Stephanie shares the harrowing realities of her early childhood as the daughter of Pentecostal pastors whose faith demanded an impossible standard of perfection. Under the guise of godliness, her parents subjected her to relentless physical and emotional abuse, using their religious beliefs to justify their actions. Stephanie recounts how her curiosity, creativity, and individuality were deemed rebellious sins, leading to punishments that left her bruised, bloodied, and broken.

This episode delves into the psychological weight of religious manipulation, the isolation of a child silenced by fear, and the resilience it takes to survive in a world where love and violence coexisted.

Amidst the pain, Stephanie reflects on the hope she found in fleeting moments of kindness and connection—small lifelines that kept her holding on. Through her story, we examine the blurred lines between faith and fanaticism, and the unyielding strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering.