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Author Stella McCormick has written a powerful memoir, Deliver Us From Mother: Faith, Fear, and the Family Cult That Broke Me. The story she tells in the book and shares with us on the podcast is one of surviving a single family cult, purity culture, sexual assault and desconstruction. Stella is more than a survivor. She has thrived. Today she is a sexual assault advocate for the Army where she helps other victims of sexual assault process their experience. LinksStella on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@stella_mccormick Amazon Paid LinksAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon Commissions Earned: Deliver Us From Mother: Faith, Fear, and the Family Cult That Broke Me https://amzn.to/4yzxb0Y InteractShow Notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/09/14/stella-mccormick-surviving-a-single-family-cult/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group! Support the podcast Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Paypal: paypal.me/gracefulatheist Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Karis Burkowski and ​David Fitzgerald have written an amazing book called Clearly Written by Boys: A Woman’s Guide to the Bible. The book takes this question seriously: What if women mattered, really mattered, to the authors that wrote our Bible? Not just the queens and concubines, harlots and handmaidens, and barren women in need of a son’s miraculous birth; not just the unnamed mothers, wives and daughters; but all women?Clearly Written for Boys is a book about the Bible, and Christianity, and the problematic relationship both have had with women throughout their histories. Karis and David come from Christian backgrounds and are “cleaning up their own house.” Join me in hearing from these two amazing authors and the critical message they have about women in Biblical history and for women of today. Linkshttps://www.clearlywrittenbyboys.com Amazon Paid LinksAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon Commissions Earned: Clearly Written By Boys: A Women's Guide to the Bible https://amzn.to/4wf8NAk InteractShow Notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/07/20/steve-ghikadis-humanism-from-the-heart/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group! Support the podcast Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Paypal: paypal.me/gracefulatheist Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Steve Ghikadis is the author of Humanism From the Heart: Building Bridges Beyond Belief. Steve Ghikadis is a Humanist Officiant, who conducts secular marriages, memorials, and many more meaningful life-affirming celebrations. Raised as a freethinker, Steve has been married to a Christian for over a decade. He and his wife, Cindy, believe in the importance of bridging the gap between believers and non-believers. Their two young children are being raised in an interfaith household and are free to choose their own path. He serves as an Ambassador for Humanist Canada, Recovering from Religion, and Sunday Assembly. LinksWebsite:  https://steveghikadis.com Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/share/14bX5omASis/?mibextid=wwXIfr Amazon Paid LinksAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon #CommissionsEarned: Humanism From the Heart: Building Bridges Beyond Belief https://amzn.to/3RLmMQ2 InteractShow Notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/07/20/steve-ghikadis-humanism-from-the-heart/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group! Support the podcast Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Paypal: paypal.me/gracefulatheist Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Julia tells her story of deconstructing the Jehovah's Witnesses and the expected life of suburbia. Julia was torn between two grandmothers: an evangelical and a Jehovah's Witness. She became a Jehovah's Witness and was all in. She got married and had kids and supported her husband who was an elder. That is when the boredom set it. She wanted more, she wanted to travel and be a need-greater. Before they were to leave to Ecuador, her husband tragically died of cancer refusing blood transfusions along the way. Julia's life became messy as she started a long process of deconstruction. This included low-lights like having her children tell on her to the elders. And highlights going out on her own to travel and meet people's needs with out dogma. Today Julia is free. She kayaks, bikes and travels internationally. She says "I wake up every day thinking, 'I love this world, and I love this life.'" InteractShow Notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/06/29/julia-deconstructing-jws-and-suburbia/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group! Support the podcast Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Paypal: paypal.me/gracefulatheist Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Consciousness DelusionIn this solo episode I discuss Artificial Intelligence. Should we agree with Richard Dawkins that Claude is conscious? Probably not, for several reasons. I talk about how LLMs work, why I don't think they are conscious and how a humanist should respond. Topics: (Semi) Technical description of how Large Language Models workLLMs are trained on the sum total of human hopes and fearsWhy all the intelligence in AI systems is from human sourcesWhy I do not believe LLMs can be conscious in principleThe Hype problemThe Humanistic response to AILinksShow notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/06/07/humanism-and-ai/ Here are several source material links from my research for this episode: When Dawkins met Claude Could this AI be conscious?https://unherd.com/2026/05/is-ai-the-next-phase-of-evolution/?edition=usELIZA and the missing secretaryhttps://theconversation.com/my-search-for-the-mysterious-missing-secretary-who-shaped-chatbot-history-225602Alan Turing and the Turing testhttps://academic.oup.com/mind/article/LIX/236/433/986238?login=falseMetaphors for how the brain workshttps://mechanism.ucsd.edu/bill/teaching/w14/phil151/metaphorsandconceptionsofbrain.pdfAlison Gopnik on Sean Carroll’s pdocasthttps://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/03/17/308-alison-gopnik-on-children-ai-and-modes-of-thinking/Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Late Show with Steven Colberthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qon72VKH30AI as normal technologyhttps://knightcolumbia.org/content/ai-as-normal-technologyCounter points to my argumetns on LLMs: Are LLMs conscious?https://preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2026/08/10/363-chandra-sripada-on-how-llms-and-humans-are-cognitive-cousins/Do LLMs plan?