Holy Ghosting

Join Sarai and Meg as they discuss the lasting impact of purity culture on our bodies, sexuality, and sense of self. From shame-filled messages like “sex is bad, and your body is bad” to the process of reclaiming pleasure, power, and agency, we explore what it means to move from restriction into liberation. We can reclaim the things that were taken away from us when we were young to build vibrant,...

In this episode, Meg sits down with Dr. Mara Einstein, professor of media studies and author of the new book Hoodwinked, to dissect the billion-dollar “He Gets Us” campaign and the larger machine of white Christian nationalism behind it. We explore how evangelical marketing strategies are crafted to target vulnerable populations, why American exceptionalism is such a powerful theme in religious me...

In this episode, we sit down with Liz Boltz-Ranfeld to talk about what happens when we take back the pen. For so many of us, writing was once locked inside the rigid frame of quiet times and journaling for the Lord. But Liz invites us to re-envision spiritual writing as something wildly more powerful: a practice of healing, resistance, and reclaiming our own sacred voice. This is a conversation fo...

This week, Meg and Sarai sit down with Cult Slayer , Mica Ringo, whose Recovering Alumni blog played a key role in exposing the abuses of Teen Mania Ministries and giving survivors a voice as shown in the Prime Docuseries, Shiny, Happy People Season 2. Mica didn’t just tell stories—zir work helped bring lasting attention and pressure that contributed to Teen Mania’s collapse Blavity News & Ent...

In an era where voices are silenced, and stories are censored, embracing and supporting spaces that offer uncensored narratives is more crucial than ever. Artistic Resistance: Andrea shares her insights on how comics have historically challenged societal norms and offered a platform for collective power and identity expression. With her expertise in comics history, she delves into how these narrat...

In today's empowering episode, we're joined by wellness guide and advocate Brit Koch, who introduces us to the transformative concept of rest as a form of resistance plus 49 other Actionable Ways to Resist. Our conversation redefines self-care and explores how small, personal actions can lead to significant societal change. Whether you're new to activism or looking for sustainable ways...

Today, let's talk about something close to our hearts -- community, growth, and the gritty reality of dealing with societal issues. In today's world, where chaos often seems to reign supreme, finding our people, opening up, and taking care of ourselves isn't just nice to have—it's essential for our survival and empowerment. We're bringing you a challenge to engage with your com...

In this crucial episode, we’re joined by Dr. Laura Anderson to unravel the complex web of religious trauma and its intersection with political turbulence. We're adventuring into the realms of election anxiety, religious healing, and Christian nationalism, we discover challenges and pathways to personal empowerment and peace. What we're talking about this episode: Election Anxiety & Hea...

Hey ghosties, since we’re in that wicked season, we thought we would take a stab at sharing some of the things we were told were evil. We welcome Kevin Garcia back to the show and we stuck ourselves back in middle school, in the early 90’s when TV was evil. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode CW: we talk about our bodies, restrictive eating, diet culture, sexual repression In this soulful episode of Holy Ghosting, Meg and Sarai Johnson delve into the deeply personal journey of embodiment and the common struggle of feeling disconnected from our own bodies—something many of us face, especially if we grew up in high-control religious settings. They unwrap how cultural and religiou...

Hi Ghosties! What's your summer been like? Ours were wild! Your hosts, Lindsay, Meg and Sarai start this episode by sharing our summer experiences, personal growth and big news about the podcast. AND THEN!!!! Ekkk! We celebrate Amy Grant. We talk about her legacy and her influence on our lives, discussing our favorite album art, our desert island song and the controversies surrounding her divo...

Welcome, Ghosties! This episode, "It's Good To Feel Good," brings the amazing duo of Julia and Jeremiah from the Sexvangelicals podcast to talk with Meg & Sarai about the journey from sexual repression to liberation, shedding light on how purity culture has shaped our views on intimacy and desire. We get INTO IT today, sharing personal stories and things we've learned about rec...

