The Grace Awakening: Reckoning with Abuse in the Church

Guests: Laura Thien & Wade Mullen. In this special release podcast, Robert sits down with GRACE Executive Director Laura Thien and Executive Editor Wade Mullen to pull back the curtain on our Independent Investigations. Tune in to learn how the GRACE team handles bias, what it means to be trauma-informed, and common questions we get asked by churches and indviduals about the investigative proc...

Guest: Laura Thien That's a wrap! In the final episode of Season 1, we speak with the new GRACE Executive Director, Laura Thien, about her journey in abuse and trauma work and what she sees coming for GRACE in 2026. Plus, Robert, Zane, Hannah, and Laura talk about the tension of holding hope and accountability for the Church, resilience in the face of trauma, and the limited edition Selena Gom...

Guests: Amy Stier and Emily Petrie In this episode, Robert has attorneys Amy Stier and Emily Petrie back to recap a GRACE Live Conversation they had over the summer on adult clergy sexual abuse and answer the many questions you asked during the live webinar. You won't want to miss it! Resources Mentioned: Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church by Diane Langberg Resear...

Guest: Wade Mullen. In this episode, we have a NEW interview with author and GRACE Editor in Chief of Institutional Response, Wade Mullen. Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as we talk with Wade about image management, the slippery slope of self-promotion, and the 4 walls of defense used by institutions and offenders when confronted with allegations of abuse/misconduct. Plus, why Wade hates acronyms bu...

Guest: Victor Vieth. In this special release podcast, Robert speaks with GRACE Board Member and Chief Program Officer for Education & Research for Zero Abuse Project, Victor Vieth, live at the 16th annual Virginia Crimes Against Children Conference. Victor and Robert discuss what the Bible has to say about corporal punishment, the necessity of theological engagement on the issue of child abuse...

Guest: Elizabeth Phillips. In this NEW interview, we discuss "taking the muzzle off the truth" with guest Elizabeth Phillips, the primary advocate behind Trey's Law in Texas. Join Robert, Zane, and GRACE Assistant Director, Emily Petrie, as we talk with Elizabeth about her brother's story and how it inspired the legislation that is rewriting the use of NDA's in child abuse ca...

Guests: Scot McKnight & Boz Tchividjian. Interviewer: Maureen Garcia. Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as they break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with author and professor Scot McKnight and attorney Boz Tchividjian about the insidious use of nondisclosure agreements within churches to silence abuse survivors. Plus, how a Dr. Who villain relates to NDAs, the role of the wider-church com...

Guest: Dr. Jeanne Allert. In this episode, we have a NEW interview with psychologist, speaker, author, and founder of the Institute of Survivor Care, Dr. Jeanne Allert. Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as we talk with Dr. Allert about sexual exploitation recovery, the difference between raising awareness and "trauma drama / trauma voyeurism," and what it means to walk alongside survivors in their hea...

Guests: Cheryl Lerfald & Janet Magee. Interviewer: Pete Singer. In this episode, Robert and Hannah continue their review of trauma-informed care principles through a GRACE Live Conversation with Cheryl Lerfald and Janet Magee on what collaboration looks like in direct advocacy, within systems, and across systems. Plus, find out which team members from famous fandoms Robert and Hannah think hav...

Guests: Amy Stier & Leanne Mellado. Interviewer: Pete Singer. Tune in as Robert, Zane, and Hannah digest a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Amy Stier and GRACE Board Member Leanne Mellado on the trauma-informed care principle of Empowerment, Voice, and Choice. Additionally, the team discusses bravery, vulnerability, and the cost of coming forward. Resources Mentioned: GRACE Live Conversat...

Guests: David Pittman & Robert Peters. Interviewer: Pete Singer. Join Robert, Hannah and Zane as they discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with David Pittman and past-Robert about the various dimensions of safety and how we can create safer environments and cultures in faith communities. Plus, in honor of Robert listening to himself in an old interview, we talk time-travel, practical saf...

Guest: Karen Swallow Prior In this episode, we have a NEW interview with speaker, author, and literature professor Dr. Karen Swallow Prior around post-institutionalism, the loss of virtue in leadership, and whether the failure of the Westernized Church spells out the death of Christianity or an opportunity for reformation. Plus, Robert, Hannah, and Zane discuss classic literature, the difference b...

Welcome to The GRACE Awakening Podcast! Get to know the GRACE team (including Robert Peters, Zane Hart, and Hannah Fordice) and why a podcast may just be the right place to have complex conversations around reckoning with abuse in the Church today. Excited about what GRACE is up to? Get connected! Sign up for the GRACE Newsletter Attend an upcoming GRACE Live Conversation Donate to GRACE

Guests: Diane Langberg & Phil Monroe. Interviewer: Pete Singer Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as they listen to and break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Diane Langberg and Phil Monroe about what power is, the forms it takes, and how it can be misused in faith settings. Plus, the wisdom (or lack thereof) of bringing back Dire Wolves, the temptation to take shortcuts to power, and p...

Guests: Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat. Interviewer: Pete Singer In this episode, Robert, Zane, and Hannah discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat about how toxic church systems are formed and maintained. Plus, the small cultural norms we find bothersome, the culpability of leaders in culture formation, and three stages of reckoning with toxic church system...

Guest: Scot McKnight. Interviewer: Boz Tchividjian. Tune in as Robert, Zane, and Hannah break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with our former Executive Director, Boz Tchividijian, and author Scot McKnight, about finding peace despite being caught in a toxic church system. In addition, the team tackles common fears that keep people trapped in toxic church systems, the cost of leaving, and g...