Where Do We Go From Here?

Author, scholar, and survivor Donna Freitas joins us for a raw and deeply thoughtful conversation on the ways purity culture, religious silence, and institutional failures around sexuality have left lasting wounds — and where healing might actually begin. In this episode, we talk about: 📚 Donna’s personal story of church trauma and spiritual silence ✝️ The impact of purity culture on desire, consent, and autonomy 🧠 Why Christian spaces still struggle to talk about sex without shame 💔 How writing became Donna’s way back to something like prayer 🔍 The difference between sexual ethics and sexual rules 🧎‍♀️ What healing can look like when religion has been the source of harm 👀 The things that don’t get said in evangelical and Catholic conversations around sex — and why they matter This one is for anyone who's been handed shame in the name of God — and is still trying to sort through what’s true, what’s trauma, and what’s worth keeping.   Donna Freitas is an author, researcher, professor, and leading voice in conversations around sex, consent, spirituality, and young adult faith. Website: www.donnafreitas.com Substack: @donnafreitas Instagram: @donnafreitas.writer   Where Do We Go From Here is a podcast by Jessica Vanderwyngaard For more content and to partner with the show: https://www.patreon.com/wheredowegopod Today's Host was EDJ - https://evangelicaldeconstructionjourney.com/  

Is it time to reimagine a Christian sexual ethic? That’s the big question Jessica, Kristen, and Emily take on in this bold, honest, and expansive No Hard Feelings conversation. Together, we dive deep into the history of Christian sexual ethics—from the Garden of Eden and ancient Israelite practices to purity culture and the modern church. This isn’t just a theology class. We’re asking: What was the biblical sexual ethic really? How has marriage changed over the centuries? What role did empire, patriarchy, and purity culture play? What do we owe to queer theologians in rethinking Christian sexuality? How can we build a framework that values consent, agency, dignity, and inclusion? Whether you’ve left purity culture behind, are raising kids, are single in the church, or just want to better understand how we got here—this episode is for you. 🔑 Plus, Jessica shares a deeply personal vision for a new Christian sexual ethic—available exclusively on Patreon. Join us for this no-holds-barred conversation. Because when it comes to faith and sex, there are no hard feelings—just open hearts and honest questions. 🔗 Links & Resources Jessica’s solo episode: A New Christian Sexual Ethic? → Patreon Exclusive Episode with Brandon Robertson on queer theology → Listen now Follow us on Instagram: @wheredowegopod

Originally released as Episode 49.  This episode is all about one word: agency. Jessica and Devi revisit their conversation with Sheila Gregoire about what it really means for women to experience pleasure, make choices, and have autonomy in their sexual relationships. From obligation sex to pleasure gaps in marriage, we dissect the ways purity culture erased agency—and what reclaiming it can look like.  

Host: EDJ Guest: Rev. Brandan Robertson – author of Queer and Christian, TikTok pastor, theologian, and public speaker. In this heartfelt and deeply thoughtful conversation, EDJ speaks with Rev. Brandan Robertson about growing up evangelical, discovering his queerness, and finding a theology that held both faith and identity. Together, they unpack: Brandan’s journey from Moody Bible Institute to affirming theology The trauma of purity culture and conversion therapy Why “obedience” and biblical literalism can be harmful What the Bible really says about queerness – including the infamous word arsenokoite Queer readings of scripture and the radical inclusivity of Jesus How deconstruction can lead to more honest, expansive faith What it means to let love—not fear—guide your theology Whether you're curious, questioning, or walking your own road of reconstruction, this episode offers theological insight, personal stories, and radical grace. 🛒 Buy Queer and Christian: https://QueerChristian.org 📍 Follow Brandan: TikTok, Instagram, and more via QueerChristian.org 🔗 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wheredowegopod

Dive into a candid exploration of faith and the lingering effects of purity culture. Discover how church trauma intertwines with the struggle for personal faith, love, and grace. The conversation tackles the complexities of obedience, revealing how it can lead to perfectionism and depression. Listen as they challenge traditional doctrines while advocating for a rebuilt spiritual connection on one’s own terms. Prepare for raw honesty, nuanced reflections, and a heartwarming prayer for community and justice.

Is Christianity still good news for women? It’s a big question — and in this episode, Jessica is joined by Emily and Kristen for a thoughtful, vulnerable conversation that doesn’t shy away from the tension. Together, they explore: 🧠 How growing up in the church shaped their views on womanhood, sex, and submission ✝️ The parts of Christianity they’ve kept — and what they’ve had to leave behind 💔 The difference between Jesus and the institutions that claim to represent him 🧎‍♀️ Whether the “good news” can still be good when it’s caused so much harm 🪢 And what hope, faith, and spirituality can look like after the unraveling This isn’t a theological debate — it’s an honest look at what it means to be a woman who still wants to engage faith after everything. No easy answers. No hard feelings. Just an open conversation for wherever you’re at.

What happens when saying yes to God means leaving behind everything you built — and trusting Him in the silence? In this deeply moving episode, Jessica talks with evangelist, author, and podcast host Brenda Palmer about her upcoming book The Journey of Yes. But this conversation goes far beyond the book. Brenda opens up about growing up in purity culture, losing her church community after choosing to speak out, walking away from a thriving career, and learning to hear God’s voice in the wilderness of financial uncertainty and emotional pain. With wisdom, joy, and radical honesty, she reminds us: That hearing from God is a process, not a lightning bolt That obedience isn’t about transaction, but transformation And that our trauma doesn’t disqualify us — it’s often where God meets us Whether you’ve walked away from church, are learning to trust God again, or are somewhere in between, this conversation is a breath of Spirit-filled air. Where to find Brenda: https://www.iambrendapalmer.com/ Pre-orders: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762936/the-journey-of-yes-by-brenda-palmer/ Where to find us: https://www.patreon.com/wheredowegopod  

This episode of No Hard Feelings is one for the books: we’re tackling two wildly different but surprisingly rich topics — emotional cheating in the age of smartphones, and the global significance of the first American pope, Leo XIV. First, Jessica, Kristen, and Emily unpack what emotional cheating actually is (spoiler: it’s not as cut and dry as you think). From secret texts and blurred lines to purity culture hangovers and relational ethics, we sit in the tension and explore the gray areas of emotional intimacy. Then we shift gears to talk about the newly appointed Pope Leo XIV — what it means for the global church, the far right’s response, and how Catholicism’s center of gravity may be shifting away from Europe. We don’t offer all the answers. But we ask the questions with honesty, curiosity, and no hard feelings. 🎧 Support the show and get bonus content at patreon.com/wheredowegopod

What if your pain isn’t just something you have to live with? In this episode, Jessica talks with osteopath Rebecca Lovett about pelvic floors, vaginismus, body shame, and the impact of purity culture on women’s health. They explore how trauma can live in the body, why many women suffer in silence, and what it means to reconnect with your body — not just spiritually, but physically. This conversation is honest, warm, and deeply practical — and it's here to remind you: your body is not a problem to be solved. 📍 Rebecca Lovett is a Melbourne-based osteopath with a focus on pelvic health and whole-body care. Learn more: rebeccalovettosteopath.com.au

Join an engaging discussion on deconstruction as the hosts share personal journeys, including moving from Australia to America. Dive into the complex themes of grace and purity culture, and how they shape beliefs about relationships. The podcast emphasizes the need for open conversations surrounding faith, sexuality, and communal support. Reflect on the radical nature of grace and its transformative power. Future interviews promise to further explore spirituality and personal narratives around faith.