Moral Combat Podcast

In episode 82 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathaniel and Zachary Blaustone interview Autumn Fesler, who bravely shares her journey of healing from religious trauma after growing up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church. Autumn reflects on the psychological toll of constant fear, strict rules, and control within her religious upbringing, including traumatic experiences like being...

In episode 81 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathaniel Blaustone Faust and Zachary Blaustone dive into a wide-ranging conversation that blends personal reflections with broader discussions on religious trauma, relationships, and healing. They explore how their podcast has been a therapeutic tool for working through issues rooted in their hyper-evangelical upbringing, even as they rebuild their...

In episode 80 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathan and Zachary Blaustone engage in an intimate, reflective conversation set in a tranquil outdoor environment under a fig tree, diverging from their usual interview format to focus on personal experiences. They explore the deep-seated impacts of their radical Christian upbringing, discussing repressed memories, chronic pain, and feelings of vict...

In episode 79 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathan and Zach dive into a wide-ranging discussion that starts with a reintroduction of themselves and their backgrounds as sons of evangelical Christian pastors. They express excitement about returning to solo episodes, reflecting on their past interviews with various religious guests and sharing their distinct approaches to social media. The main...

In Episode 78 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathaniel and Zachary welcome Lyn Smith Gregory, who brings a unique perspective on religious trauma from her experiences with Mormonism. Lyn, a descendant of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, shares insights from her memoir, detailing the hierarchical structure and beliefs of Mormonism, including tithing, polygamy, and financial success....

In episode 77 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Zachary and Nathaniel welcome Shea Quinn, who traveled from Medford, Oregon, to share her transformative journey. Shea, host of the podcast "Grow with Shea" and co-host of "The Waiting Table," opens up about her weight loss surgery in 2022, which sparked profound self-discovery and a reevaluation of her Baptist upbringing. She re...

In episode 76 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts delve into a rich tapestry of personal experiences and reflections with their special guest, Jordan Dolby, a longtime family friend and tattoo artist. They fondly reminisce about childhood memories, from playing video games and watching movies like The Princess Bride at church gatherings to participating in dramatic religious plays and mission trips...

In episode 75 of the Moral Combat Podcast, Stacey shares her journey from a sporadically religious upbringing to a deep involvement in evangelical Christianity, and eventually to deconstructing her faith. Stacey's early experiences included accepting Jesus at age six without fully understanding it and feeling pressured by her mother to make "good choices." In middle school, she foun...

In episode 74 of the Moral Combat Podcast, Sorcha Porter-Homes courageously recounts her harrowing journey of enduring sexual abuse within the Calvary Chapel youth group, where leaders not only failed to protect her but blamed her for dressing immodestly. She shares vivid memories from a youth mission trip to San Francisco’s Tenderloin district and the damaging purity culture that treated girls as...

In episode 73 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathan and Zachary dive into an intimate solo discussion, reflecting on a range of poignant topics, from global issues to personal journeys. They kick off by sharing their recent updates on upgrading the podcast's equipment, enhancing the quality of their engagement. Nathan elucidates the historical and ongoing crises in the Democratic Republic...

In this captivating episode of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathan and Zachary, alongside guest Ivan Rodriguez, delve into the complex journey of healing from religious trauma after disentangling from evangelical Christian church involvement. Ivan shares his poignant experiences of growing up in an authoritarian Pentecostal church in Puerto Rico, where church leadership was rife with conflicts...

In episode 71 of the "Moral Combat Podcast," hosts Nathaniel and Zachary welcome Heidi Monuteaux, a therapist based in Boise, Idaho, with a practice known as "10 Mile Counseling," to discuss the intricate journey of healing from religious trauma. Heidi shares her personal narrative of growing up in a Christian home, identifying as the "black sheep" for departing from...

