The Divorcing Religion Podcast

The Divorcing Religion Podcast

The Divorcing Religion Podcast was launched by professional counsellor Janice Selbie to highlight the impact of Religious Trauma Syndrome. Guests include The Thinking Atheist Seth Andrews, The Friendly Atheist Hemant Mehta, author Margaret Atwood, Godless Mom, Mandisa Thomas, Dr. Darrel Ray, Dr. Marlene Winell and more.

Episodes

June 11, 2025 56 mins

Forest Benedict, LMFT - Porn Is Not the Problem

Divorced: Evangelical Christianity
CW: Frank discussion of porn, sex, and self-pleasure

Forest Benedict is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and Washington states who specializes in religious trauma and sexual shame. 
 
Forest began his career as a Christian who was passionate about helping others recover from sex and porn addiction—b...

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Pavna K. Sodhi, EdD - Exploring the Intersections of Punjabi-Sikh Cultural/Religious Identity - Part 1

As a humanist and mental health clinician, I'm interested in learning about other cultures and belief systems. To that end, Dr. Pavna K. Sodhi graciously agreed to join me on the Divorcing Religion Podcast to share her knowledge about Punjabi-Sikh teachings, values, practices, and experiences. This episode is Part One of our c...

Unquestionable Calvin - From Religion to Conspiracies to Reality

DIVORCED: Christianity and Conspiracies

My guest today is Calvin Smith, whom you may recognize from his YouTube channel Unquestionable Calvin. Calvin was exposed to both Christianity and supernatural ideas from an early age. Eventually he rejected Christianity but firmly believed multiple conspiracy theories, even attempting to build a career around them. In this episod...

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Tessi Muskrat, M.A. - Free To Explore: Sexuality After Purity Culture

Divorced: Evangelical Purity Culture

 A native woman of Cherokee and Irish descent, Tessi Ynada Muskrat holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology and is a doctoral student researcher at the University of Missouri. Co-founder of the international Purity Culture Research Collective (PCRC), Tessi’s research centers the voices of those who have experienced sexua...

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Patti & Nancy, Apostate Sisters - Life After a Doomsday Cult

DIVORCED: Worldwide Church of God
 
CW: Mature themes
 
Today I’m excited to interview Patti and Nancy, who recently interviewed me on their popular APOSTATE SISTERS YouTube channel! Patti and Nancy are sisters deconstructing their upbringing in the Worldwide Church of God Christian doomsday cult. The sisters note that the cult stifled thei...

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Quantas Ginn, MBA, MS, LMFT-S, CST (he/him) - Sex Therapy for Purity Culture Survivors
  
My guest today is Quantas Ginn. Quantas is a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) professor teaching courses on Human Sexuality and MFT theories. His research interests include interracial relationships, perinatal parenting, and the intersection of religion and sexuality.
 
 Quantas also operates a private practice as a marriage, ...

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Dr. Kayden Vargas (they/he) - From Conservative Christian to Nonbinary Psychologist

TW: Brief references to CSA 

Dr. Kayden Vargas (they/he) is a trans nonbinary poet, parent, and psychologist located in the traditional homelands of the Yakama Nation. Their poetry revolves around themes of small-town living, bicultural/bilingual/biracial life, trauma healing, and trans identity. Their clinical specialties include gender affirming hea...

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April 23, 2025 73 mins

Glenda Jordan - Powerful Polyamory

DIVORCED: Southern Baptist Christianity

My guest today is a model, artist, and entertainer - and she will be speaking at the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture event in Seattle this May! Glenda Jordan lives in Las Vegas these days but grew up on a farm south of Nashville, Tennessee - where she was indoctrinated into the Southern Baptist faith from birth. 

After deconstructing religion in ...

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April 16, 2025 56 mins

Jeremy de Tolly - Liberate Your Voice

My guest today is rock and roll musician, and heart-centered communication coach, Jeremy de Tolly. Jeremy works with those who have deeply shut-down voices, whose voices often became blocked starting in their childhoods. He understands the significance that parenting, school, and culture can have on our voices, and that, to return a voice to health, we need to address the expression aspects of t...

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April 9, 2025 55 mins

Lauren Elise Rogers - Sex Ed for You!

DIVORCED: Fundamentalist Christianity

CW: Frank discussions of s3x

Lauren Elise Rogers is a Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy & Relationship Coach. She is the founder of Sex Ed for You, where she provides clear, compassionate, and comprehensive guidance on intimacy, relationships, and sexual health. 

