Today I'm joined by Sarah Kimble, as we continue my exploration of pop culture with a discussion on the book / movie "Pride & Prejudice". We explore the cultural context it was written and how this impacts how we read and interact with the story and characters. We also discuss the character of Mr Darcy and make the argument that he may well be autistic, and explore examples of this, and how this would explain much of his character and his behaviour/interactions in the book. We also talk abou...
Oct 17, 2022•55 min•Ep. 334
This week I'm joined by Dr Amy Marschall. Dr Amy is a licensed psychologist and certified in telemental health, working with children aged 2-18 and experienced and qualified in giving ADHD & autism diagnoses. She's also authored or co-authored several books. In this episode she talks about her experiences working with children with ADHD and autism. She shares about how her reaction to the dramatic changes in her lifestyle during lockdown ultimately led her to the discovery and diagnosis of h...
Oct 10, 2022•44 min•Ep. 333
My pop culture series continues today with my friend Melissa Weissenberger returning to the show to discuss the movie 'Free Guy'. We explore the numerous themes of the movie and how they relate to our own personal journeys. We also discuss how it's a metaphor for being trapped in toxic systems and becoming aware of them, breaking free from the control of others and discovering your own identity, and so much more. This was such a fun episode to make & I'm sure you'll enjoy it!...
Oct 03, 2022•52 min•Ep. 332
This week I'm joined by author and poet Marla Taviano, who shares her story about her faith deconstruction, the end of her marriage, and how she found a way to survive and create a new life. We talk about her recently released book of poetry called 'Unbelieve: Poems on the Journey to Becoming a Heretic', and the creative process behind it. Marla shares how creativity has become a path to healing & expressing the trauma, grief and pain of her experiences, exploring the questions she had, and ...
Sep 26, 2022•46 min•Ep. 331
This week I welcome back my friend Irene M Cho to the podcast, and we continue our series on pop culture with an examination of the Godfather trilogy, and the arc of Michael Corleone. We explore his personal journey and his unhealthy responses to grief and how they defined him - and how they can define us. We also discuss the generational trauma carried through the Corlene family, and how generational trauma can do so much damage to individuals and families without proper healing work, take us a...
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 330
As Poema Podcast returns, I'm joined by my friend Kevin M Nye, and we talk about his book 'Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness'. Kevin has worked in the area of homelessness for many years, and today we discuss this is more detail. Kevin talks about the many myths and misunderstandings around those experiencing homelessness and how these can cause such damage. He also explores the many ways the problem has been tackled, and shares some more new & more helpful approac...
Sep 12, 2022•44 min•Ep. 329
Nicki Pappas, author and podcaster, joins me today to share her deconstruction story. She shares how her lived experiences and rise of Trump challenged her to leave toxic evangelicalism behind, and begin work on what she calls 'broadening the narrative'. Nicki talks about the the impact this journey has had on her relationships, her marriage, and her mental health. She shares lessons she's learned on her journey, and the process creating spaces in her own life, and in her creative work, for wide...
Jul 11, 2022•51 min•Ep. 328
Today I'm joined by author April Fiet, who talks to us about healthy and unhealthy rhythms of life, including harmful ones which have often pushed on us by toxic religion and capitalism. April shares, sometimes from from her own story, how we can leave these unhealthy rhythms behind, and find healthier rhythms to our lives which connect more us to spirit, and ourselves. She shows us how we can leave perfectionism behind, and how every moment can become sacred.
Jul 04, 2022•37 min•Ep. 327
My friend K.J. Ramsey joins me to talk about her new book, 'The Lord is my Courage', The book and this conversation explore how we can discover courage and deeper spiritual connection as we step through faith deconstruction and into freedom from toxic religious systems & the spiritual abuse many of us experienced there. KJ tells us some of her own experiences of this journey, talking about the impact spiritual abuse toxic religion & leaving it behind can have on our mental and physical h...
Jun 27, 2022•44 min•Ep. 326
Today on I'm honoured to be joined by my friend Jarred, who tells me his story of discovering his queer identity, and deconstruction, which led him into witchcraft and paganism. He shares how this has transformed his life, relationships and spirituality, and some of the challenges he's faced along the way, including the response to his embrace of his true identity and leaving his Christian faith behind. He is both courageous, honest and compassionate in how he tells us his story and the sharing ...
