Preacher Boys Podcast - podcast cover

Preacher Boys Podcast

Eric Skwarczynskiredcircle.com

An ex-fundamentalist sheds light on the dark side of the church… from the pulpit to the pews.

Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

325: Ashley Easter | Reacting to Narcissists, Bad Apologies, and More

Ashley Easter, grew up and lived in a cult for 22 years. Thankfully, she was able to break free and decided to take control of her life. This journey was not an easy one. But with the help of her husband, Will Easter, Ashley began experiencing healing and empowerment. As a survivor, Ashley spoke out about her past and the challenges she had overcome. As a result, hundreds of abuse survivors reached out describing their experiences. Knowing she was not alone, Ashley realized she had to do somethi...

Sep 18, 20241 hr 31 min

324: The Scandals Surrounding the Life and Death of David Baker

Content Warning: This podcast contains descriptions of abuse involving minors as well as descriptions of suicide, listener discretion is advised. On September 11, 2024, Pastor David Baker walked into the restroom of Maury Regional Medical Center and shot himself twice in the chest. After the shots were fired, the hospital went into lockdown, and hospital staff tried to save him, but his suicide attempt proved successful. To understand why this happened, you need to understand who David Baker was...

Sep 15, 202426 min

323: Steven and Zhusanna Anderson Exposed For Child Abuse, Violent Threats, and Online Hypocrisy

For additional insight and context, I highly recommend that everyone watch John Anderson's very first public interview which Jordan Black conducted on their channel, Dead Domain: https://youtu.be/AzEkkvr5QMg ✖️✖️✖️ CONTACT LOCAL NEWS: https://www.abc15.com/tips https://www.fox10phoenix.com/contact-us https://www.12news.com/contact-us ✖️✖️✖️ Connect with John Anderson: https://www.instagram.com/john.anderson6090/ ✖️✖️✖️ Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys ✖️✖️✖️ If you or someone you know ...

Sep 11, 20241 hr 2 min

322: April Ajoy | Star-Spangled Jesus

Pre-order Star-Spangled Jesus: https://amzn.to/3XfEha8 ✖️✖️✖️ April Ajoy wouldn’t have called herself a Christian Nationalist when she performed her original song “America Say Jesus” on the Jim Bakker show, or when she participated in Jesus Marches across America, or when she posted cringe-worthy videos on YouTube to campaign for Mitt Romney. April just considered herself a good Christian: faithful, Republican, and determined to make America a Christian nation once again. But as her view of the ...

Sep 08, 202459 min

321: A Church Leader Prayed That God Will Destroy Me

✖️✖️✖️ Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys ✖️✖️✖️ 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/preacherboyspod https://www.tiktok.com/@preacherboyspod To connect with a community that shares the Preacher Boys Podcast's mission to expose abuse in the IFB, join t...

Sep 04, 202441 min

320: A Maryland School District's Fight Against CSA Survivor Reaches Supreme Court Supreme Court

For this podcast episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Steven Clark, a courageous survivor of childhood sexual abuse, and his legal team, attorneys Aaron Blank and Guy D’Andrea. Steven’s case has garnered significant attention, as it has reached the Maryland Supreme Court, raising critical questions about the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act. In our conversation, Aaron and Guy provide an in-depth explanation of the legal battle they've been fighting on Steven’s behalf. They d...

Sep 01, 202443 min

319: Reacting to Bad Preaching | Ft. Kendra Bryan

Buckle up, because in this episode of the Preacher Boys podcast, I’m joined by Kendra Bryan from [Cult]ure Shock, to sift through some of the worst preaching clips the internet has to offer.We’re not just talking about a few awkward moments—these are the kind of sermons that make you question how anyone let these people near a microphone. Kendra, who escaped a cult with nothing but her sharp wit and a suitcase full of trauma, brings her signature snark to the table as we dissect these so-bad-the...

Aug 28, 20241 hr 8 min

318: Jessee Baldwin | A 42 Year Old Teacher Preyed on Her 12 Year Old Student

On March 10, 2017, Jessee Baldwin filed a police report, just four days before her 40th birthday, which was the cutoff for reporting in California. Starting at just 12 years old, she was groomed and abused by her 7th grade teacher at North Valley Baptist Church & Schools in Redding, CA (now known as Crosspointe Community Church). This abuse continued throughout high school. Despite substantial evidence – including a pretext phone call – the District Attorney declined to press charges against...

Aug 25, 20242 hr 19 min

317: She Spent Almost SEVEN YEARS in Abusive Troubled Teen Homes | Sabrina Young

✖️✖️✖️ Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys ✖️✖️✖️ 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 with a community that shares the Preacher Boys Podcast's mission to expose abuse in the IFB, join ...

Aug 18, 20241 hr 17 min

315: MAGA Hat-Wearing Pastor Says Trump, Biden and Others Should Be "Put to Death" | Sermon Reaction

⚠️ 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 others to ...

Aug 11, 20241 hr 21 min

314: Tia Levings | A Well-Trained Wife

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 kne...

Aug 04, 202458 min

313: 5 Victims, 11 Felony Counts | Former North Valley Baptist Church Member Arrested

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 11, 2024 ...

Jul 12, 202432 min

312: Healing from Trauma is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Journey | Ashley Easter

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: courage365.org Our ...

Jul 07, 202419 min

311: Erica Smith, M. Ed | The Sex Educator Taking on Purity Culture

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 SHOW: preacherboys...

Jun 16, 202453 min

310: Ryan George | I Discovered My Father Was a Serial Predator

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 pastor a...

Jun 09, 20241 hr 5 min

309: "Not Safe for Bill Gothard Headquarters" | Lindsey Williams

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 after...

Jun 02, 20241 hr 42 min

308: Surviving Abuse and Betrayal by the Southern Baptist Convention | Christa Brown

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 and ...

May 26, 202450 min

307: Escaping Christian Patriarchy | Cait West

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 hers...

May 19, 202458 min

306: Avoiding The Cult of Trauma | Joe Nucci

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 SHOW: preacherboyspodcast.com https://www.youtube.com/@PreacherBoys https://www.facebook.com/preacherboysdoc/ https://twitt...

May 12, 202451 min

305: Surviving the Troubled Teen Industry and Becoming Unsilenced | Meg Appelgate

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 addit...

May 07, 202454 min

304: Therapist Reacts to John MacArthur's Take on PTSD, ADHD, and OCD

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 rather “...

May 05, 20249 min

303: Why I SHUT DOWN the Preacher Boys Facebook Group for Two Weeks

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 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/@preache...

May 01, 202418 min

302: Getting Educated About Abuse | Ashley Easter

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 you're a ...

Apr 28, 202425 min

301: Did You Know a "Christian Flag" Exists?

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 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/@preacherboy...

Apr 24, 202416 min

300th Episode of the Preacher Boys Podcast!

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 favori...

Apr 21, 202433 min

299: When Law and Order: SVU Did a Duggar Episode

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 possib...

Apr 17, 202412 min

298: Adverse Religious Experiences Explained | Dr. Laura Anderson

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 courage365.org/need-help ✖️✖️✖️ CONN...

Apr 14, 20241 hr 12 min

297: Olivia Plath's Teen Vogue Interview | An Ex-Fundamentalist Reacts

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: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/olivia-plath...

Apr 10, 202458 min

296: Scott M. Coley | Exposing the Propaganda of the Religious Right

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 theology int...

Apr 07, 202456 min

295: 13-Year-Old Victim "Would Be Lucky" | Asa Akira Defends Statutory Rape in Resurfaced Clip

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 bef...

Apr 03, 202426 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android