Advertise on podcast: Church Girls Gone Bad

Back in June 2022, High Noons in-hand, we recorded this episode with Tate and Katy, who were not "The Logans" at the time, but have since gotten married which is SO FUN. This conversation was too important to leave in the gmail archives, so one day in April 2023, Emily decided it was time to move this to the top of her to-do list and get this out to the world. We want you to hear their stories, both individually and together, about journeying through adolescence as queer kids in the south, navigating betrayal, understanding what it means to be trans, falling in love, and much more. You'll even get to find out what happened on that fateful day at Zaxby's. From learning about the epic way Tate's mom responded to him coming out to solidifying that Katy should in fact pursue stand-up comedy, this conversation was quite the emotional rollercoaster - but the kind that's definitely worth waiting for in line at Six Flags. (And by emotional rollercoaster, we mean there was lots of laughing and then surprise crying. And yes, Emily was the one shedding tears as per usual.) We hope you enjoy! ___________ To find Tate and follow his music, entertaining TikTok, and listen to the podcast he hosts on Idobi Radio, head here: @tatexlogan / www.tatelogan.com And lurk Katy too because she's the best: @katyxlogan

We asked Deconstruction Expert & Guide, Phil Drysdale, YOUR questions. Dive into the Q&A portion of our conversation with him! And if you're wanting to learn more from Phil, head to www.phildrysdale.com. He's got a plethora of resources and education and memes to offer you. Enjoy!

Back in July 2021, we had the pleasure of chatting with researcher and guide for those deconstructing their faith, Phil Drysdale, about all things deconstruction. If you're navigating your faith shifting and you've gone to the Internet for solace, you've probably come across one of his posts, memes, YouTube videos, online community, etc. He's doing it all!  From data around the deconstruction phenomenon to the psychology of what's happening in the minds of those who stay and those who expand beyond what Evangelicalism taught them onto stages of human development, we did a big ol' deep dive into Phil's knowledge around human development, particularly as it relates to folks undergoing a faith evolution. If you want more from Phil Drysdale, and there is plenty more, head to https://www.phildrysdale.com/ for all the goodness he's generously shared with the world. Ps. We asked for some listeners questions and we did in fact ask those, but decided to make the Q&A it's own episode. You can check out the Q&A segment in the next CGGB Episode. 

WE'RE BACK BABY! Recorded on Good Friday, April 15, 2022, we shared all about what's gone down in the last year of our lives. You'll see why we took a bit of a little break from podcasting and learn where we're both at now,  locationally and spiritually. (We ask for your ~grace~ on the audio quality & whatever that damn thumping is! We did our very best by ourselves LOL - without our previous mixing man - but have since found someone that's going to make these sound WAY BETTER.)

Lizzo Lover, Educator, and Child of Peruvian immigrants, Melany del Carpio-Garrett, grew up in predominantly white spaces that signaled to her she might be a little different. She learned to fit in, but always carried a larger view of the world due to her family’s rich culture. When studying at a predominately white Bible university, she wrestled with Calvinism as a principle theology of the university. In light of the doctrine’s rigidity, she could not reconcile these ideas with who she was, where she came from, and where her loved ones would be going. Soon after, she began to rethink plenty of other ways white evangelicalism had put boundaries around the God she knew to be bigger than what she’d been given. Melany graciously invites us into her journey as she shares how she embraced her latinidad, developed a deep appreciation of liberation theology and became her truest self. If you’ve ever turned on a Lizzo song and felt the Spirit move ya, this episode will be just right for you. _____________ That Brené Brown quote for ya : “I don’t think I abandoned faith, but I certainly abandoned church in my early 20s, kind of when politics and spirituality got really enmeshed...It didn’t meet my needs anymore... Religion had gone from a belief in faith and mystery to certainty; ‘I’m right, you’re wrong, shut up.’ ...I fell in love with the faith and the mystery piece [but] it became less about faith and mystery, and more about politics and certainty.”