Jun 20, 2022•40 min•Ep. 325
Today my beloved friend Kacey returns to the show, to bring us up to date with their story, including their coming out as non-binary and bi, and the impact this has had on them, their life and family, and how her partner supported them with this. Kacey and I explore the concept of identity and the constructs which can restrict us, and the impact of good embodiment work. And then move to explore how we can live free of those identities and live a healthy, thriving life where we can be fully ourse...
Jun 13, 2022•46 min•Ep. 324
I'm honoured to welcome back my friend, author & activist (and now tik-tok star), Brandan Robertson today. In this episode we talk about his journey in the last year, becoming an advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion on Tik Tok & being featured in Rolling Stone. He also shares his lived experience of unlearning his white male privilege, doing anti-racist work and its role in his deconstruction and personal journey, and the importance of this for all white people. He uses the metaphor of Jesus ...
Jun 06, 2022•42 min•Ep. 323
For various reasons, this episode is no longer available to listen to.
May 31, 2022•49 min•Ep. 322
In this episode joined by Natalie and Heather, to share the story of Natalie's transitioning to a trans woman, and the impact it had on her wife Heather and the family. They share about the challenges they've faced both within and outside their family, and how its impacted their spirituality and relationships. We also talk about our shared love of Doctor Who, and in particular the concept of regeneration as a metaphor for both personal transformation and the process of transitioning. Natalie and...
May 24, 2022•56 min•Ep. 321
Today I welcome Molly Hale (@Mollyamourous) to the podcast. We had a great conversation about deconstruction, embodiment, polyamory, blended families, healthy sexuality and choosing yourself. It was both a fun, inspiring and enlightening conversation, and Molly actually interviewed me at times which was really great! This was different to any other episode I've recorded in the best of ways.
May 16, 2022•40 min•Ep. 320
Today I'm joined by Meghan Crozier (@ThePursuingLife on twitter) who tells her story. She talks about her experiences in evangelicalism and what drove her to begin her deconstruction journey, and where it has taken her. Meghan goes on to share just how this process has impacted different areas of her life, including her relationships, marriage, and work. She also talks about how it opened her eyes to oppressive and systemically racist systems & her own response to this revelation. She reveal...
May 09, 2022•40 min•Ep. 319
I'm honoured to welcome Carly Button to my podcast today. Carly, with great tenderness and courage, shares her own story. She speaks about moving to Canada as a child, her upbringing and worldview she was taught to believe, having to hide her nationality and identity. She then moves on to talk through her faith deconstruction, spiritual journey, embracing her native heritage and coming out. I'll let the story speak from itself. But I'm certain it will deeply move you, challenge, discomfort and i...
May 02, 2022•48 min•Ep. 318
Today writer and activist Jo Luehmann joins me to explore how indoctrination to oppressive systems can impact our behaviours and lead to different forms abuse, prejudice & racist behaviour. We discuss the roots of capitalism, going back to its colonial roots and links to archaic institutions in the UK and Europe, such the royal family. Jo shares how we can become so indoctrinated into these systems we often can't see how we're causing harm. Then they cover how to unlearn these systems and be...
Apr 25, 2022•45 min•Ep. 317
This week, my friend April Kling Meyer joins me to discuss and explore how we can reclaim our authentic creativity from the control of capitalism and toxic systems. We share our experiences of this and how we found creative freedom, and how to get more in tune with our intuition and authentic voice. April also shares about the power of journalling our dreams, and how this helps us connect with our deeper, truer selves, our spirituality and what we're here for.
Apr 18, 2022•48 min•Ep. 316
Today I'm honoured to be joined by my friend Ali, who tells us their story. They share about exploring and discovering their true gender identity and how this journey intertwined with faith deconstruction, discovering witchery, and being autistic. It's a powerful and inspiring story. Ali has such courage and this a story we all need to hear. (Oh, and we both love Taylor Swift and Ali makes Taylor Swift memes so this obviously that came up...)
