Praise Be To Pod

This week, Ashley and Bailee engage in a discussion of the evangelical and religious right’s “Save the Children” narrative — exploring how fears around education, media, and social progress are often used to shape public perception and moral urgency. We reflect on how these stories are constructed, who they’re aimed at, and what they reveal about broader anxieties around influence, identity, and w...

This week, Ashley and Bailee continue their deep-dive into the myth of a “Christian nation,” shifting into the modern era and the forces that shaped evangelical political identity as we know it today. We explore the cultural and political shifts surrounding the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and how the rise of the Moral Majority helped cement the alliance between evangelical Chri...

This week, Ashley and Bailee kick off Part 1 of a deep-dive into one of the most widely accepted beliefs in evangelical culture: that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. From childhood teachings to political messaging, many of us were told that America’s identity is inherently tied to Christianity — but as we started asking questions, that narrative began to unravel. In this episo...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Joanna Whaley, we continue unpacking Joanna’s journey from evangelical pastor to political candidate — diving into the intersections of faith, politics, and identity in a time when Christian values and nationalism collide. Join us as we dive into Joanna’s campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives, how she confronts Christian nationalism in American polit...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Joanna Whaley, candidate for Michigan House of Representatives, Ashley and Bailee sit down with Joanna to unpack her story as a former evangelical pastor navigating identity, faith, and institutional power. After being outed as a transgender woman by a congregant, Joanna was dismissed from one of Michigan’s largest megachurches—an event that upended every aspect...

This week, Ashley and Bailee engage in a discussion and cultural analysis of evangelical millennials — exploring why we are the way that we are. From the militarization of youth at Acquire the Fire to the push to dedicate your life to global missions with YWAM, the evangelical church bombarded us with messages that we were the generation called to “ change the world .” Now that we’re older, we ref...

Ashley and Bailee explore the roles and expectations placed on women in evangelical culture, unpacking the theology behind complementarianism, headship, and the idea of women as “helpers.” They discuss how evangelical systems often frame these roles as divine design, placing obedience on a pedestal, establishing marriage and proximity to men as the ultimate metric of a woman’s value, and demonizin...

Ashley and Bailee critically examine the culture of codependency that runs deep in many Evangelical communities — reinforcing relationship dynamics of enmeshment, overfunctioning, and blurred boundaries. They unpack how the constant pressure from the church to “save people” and “expose their sin” is often used as a tool to maintain control, the ways having a savior complex primes you for self righ...

Ashley and Bailee get candid about their complicated relationship with Lent and spiritual disciplines after deconstruction — calling out how evangelicals often pride themselves on rejecting liturgical traditions passed down through church history, while still emphasizing self-denial and moral performance. They discuss how practices like fasting were framed through shame and sacrifice, why Lent was...

Ashley and Bailee return for Part 2 of their Amish series — this time stepping into the present. They explore modern Amish life: gender roles, education, technology limits, rumspringa, and the quiet authority of the Ordnung. What does separation from the world actually look like today…and how does it function as both protection and control? They also unpack the evangelical mom obsession with Amish...

Ashley and Bailee turn their attention to a community often romanticized but rarely understood: the Amish. In Part 1 of this two-part series, they trace the movement’s origins in the Radical Reformation, unpacking Anabaptism, adult baptism, persecution, and the theological split that gave rise to the Amish. They explore how a desire for faithfulness and separation from the world shaped practices l...

Were you obsessed with how much God Loves you? Our Evangelical upbringing taught us that God loves you unconditionally… unless you don’t believe correctly, behave correctly, or die at the wrong time. This week we’re unpacking the “conditional unconditional love” of God — the version many of us were raised on in evangelical culture. We play our new game “Cute, Concerning, or Straight to Jail?” wher...

Ashley and Bailee turn the lens inward, reflecting on the moments they weren’t just harmed by evangelical culture—but actively upheld it. In this episode, they unpack their own “villain origin stories,” examining how fear-based theology, certainty, and institutional power shaped the ways they judged, enforced, defended, and perpetuated harmful religious beliefs. Together, they explore what account...

