Send us a text 🚨 Update: I’m officially closing my Patreon and migrating everything over to Substack! Substack gives me more flexibility to share my work—whether it’s writing, podcasting, or connecting in a more social, community-driven space. You can now find all my content (and support my work) in one place: 👉 https://substack.com/@thestrongwilledchild There are free, monthly, and yearly subscription options. Thanks for being here and supporting this work! joined by Lindsey Williams t...

Send us a text Support the podcast join the patreon Be our guest Welcome back Emily. Emily was a guest about year ago, she is a therapist located in California. I was captivated with Emily's story and I asked her to come back to talk about her time in the christian political sphere where she spent her teenage and young adult years. EMILY'S SOCIALS For those that want to be on the podcast make sure to reach out—link in the show notes.Pre-roll music is composed by Joanna Whaley For those...

Send us a text This is a one woman show, show support, stay connected Want to be a guest? fill this questionnaire out MARK DRISCOLL BJ SERMON mark Driscoll Penis Homes STEPHANIE SOCIALS Welcome back Stephanie Drury! You heard her in the teaser episode and now you have the opportunity to hear the full story. Stephanie is the owner of Stuff Christian Culture Likes, Please follow her socials and check out her upcoming webinar. For those that want to be on the podcast make sure to reach out—lin...

Send us a text Support this POD Stephanie Drury and I sit down for a spilling the tea about the rise and fall podcast. She talks about her fake Driscoll twitter account. Unfortunately, my internet failed me and we had to reschedule to record the full story. We did get enough to give you a little tea, just not the full service. Stay tuned for the full episode coming out soon. Stephanie Drury's Socials Be our guest For those that want to be on the podcast make sure to reach out—link in the show...

Send us a text Please support the POD Hey Everyone! I am back. I cannot express how disappointed I am in our government, please scroll down and fill out the form if you are interested in being a guest on the pod. thank you! BE OUR GUEST For those that want to be on the podcast make sure to reach out—link in the show notes.Pre-roll music is composed by Joanna Whaley Support the show This podcast contains the personal accounts, thoughts, and opinions of guests. Focus on Your Own Family podcast...

Send us a text support the podcast check out the PATREON Robert Callahan II is back and discussing the book Fire In The Whole. I enjoyed our conversation last time and am so honored he has returned. In this episode, we dive into his book, released two weeks ago. I encourage people to pick up a copy. Robert and I discuss racism, microaggressions, misogyny, and decolonizing… We must have these critical conversations a few weeks before the presidential election. Robert, you have become a friend...

Send us a text Please Support the show- check out the PATREON Please support our guest Dave by checking out his BLOG Please welcome back Dave, who played Jimmy Barclay on Adventures in Odyssey. Dave is a profound writer please check out his blog at This is the end of the four-part series. I have learned so much about my friend Dave. This was an honor. In this episode, Dave opens up about what led him into politics, his deconstruction from the evangelical system, and where he is t...

Send us a text Support this podcast check out the PATREON You may be asking, why do we need a part three? My friend Dave who acted the character Jimmy Barclay on Focus on the Family's Adventure's In Odyssey has a lot to say. One of the very few children who grew up amongst the Christian Nationalist organization and propaganda machine to blow the whistle. Dave talks about what he goes through knowing that he was used to perpetuate a message of hate and to help indoctrinate people. Dave talks a...

Send us a text Support the podcast join the PATREON In this episode Dave and I discuss very sensitive information. Elements of self harm are self hate are brought up. Please listen with caution. Dave and I discuss the ALOHA episode of Adventures in Odyssey. For those that want to be on the podcast make sure to reach out—link in the show notes.Pre-roll music is composed by Joanna Whaley For those who want to subscribe to my Patreon please look at the show notes for more informatio...

Send us a text To support the podcast please check out the PATREON This guest played Jimmy Barclay on Adventures in Odyssey. Please welcome Dave. It is truly an honor to have Dave on this show. We have become friends over the past year, and I am so thankful he is sharing his time and story with us all. Adventure in Odyssey is a children’s radio program that started in 1987. Dave was in episode two, and for ten years, he dedicated his life to this show. He was the first character to have an e...