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=locKEKxG3osInteractJoin the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group! Support the podcast Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Paypal: paypal.me/gracefulatheist Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Liam is a friend and a colleague of many years. He is a member of the Religious Society of Friends often called Quakers. Liam and I have shared deep conversations before and after my deconversion. I respect the way Liam holds and lives out his beliefs. You might be surprised. The British Liberal Quakerism Liam lives out on a daily basis is very close to my version of Humanism, Secular Grace. He is a great example of a religious humanist who cares about people over dogma. LinksQuakers in Britain: https://www.quaker.org.uk/ Quaker Faith: https://www.quaker.org.uk/faith/read-about-quaker-faith Quakers in USA: https://www.fgcquaker.org/ American Friends Service Committee (Charity): https://afsc.org/ InteractShow Notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/05/24/liam-a-friend-and-a-friend/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group! Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Support the podcastPatreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Paypal: paypal.me/gracefulatheist Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I recently read Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading by Nadia Asparouhova and it blew my mind. Just reading the intro I knew I needed to do an episode on the subject. Almost everything about deconstruction and deconversion is antimememetic. It is a significant idea that resists spreading. Listen to the episode to find out how. All of the following are antimemetic: DoubtDeconstructionDeconversionAtheismHumanismSecular GraceLinkshttps://gracefulatheist.com/2026/05/03/doubt-is-antimemetic/ SNL Skit: Mom Confession https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wQhY5CMMl4 Amazon Paid LinksAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon #CommissionsEarned: Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading There is No Antimemetics Division InteractJoin the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group! Support the podcast Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Paypal: paypal.me/gracefulatheist Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mark Anthony Diaz is the author of Reedkeeper's Journey and one of my best friends. Mark and I grew up together. We had the same sarcastic friend group in high school. We did ministry together. Crucially, Mark stuck with me after my deconversion. Mark is a person of deep conviction, and while he's a talented EMT, author, and podcaster, it's his personal journey that truly resonates. Growing up with severe asthma made for a challenging childhood, but Mark's story is one of overcoming. Mark is very much a believer and I respect Mark's faith. Mark lives up to the honesty contest ethos of the podcast. I wanted to have him share his life's story with us because I believe every human being's story is powerful. Search for his serial podcast "Readkeeper's Journey" wherever you get your podcasts. LinksRead Keeper's Journey: The only way back is forward https://www.reedkeeper.com/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reedkeepers-journey/id1529380366 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5echbOBs2MXtlHolNMe0rz?si=e06f0385c8d94cad Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/04/19/friends-and-family-mark-anthony-diaz/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome back Colin Ryan, author, storyteller, comedian and survivor of Bipolar 2, OCD and ADHD. Colin has written Epic Tiny Victories: A hopeful story about depression anxiety and reframing your life. It is hilarious, honest and poignant. Colin describes in the book growing up Evangelical, purity culture and his deconstruction process. Join us as we catch up on where Colin's deconstruction journey is at. We discuss his mental health journey. Colin tells stories from the book. Get Epic Tiny Victories today. Links http://www.epictinyvictories.com/ https://www.colinryanspeaks.com/ 2020 Deconversion Anonymous episode of GAP https://gracefulatheist.com/2020/11/29/colin-deconversion-anonymous/ Chapters 00:00 Graceful Atheist Podcast Intro 01:36 Welcome back Colin Ryan 03:50 Deconstruction Journey since 2020 15:27 Epic Tiny Victories and we were all 11 29:44 Impact of therapy on Colin's Life 47:49 Mental Health takes work 52:36 The book process and how to get ETV 64:40 Final thoughts on the episode 66:43 Secular Grace thought of the Week Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/03/29/colin-ryan-epic-tiny-victories/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Reflections on ten years of deconversion. I re-tell my deconversion story and reflect on what has changed and what has stayed the same. Links Apostate: Stories of Deconversion https://amzn.to/4rj7TA6 Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2026/03/08/10-year-deconversion-anniversary/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mathew Taylor, co-host of Still Unbelievable!, returns to the podcast to discuss why we podcast.Links Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/vteclimey Confessions of a YEC blog: https://confessionsofayec.wordpress.com/ "God takes the good people early" post: https://confessionsofayec.