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Sunday School Dropouts
Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
67 episodes
1 week ago
Andrew flips the script and interviews his co-host, Dr. Laura Anderson, for a raw and honest conversation about growing up in purity culture, how it shaped her relationships and self-worth, and what it took to heal after surviving domestic violence. They talk about the messy mix of high-control religion, gender roles, shame, and the long (and sometimes funny) road to finding freedom and feeling at home in your own body again. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or...
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Mental Health
Religion & Spirituality,
Health & Fitness
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All content for Sunday School Dropouts is the property of Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Andrew flips the script and interviews his co-host, Dr. Laura Anderson, for a raw and honest conversation about growing up in purity culture, how it shaped her relationships and self-worth, and what it took to heal after surviving domestic violence. They talk about the messy mix of high-control religion, gender roles, shame, and the long (and sometimes funny) road to finding freedom and feeling at home in your own body again. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or...
Show more...
Mental Health
Religion & Spirituality,
Health & Fitness
Episodes (20/67)
Sunday School Dropouts
Purity Culture and Intimate Partner Violence
Andrew flips the script and interviews his co-host, Dr. Laura Anderson, for a raw and honest conversation about growing up in purity culture, how it shaped her relationships and self-worth, and what it took to heal after surviving domestic violence. They talk about the messy mix of high-control religion, gender roles, shame, and the long (and sometimes funny) road to finding freedom and feeling at home in your own body again. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or...
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6 days ago
1 hour 14 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Purity Culture to Domestic Violence Pipeline
Hosts Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs sit down with trauma-informed coach and therapist Terri Allred from the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery to unpack how purity culture fuels domestic violence, particularly during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Terri draws on decades of experience supporting survivors of sexual and spiritual abuse to explain how purity teachings often spiritualize control, suppress autonomy, and normalize submission—creating fertile ground for abuse to thrive....
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1 week ago
1 hour 18 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
A Thousand Tiny Papercuts: Purity Culture and Spiritual Abuse
This week, Andrew and Laura welcome the brilliant and hilarious Katherine Spearing—author, practitioner, and founder of Tears of Eden—to talk about everyone’s favorite church obsession: purity culture. You know, that special brand of shame that told you your worth was tied to your virginity and your shoulders were a stumbling block. Katherine unpacks how that messaging messed with an entire generation’s view of sex, self-worth, and spirituality—and how she’s helping survivors heal from it. Th...
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2 weeks ago
1 hour 24 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Chewed Up Bubblegum - Welcome to Season 3 of Sunday School Dropouts!
Season 3 of Sunday School Dropouts is here, and this time it’s all about purity culture—its origins, its lasting impact, and the process of healing from it. After a summer break, the hosts return ready to unpack one of the most pervasive and misunderstood aspects of modern religion. This season features a range of guests, including therapists, coaches, and individuals from Catholic, Mormon, and evangelical backgrounds, as well as voices from the LGBTQ+ and wellness communities. Together, they...
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3 weeks ago
1 hour 10 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Wrapping up Season 2!
In the season two finale of the Sunday School Dropouts podcast, Andrew and Laura recap their experiences and favorite episodes from the past season. They share personal anecdotes about the impact of high control religion on finances, trauma-informed therapy, and purity culture. Laura and Andrew highlight significant episodes such as their conversation with Jo Luehmann about financial trauma and Angela Denker on American boyhood and radicalization. The hosts also discuss their summer plans, wh...
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5 months ago
1 hour

Sunday School Dropouts
(Re-Release) Purity Culture Poster Child to Pastor to Black Sheep w/ Josh Harris
This week we will be talking to a notorious former pastor about their experience growing up inside high control religion, becoming a poster child for purity culture, being set up to take over for a large church and ultimately giving it all up, deconstructing his faith and leaving the church. If you grew up in evangelicalism, and likely even if you didn’t, you’re sure to be familiar with Joshua Harris, author of the wildly popular Christian dating, ahem, courting, book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye...
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5 months ago
1 hour 18 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Spiritual Abuse + Adverse Religious Experiences
What are Adverse Religious Experiences (AREs) and spiritual abuse? Aren’t they the same thing as religious trauma? Join Andrew and Laura on this week’s episode to discuss AREs, spiritual abuse, dynamics of power and control, how this relates to fundamentalism and how all of this…isn’t religious trauma? You heard us correctly! Andrew and Laura discuss all of this AND how these things can result in religious trauma on this episode of Sunday School Dropouts! This podcast is brought to you ...
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5 months ago
1 hour 8 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Spiritual Meritocracy
In this episode, Laura and Andrew engage in a lively discussion with Janice Lagata about her experiences growing up in evangelicalism, her time at Hillsong College, and the importance of literature and financial therapy. They explore themes of banned books, free speech, and the influence of worship music on personal faith. The conversation is rich with insights and personal anecdotes, making it a compelling listen for anyone interested in the intersections of faith, culture, and personal grow...
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6 months ago
1 hour 37 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
If You're Poor, You Deserve It w/ Jo Luehmann
Jo Luehmann shares her journey from being a pastor to deconstructing her faith, focusing on the financial challenges and mindsets that shaped her path. The episode also explores strategies for overcoming financial anxiety and reclaiming autonomy after leaving high-control religious settings. Resources Mentioned: Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Your First Million by Arlan Hamilton Your Journey to Financial Freedom by Jamila Souffrant Keeping Finance Personal by Ellyse Fulmore We should al...
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6 months ago
1 hour 40 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
The Radicalization of American Boyhood with Rev. Angela Denker
In this episode of the Sunday School Dropouts podcast, Angela Denker joins Andrew to discuss her new book, 'Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood'. Reverend Denker explores themes of masculinity, gender narratives, and the influence of culture and church on boys and men. Highlighting the shifting political landscape, she emphasizes the impact of figures like Elon Musk and the ways social media algorithms contribute to radicalization. They touch upon the role of comm...
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6 months ago
44 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Giving Up God with Sarah Henn Hayward
This week on Sunday School Dropouts, we're joined by author Sarah Henn Hayward for an honest, insightful conversation about her journey from devout Christianity to agnostic atheism. Sarah, author of Giving Up God, opens up about her upbringing in the Evangelical Free Church and the slow, freeing path of deconstruction that followed. She reflects on purity culture, youth group experiences, and the internal conflicts that led her to start questioning her faith. We also talk about what it’s like...
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6 months ago
59 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
It’s Time to Talk about Men Healing from Purity Culture (re-release)
The holidays are over and we are back into our purity culture mini-series! This month we are talking about purity culture and it’s impact on individuals who grew up male in this system. We are thrilled to have Dr. Bradley Onishi on the podcast today as our professional who has done research and client-facing work in this area as well as being a purity culture poster boy himself. Join Brad and Laura as they discuss the unique impacts of purity culture on men, shame, the expectations of being a...
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6 months ago
1 hour 11 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
The Impact of Purity Culture on Women (re-release)
We are thrilled to have with us today Dr. Tina Schermer Seller who is an author, researcher, professor, and psychotherapist specializing in the impacts of purity culture, shame resilience, gender, and sexuality. In this episode, Dr. Tina shares her research and how she came to realize the psychological and physiological impact of purity culture and how that shaped the direction of her work with clients, students, and her writing. In the episode, Dr. Tina shares an incredible definition of sex...
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7 months ago
1 hour 28 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Fundamentalism…it just really f**ks you up with Andrew Pledger
In this episode of Sunday School Dropouts, Andrew Pledger opens up about his journey growing up in the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) movement and the lasting effects of religious trauma on his mental health, sexuality, and sense of identity. He shares his experiences navigating legalism, spiritual abuse, and the pressure to conform, including his time at Bob Jones University and the emotional toll of leaving such a high-control environment. Andrew discusses the coping mechanisms he de...
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7 months ago
1 hour 34 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Going Broke for God
Today we are joined by Andrew Pledger to talk about the financial burden that going to a religious college/university can cause. We get into not only the cost of these institutions but the extended control they have over all aspects of someone’s life, even when it’s the time in life where you’re developmentally ready to have more freedom. Andrew shares his story with us about how he chose to go to Bob Jones University, what was required when he got there, the rules he had to follow and the fi...
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7 months ago
1 hour 22 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
The Perfect Body for God with Zach Anderson
In this conversation, Zach Anderson shares his journey of growing up in the Mormon Church, navigating his identity as a gay man, and the impact of high control religions on mental health and body image. He discusses his process of resigning from the church, the challenges of coming out, and how these experiences shaped his approach to nutrition coaching. The conversation also explores the intersections of purity culture, diet culture, and the nuances of intuitive eating, emphasizing the impor...
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7 months ago
1 hour 35 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Choosing Relationship over Doctrine RE-RELEASE
Now more than ever, many of us are having to navigate relationships with family members and friends who are grappling with choosing relationships with people over their belief/doctrines. Perhaps you are wrestling through that too? We are revisiting one of our favorite episodes with guests Beecher and April who share with us their own story of choosing relationship with each other over rigid theology and doctrine. Also, the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery is offering their spri...
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8 months ago
1 hour 16 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Sex Education After Sunday School
Today we are excited to have Dr. Celeste Holbrook on the podcast! Celeste is a sex educator, author, speaker, and sexologist with her own story of healing after purity culture. She uses her personal experiences to inspire her professional work and helps folks untangle the long-lasting, embodied impacts of the messages they were taught about their bodies, sex, and pleasure. Today we are talking about all the sex education your Sunday school teachers never taught you! Connect with Celeste...
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8 months ago
1 hour 25 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Leaving the Orthodox Community w/ Rikki Herbst
In this episode of Sunday School Dropouts, Rikki Herbst shares her journey of leaving the Orthodox Jewish community in New York. She reflects on growing up in a tightly knit, insular environment and the emotional challenges of stepping away. Drawing parallels to other religious exits—like evangelicalism—she explores the complexities of reclaiming autonomy and finding support. As a therapist, Rikki offers insights on religious trauma from both personal and professional perspectives. You’re lis...
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8 months ago
44 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
God’s Plan for your Genitals w/ Dr. Eric Sprankle
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...
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8 months ago
1 hour 24 minutes

Sunday School Dropouts
Andrew flips the script and interviews his co-host, Dr. Laura Anderson, for a raw and honest conversation about growing up in purity culture, how it shaped her relationships and self-worth, and what it took to heal after surviving domestic violence. They talk about the messy mix of high-control religion, gender roles, shame, and the long (and sometimes funny) road to finding freedom and feeling at home in your own body again. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or...