been a cast member on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. In the show's second season, allegations swirled about the practices of her church including financial abuse and brainwashing people into believing that she is god. We explore these allegations as well as some other shocking revelations about this ministry. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVA...

Mar 04, 20241 hr 39 min

Ep. 171: The Woman They Wanted by Shannon Harris

On today's episode, we review "The Woman They Wanted," by Shannon Harris. The ex-wife of megachurch pastor and author of "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" Joshua Harris, Shannon was not born into evangelicalism, but was pulled in as a young adult. Shannon tells of giving up more and more of her identity in service to her husband's ministry, and how deconstruction led the two of them down different paths. We highly recommend this book. We agree that it is an excellent deconstruction memoir. If you are a ...

Feb 26, 20241 hr 28 min

Ep. 170: I Kissed Dating Goodbye

Today we discuss "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," by Joshua Harris. This book, published in 1997, became the definitive guide to dating within purity culture in the evangelical movement from the late 1990s through the 2010s. While Joshua Harris has since disavowed all of the teachings of this book, the fear-based approach to dating and purity culture lives on. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episo...

Feb 19, 20241 hr 55 min

Ep. 169: Amish Romance

On today's Valentine's Day special, we will be discussing Amish romance novels, and why the fundies love them so much! Gavi reads "The Shunning" By Beverly Lewis in full, and Sadie reads plot summaries of more than 25 different amish romance novels. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundamentalism" series from fall of 2020. WE HAVE NEW MERCH A...

Feb 12, 20241 hr 18 min

Ep. 168: Russell Anderson

On today's episode, we discuss Russell Anderson, the richest man in the IFB. Anderson provided the funding to start Hyles Anderson College in 1972. His money bought him the biggest stages in fundamentalism where he was happy to tell his rags to riches story of being a coal miner turned real estate tycoon. We also discuss the power that this money afforded Anderson to treat other people poorly. Sadie tells her firsthand experience of being groomed as a pre-teen to be Anderson's "girlfriend." If y...

Feb 05, 20242 hr 17 min

Ep. 167: Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Religious Deconstruction

On this episode, we discuss deconstruction on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. We mainly cover Heather Gay's decision to take her family out of mormonism, Whitney Rose's disillusionment with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after their refusal to excommunicate her for infidelity, and Lisa Barlow's "Mormon 2.0," and the contradiction of her being a practicing mormon who owns a tequila company. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "L...

Jan 29, 20241 hr 36 min

Ep. 166: The IFB Responds to "Let Us Prey"

Now that two months have passed since the release of the Investigation Discovery/HBO Max docuseries "Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals," we are ready to discuss the IFB's response. In the first segment, we cover the official statements given by Pastor John Wilkerson of First Baptist Church of Hammond. In the second segment, we are joined by Eric Skwarczynski of the Preacher Boys Podcast who tells us about a private conversation that he and "Let Us Prey" star Kathy Durbin had with Wilkerson on ...

Jan 22, 20241 hr 50 min

Ep. 165: Bethany Beal Sex Influencer and the Ethics of the Snark

On today's episode, we discuss the latest developments from Bethany Beal (of Girl Defined) as she positions herself as a Christian Sex Influencer. In addition to this, we deliberate over the ethics of selling "She Works Smart," an online course teaching Christian women how to make and sell online courses. In the third segment, we discuss the state of the snark, and the moral benefits and pitfalls of fundie snarking. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from...

Jan 15, 20242 hr 9 min

Ep. 164: Tokyo Sarin Gas Attack of 1995, Aum Shinrikyo, and Shoko Asahara

On today's episode, we discuss the shadowy and dangerous cult, Aum Shinrikyo. Founded as a yoga school in 1987 by conman and self-styled guru Shoko Asahara, Aum was responsible for a wave of violence and corruption that plagued Japanese society throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, culminating in the 1995 chemical weapons attack on the Tokyo subway system. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening t...

Jan 08, 20241 hr 31 min

Ep. 163: 2023 in Review With Dinah House-Fire

Dinah Hous-Fire returns to the Leaving Eden Podcast, and we review everything that happened in 2023! We then embark in a Festivus Airing of Grievances, and finish up with our 2024 predictions! If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundamentalism" series from fall of 2020. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpod...

Jan 01, 20242 hr 40 min

Ep. 162: The War On Christmas

In this episode, we discuss the history of the war on christmas and also why you should always be nice to retail employees but especially during the holidays If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundamentalism" series from fall of 2020. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE, AND A NEW MERCH SHOP, at https://leavingedenpodcast.threadless.com Stream the Leav...

