Poema Podcast

My pop culture series continues today with my friend Melissa Weissenberger returning to the show to discuss the movie 'Free Guy'. We explore the numerous themes of the movie and how they relate to our own personal journeys. We also discuss how it's a metaphor for being trapped in toxic systems and becoming aware of them, breaking free from the control of others and discovering your own identity, a...

This week I'm joined by author and poet Marla Taviano, who shares her story about her faith deconstruction, the end of her marriage, and how she found a way to survive and create a new life. We talk about her recently released book of poetry called 'Unbelieve: Poems on the Journey to Becoming a Heretic', and the creative process behind it. Marla shares how creativity has become a path to healing &...

This week I welcome back my friend Irene M Cho to the podcast, and we continue our series on pop culture with an examination of the Godfather trilogy, and the arc of Michael Corleone.  We explore his personal journey and his unhealthy responses to grief and how they defined him - and how they can define us. We also discuss the generational trauma carried through the Corlene family, and how generat...

As Poema Podcast returns, I'm joined by my friend Kevin M Nye, and we talk about his book 'Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness'. Kevin has worked in the area of homelessness for many years, and today we discuss this is more detail. Kevin talks about the many myths and misunderstandings around those experiencing homelessness and how these can cause such damage. He also expl...

Nicki Pappas, author and podcaster, joins me today to share her deconstruction story. She shares how her lived experiences and rise of Trump challenged her to leave toxic evangelicalism behind, and begin work on what she calls 'broadening the narrative'. Nicki talks about the the impact this journey has had on her relationships, her marriage, and her mental health. She shares lessons she's learned...

Today I'm joined by author April Fiet, who talks to us about healthy and unhealthy rhythms of life, including harmful ones which have often pushed on us by toxic religion and capitalism. April shares, sometimes from from her own story, how we can leave these unhealthy rhythms behind, and find healthier rhythms to our lives which connect more us to spirit, and ourselves. She shows us how we can lea...

My friend K.J. Ramsey joins me to talk about her new book, 'The Lord is my Courage', The book and this conversation explore how we can discover courage and deeper spiritual connection as we step through faith deconstruction and into freedom from toxic religious systems & the spiritual abuse many of us experienced there. KJ tells us some of her own experiences of this journey, talking about the imp...

Today on I'm honoured to be joined by my friend Jarred, who tells me his story of discovering his queer identity, and deconstruction, which led him into witchcraft and paganism.  He shares how this has transformed his life, relationships and spirituality, and some of the challenges he's faced along the way, including the response to his embrace of his true identity and leaving his Christian faith...

Today my beloved friend Kacey returns to the show, to bring us up to date with their story, including their coming out as non-binary and bi, and the impact this has had on them, their life and family, and how her partner supported them with this. Kacey and I explore the concept of identity and the constructs which can restrict us, and the impact of good embodiment work. And then move to explore ho...

I'm honoured to welcome back my friend, author & activist (and now tik-tok star), Brandan Robertson today. In this episode we talk about his journey in the last year, becoming an advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion on Tik Tok & being featured in Rolling Stone. He also shares his lived experience of unlearning his white male privilege, doing anti-racist work and its role in his deconstruction and perso...

For various reasons, this episode is no longer available to listen to.

In this episode joined by Natalie and Heather, to share the story of Natalie's transitioning to a trans woman, and the impact it had on her wife Heather and the family. They share about the challenges they've faced both within and outside their family, and how its impacted their spirituality and relationships.  We also talk about our shared love of Doctor Who, and in particular the concept of rege...

Today I welcome Molly Hale (@Mollyamourous) to the podcast. We had a great conversation about deconstruction, embodiment, polyamory, blended families, healthy sexuality and choosing yourself.  It was both a fun, inspiring and enlightening conversation, and Molly actually interviewed me at times which was really great! This was different to any other episode I've recorded in the best of ways. 

