Andrew and Laura sit down with Sherah Pettus from the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery for a real, heartfelt look at how purity culture keeps shaping our bodies, sexuality, and sense of worth long after we leave high control religion. Sherah brings her own story and a liberation-focused perspective to the conversation as they unpack everything from shame and sexual identity to raising kids with autonomy and consent instead of fear.

The episode is full of listener questions, honest reflections, and practical tools for reconnecting with your body, rebuilding self trust, and healing from purity culture’s double binds. They talk about desire, demisexuality, masturbation as resistance, and what it looks like to move beyond shame toward a more grounded, embodied, and compassionate relationship with yourself. Short, warm, and packed with insight, this one hits deep.

Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or sending your story to us!

Exercise from Sherah: 

The Famous Five

1. Drink water when you’re thirsty
2. Rest when you're tired
3. Eat when you’re hungry
4. Move every day
5. Go to the bathroom when you need to go!

This helps to tune ourselves back into our bodies but also helps to gain trust because it helps us to become empowered in tiny ways

Sherah's Info: 

Website: CTRR Practitioner bio page

Social Media: Instagram: @sherah.janell, Podcast: Get Sherah’d

This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery 

The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions.

The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups. 

Follow Andrew on Instagram and TikTok @deconstruct_everything 

To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here

Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson or on her website: www.drlauraeanderson.com 

To work with Laura as a coach, therapist, consultant, or to inquire about other services, you can do so here

Hosts: 

Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs

Music by Benjamin Faye Music @heytherebenji