Dec 18, 20231 hr 27 min

Clip for TikTok: Ep. 161: Elora Dodd Speaks About Growing Up Neurodivergent In Fundamentalism (Segment 2)

THIS IS A CLIP/EXCERPT FOR TIKTOK In this episode, we interview disability rights advocate and online content creator Elora Dodd, AKA @Online1RoomSchoolhouse about her experiences growing up in fundamentalism, learning about Autism, and how fundamentalism is uniquely difficult for neurodivergent people. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundam...

Dec 13, 202335 min

Ep. 161: Elora Dodd Speaks About Growing Up Neurodivergent In Fundamentalism

In this episode, we interview disability rights advocate and online content creator Elora Dodd, AKA @Online1RoomSchoolhouse about her experiences growing up in fundamentalism, learning about Autism, and how fundamentalism is uniquely difficult for neurodivergent people. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundamentalism" series from fall of 2020...

Dec 12, 20231 hr 34 min

Ep. 160: Let Us Prey: Interview with Rachel Peach and Eric Skwarczynski

We are joined by Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals contributors Rachel Peach and Eric Skwarczynski of the Preacher Boys Podcast who discuss their experiences making the documentary as well as their experiences in and leaving fundamentalism If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundamentalism" series from fall of 2020. WE HAVE NEW MERCH AVAILABLE...

Dec 04, 20231 hr 30 min

"Let Us Prey" Reactions

Sadie and Gavi give initial reactions to the new IFB documentary, "Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals," which premiered last week on HBO Max and Investigation Discovery. This documentary brings to light systemic abuse and protection of abusers within IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist) churches. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundamental...

Nov 29, 20231 hr 22 min

Ep. 159: IFB Modesty Rules

In today's episode, Sadie goes through the list of IFB modesty rules, including rules for skirts, blouses, shoes, pins, hosiery, and wrists, their religious justifications (or lack thereof) and the toxic way that these extreme rules can ruin the lives of fundie women the world over. If you are a new listener to our show or are just finding out about the IFB from the "Let Us Prey" Documentary, we recommend listening to episode 57, as well as our 5-part "First Family of Fundamentalism" series from...

Nov 27, 20232 hr 11 min

What is the IFB, and Who Are We?

If you are new to this podcast, welcome! If you are coming to this podcast after viewing Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals on Investigation Discovery or HBO Max, we would recommend you checking out Leaving Eden Podcast Episode 57, which is our primer episode for new listeners. We would also recommend you listen to our 5-part First Family of Fundamentalism series from the fall of 2020. These episodes are available wherever you get your podcasts! Episode 57: https://shows.acast.com/leaving-eden-...

Nov 25, 202312 min

Ep. 158: Hobby Lobby and the Museum of the Bible

In this episode, we discuss Hobby Lobby, the crafts store founded by billionaire David Green in Oklahoma. Hobby Lobby as a company is very involved in American politics, particularly in conservative and Christian Nationalist circles. Additionally, Hobby Lobby's "Museum of the Bible" has imported and displayed many stolen or forged antiquities including ceramic tiles looted from Iraq and forged copies of Dead Sea scrolls fragments. TW: In general we talk about a lot of potentially triggering topi...

Nov 20, 20231 hr 37 min

Ep. 157: Hell

On this episode, we discuss the IFB's conception of Hell, the scriptural backing (or lack thereof) and some deconstruction-friendly hell-alternative beliefs. Then, we discuss where the popular conception of Hell came from, including sources such as greek katabasis and Dante's "Inferno." Source post for this episode is available as a free post on our patreon, at Patreon.com/LeavingEdenPodcast An extended, uncensored, and ad-free version of this podcast episode is available to subscribers at Patre...

Nov 13, 20232 hr 12 min

Ep. 156: Heaven

On today's episode, we discuss the concept of Heaven. We cover depictions of heaven in scripture, how heaven is conceptualized in the IFB, other forms of Christianity, and other religions including Judaism and Islam. Source post for this episode is available as a free post on our patreon, at Patreon.com/LeavingEdenPodcast An extended, uncensored, and ad-free version of this podcast episode is available to subscribers at Patreon.com/LeavingEdenPodcast TW: In general we talk about a lot of potenti...

Nov 06, 20231 hr 48 min

Ep. 155: The Well To Hell Hoax (Halloween Special)

On this week's episode, we discuss the urban legend of the "Well To Hell." This claim gained popularity after Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) broadcast a news story in 1989 that Soviet researchers had drilled a hole through the crust of the earth and into hell. This claim was widely believed to be fact within fundamentalist and evangelical circles. Some church services even played an alleged recording that was made of the screams that according to legend, was made when the scientists lowered a s...

Oct 30, 20231 hr 54 min
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