Today I'm joined by Meghan Crozier (@ThePursuingLife on twitter) who tells her story. She talks about her experiences in evangelicalism and what drove her to begin her deconstruction journey, and where it has taken her.  Meghan goes on to share just how this process has impacted different areas of her life, including her relationships, marriage, and work. She also talks about how it opened her eye...

I'm honoured to welcome Carly Button to my podcast today. Carly, with great tenderness and courage, shares her own story.  She speaks about moving to Canada as a child, her upbringing and worldview she was taught to believe, having to hide her nationality and identity. She then moves on to talk through her faith deconstruction, spiritual journey, embracing her native heritage and coming out. I'll...

Today writer and activist Jo Luehmann joins me to explore how indoctrination to oppressive systems can impact our behaviours and lead to different forms abuse, prejudice & racist behaviour. We discuss the roots of capitalism, going back to its colonial roots and links to archaic institutions in the UK and Europe, such the royal family. Jo shares how we can become so indoctrinated into these system...

This week, my friend April Kling Meyer joins me to discuss and explore how we can reclaim our authentic creativity from the control of capitalism and toxic systems.  We share our experiences of this and how we found creative freedom, and how to get more in tune with our intuition and authentic voice. April also shares about the power of journalling our dreams, and how this helps us connect with ou...

Today I'm honoured to be joined by my friend Ali, who tells us their story. They share about exploring and discovering their true gender identity and how this journey intertwined with faith deconstruction, discovering witchery, and being autistic. It's a powerful and inspiring story. Ali has such courage and this a story we all need to hear. (Oh, and we both love Taylor Swift and Ali makes Taylor...

I'm honoured today to be joined by author, activist and musician Andre Henry. In this episode we talk about his new book, "All The White Friends I Couldn't Keep".  Andre talks about the power dynamics of systemic racism and it's origins, in particularly discussing the oppressive systems of the British empire, which was built on the breaking of black bodies. He also challenges the cultural assumpti...

Today I'm joined by Mandy Capehart, a trauma-aware licenced grief coach, who shares her own experiences of grief, the lessons she learned and how we can have a healthy relationship with our grief.  Mandy shares different practices she's found for helping her process grief and how she helps others to do the same. She makes the point we are different, all manifest our grief in unique ways, so the wa...

My dear friends Tina Olsen and Trace Bell return to the podcast today, and Trace asks both myself and Tina to share our stories of grief and loss. We then explore this in the context of a fresh understanding of human consciousness, of our bodies living in our consciousness, and consciousness continuing after physical death. Both Tina and myself have some transcendent experiences to share with the...

Amanda Held Opelt returns to the show this week, to discuss her new book 'A Hole in the World', and talk about her journey discovering and exploring rituals of grief.  Using some examples, Amanda demonstrates the importance of having rituals around grief and mourning, and how these can aid the process of healing. We also discuss the damage which has and can be done to us individually and as a soci...

This week Dr Jill A. Harrington, DSW, LCSW, psychologist and author, joins me to discuss grief as explored in the context of superhero stories. She is the co-author and editor of the book 'Superhero Grief'. In this episode we explore various experiences and responses to grief as we see in the stories of several superheroes - in particular Batman, a character who suffered violent trauma and grief....

Today my friend MJ Weissenberger joins me to tell her story. MJ's is a powerful story of learning how to process grief of losing a parent, as well as recovering from abuse and trauma in the process of deconstruction. We hear this story and then explore how this tied in with her personal and spiritual deconstruction, where this journey has taken her, and how this impacted her life, relationships, a...

I'm honoured to welcome back author, speaker therapist and podcaster Dr Hillary McBride Phd to the podcast today.  In this episode we talk about embodiment, and 'the wisdom of our bodies'. Hillary talks about how through trauma, grief and messages from toxic systems, we can become disconnected from our bodies. She shares how part of our transformation journey always has to be learning how to liste...