Roge "Toots" Rupp is back! Well not technically back...this is simply Part Two of a 3-hour long conversation. When we got going on things like what doesn't work for us about current church services, how 2020 majorly shifted us,  how faith got monetized, and how the church made loving people way too complicated, we couldn't stop talking. And then Roge went on to give us such a gracious deep dive into how white folks need to wake up and do something about white supremacy in this country, and that's an undoubtedly crucial conversation for us to be having & for us to share with you all.  RESOURCES 400 Souls by Ibram X. Kendi Stamped From The Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi Capitalism and Christianity, American Style by William E. Connolly Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobez du Mez

History enthusiast, social justice activist, compelling story-teller, badass Grandma, Roge Rupp, offers a raw, genuine, enlightening glimpse into her story as a Black woman in America and in the white Evangelical church. While sharing her honest, heart-wrenching stories of navigating things like homelessness, miscarriage, racism, and ideas put on her about what a good Christian woman should look like, she graciously educates us on things like The Slave Bible, the origins of Black churches in America, tokenism, vagrancy laws, and more. She's a master of metaphors, a hilariously good-time, a pillar of wisdom, insight, and love and we're thankful for her presence on this podcast. LINKS: The Slave Bible Why Bibles Given to Slaves Omitted Most of the Old Testament Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Anthropology and Archaeology expert, Missy Snell, brings a fascinating, fresh, zoomed-out perspective to her faith in Christ. As a self-described outsider to Evangelicalism, she shares her compelling journey of faith with unhindered autonomy and humble confidence, while effortlessly throwing around terms like Homo Erectus and Denisovans in a way that'll make you wish she was your freshman-year science teacher. She invites us into her curiosities in college about Adam and Eve, her growing adoration of the Hebrew poetry in Genesis, and her delight in seeing Christ in everyone and everything. She also takes us through her grief over the church's response to Bin Laden's death in 2011, her deep sorrow over the colonization of Native Americans done in the name of God,  and her hope that more folks would cultivate expanded, inclusive, restorative views of Christ. If you’ve ever sensed that the Jesus story you were given felt too small or too exclusive, you will absolutely love this episode. God is bigger, y'all.   + + +   Here are links to most of Missy’s shout-outs: Eckhart TolleThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrGraham HancockWatermark FloridaBEMA Discipleship PodcastRescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys

Chicago-based actor, activist, and host of The Blckchelorettes, Victoria Price, gives us an honest look at her faith journey, sharing about what it's been like to be a Black woman in White Evangelical spaces, how she's clung to God in the midst of grief, how she found freedom to pursue acting as a woman of faith, and much more. She offers a deeply personal look into her shifting faith and her sifting through of things like racism in her faith communities, the loss of her father, navigating romantic relationships, and standing in her confidence of the heart of God through it all.

Round 2 with Heather Leith because well, we were on a roll and wanted to keep that conversation train a-chuggin'. We kick it off with some mission trip memories and our musings on the problematic nature of said travels. We turn a corner into Full-Time Ministry, and dive deeper into the shame, dissociation, and internal struggle of navigating all the religious rules we were under and required to impart to others. This leads into a whooole thing on modesty and more unpacking of that good ol' Purity Culture box.  Have at it, folks!

We invited our dear friend from college, Mark Nesbitt, to join us for a CGGB conversation to share his story, and talk with us about all things sexuality, Christian Conservatism, his shifting theology, and what it was like to be a Pastor's Kid who knew he was gay. Mark graciously offers a very open-book look at his story, from his days of French-kissing girls in the janitor's closet at church to the time he came out on Instagram, all the way to his current hot take on Evangelicalism. (He may or may not call it a cult...Don't say we didn't warn ya.) Have at it, folks. We love him and know you will too.

Emerging from a 2-year sabbatical to ensure that anger and pain wouldn’t lead her narrative, Nurse, Pastor, and Professor Beth K. Schwartz makes her podcast debut on Church Girls Gone Bad.  During her time at Fuller, she found herself in a mid-life faith crisis, asking: “Is there a support group for people who have lost God in seminary?” After years of healing from her harmful Evangelical history, she now carries the belief that the Divine led her to and through this spiritual awakening. She offers her grief, hope, and encouragement for those also questioning things like biblical inerrancy, the patriarchy, and their place in the church.  ____________ Correction: Beth's Awakening Circle will be on April 11th. See her Instagram for more details.Here is a PDF of Peck and Fowler's Stages of Faith.