Claim OwnershipSunday School Dropouts
Subscribed: 49Played: 732
Subscribe
© 2025 Sunday School Dropouts
Description
Sunday School Dropouts is a podcast hosted by trained therapists Dr. Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs. Both Andrew and Laura grew up in high control religion and spent years trying to live up to the rules and standards until one day, they couldn’t do it anymore. They spent our lives aspiring to be true followers of God and all they got from it was religious trauma.So now, they’re taking our lived experiences along with their education, training, and work with clients to create this podcast–a podcast that goes beyond deconstruction and focuses on the unique aspects healing and recovery for folks coming out of high control religions, cults, fundamentalism, purity culture and those with religious trauma. Each episode they will be talking with other experts, mental health practitioners, coaches, advocates, therapists and folks who have survived fundamentalist systems, to learn from their experiences and offer resources and support for healing.
48 Episodes
Reverse
This week we are excited to be joined by Dr. Eric Sprankle (@drsprankle on Instagram). Dr. Sprankle is a clinical psychologist and professor of human sexuality and author of the recently released: “DIY: The Wonderfully Weird History and Science of Masturbation”. He’s joining us today to talk about what a porn addiction *actually* is (hint, it’s not what religion teaches us!), our innate sexuality, and how it’s the messages around sexuality, porn, and masturbation that creates the guilt, shame...
In this episode, Melissa Duge Spiers shares her journey of growing up in a Seventh-day Adventist family, her experiences of rebellion, and the challenges she faced when leaving the church. She discusses the unique aspects of Adventism, the impact it had on her identity, and the process of deconstructing her beliefs. Melissa emphasizes the importance of finding joy and freedom after leaving a high-control environment and the need for support systems for those transitioning out of similar backg...
Who else had the verse “children, obey your parents unto the Lord” said to them? Maybe as a way to justify behavior? Or assert control? Or maybe you still feel the need to obey your parents even if you are an adult (and with your own children!) On today’s episode of Sunday School Dropouts we’ll be talking about the parent-child dynamic within high control religion–the way it impacts a child and how that impact lingers on into adulthood. Whether it’s the way you navigate relationships today or...
We are excited to be joined by author and adventurer, Ryan George! Ryan recently wrote and published the book “Hurt and Healed by the Church” which details his life as a pastor’s kid whose father was a pastor in the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church. Ryan’s story is unique in that his father engaged of multiple acts of clergy sexual abuse with children. But instead of keeping that story ‘in the dark’, Ryan has supported his father’s victims, brought the truth into the light, and ha...
The Sunday School Dropouts are joined today by Dr. Hillary McBride! Hillary is here to help us wrap up our touchstone topics episodes with an amazing conversation about spiritual abuse and trauma. Is it the same as religious abuse? Better or worse? What are the impacts and how do you heal? We talk about all that and more with Hillary. Also, you won’t want to miss Laura and Andrew’s “ins” and “outs” for the year and their reflections on new year’s resolutions when they were both religious!Conn...
Jessica Hyne is joining us today to share her story of growing up in the Church of Christ denomination. We talk about everything from the structure of the Church of Christ, to the strive for certainty, rigid thinking, and being a part of the frozen chosen…if you don’t get what that is, you’ll just have to listen! We also talk about the important pieces of her own healing journey and the piece of advice she would offer folks coming from a Church of Christ background. Jessica is also a Licensed...
The Sunday School Dropouts are back with another episode of answering your questions about religious trauma and the holidays. Many of the questions today centered around finding new traditions post-religion, dealing with family members who don’t understand why you won’t go to church, and how to navigate co-parenting around this time of year when one person has left the church and the other hasn’t. Plus, Andrew and Laura are at it again with another holiday quiz game and sharing some of their ...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or is it? The Sunday School Dropouts are taking on your questions today about all things having to do with religious trauma and the holidays! How do you set boundaries with your family that is still in church? Can you tell your emotionally immature family members that they are emotionally immature? Is it ok to tell your kids that you don’t trust churches and religious doctrine anymore? All these questions (and more!) will be answered today. And, you’ll...
We are joined today by RC Curtright, or, you might know him from social media as @deconstructing_exjw. RC was on the podcast in season one talking about the impact of purity culture for individuals who grew up male inside that system. But today he is here to talk about his own experiences of growing up in the Jehovah’s Witness organization, his deconstruction and his journey of healing. Books that RC mentioned: Healing CPTSD by Pete Walker When Religion Hurts You by Dr. Laura Anderson R...