Ashley and Bailee continue their conversation on the devil, moving from the origins of the mythology to how it showed up in their evangelical upbringing, other religions, and the culture at large. They reflect on the stories they were told in church, how fear became a theological tool, and what it meant to carry a hyper-present enemy into everyday life. They also interrogate why the devil remains...

Ashley and Bailee explore the origins of the devil and how our modern idea of Satan was shaped less by scripture and more by history, culture, and literature. They trace the evolution of devil mythology through Jewish tradition, Persian dualism, Greek philosophy, medieval Christianity, and John Milton’s Paradise Lost—unpacking how fear-based imagery took hold and why literary works often filled in...

Ashley and Bailee continue their exploration of hell, this time reflecting on the personal impact of what they (and other evangelicals) were taught. They discuss how fear-based lessons shaped their beliefs, influenced their choices, and left lasting marks on faith, identity, and relationships—even after leaving evangelicalism.  Together, they examine the spiritually abusive nature of hell indoctri...

Ashley and Bailee dive into the origins of hell and how it became one of the most powerful—and fear-driven—ideas in evangelical Christianity. They unpack where the concept comes from, how ancient cultures understood the afterlife, and what the Bible actually says when you look beyond modern translations. From Sheol and Gehenna to Dante and revival-era preaching, they explore how the idea of hell e...

In this episode, we join forces with Meg and Sarai from Holy Ghosting to discuss building community as podcast creators without competition. We dive into how we navigate life after religious upbringing, share personal experiences of unraveling faith, and discuss how to challenge what it looks like for each of us to live authentically. Discussing polyamory, queer identity, marriage, motherhood, and...

Ashley and Bailee ring in the New Year by sharing what in 2026 they’re looking forward to and what they’re relieved to leave behind from 2025. Joined by their producer Jacob, they talk about the lessons, habits, and narratives that no longer serve them, as well as the things they’re genuinely excited to nurture in the year ahead—both personally and with Praise Be to Pod . From complicated feelings...

Ashley and Bailee close out 2025 by reflecting on the year behind them—both personally and through the lens of Praise Be to Pod . Joined by their producer Jacob, they revisit the conversations, themes, and moments that shaped the podcast, from unpacking evangelical doctrine to sharing stories that once felt too tender to say out loud. From lessons learned while creating the show to the ways this p...

Ashley and Bailee dive into the rise of Christian homeschooling in America. They unpack how homeschooling grew from a fringe alternative into a core strategy of the evangelical movement, shaped by fear of secularism, control, and political influence. From the history of the movement to its impact on kids, they explore how homeschooling can shape social development, limit exposure to different view...

Content Advisory: This episode includes conversation on eating disorders. Listener discretion is advised. Ashley and Bailee dive into Ashley’s personal journey with body image and eating disorder recovery, shaped by her experience in the evangelical church. They unpack how small bodies were celebrated, larger ones exiled, and how church teachings fed shame, perfectionism, and severe restriction. F...

Ashley and Bailee dig into the idea of toxic forgiveness — the way churches twist forgiveness into a tool for silencing people, protecting abusers, and keeping vulnerable members in line. They unpack how the language of grace, mercy, and “moving on” gets weaponized to avoid accountability and pressure people into reconciling before they’re ready. From the subtle emotional manipulation to the outri...

Bailee and Ashley take a historical detour—unpacking how the Puritans didn’t just influence early America, but laid the ideological groundwork for today’s alt-right evangelical movement. They trace the through-line from 1600s moral rigidity to modern Christian nationalism, purity culture, and the political power structures we still feel today. From the myth-making around the “First Thanksgiving” t...

For part 2 of their Thanksgiving series, Ashley and Bailee move from tension to tactics — breaking down how to actually survive conversations with alt-right and evangelical family members. They share strategies for staying grounded, setting boundaries, and keeping your sanity when the table talk turns political. From choosing when to engage to knowing when to pass the gravy and change the subject,...