Honoring the Journey

Today, we honor the journey of Plumb, the recording artist who Leslie used to play on the air when she was in Christian Radio. The conversation unveils Plumb’s transformative journey from her evangelical roots to becoming a fierce advocate for authenticity, kindness, and marginalized communities. Plumb shares her struggles with conformity, her evolution in beliefs about love and religion, and the...

Gary Mai, an inspiring podcaster and member of the LGBTQIA community, is our guest today on Honoring the Journey. Gary shares his compelling life story, marked by early childhood trauma, struggles with identity, and a long, arduous journey towards self-acceptance. The discussion delves into Gary's experiences growing up in a conservative religious environment, grappling with his sexuality, and ult...

Today on Honoring the Journey, we have a deep conversation with Mike Maeshiro, a former ministry leader at Bethel and founder of the NUMA Foundation. We discussed his extraordinary journey of leaving evangelicalism, coming to terms with his sexuality, and navigating the complexities of his faith and identity within a conservative Christian framework. Mike shared deeply personal stories about his t...

Today, we welcome back Logan Barone to delve into the controversial topic of astrology, especially in the context of an evangelical upbringing. We discuss the historical and biblical underpinnings of astrology, contrasting them with the misconceptions held within certain religious communities. The conversation shifts to the significance of the Age of Aquarius, exploring its impact on spiritual awa...

In this episode, we meet Logan Barone, a spiritual life coach, bestselling author, and former evangelical minister who underwent a transformative spiritual journey. The discussion delves into Logan's personal experiences, which catalyzed his deconstruction from rigid religious beliefs toward a spiritual awakening that emphasizes living in the present moment and embracing inner divinity. Key applic...

In this episode of "Honoring the Journey," Leslie welcomes Mary Terhune to discuss her profound experiences of spiritual awakening and transformation, as detailed in her book "Out of the Blue." Mary shares her journey from traditional religious upbringing to experiencing divine revelations that redefined her understanding of consciousness and healing. Listeners will gain insights into the importan...

Today we honor the journey of Zach Lambert, the lead pastor and founder of Restore Church in Austin, Texas. Leslie & Zach chat about his background, exploring his spiritual journey from a disenchanted youth in a conservative Southern Baptist environment to becoming a progressive church leader focused on justice, inclusivity, and a holistic interpretation of the gospel. They also discuss the challe...

Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie interviews Peter Fenton, delving into his journey from their serendipitous meeting through his evolving identity and professional pursuits. Peter, a playwright, director and screenwriter shares his unique perspective shaped by a complex upbringing in a conservative evangelical environment. The conversation weaves through Peter's childhood loves, like Mario Par...

Today on "Honoring the Journey," we welcome Amanda Carroll, a fellow-former-Christian Radio gal who Leslie met online and realized quickly that she wanted to know more about her faith and life journey! Amanda is the founder of the Single Mom Collective, a podcast and online community dedicated to empowering single mothers. Amanda shares her inspiring story, detailing her extensive career in radio,...

In this episode of "Honoring the Journey," we honor the journey of Paul Young, the renowned author of "The Shack." Leslie expresses her excitement about finally having Paul on the show, sharing a personal anecdote about how his book profoundly impacted her spiritual journey after a challenging experience on Survivor China. They discuss the controversy surrounding "The Shack" in evangelical circles...

Today on Honoring the Journey, you’ll meet Daniel Bannoura, a Palestinian theologian, scholar, podcaster, and entrepreneur, who shares his captivating personal journey. From his lucid childhood memories in Bethlehem and Indiana to his poignant accounts of the Gulf War, Daniel discusses his multifaceted career and profound insights on faith, politics, and activism. The conversation delves into his...

In this episode of "Honoring the Journey," Leslie welcomes her friend Shannon Hunt. They delve into Shannon's unique perspective on life, highlighting how their friendship, despite Shannon being an atheist and Leslie having a religious background, has been enriching and transformative. The conversation explores Shannon's journey from her challenging upbringing in the LDS faith to her eventual depa...