After being raised in a high-control religion and getting married at ...

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April 2, 2025 60 mins

Dr. Josie McSkimming - Gutsy Girls

DIVORCED: Christianity

Today’s guest is Dr. Josie McSkimming, who joins us from Australia. She has previously been a guest on the Divorcing Religion Podcast and was also a speaker at CORT2023. 

Dr. McSkimming is a clinical social worker with more than 35 years experience – and personal experience with religious trauma. When I learned that she’d published a book about her life, I wanted to read it rig...

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Hip-Hop Artist Seven J - Betrayed by Christianity

DIVORCED: Christianity

TW: Discussion of suicidal ideation

Raised in the heart of Jacksonville, FL, amidst the grit and hustle of the city's most notorious zip code, Seven J emerged as a powerhouse in the world of hip-hop. His music is a testament to his roots, blending raw, lyrical prowess with harmonious melodies that captivate listeners and transport them to another world. 

With...

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Emily Hedrick - Resiliency in Tough Times

DIVORCED: Mennonite Evangelicalism

Emily Hedrick is a resilience coach specializing in religious trauma and compassion fatigue. A former Mennonite pastor, she holds an M.Div., is an ICF-accredited coach, and is a certified Forward-Facing (R) coach. In addition to being a former guest on the Divorcing Religion Podcast, Emily was a powerful speaker at CORT2022. 

How to Treat Your Body Like a Sac...

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Ann Russo, LCSW - Sexuality & Religious Trauma

DIVORCED: Fundamentalist Christianity

My guest today is Licensed Clinical Social Worker ANN RUSSO.

As the founder and director of AMR Therapy, Ann is a mental health advocate, educator, and thought leader specializing in addressing complex and often stigmatized topics such as religious trauma, sexual empowerment, ethical non-monogamy, queer identity, and inclusivity in mental health.

A...

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March 5, 2025 67 mins

Janice Formichella - Estranged

DIVORCED: Mormonism

TW: References to abuse 

Janice Formichella is a breakup coach and the host of the podcasts Sex and the Solo Girl and Breakups, Broken Hearts, and Moving On

She is passionate about helping people from all backgrounds to beat their breakup, overcome loneliness, and make the end of a relationship the start of a powerful new beginning. 

Janice is also a survivor of domestic violence, an ...

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Beth Granger - Leaving the Cult Was Only Half the Battle

DIVORCED: Anglican Cult

Warning: This episode may be triggering for those who experienced abuse in childhood and adolescence.

Beth Granger was the first staff-child born at Grenville Christian College, an elite private boarding school in Canada that was actually a cult - from which she did not escape until her 30s.

Despite her cult leaders’...

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February 19, 2025 52 mins

Marla Taviano - From Missionary to Heretic

DIVORCED: Christian Fundamentalism

Author Marla Taviano knows what it's like to lose it all. In this poignant and humorous conversation, she shares about her missionary husband's infidelity while in the field, the loss of her marriage, and relinquishing some cherished beliefs. She also discusses the power of writing as a force for healing.

FIND MARLA:

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February 12, 2025 54 mins

Luis Cornejo - Born this way!

DIVORCED: Chrisitan Fundamentalism

My guest today is Luis Cornejo: A Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and the founder of Queer Magic Entertainment LLC. He also hosts the Queer Magic Podcast.

A proud first-generation Guatemalan and Mexican American, Luis is passionate about empowering the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities through his work in mental...

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February 5, 2025 59 mins

Jamin Coller - Almost A Cult

TW: Mentions of suicidality

My guest today is Jamin Coller – and if you got Rapture Anxiety after watching the 1970s Christian cult movie A Thief in the Night, you’ve already met Jamin’s dad! After th e movie, his dad started a fundamentalist church. A seminary graduate, pastor’s kid, and true believer, Jamin spent his first 40 years as a Bible scholar, theologian, worship pastor, nati...

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Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Annie Laurie Gaylor - Religion is Killing American Women

Annie Laurie Gaylor is co-founder and co-president of FFRF – the Freedom from Religion Foundation. 
In addition to being a long-time women's rights activist, Annie Laurie is an accomplished author.
Her book, Woe to the Women: The Bible Tells Me So, was first published by FFRF in 1981, and is in its 4th printing. 

...

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