Broken to Beloved Podcast

Is healing from spiritual abuse actually possible?The worst part of spiritual abuse is that it attempts to destroy your personhood, sense of safety with others, and imagination of a good God. It can feel like you are broken beyond repair. However, in this episode, Rachael Clinton Chen shares that healing is not only possible, but your faith, hope, and love can stay intact in spite of immense spiritual harm. She talks to us about the goodness that is available to us through experiences of healthy human attachment, spiritual formation, embodiment, and revisiting our stories in the presence of an empathetic witness.Get the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ Rachael is a trauma care practitioner, speaker, and pastoral leader. She serves as a lead instructor for the Allender Center at The Seattle School and is co-host of the Allender Center Podcast with Dr. Dan Allender. She holds a Master of Divinity from  The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and recently had the honor of being named by Sojourners as one of “9 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2024.”Rachael is devoted to addressing the harm of abuse – especially spiritual abuse – at the intersection of trauma, healing, embodiment and spiritual formation. She leads the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing and recently developed the Allender Center’s Spiritual Abuse & Healing Online Course, inviting survivors of spiritual abuse to journey together towards healing and reclamation.Website | Instagram | The Allender Center PodcastJoin us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Could spiritual abuse be more universal than we think?In this eye-opening conversation with author and speaker Chanchal Garg, she shows that it doesn't matter what faith background you find yourself in; the underlying themes of spiritual abuse are universal. Chanchal shares her story of spiritual and sexual abuse in a South Asian context and talks openly about her experience in her debut memoir, Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths We Bury. She hopes survivors—across faith backgrounds—can find themselves beneath the false narratives they inherit from their families, cultures, and systems.You'll hear how:Cultural context shapes our understanding of identityNavigating dual identities can be challengingSurrender can be a complex processNaming can be a powerful act of reclaiming identitySelf-compassion is crucial for personal growthGet the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ Chanchal is a speaker, author, executive coach and conscious leadership facilitator.For over seven years, she has facilitated Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ most popular elective course on interpersonal dynamics, impacting over 500 future business leaders. As the founder of Real Space, a thriving six-figure coaching business, she guides leaders to transcend cultural and societal constraints, harnessing their personal power in both work and life.Chanchal is the author of Unearthed: The Lies We Carry & The Truths They Bury. Her expertise has been showcased through speaking engagements, including Lululemon’s International Women’s Day event, and podcasts such as She Has the Mic and The Healing Place.Website | Instagram Links & Resources 🔗Join us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Ben Cremer, an author and digital pastor with over 20 years in church leadership, dives deep into the complexities of faith in this conversation. He challenges the rigid binary thinking often found in religious contexts, advocating for a more nuanced understanding. Ben emphasizes the importance of hearing marginalized voices and differentiating true prophets from false ones. He explores the impact of church politics on personal belief, encouraging a supportive community to foster growth and connection. This insightful dialogue is a journey toward reclaiming the Gospel of Jesus.

What are the stories your pain is telling about you?So often, we internalize ourselves as the problem when pain comes into our lives. However, in this episode, Monica DiCristina, the author of Your Pain Has a Name, helps us see that simply naming our pain can reveal our true selves hidden beneath it.She invites us into an investigative process of getting curious about what our pain is saying and the meaning we make of it. You will learn about helpful starting points when your pain feels complex, the importance of being your own friend, exploring your family of origin, and how to offer tenderness towards the brilliant ways you've survived.Get the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ Monica DiCristina has been a practicing therapist for over fifteen years. She is also a sought-after speaker, podcaster, and writer on topics of emotional healing and mental health. Combining her extensive therapeutic knowledge with creativity, empathy, storytelling, and her deeply rooted faith, she is passionate about walking alongside those who are unraveling their difficult experiences and providing a path for them to do the brave and sacred work of transformation and healing.Website | Instagram | Substack | PodcastLinks & Resources 🔗Your Pain Has a Name by Monica DiCristina |Amazon | BookshopOther Episodes You May LikeEpisode 001: Navigating Toxic Systems and Maintaining Agency with Dr. Alison CookEpisode 039: Join us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

After spiritual abuse, one of the first questions survivors ask is, "How did I end up here?"If you have found yourself asking a similar question, writing can be an incredible way to discover that answer. In this episode, I speak with Megan Febuary, the author of Brave the Page. She shares how to go back to your earlier life scenes using a trauma-informed approach to fill in the missing pieces that may have drawn you to broken systems or relationships. Megan offers several tips to help you write your truth in a way that is honoring to your body and helpful in your search for healing.Get the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ Megan Febuary is a trauma-informed writing coach and the founder of the global storytelling platform and literary magazine For Women Who Roar. Called a leading expert in creative recovery, Megan received her MA from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, where she focused her research on the body as a storyteller.Website | Instagram | SubstackLinks & Resources 🔗Brave the Page by Megan Febuary | Amazon | BookshopPicture This by Lynda Barry, cartoonist & educator | Amazon | BookshopOther Episodes You May Like061: Healing After Spiritual Trauma with Dr. Hillary McBride040: Making Sense of Your Story by Engaging Past PainJoin us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Zach Lambert, Lead Pastor and co-founder of Restore in Austin, Texas, dives deep into renewing the relationship with scripture. He shares his personal journey and insights from his book, 'Better Ways to Read the Bible.' Zach discusses the impact of harmful interpretations of scripture and emphasizes the importance of reading with healing and wholeness in mind. He explores how vulnerability and mentorship can reshape faith perspectives, while advocating for a holistic understanding of the gospel that promotes social justice and radical inclusion.

