In this episode of Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus, the host interviews Mike, who reflects on his journey growing up in an ultra-orthodox Jewish environment, leaving the religion at 17, and finding freedom and meaning as an atheist. Mike details the extreme repressive nature of his upbringing, the intellectual and emotional process of questioning and ultimately rejecting his faith, and the challenging aftermath involving family dynamics and personal growth. He shares how community support, meditation, psychedelics, and therapy played crucial roles in his healing process. The conversation also touches on Mike's experience in the Israeli military and how it provided a secular space to rebuild his identity. Mike offers advice on how to meditate and emphasizes the importance of finding community for those leaving their faith.