In this episode, Leslie has a dynamic conversation with guest Justin Scoggins, an author and day center director. Justin shares insights about his new book "Inking Christ," which explores the theological perspectives on tattoos. They also delve into his personal story of overcoming addiction, experiencing a transformative encounter with Jesus, and finding his place in pastoral ministry. The discus...

Today, we welcome Liz Charlotte Grant, an award-winning nonfiction writer from Colorado, where we dive into Liz's background and her dedication to empathy, which she often explores in her newsletter, "The Empathy List." We chat about Liz's experiences growing up, her faith journey, and her role as a birth doula, providing an insightful look into how she navigated her life and spiritual beliefs. Th...

Today we honor the journey of Josh Scott, a pastor and writer known for his progressive views. We discuss his spiritual journey and perspectives on Christianity. The conversation delves deeply into personal experiences with organized religion, the process of deconstructing faith, and the challenges faced along the way. Both Josh and Leslie share insights on moving beyond traditional beliefs, the i...

In this milestone 50th episode of "Honoring the Journey," Leslie reflects on the transformative experiences and lessons learned during the first year of the podcast. She shares insights on overcoming fear of failure and success, the importance of authentic human connection, and the power of listening. Additionally, she discusses the challenges faced by deconstruction content creators, the need for...

In this episode, Leslie welcomes guest Annelise, a singer/songwriter and TikTok star known for sharing her spiritual awakening. The conversation delves into Annelise's profound journey of spiritual discovery triggered by chronic pain post-childbirth. Annelise and Leslie discuss the shift from conventional Christian upbringing to a broader, more inclusive understanding of God as pure love, free fro...

Nic Flores is known for his deep and impactful conversations on the Collision Podcast. Today, we delve into Nick's recent experiences with burnout and his decision to step away from his podcast. Leslie & Nic explore how personal traumas and the challenges of holding space for diverse narratives contributed to this decision. Nick opens up about his journey of dealing with familial estrangement and...

This episode features Shane Claiborne discussing the intersection of faith and social issues, particularly focusing on the importance of welcoming immigrants and supporting the marginalized. Claiborne emphasizes that actions like welcoming strangers and uplifting the lowly are deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus, citing the Gospel of Luke to illustrate his points. He argues that these principl...

In this episode, experience a heartfelt and insightful conversation with Bethany Nass Cseh. Bethany shares her journey from growing up in a conservative Baptist church to becoming a licensed pastor and embracing a more inclusive and empathetic faith. The discussion delves deep into their experiences with deconstruction, the challenges of pastoral roles, and the profound realizations that come with...

In this episode, special guest Dana Hicks discusses his book "The Quest for Thin Places: How to Find Spirituality After Deconstruction." Dana shares his journey from being a pastor and professor to experiencing a profound spiritual and personal transformation. He delves into his deconstruction of rigid, institutional religious beliefs and explores the ongoing nature of spiritual growth and reconst...

In this episode, Leslie speaks with former pastor Kyle Butler, who shares his transformative journey through deconstructing his religious upbringing. The conversation delves into Kyle's upbringing, his experiences with religious fear and indoctrination, and the realization of his true beliefs. The discussion also explores the psychological impact of religious teachings, the importance of self-love...

In this heartfelt episode, Susan Cottrell, Co-Host of Freedhearts Podcast, shares her personal journey of prioritizing love and acceptance over traditional evangelical beliefs upon her child's coming out as LGBTQ. Susan discuss the challenges faced within the church, the need for adults and children to learn anti-bullying behavior, and the courage it requires to step away from judgmental ideologie...

Joel Michael Herbert is an artist, coach, speaker, and musician. Joel opens up about his profound and often challenging journey from growing up in a conservative religious environment to becoming a worship pastor, and eventually deconstructing his faith. Through personal stories and key influences like Brennan Manning, Donald Miller, and Rachel Held Evans, Joel shares how he navigated through doub...

Shane Larsen grew up in the Latter Day Saints faith, but after a faith crisis, he began using critical thinking, asking the tough questions and found himself deconstructing his faith. Now, he wants others who leave the comfort and familiarity of their faith tradition to know that they are not alone. He has a TikTok account called "Shane Deconstructs" where he talks very openly about his faith shif...