Between Us: A Psychotherapy Podcast Episode 55: Dark Knight of the Soul
13 snips
Jul 23, 2025 
Jay Bakker, a pastor and son of famous televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, shares his journey of navigating fame and personal struggles with addiction. He discusses how growing up in the public eye shaped his beliefs and fueled his desire for inclusivity, especially in supporting the LGBTQ community. Jay explores his experience with psychoanalysis, revealing how it helped him understand his unconscious patterns and set boundaries. He also reflects on his mother's compassionate legacy and critiques the impact of cancel culture on his family's narrative.
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Roots Of A Media Ministry
- Jay Bakker describes his parents' media empire and Heritage USA as a mix of Christian mission and theme-park scale ambition.
- He links his father's drive to childhood sexual abuse and a need to earn God's approval.
From Fame To Free Fall
- Jay recounts his family's public fall and his personal struggles with dyslexia, bullying, and addiction during adolescence.
- He explains drinking started as social lubricant and later escalated into dangerous blackouts prompting change.
Grace Eases Addiction's Grip
- Jay credits discovering unconditional grace as pivotal to his sobriety and self-acceptance.
- Removing shame made recovery feel possible because he no longer believed God hated him.