In episode 70 of the Moral Combat Podcast, Forest Benedict, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with a specialization in religious trauma and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, shares an enlightening discussion on his transition from a Christian sex addiction therapist to embracing a broader understanding of healing through IFS. Forest opens up about his personal healing journey, w...

In episode 69 of the Moral Combat Podcast, Nick Vallentino recounts his tumultuous journey from being a pastor's kid entrenched in the Calvary Chapel community, through the escalation of his personal and professional life crises, to his path toward healing from severe religious trauma. Raised in a devout family, Nick's life took a pivotal turn following a car accident that led to his exp...

In episode 68 of the Moral Combat Podcast, Julia shares a deeply personal narrative of growing up under the stringent doctrines of a conservative Calvary Chapel, leading to a profound journey of faith deconstruction and healing from religious trauma. Her story, marked by questioning rigid church teachings, navigating the complexities of relationships within a faith-based context, and experiencing...

In episode 67 of the Moral Combat Podcast, Nathaniel and Zachary delve into the complexities of healing from religious trauma after leaving their evangelical Christian upbringing. The brothers discuss the challenging process of questioning ingrained beliefs and values, the importance of finding joy in the present, and the everyday challenges of work, health, and maintaining friendships. Their conv...

In Episode 66 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Zach and Nathan reconnect with Forest Benedict, whom they knew from their childhood days at Petaluma Calvary Chapel, and who was also a member of the Christian band Gone Fishing. Forest opens up about his intense engagement with Christianity from a young age, driven by a desire to connect with his father and a belief in his divine purpose. However,...

In Episode 65 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Zach and Nathan Blaustone delve into a deep conversation with guest Kim Shambaugh, exploring the impact of religious upbringing on personal growth and healing. Raised in an evangelical Baptist family, Kim's early life was dominated by purity culture and strict religious norms. Her journey, marked by a challenging marriage and struggles with per...

In episode 64 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathan and Zach, siblings and children of a pastor, delve into their journey of healing from religious trauma stemming from their evangelical Christian upbringing. The episode kicks off with reflections on a recent interview with Jonathan Gaza and a reminder for listeners to engage through their podcast phone number. A significant portion of the dis...

In this revealing episode of the Moral Combat Podcast, Jonathan Garza shares his deeply personal journey of growing up in the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church, a life thoroughly intertwined with its doctrines and community. From a young age, Jonathan found himself questioning the church’s claim to hold the complete biblical truth, a skepticism that grew as he matured. His story takes a poignant...

In Episode 62 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Zach and Nathan open up about their journey from a strict evangelical Christian upbringing to finding their own spiritual paths. They share their experiences with leaving the church, the resultant feelings of loss and emptiness, and how they have since embraced alternative spiritual practices. Their candid discussions touch on the healing power of m...

In episode 61 of the Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathaniel and Zachary Blaustone engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Andy Tremlett, exploring the intricacies of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The episode delves into the historical roots of the conflict, with Tremlett tracing its origins to the late 19th century's rise in anti-Semitism and...

In episode 60 of The Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathaniel and Zach delve into the complex and tragic tale of Mayor Phil "Bubba" Copeland of Smiths Station, Alabama. They begin by paying tribute to Copeland, a multifaceted community leader, pastor, and business owner. The focus shifts to the devastating impact of an exposé by 1819 News, which publicized Copeland's secret online pers...

In Episode 59 of The Moral Combat Podcast, hosts Nathaniel and Zachary embark on a new segment titled "Does It Heal?" The episode commences with a tantalizing preview of their inaugural video, an intriguing visit to a "rage room" where they explore the cathartic release of anger through smashing objects. Following this visceral experience, the duo delves into a Reddit-inspired...

In the thought-provoking Episode 58 of The Moral Combat Podcast, brothers Nathan and Zachary engage in a profound dialogue delving into the intricate topic of sexual repression, a haunting echo of their religious upbringing. Drawing from personal experiences, they unveil moments of intense shame and guilt surrounding their sexuality, shedding light on the profound impact of these experiences. The...