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/god-takes-the-good-people-early/ Reason Press: https://reasonpress.net/ "Still Unbelievable!" the book: https://reasonpress.net/SU1EPodcasts: Still Unbelievable! https://anchor.fm/still-unbelievable Ask An Atheist Anything https://anchor.fm/reasonpress Previous episode https://gracefulatheist.com/2019/06/20/matthew-taylor-confessions-of-a-young-earth-creationist/ Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2023/12/30/matthew-taylor-why-we-podcast/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Graceful Atheist Podcast Merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/gracefulatheistpodcast Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Attribution "Waves" track written and produced by Makaih Beats https://makaihbeats.net/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week's guest is Sara. Sara grew up in a Canadian Mennonite community and embraced it wholeheartedly. She was surrounded by evangelical Christianity and she thrived. As a young adult, she married and followed her husband into ministry. While he led, she helped as was expected of her. It didn't occur to her until years later how little her own leadership skills had to be set aside. Sara's husband started deconstructing his beliefs before she did, but as he was learning, she was also learning. Years later, she knew he'd become an atheist before he did. It wasn't easy, but they made space for one another to learn and grow and move down their own paths. Today, Sara is a spiritual director for others and doesn't have a specific label for herself, and it works just fine. "There's a whole host of ways of being in the world…" Links Sara's website https://prairiethistle.ca/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/prairiethistle Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2023/12/17/sara-christian-humanism/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Graceful Atheist Podcast Merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/gracefulatheistpodcast Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Attribution "Waves" track written and produced by Makaih Beats https://makaihbeats.net/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week's guest is Beth. Beth grew up in a fundamentalist Christian home that revered James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and all those who created the "Moral Majority." Her father was a pastor whose sermons centered on the End Times and protecting their families from the "shifting culture," (read: all the movements happening in the 60's and 70's). As a teen, she lived a double life, keeping plenty of secrets from her parents. However, as a young adult, followed all the rules with the expectation that the "umbrella of God's protection" would take care of her. It didn't. It took decades of trying to do what was "right" and watching the promises of the Church come to naught before she finally took the leap out of Christianity. She now identifies as SBNR—spiritual but not religious. Beth is now able to trust her own judgment and make decisions that are best for her. No "umbrella of protection" needed. Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2023/12/10/beth-deconstruction-from-the-moral-majority/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Graceful Atheist Podcast Merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/gracefulatheistpodcast Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Attribution "Waves" track written and produced by Makaih Beats https://makaihbeats.net/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Arline interviews this week's guest, Andrew. Andrew is a self-named atheist "paleo-nerd." He grew up home-schooled in a fundamentalist church in southern California. His whole schooling was religious and that included Young Earth Creationism. In high school, Andrew struggled with his shy nature and some depressive episodes. The church didn't seem to have room for people like him. As a young adult, finally making his own decisions and living a life without fundamentalism everywhere, Andrew saw how much he could accomplish on his own. He had had the resources inside him but hadn't known it. Now, as an atheist, he's figuring out what life looks like for himself. It includes a wife and kids, online friends, lots of dinosaurs, and a happiness that isn't perfect or perpetual but is enough. Links Dino Dad Reviews https://dinodadreviews.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dinodadreviews/ Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2023/12/03/andrew-dino-dad-reviews/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Graceful Atheist Podcast Merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/gracefulatheistpodcast Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Attribution "Waves" track written and produced by Makaih Beats https://makaihbeats.net/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Arline interviews this week's guest, Racquelle. Racquelle grew up in Canada in the Seventh Day Adventist church. Conspiracy theories were common in her household. Some of them she bought into. Throughout her life she went through periods of doubt but something kept bringing her back to Church. A sense of obligation and expectation never left her. Eventually, Racquelle deconverted from her faith and deconstructed the conspiracy theories. She now has an interesting perspective on the deconstruction process. Links Facebook https://www.facebook.com/racquelle.pilon Instagram https://www.instagram.com/racquelle_p/ Interact For quotes, recommendations, transcripts and more see the full episode show notes https://gracefulatheist.com/2023/11/26/racquelle-deconversion-from-sda-and-conspiracy-theories/ Join the Deconversion Anonymous Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion Graceful Atheist Podcast Merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/gracefulatheistpodcast Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/gracefulatheist Secular Grace https://gracefulatheist.com/2016/10/21/secular-grace/ Deconversion https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/ Deconstruction https://gracefulatheist.com/2017/12/03/deconversion-how-to/#deconstruction/ Attribution "Waves" track written and produced by Makaih Beats https://makaihbeats.net/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/graceful-atheist-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy