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Intersexion - Cynthia Vacca Davis - ARCHIVE
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Cynthia Vacca Davis is a semi-salty adjunct English professor with a trunk full of papers and snack wrappers. She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction, leads writing workshops, and has written hundreds of feature stories, and two independently published YA novels. She's the author of Intersexion: a Story of Faith, Identity, and Authenticity from Lake Drive Books
Book Description: "Sometimes in life we reach an intersection where we must pick either safety or stepping into life as our true selves. It’s a moment of courage, vision, and finding our voice.
Cynthia, an adjunct professor with a trunk full of ungraded papers and snack wrappers, has been an LGBTQIA+ ally for years—in convenient ways. She enjoys the company of her queer friends—but her support isn’t risky; it hasn’t cost her anything. Until she meets Danny. The youngest child in a conservative religious family, Danny played the role of dutiful daughter—Dani, with an “i”—which was safer than jeopardizing faith and family. Seemingly born female, yet desperate to be seen as the boy and then man he is, Danny kept playing along, until his life and health depended on one thing: the truth.
Told in both Danny’s and Cynthia’s voices, Intersexion is a moving, hopeful exploration of the cost of being known—as an intersex minority, ally, or asker of difficult questions—and what it means to come into one’s own. It’s a book for anyone craving a more authentic life. It’s a story about the intersections we find ourselves in by no choice of our own, and the life-giving choices we can make.
Named on the Top 34 LGTBQ Christian Books of 2022 by Q Spirit"
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NEW PODCASTS
02:20|Speaking Up has ended, but I have two new podcasts out now. My new podcasts are 'Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult' and 'Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism'. “Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult” is a limited podcast by Andrew Pledger. The show is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the fundamentalist Christian college BJU, which is located in Greenville, SC. The series covers the history of BJU, the psychology of fundamentalism, the criteria for cults, and survivors experiences. This limited series also features cult experts who offer their opinions on the university. (Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism) Join Andrew Pledger in exposing Bob Jones University, a school known for its culture of indoctrination and control. BJU is a fundamentalist Christian college with roots in white supremacy and authoritarianism. The podcast features survivors' stories from the university, and its affiliated churches, camps, and day schools. The show also explores BJU's influence beyond the university, focusing on Christian education, politics, Biblical counseling, and evangelical Christianity. This show is a continuation of the limited series "Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult.”CHECK OUT MY NEW PODCASTS: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/beyond-bju-podcast/
Finale
03:16|Get updates on my new project on Substack: https://speakingupandrewpledger.substack.com/Mindshift - Dr. Clint Heacock
44:21|Dr. Clint Heacock is the host of the MindShift Podcast, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers posed by cults and other high-control religious groups, the agenda of the Christian Right and Dominion theology, and providing resources to those suffering from religious trauma syndrome He is an ex-evangelical former pastor and Bible college teacher. Connect with Dr. Clint Heacock on Twitter, and his website.SAFER - Laura Padgett & Jenni Espinosa
52:24|Laura Padgett & Jenni Espinosa - Abuse Recovery Coaches, Policy Consultants, Domestic Violence AdvocatesLaura holds nearly two decades of public policy advocacy and cross-cultural ministry leadership experience. She has turned her passion for helping others heal into abuse recovery coaching through body-mind wellness, mindfulness, and therapeutic arts modalities.Jenni has devoted over 20 years of her life as an amazing educator and now has turned that devotion and experience toward domestic violence advocacy and abuse recovery. She holds a master's degree and deep expertise in church ministry leadership and navigating divorce.As abuse recovery coaches, both Laura and Jenni meet clients with compassionate wisdom learned through professional training, as well as many years of reclaiming their own lives from toxicity and abuse. Connect with them on their website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
When Religion Hurts You - Dr. Laura Anderson
01:21:51|Dr. Laura Anderson is a therapist, trauma resolution and recovery coach, writer, educator, and creator who specializes in complex trauma with a focus on domestic violence, sexualized violence and religious trauma. She holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and a PhD in Mind Body Medicine from Saybrook University with her research focusing on the experience of living in a healing body after sexual trauma. Laura has a private practice in Nashville, TN and is the founder and director of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery, an online coaching company where she and the other practitioners work with clients who have experienced high demand/high control religions, adverse religious experiences, cults, and religious trauma. Her Book: Book | Religious Trauma Expert (drlauraeanderson.com)In 2019, Laura co-founded the Religious Trauma Institute with the goal of providing trauma-informed resources, consultation, and training to clinicians and other helping professionals who work with religious trauma survivors. Laura’s first book, “When Religion Hurts You: Healing From Religious Trauma and the Impact of High Control Religion”, is being released by Brazos press in Fall 2023. She lives with her dog, Phoebe, in Nashville, Tennessee.Connect with Dr. Laura Anderson on Instagram, and Tik Tok, Andrew's LinksBecome a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
Stumbling - Brandon Flanery
53:09|Brandon Flanery is an ex-pastor, ex-missionary, ex-evangelical who has been writing and researching the intersection of faith and sexuality, most recently why people are leaving Christianity. He’s been featured in Baptist News Global, the Colorado Springs Indy, and with the University of Colorado. His new book Stumbling: a sassy memoir about coming out of Evangelicalism debuts August 22 and is available for pre-order. You can learn more about Brandon and his writings by going to BrandonFlanery.com.Order his book: https://brandonflanery.com/book/Linkree: https://brandonflanery.com/link-tree/Andrew's LinksBecome a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
My Deconversion - Dee Murphy - ARCHIVE
01:18:55|Listen to The Stacie's Mom Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thestaciesmompodcast/streamsDee Murphy from "The Stacie's Mom Podcast" shares her upbringing and religious deconversion.Andrew's LinksBecome a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
Leaving the PCG - Hannah Strickland - ARCHIVE
01:41:11|Hannah Strickland grew up in the PCG from birth until the age of 15. The organization seemed truly malevolent to them, as it appeared to exploit the less fortunate to provide a lavish lifestyle for the leadership and their headquarters family. Over time, many from their generation decided to leave, but their family, with the exception of their mother, remained entrenched in the cult. The PCG functioned as a doomsday cult, fixated on the imminent return of Christ, using fear as a tool to enforce compliance and belief in their fabricated beliefs.Become a Patreon member HERE and access all bonus episodes + other benefits. https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledgerConnect with Andrew Pledger through social media, and his website. https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
Surviving BJU: A Christian Cult - Trailer #2
01:42|Subscribe here to Surviving BJU: https://lnk.bio/survivingbjupod"Surviving Bob Jones University: A Christian Cult” is a limited podcast by Andrew Pledger (COMING AUGUST 23, 2023). The show is a thought-provoking podcast series that explores the history of Bob Jones University, the psychology of fundamentalism, the criteria for cults, and survivors experiences. The series features diverse interviews with survivors, including queer individuals, BIPOC, women, and men, sharing their unique perspectives on the institution. Listeners gain insight into the strict rules, culture, and leadership of Bob Jones University and how its fundamentalist beliefs have contributed to a toxic environment. The podcast showcases stories of resilience, healing, and growth from survivors who have overcome trauma and abuse at the Christian college. It offers an eye-opening exploration of cults’ harmful impact on vulnerable individuals and communities. SUBSCRIBE to stay updated on the premiere of this podcast which is coming August 23, 2023.