Unburdened

In this second part of Ryan’s journey on Unburdened, he and Trevor pick up where we left off—diving into ministry struggles, relational strain, and the unraveling of once-certain beliefs. From the loneliness of small-town church life to the devastation of losing community, Ryan shares how disillusionment pushed him to let go of everything he thought he knew about God. Through the challenges of ear...

In this first episode of Season 2 of Unburdened , Trevor Little welcomes his new co-host, Ryan Schuck. Ryan shares his journey of growing up in a conservative Christian home, immersing himself in scripture, and pursuing ministry. From wrestling with theological questions like free will to facing the pressure of doing “something great for God,” his story through Bible college and beyond reveals the...

In this episode of Unburdened, Trevor and Carey welcome Jim Larkin, a former minister who shares his journey of spiritual transformation. Growing up in a deeply religious family, Jim followed a conformist path, eventually entering ministry despite lingering questions about his faith. A pivotal moment during his ministry led him to reflect on his beliefs and step away from the church, finding a new...

Our conversation with Jillian Houghton, licensed psychotherapist, spiritual/intuition recovery coach, religious trauma consultant, and undue influence educator. In this episode of Unburdened, we welcome Jillian Houghton, a licensed trauma therapist who specializes in religious trauma. Jillian shares her personal journey of healing and faith deconstruction, including experiences with a high-control...

Hey friends it’s Trevor, I hope you enjoyed the first season of Unburdened. Carey and I are excited about doing a second season, but in the meantime, I wanted to invite you to something a little more intimate. On October 21st, I’ll be leading our first Unburdening group. Are you experiencing a faith transition, or have you stepped away from a high-control religious environment? Perhaps you’re feel...

In this episode, we are joined by Susan Rogers, who transitioned from a nine-year career as an occupational therapist to founding and pastoring The Well at Springfield, a diverse faith community in Jacksonville, Florida. Over the past 13 years, The Well has become a home for individuals from various faith backgrounds, including agnostics and atheists, united by their curiosity, storytelling, and s...

On this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we have Mark Gregory Karris, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in San Diego, California. Dr. Karris specializes in religious trauma and couples therapy. He is also a bestselling author, known for his impactful books including The Diabolical Trinity: Healing Religious Trauma from a Wrathful God, Tormenting Hell, and Sinful Self. Dr. Karris sha...

On this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we welcome Andy Newman, a licensed professional counselor based in Gilbert Arizona, who specializes in helping individuals navigate faith transitions and religious trauma, particularly within the LDS (Mormon) and LGBTQ communities.  Grew up in a staunch Mormon family, Andy is adhering to the doctrines of the LDS Church from a young age. His journey w...

This week you get Carey and Trevor all to yourself and a discussion about both the origin of this podcast and some of the reasons why reckoning with our own "origin stories" in high control religions can be so complex and messy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we are joined by Laurie Wevers, a licensed marriage and family therapist and spiritual director who specializes in treating religious trauma and assisting individuals in connecting with their spirituality post trauma.  Based out of the Washington DC area, Laurie has a deep personal connection to the work she does, rooted in her own experiences of gro...

Our conversation with psychologist and former evangelical Dr. Renea Lynn On this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we meet Dr. Renea Lynn, a psychotherapist based in the Bay Area since 2008. Specializing in ADHD and religious trauma recovery, she offers a unique perspective on mental health care, addressing depression, anxiety, and trauma. Dr. Lynn specializes in relational and religious trauma t...

Jennifer Bartley talks about her transformative journey from Southern Baptist upbringing to healing after a profound shift in beliefs and complete deconversion. On this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we have Jennifer Bartley, a therapist from Nashville, Tennessee, who shared her profound journey through spiritual trauma and her subsequent healing process. Jennifer, originally deeply rooted in...

Our conversation with Brian McDonald about his book "The Long Surrender: A Memoir about Losing My Religion" On this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we have Brian McDonald. From his upbringing in Alabama to his 30-year career as a preacher, missionary, and pastor, including seven transformative years in Taiwan mastering Mandarin Chinese. With degrees from Liberty University and the College of Wi...

Our conversation with Wendy Montgomery on her efforts to make the LDS church safe for LGBTQ people and her eventual decision to leave. On this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we sat down with Wendy Montgomery, a certified life coach and Enneagram educator. As a mother of five children, four of whom identify as LGBTQIA+, Wendy co-founded Mama Dragons and has served on the board of directors for...

Our conversation with IFS lead trainer Sue Richmond. On this edition of the Unburdened podcast, we have Sue Richmond is a well-known therapist and one of the primary instructors of the Internal Family Systems Model. Sue does both private psychotherapy and IFS consultancy in Connecticut. She applies the IFS concept to both individuals and groups, using a kind and heart-centered approach. Sue's jour...

Our conversation with EMDR therapist Erin Evanson-Lass In another profound episode of the Unburdened podcast, we are privileged to have a  chat with Erin Evanson-Lass, an LCSW, EMDR Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant with EMDRIA, a Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Therapist, Consultant and Training Facilitator, and the owner of Waypoints Counseling - a small group practice of dedic...

Our conversation with Anna Clark Miller, trauma therapist, host of the Marytr. She Wrote podcast and author of the Religious Trauma Survival Guide. In this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we sat down with Anna Clark-Miller, a licensed counselor, trainer, and author who focuses on religious trauma and abuse. She hosts the podcast Martyr, She Wrote, providing education and support for religious t...

Our conversation with Rev Monica Dobbins about her journey from fundamentalist Christianity to Unitarian Universalism In this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we’ll embark on a transformative journey with Reverend Monica Dobbins, assistant minister at Salt Lake City's First Unitarian Church. After growing up in a fundamentalist Christian environment, Monica traveled through several religious tra...

Our conversation with trauma therapist Dr. Jaime Marich about her work, and her own journey through spiritual trauma, the topic of her upcoming book. In this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we have Dr.  Jamie Marich – a trauma therapist and humanitarian aid worker, who delves into spiritual abuse, its profound impact on individuals' lives and belief structures. She is the founder of the In...

In this episode LPC and yoga instructor Tiffany Harris talks with us about her journey stepping away from the LDS church and we explore religious trauma through the lens of trauma, grief, and bike racing! In this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we’ll navigate the treacherous yet enlightening path of healing from spiritual trauma with TIffany Harris. – a licensed professional counselor and yoga...

In this episode of the Unburdened podcast, we are taken on a deeply personal journey with Marcus Little, who previously served as a pastor at a Baptist church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and now leads the Customized Workplace English program at the Literacy Center of West Michigan  After stepping down from the pulpit, he found himself in a sea of introspection, questioning the inherited princi...