In this crucial episode, we’re joined by Dr. Laura Anderson to unravel the complex web of religious trauma and its intersection with political turbulence. We're adventuring into the realms of election anxiety, religious healing, and Christian nationalism, we discover challenges and pathways to personal empowerment and peace.

What we're talking about this episode:

• Election Anxiety & Healing Trauma:How the current political climate exacerbates religious trauma and what it means for those caught at the intersection.
• The Christian Nationalism Conundrum: We break down the long game of Christian nationalism and its profound impact on personal and societal boundaries.
• Mastering Self-Care: Learn practical techniques for visualization, bodily awareness, and establishing emotional and physical boundaries, especially in tumultuous times.
• Navigating Family & Information Overload: Get insights on handling tricky family dynamics and shielding yourself from the chaos of constant news cycles.
• Embracing Change and Lightness: Amidst serious discussions, we find moments of lightness and strategies to embrace ease and joy in everyday life.

Dr. Laura Anderson, author of When Religion Hurts You, and the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery have created the: Religious Trauma and the Elections Course: www.traumaresolutionandrecovery.com

Hey ghosties, since we’re in that wicked season, we thought we would take a stab at sharing some of the things we were told were evil. We welcome Kevin Garcia back to the show and we stuck ourselves back in middle school, in the early 90’s when TV was evil.

Episode CW: we talk about our bodies, restrictive eating, diet culture, sexual repression

In this soulful episode of Holy Ghosting, Meg and Sarai Johnson delve into the deeply personal journey of embodiment and the common struggle of feeling disconnected from our own bodies—something many of us face, especially if we grew up in high-control religious settings. They unwrap how cultural and religious scripts have shaped our views on body image and why it’s crucial to cultivate self-care and self-love.

Together, they tackle the tough stuff: the impacts of purity culture and diet culture, and why intuitive eating can be a game-changer. They champion the idea of radical self-care, urging everyone to weave together the pieces of self and body to reclaim their personal power and agency.

In this first episode of their "In This Body" Series, Meg and Sarai share some practical tips on embracing change and making yourself a priority because sometimes, the most revolutionary act is choosing to love yourself.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Embodiment

02:28 Awakening to Physical Awareness

06:45 Cultural and Religious Disconnection

10:21 The Impact of Purity Culture

13:02 Food, Body Image, and Self-Love

18:11 Intuitive Eating and Self-Care

20:50 Reclaiming Sexuality and Pleasure

24:05 The Power of Self-Ownership

27:27 Navigating Community and Expectations

31:26 Integration vs. Separation

36:18 The Importance of Self-Care

38:59 Redefining Selfishness

41:56 Embracing Needs and Vulnerability

47:01 The Process of Becoming

52:44 Finding Freedom in Embodiment

Hi Ghosties! What's your summer been like? Ours were wild! Your hosts, Lindsay, Meg and Sarai start this episode by sharing our summer experiences, personal growth and big news about the podcast. AND THEN!!!! Ekkk! We celebrate Amy Grant. We talk about her legacy and her influence on our lives, discussing our favorite album art, our desert island song and the controversies surrounding her divorce. We get into the scandal and the redemption of our favorite crossover pop star on the newest episode of Holy Ghosting

Welcome, Ghosties! This episode, "It's Good To Feel Good," brings the amazing duo of Julia and Jeremiah from the Sexvangelicals podcast to talk with Meg & Sarai about the journey from sexual repression to liberation, shedding light on how purity culture has shaped our views on intimacy and desire. We get INTO IT today, sharing personal stories and things we've learned about reclaiming bodily autonomy, exploring pleasures beyond shame, and challenging conventional norms like monogamy.

• From Repression to Expression: Join us as we navigate the choppy waters of deconstructing religious beliefs around sex. Our guests share their transformative journeys from sexual repression to embracing full, joyful expression.
• Shedding the Shame: We'll unravel the threads of shame and outdated gender scripts that high control religions often weave around our desires and relationships.
• Rediscovering Pleasure: Discover how therapies like sensate focus can help us explore touch and intimacy without the pressure of performance, paving the way for a healthier connection with our bodies.
• Challenging Norms: Why is monogamy the default? We’re discussing how expanding perspectives on relationships can lead to a more fulfilling sexual life.
• Embodiment and Healing: We wrap up with powerful insights on embodying pleasure, the therapeutic power of yoga, and making our bodies a safe haven for our souls.

Sexual liberation and healing from trauma are not just topics; they’re pathways to deeper self-discovery and healthier relationships. Whether you're navigating these waters yourself or just curious about the conversation, there’s something in this episode for everyone.

Find the Sexvangelicals, Julia & Jeremiah, at Sexvangelicals.com

Have you ever known some hetero Christian married couple who were together a real long time and then one of them is like, “oops, I’m gay!” and they break up? A lot of us have known folks in this position. And we also remember the fallout and the “prayer chain” (read: gossip train) buzz when these woes befell our brethren.

By the way, is there such a thing as “sisthren?” or “siblingthren?” There should be. We digress.

Long story short, this podcast is hosted by a sisthren of “oops, I’m gay!” women in their 40’s. Lindsay, Meg, and Sarai have all experienced different journeys in discovering, accepting, and embracing their queerness. In this episode, our Holy Ghosting triumvirate share the ways their paths wound from compulsory heteronormativity toward full awareness of their unique sexualities.

In this episode topics include feeling like imposters, finding acceptance and love in the LGBTQIA2S+++ community, and navigating the aftermath of a lifetime of mandatory sexual repression.

Content Warning: welp. These broads definitely talk a lot about LGBTQIA2s+ history including discussion of internalized homophobia, general homophobia as disseminated by the evangelical right wing from the 80’s until…um, right now, and honestly, the hosts are wont to talk about sexual trauma kind of a lot. Listen with care, and if it’s not an episode that feels good to you, take a beat and take good care of your beautiful human self.

Just when you thought your hellacious heroines, Lindsay, Meg & Sarai, couldn't possibly have more to say about YWAM, BAM! A fourth episode! This time, the call is coming from inside the house, so to speak, because Ghosties like you are sharing their YWAM experiences.

Hang out with us as your Ghostie compatriots get brave and tell us the wild tales from their days traveling the world on God's dime. You'll have all the feelings there are to feel.

Before you listen, know there are some contents that may be disturbing to some people. Content Warnings: sexual assault, animal cruelty, religious trauma, attempts to colonize the world for Jesus or something

Ahoy, Ghosties! Set sail with us on the turbulent waters of YWAM's Mercy Ships as Karen Alea, from the Deconversion Therapy podcast, joins us for a deep-sea adventure into religious deconstruction. From the highs of missionary zeal to the lows of financial strain and the choppy waves of communal living, Karen shares her journey of finding land after leaving the evangelical archipelago.

In this episode:

• 🌍 Travel Bugs and Belonging: Karen dives into why YWAM's promise of adventure lured her in.
• 💸 Financial Storms: Unpack the dicey ethics of fundraising in missionary work.
• 🙏 Deconstruction Lifelines: How humor can be your life jacket when navigating the heavy currents of faith questioning.

Grab your life vests and join our crew as we explore how to keep your head above water in the sea of spiritual uncertainty.

👻 Support the Journey: Like what you hear? Show your support by subscribing, sharing this episode, and dropping us a review. Every bit helps us keep the conversation flowing and the community growing.

Find Karen on the Deconversion Therapy Podcast

In this episode, Karen shared about a 10-step prayer ritual she had to go through every time she prayed. The same person who came up with the Plumb Line made this gem. Enjoy!