Send us a text Support the podcast check out the PATREON I am excited and honored to have my friend, author D.L. Mayfield, on the podcast today. D.L. spent many years in Christian publishing before escaping the evangelical movement, deconstructing, coming out, and becoming an atheist. D.L. and I share a creative space on social media and a great disdain for James Dobson. D.L. and their spouse recently launched the “Strongwilled” project. Please check out their substack, which has a wealth of ...

Send us a text Support the podcast join the PATREON Please Welcome Dr Jamie (they/them)! I am so thankful they are here today. Dr Jamie socializes in Dissociative Identity Disorder and is the author of TEN books. Their knowledge on DID specifically stemming from high control regions is vast, please enjoy this discussion on their upcoming book "You Lied To Me About God" Dropping everywhere books are sold October 15, 2024. Please check out Jamie's Socials For those that want to be on the podcas...

Send us a text Support the podcast check out the PATREON Joanna Whaley has been a guest on the pod previously, she and I get together for this bonus episode. Carl Lentz and Laura Lentz launched a podcast about his side. Joanna and I are former mega church leaders who break down his language nuances. Check out Joanna's socials. For those that want to be on the podcast make sure to reach out—link in the show notes.Pre-roll music is composed by Joanna Whaley For those who want to subscribe to ...

Send us a text Support the podcast, check out the PATREON Pastor Paul is back for a part two. In this second half we discuss how important it is to discover love of self inside relationships. The church teaches that in order to be loved by God we need to completely die to ourselves. Paul and I talk about how the church uses this to control and manipulate. We also discuss how we were never designed to complete anyone. Please follow Paul's socials For those that want to be on the p...

Send us a text Please support this podcast by checking out the PATREON This was recorded the day before the Trump verdict was read- Earlier this season I had Pastor Paul on, I knew I wanted to have them back on for Pride month. During this podcast I deviated from the normal format and let the conversation go where it wanted to go. Paul and I discuss aspects of dissociative identity disorder and what it is like meeting yourself in all their forms. Join me in the beautiful conversation about th...

Send us a text Support this podcast check out the PATREON Please welcome my friend Noah (He/him/they/them). Noah is a transgender male and his story is about mending himself. Raised inside fundamentalist evangelicalism and under the strict parenting styles of James Dobson, Noah is reparenting himself through learning how to love himself. Join Noah and I as we discuss going no contact, breaking free of evangelicalism, and finding new paths. I am deeply honored to have Noah as my guest. Noah's ...

Send us a text Support the podcast by checking out the PATREON Today I have the honor of interviewing Jason Kirk. Jason is a NYT sports editor and he took time in-between the draft to have this conversation. Aside from Jason's job at the NYT, he and his wife co-host the VBS podcast, and he authored "Hell is a world without you." This book is about a group of kids navigating their way through youth group and school. He highlights the tension points so well, there were moments I felt like I was...

Send us a text Support the podcast- Join the Patreon Cait West and I had an opportunity to sit down and discuss her upcoming book "Rift" A memoir of breaking away from Christian Patriarchy. Cait West demonstrates why it is so important for survivors to both tell their stories and connect with others who survived the evangelical movement. Here are Cait West SOCIALS click on that link- it will take you to the preorder! For those that want to be on the podcast make sure to reach out—link i...

Send us a text Support the podcast check out the patreon I had the privilege of sitting down and talking with Sarah McCammon, New York Times best-selling author of "The Evangelicals". Sarah and I discuss the book and some similarities from growing up evangelical. Sarah is a national political correspondent for NPR, this was truly an honor to spend some time chatting with her. Please check out Sarah's socials SUBSTACK INSTAGRAM The EXvangelicals For those that want to be on the podcast...

Send us a text Support the podcast - join the PATREON Please welcome back Lindsey Williams! Lindsey is a survivor of the Institute of Basic Life Principals (IBLP) Bill Gothard's Cult. She was featured on Shiny Happy People- a documentary about the Duggar cult. Lindsey and I sit down to discuss Shannon Harris's book "The Woman They Wanted." This book is incredible- if you have not read it, I encourage you to. Lindsey's socials Shannon's book For those that want to be on the podcast make sure...