Apr 12, 2022•45 min•Ep. 315
I'm honoured today to be joined by author, activist and musician Andre Henry. In this episode we talk about his new book, "All The White Friends I Couldn't Keep". Andre talks about the power dynamics of systemic racism and it's origins, in particularly discussing the oppressive systems of the British empire, which was built on the breaking of black bodies. He also challenges the cultural assumptions we make which are often impacted by racial cultural conditioning, and the type of change we need,...
Apr 04, 2022•33 min•Ep. 314
Today I'm joined by Mandy Capehart, a trauma-aware licenced grief coach, who shares her own experiences of grief, the lessons she learned and how we can have a healthy relationship with our grief. Mandy shares different practices she's found for helping her process grief and how she helps others to do the same. She makes the point we are different, all manifest our grief in unique ways, so the ways we process it will always be unique for each of us - and all of them belong. Mandy also discusses ...
Mar 28, 2022•43 min•Ep. 313
My dear friends Tina Olsen and Trace Bell return to the podcast today, and Trace asks both myself and Tina to share our stories of grief and loss. We then explore this in the context of a fresh understanding of human consciousness, of our bodies living in our consciousness, and consciousness continuing after physical death. Both Tina and myself have some transcendent experiences to share with the consciousness of family members who have passed. We share little incidents from their lives and what...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 312
Amanda Held Opelt returns to the show this week, to discuss her new book 'A Hole in the World', and talk about her journey discovering and exploring rituals of grief. Using some examples, Amanda demonstrates the importance of having rituals around grief and mourning, and how these can aid the process of healing. We also discuss the damage which has and can be done to us individually and as a society, when we don't practice any kind of grief ritual or practice which engages with our grief and tra...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 311
This week Dr Jill A. Harrington, DSW, LCSW, psychologist and author, joins me to discuss grief as explored in the context of superhero stories. She is the co-author and editor of the book 'Superhero Grief'. In this episode we explore various experiences and responses to grief as we see in the stories of several superheroes - in particular Batman, a character who suffered violent trauma and grief. We talk about how she's used various superhero stories in her research into the psychology of grief,...
Mar 07, 2022•47 min•Ep. 310
Today my friend MJ Weissenberger joins me to tell her story. MJ's is a powerful story of learning how to process grief of losing a parent, as well as recovering from abuse and trauma in the process of deconstruction. We hear this story and then explore how this tied in with her personal and spiritual deconstruction, where this journey has taken her, and how this impacted her life, relationships, and understanding of the world we live in. MJ's story is powerful and I felt great solidarity as I bo...
Feb 28, 2022•45 min•Ep. 309
I'm honoured to welcome back author, speaker therapist and podcaster Dr Hillary McBride Phd to the podcast today. In this episode we talk about embodiment, and 'the wisdom of our bodies'. Hillary talks about how through trauma, grief and messages from toxic systems, we can become disconnected from our bodies. She shares how part of our transformation journey always has to be learning how to listen to our bodies, and the different ways our bodies communicates with us & we can learn to listen ...
Feb 21, 2022•47 min•Ep. 308
Today my friend, author Sarah 'The Human', joins me to tell her story of deconstruction and spiritual awakening. Sarah talks about what led her to begin questioning her faith, and where this path led her and the challenges she faced along the way. She also shares how the more she asked questions, the more she moved away from what she'd known, the more she saw how she'd been 'borderline brainwashed' by evangelicalism and toxic religion. Sarah also shares how this impacted her relationships, with ...
Feb 14, 2022•41 min•Ep. 307
My friend, tarot reader & eclectic witch Cat, joins me today to talk about an important and not often discussed issue - spiritual capitalism. Sharing their own experiences and insight, Cat unpacks what spiritual capitalism is, and how people can be & have been exploited by certain groups or individuals as they seek support and guidance on their spiritual journey, using some prominent examples. They explain how we can discern the difference between truly wise and gifted people who genuine...
Feb 07, 2022•49 min•Ep. 306
TW: spiritual abuse, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, **** In this episode my friend Kacey tells their story. They share their experience of growing up in an evangelical home, the expectations and demands, and their experiences of several types of abuse, in particular from their ex-husband. They talk about the impact this had on them physically, mentally and emotionally. Kacey then talks about how they finally began to break free from this environment, in the process deconstructing their faith a...
Jan 31, 2022•58 min•Ep. 305