Have you ever known some hetero Christian married couple who were together a real long time and then one of them is like, “oops, I’m gay!” and they break up? A lot of us have known folks in this position. And we also remember the fallout and the “prayer chain” (read: gossip train) buzz when these woes befell our brethren.  By the way, is there such a thing as “sisthren?” or “siblingthren?” There s...

Just when you thought your hellacious heroines, Lindsay, Meg & Sarai, couldn't possibly have more to say about YWAM, BAM! A fourth episode! This time, the call is coming from inside the house, so to speak, because Ghosties like you are sharing their YWAM experiences. Hang out with us as your Ghostie compatriots get brave and tell us the wild tales from their days traveling the world on God...

Ahoy, Ghosties! Set sail with us on the turbulent waters of YWAM's Mercy Ships as Karen Alea, from the Deconversion Therapy podcast, joins us for a deep-sea adventure into religious deconstruction. From the highs of missionary zeal to the lows of financial strain and the choppy waves of communal living, Karen shares her journey of finding land after leaving the evangelical archipelago. In this...

Protect your peace: CW: Suicide, Depression, dark thoughts, religious ocd Anna Gazmarian shares her spiritual and mental health journey with Lindsay and Meg. Get Anna's book, out now! Devout: A Memoir of Doubt Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Meg opens up about her experiences in YWAM. You don't want to miss this episode in our Youth With A Mission series. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, we dive into the not-so-wonderful world of Youth With a Mission, aka YWAM . We chat with our pal (and Lindsay’s sister), D.L. Mayfield about the history and horrors of the cult-like organization that began with one white guy's vision of young people sweeping the globe for Jesus. (Totally not creepy, right?) Fast forward a few decades and YWAM is one of the largest missions org...

In our latest episode we jump into the turbulent waters of gendered messages and purity culture with a critical eye on the Christian advice book, 'For Young Women Only'—or as we like to call it, “How to NOT Cause a Guy to Stumble.” Published in the early 2000s, this book perpetuates harmful beliefs about gender, sexuality, and the role of women in the church, echoing through youth groups a...

What happens when a homeschooled horse girl feels “god put Africa on her heart?” Well. It could be a lot of things. In fact, your own fave Ghostie Hostie, Lindsay, was exactly this kind of girlie. And yet! Just as two paths diverge in a yellow wood, so do our choices take us to different places. Lindsay, for one, went on a medical mission to Uganda, wore scrubs, and - shockingly - didn’t perform a...

Just when you think you’ve had your fill of problematic white women, Renee Bach comes along. Look, your Murder of MILFs (hey! It stands for “Mom I’d Like to Friend,” get your head out of the gutter!) watched “Savior Complex,” a documentary detailing the ascent of a young missionary, Renee Bach and Serving His Children, the organization she founded and operated in Uganda. At the wise and totally re...

In this episode, Meg and Lindsay chat with Crystal Britt, a licensed clinical social worker and actual therapist about the famed book, ‘The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts’ by pastor (NOT therapist) Gary Chapman. We talk about how the Five Love Languages are reductive, gendered, and heteronormative and how there are many better resources for communication in relationships.  Chri...

Have you ever felt like you didn't have a voice? Or that you didn't feel safe to talk about your needs or interests in your relationships, workplaces, your home -- uh, church, maybe? Well, today your favorite Apostolic Apostates, Lindsay, Meg, and Sarai join forces with Meredith Holley of Eris Resolution to dig into the basics of Empowered Communication. Learn how to find your voice, how h...

Happy New Year Ghosties! We're back with an update and then we're sharing one of our favorite episodes where we talk to DL Mayfield in the midst of their deconversion from Christianity and we reflect on what the impact is on kids like us raised in high control religion. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What happens when you're deconstructing with your middle-aged mom friends...and you get to a point where you're like, cool, I'm no longer a part of this religion, but how do I live now? Short answer: Howsoever you fucking want; but more specifically, it's something you get to work out with fear and trembling, just like you probably did with your own salvation. Join your fave aposta...