Did you know that much of the advice Christian parents have been taught over the years doesn’t align with what we know about child development?In this episode, I speak with therapist and author Meaghan Hampton about parenting from a Christian and psychology-informed approach. We address how much of our stories of spiritual trauma are rooted in how we were raised, and why it’s important to explore our past with compassion and curiosity. You will learn about the harm that fundamentalist parenting can cause, how deconstruction from harmful parenting approaches can be a sign of spiritual health, tips on being a more curious and present parent, the value of co-regulation, and more. This is a great episode for anyone interested in learning a parenting approach consistent with the example of Jesus and what children need for healthy development.Get the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ Meaghan is a Christian therapist, writer, and parenting educator passionate about integrating faith, psychology, and neuroscience to support families on their journey toward healing and wholeness. In her clinical work, Meaghan walks alongside children, teens, and adults as they navigate anxiety, trauma, relational wounds, and nervous system dysregulation—always with a trauma-informed and Christ-centered lens.Website | Instagram Links & Resources 🔗Resource for Co-regulationThe Big Feelings Book by Meaghan Hampton | AmazonFlourishing Homes and Families Instagram | AmazonJoin us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Can we have a conversation about intimacy in the church and have it not be...weird?In this week's episode, I speak with college chaplain Rev. Erin Moniz about her book, Knowing and Being Known. She proves that, yes, we can talk about intimacy in a way that feels approachable, inclusive, and inviting to all without making it awkward. You will love Erin's framework that defines healthy intimacy through the lens of the gospel, differentiating it from economic—what's-in-it-for-me—relationships that ultimately leave people feeling more isolated. This is a hope-filled conversation that elevates the experience of intimacy beyond sex, and will speak to single adults and married couples alike.Get the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ Rev. Erin F. Moniz is a deacon in the Anglican Church in North America and Associate Chaplain and Director for Chapel at Baylor University, where she disciples emerging adults and journeys with them toward healthy, gospel-centered relationships. She is a trained conciliator, mediator, and conflict coach. She enjoys content creation, playing music, being outdoors, and narrating the inner monologue of her two cats. She lives in Waco, Texas, with her husband, Michael.Website | Instagram | ThreadsLinks & Resources 🔗Knowing and Being Known by Erin F Moniz | Amazon | BookshopAlone Together by Sherry Turkel | Amazon | BookshopHouseholds of Faith by Emily McGowan | Amazon | Join us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Is there a part of you that feels like you’re in trouble, or you're about to be? If so, this episode will help you understand what message those feelings might be telling you.In my conversation with emotion coach and PhD student Becky Castle Miller, we discuss the differences between feelings, emotions, and trauma responses, as well as practical ways to regulate your body when you're having a flashback. If you’re thinking, "But wait, I can’t trust my emotions…isn't my heart deceitful?" Becky offers a different perspective by examining the life of Jesus that you don’t want to miss. Get the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ Becky Castle Miller is a PhD student at Wheaton College researching a New Testament dissertation about emotions in the Gospel of Luke. She writes and speaks on emotional, mental, and spiritual health in the church and offers emotion coaching. She received her master's in New Testament from Northern Seminary where she wrote a master's thesis on Jesus's emotions. She, her husband, their five kids, and their cat returned to the US in 2020 after living in the Netherlands for eight years, where she served as discipleship director at an international church.Links & Resources 🔗Website | Instagram | SubstackEpisode 1: Navigating Toxic Systems and Maintaining Agency with Alison CookEpisode 8: Identity and Integrity After Pain and Loss with Steve CarterEpisode 9: Exploring the Four Landscapes of Attachment with Geoff & Cyd HolsclawJoin us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

How can we resist the overwhelming loneliness and despair of our time?In this episode, I speak with author and poet David Gate about his debut collection of poems and essays titled Rebellion of Care. In a world that feels bent on individualism, capitalism, and fundamentalism, he suggests that it’s going to take some rebellion to create a new way of living—a life that’s full of radical care, beauty, and kindness. David shares how to move beyond providing “safe” care to a form of care that requires risk and artistic imagination. He also shares his creative process while writing his book, how the themes of self, community, love, and resilience emerged, and even reads a sneak peek of his poetry you won't want to miss.Get the full show notes and links here. 📄Guest Spotlight ✨ David Gate grew up in London before making his way to Belfast, Northern Ireland and Jacksonville, Florida. He now lives in the ancient Appalachian mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, where he writes, mills flour, and tends to a one-acre homestead with his partner and children.Website | Instagram | SubstackLinks & Resources 🔗A Rebellion of Care by David Gate | Malaprop’s Bookstore, Asheville, NC | BookshopAll Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland | AmazonMake Sense of Your Story by Adam Young | Bookshop | AmazonJoin us in Richmond, VA, for the 2025 Gathering on October 10-11.Come and discover a safe and compassionate community of fellow survivors and advocates. If you’re looking for practical tools to help process the pain and trauma of spiritual abuse, this is the event for you.Join us in person or via live stream. Support the show————— We need your help. Your gift of just $25 will make a big difference and help us continue this work. Donate today. ————— Sign up to receive our weekly Podcast Newsletter with new episodes, updates, exclusive discounts, and more! Subscribe using your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Leave us a rating and review on Apple or on Spotify. This all helps us to grow and continue providing quality content for you and our community of listeners. —————As an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.