This final episode of 2021 features another returning guest and good friend from Canada--David Hayward, "The Naked Pastor." A former evangelical pastor like me, David and I go way back and share a lot in common since we both left both our ministries and our former faiths behind. I wanted to reconnect with him after we were on a panel last year's CORT 2020 conference on religious trauma.  In addition to some live deconstructing, we get into the subject of David's artwork--the messages and themes that are so prevalent in his work. I think you will find this final episode of the year both insightful and helpful along your journey. Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Contact Information Follow David on Twitter @nakedpastor Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's guest is another returning friend--Dr Josie McSkimming from Sydney, Australia.  I reached out to her recently because I was interested in speaking with her about not only her backstory in Christian fundamentalism, and how she got out of that system, but also about her work as a psychotherapist who specializes in helping clients recover from such afflictions as religious trauma syndrome. As she views it, our authentic or preferred self is the one we need to recover, rebuild and reconstruct after leaving religion or a cult group behind. How do we do it? Listen in to find out more information and helpful resources. Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Contact Information Follow Josie on Twitter @josiemcskimming Follow me @MindShift2018

This episode is something I've wanted to do for a very long time--a re-release of an old recording I did with my sister Valerie way back in 2017 when she came to visit me in North Wales. We sat down and shared stories of what it was like to grow up in not just a fundamentalist home, but actually a cult--the Bill Gothard Bible cult. Hearing Valerie's story will move you...perhaps even to tears.  I hope you get a lot out of this re-released episode. Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Contact Details Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This week's episode couldn't be more timely--discussing the draconian and hugely controversial Texas abortion law, Senate Bill 8 (SB8). Now that it is finally being argued at the Supreme Court, we have to ask: will the Christian  dominionists who have played the long game in terms of appointing conservative and anti-abortion judges finally succeed in overturning Roe v Wade? This has been their strategy and they have been working at this for literally decades. That Texas even attempted to pass this law in 2021 is merely testament to not only the 3 conservative judges appointed during the Trump era--with the assistance of the Christian Right--it is a landmark case that is highly unconstitutional and threatens the rights of not just women, but the LGBTQ community also. Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Contact Information Follow Peter on Twitter @PeteMont Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

This special bonus episode features a conversation with my very good friend, Religious Recovery Consultant Janice Selbie! Starting the 7th of November, she is running another one of her amazing "Divorcing Religion" workshops.   We've talked about this before, but I wanted to touch base with Janice to give her a chance not only to promote the workshop, but to explain why such a thing is so needed for those of us who have left religion or high-control groups behind.   In addition to this chat, we also get into CORT 2022--the Conference on Religious Trauma she is putting together for next year. Stay tuned for more information about this excellent conference as well!   For more information about the Divorcing Religion, click https://www.divorcing-religion.com/   Follow Janice on Twitter @Wise_Counsellor Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018   Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community!

This week's guest is Jonathan Larsen, managing editor over at The Young Turks (TYT) Network.  Ever since he and his colleagues obtained the formerly-secret invitation list to the yearly National Prayer Breakfast that The Family--otherwise known as "The Fellowship Foundation"--wanted desperately to keep a secret, Jonathan has been doing some great investigative reporting on this uber-secretive, dominionist Christian organization. First reported on by Jeff Sharlet in his book, and later Netflix series "The Family," this clandestine evangelical organization has been actively working the corridors of power worldwide for decades, building relationships and seeking out "key men" to win to Christ--in the hopes that they will influence their nations and spheres of influence for the Kingdom of God.  Find out more by listening in! Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Contact Details Follow Jonathan on Twitter @jtlarsen Follow me at MindShift2018

In this special bonus episode, which I've long been promising is indeed coming, I was able to interview therapist Rachel Bernstein of the IndoctriNation Podcast. This is actually Part 2 of two episodes we did--for the first half of the chat, you'll have to head over to the IndoctriNation podcast to catch Part 1. There, we discussed my backstory in evangelicalism, my deconstruction, and the journey to rebuild since leaving Christianity behind. In this episode, we focus specifically on the important question: how does religion affect people's mental health? What resources are available for those of us who have left it behind, and now need to reconstruct our lives from the ground up? I hope you will find this conversation with Rachel both enlightening and educational. Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community Contact Details Follow Rachel on Twitter @RBernsteinLMFT Follow Me on Twitter @MindShift2018

Kurt Andersen is a returning guest, this time to talk about his sequel to Fantasyland, which is his excellent and thought-provoking work, Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America--A Recent History. How exactly does it function as a sequel to Fantasyland? In this followup book, Kurt reveals that the vast wealth and income inequality in America was not by accident, but by design--the work of the "evil geniuses" he identifies in the book. And not only did the evil geniuses succeed, the "fantasy-industrial complex" he identified in Fantasyland is hard at work, providing a distraction for all the poor workers who have been screwed out of what should have been rightfully theirs. For more information on Kurt, his writings and podcasts, check out his website.  Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Contact Information Follow Kurt Andersen on Twitter @kbandersen Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

For those two or three people who are unaware of who Seth Andrews is, all we have to say is "The Thinking Atheist" and you'll understand everything. Seth and I had a fantastic conversation recently in which we discussed his backstory, his views on being a former "Fox News Christian," dominion theology and the recent Texas abortion law, and more. In this wide-ranging conversation, we covered a lot of ground and had an amazing time doing so. I am certain you'll enjoy spending an hour or so with Seth, the host of The Thinking Atheist. Join the MindShift Patreon Community! Contact Information Follow Seth on Twitter @SethAndrewsTTA Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

In this special bonus episode, I'm welcoming back returning guest Dr David Madison, who was on the podcast several years ago. Our mutual friend Tim Sledge suggested I interview him about his new book, Ten Things Christians Wish Jesus Hadn't Taught. This very readable book--designed to be read through easily in one sitting--is aimed primarily at Christians who are open to questioning their faith, and potentially dialoguing with others about some of the questions, doubts, and cognitive dissonance they may have been harboring, but were afraid to admit. Available now on Amazon--click the link here to purchase this excellent resource! Join the MindShift Podcast Patreon Community! Check out the Debunking Christianity Blog Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018