We’re excited to be joined today by Mike Maeshiro! On today’s “Story Episode” Mike shares with us about his time at Bethel Church and their school, the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Did Mike get slain in the spirit or was he a peaceful observer? You’ll have to listen to find out! To connect with Mike: Substack: https://mikemaeshiro.substack.com/ TikTok: @mikemaeshiro Instagram:@mikemaeshiro Website: mikemaeshiro.com This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Traum...
We have one of the “founding fathers” of religious deconstruction on social media with us today…Phil Drysdale! Phil is joining us today to talk about all of the ins and outs of deconstruction, including the differences between deconstructing, deconverting, and being de-churched. Phil has partnered with researchers that have been able to obtain data on the tenants of deconstruction, how many people are deconstructing, and more! We loved this conversation with Phil and we know you’ll love it to...
We are joined today by Cait West–an author, podcaster, and educator. Cait recently published a book, “Rift: A Memoir Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy” and is stopping by today to share with us about her book and her journey. Cait grew up in the Christian Patriarchy movement and was a stay at home daughter until age 25. Through courage and trusting herself, Cait was able to leave the system and family she grew up in and create a thriving life outside of it. Website: www.caitwest.c...
It’s Election Day in the United States…which can feel relieving, nerve wracking, and everything in between! It made sense that we use this episode to wrap up our Religious Trauma and Politics mini-series by talking about how to take care of yourself today, the next few days, and beyond. Andrew and Laura are talking about finding stability, how fear can cause us to do and think things that are not aligned with our core values, identifying what we can control, and how to take care of ourselves....
We are thrilled to have Julia and Jeremiah (aka the Sexvangelicals) back on the podcast today to wrap up our Religious Trauma and the Elections mini-series. Today’s topic: Project 2025. If you haven’t heard about it or don’t know what, consider this your catch up course to all things related to Project 2025. And in our opinion, this project gets an “F”. Jeremiah and Julia explain various policies, the language used, the history behind why we got here and how it connects to Christian Nationali...
The Sunday School Dropouts are proving their dropout status today! We are talking about all things White Christian Nationalism, including the origins, impacts, and how to heal with Rev. Angela Denker. Angela is the author of “Red State Christians” and the forthcoming book “Disciples of White Jesus” where she writes about the growing phenomenon of White Christian Nationalism and its impact on a specific group of people: White men and boys. Throughout this conversation we begin to see how...
Dan Miller is back on the podcast today with an excellent discussion regarding the way that extremist political groups use fear and trauma as a way to move their message forward, gain control, and get followers. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss as Dan, Andrew, and Laura dive into why groups target specific age ranges, the neuroscience of extreme thinking and propaganda, and how this can result in trauma. Today we are lifting Russell Brand up in prayer. To find out more abou...
We’re excited to have Brad Onishi back on the Sunday School Dropouts today! When we were thinking of what was important for folks to know as it related to religious trauma and the elections, we knew that we needed Brad on the podcast to talk about the history of religion and politics! This episode takes a deep dive, exploring the past 70 years of religious and political movements that joined together to get us to the point we are at now. Brad also shares about the practicalities of what this ...
We are thrilled today to have back on our show April Ajoy! This is the third time April’s been on our podcast but the first time without her partner Beecher…and as much as we love Beecher, we are so glad to have April here today as she’ll be talking to us about her book that is coming out TODAY called “Star Spangled Jesus” which is available wherever you buy books and is also on Audible. The links for the book are in the show notes! April is a content creator who uses humor to shine lig...
Want to heal from religious trauma? Then you’re listening to the right podcast! Today we are talking with licensed therapist, coach, and Somatic Experiencing practitioner, Jeremy Lehmann. Jeremy talks to us about what the nervous system is, it’s roll in trauma, and why it’s essential to the process of healing from trauma. We also get into a fascinating discussion regarding how the absence of safe and stable connection can also result in trauma through the topic of lack of sex education in hig...
We’re back! After a summer filled with Vacation Bible School and all of the adventures that go along with it, we are back for another season of Sunday School Dropouts! In this episode Andrew and Laura talk about some of the amazing guests and topics that will be coming on season 2 and are excited about bringing back our “touchstone topics”, a mini-series on religious trauma and the elections, sharing survivor stories of leaving and healing from religious trauma, and focusing on various aspect...
Comments
Top Podcasts
The Best New Comedy Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best News Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Business Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Sports Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New True Crime Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Joe Rogan Experience Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Dan Bongino Show Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Mark Levin Podcast – June 2024
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States