Where Do We Go From Here?

The evangelical message for girls was all about virginity, naivete, and silence, and millenial women are paying the price for it. " She Deserves Better " gets into what went wrong but also gives us a playbook for how to do better.  We talk about: the impact of modesty teaching what happens when girls are told they talk too much the importance of sex ed Full show notes here Partner with us to hear...

We're mixing faith and friskiness and spilling divine secrets on tasteful toys. Get ready to bless your bedside drawer with a touch of sex-educator-approved delights. Dr. Celeste Holbrook is back with the the quality sex education we need after purity culture life.  Partner with us to hear our thoughts on the Barbie movie , plus you'll get a ticket to The Big Debrief at the end of the month and mo...

Purity Culture graduates left the movement with our feet stuck to chewed up gum, our fingers locked into purity rings, and our hearts (supposedly) irreparably broken. But these were images and metaphors given to us by an evangelicalism broken by its own damaged stories, images, and metaphors. This episode gets into what went wrong, and how we can start to make it right.  Join us in Patreon to hear...

While "Sound of Freedom" rakes in the profits in the US box office, there are still children in exploitative circumstances. Are search and rescue missions the most effective way of rehabilitating them? We bring you a Christian anti-trafficking expert who has seen the harmful impacts of well-intentioned evangelicals and knows that there's a better way forward. We talk about: how this movie harms an...

"Christians need to face the truth of who we are." That's what Professor Iwan Russell-Jones told us, and it's why we took a hard look at Hillsong through the FX/Hulu docuseries "The Secrets of Hillsong." In this episode we talk about church as the show and what it is costing us. We also talk about: the docuseries as Carl Lentz's redemption vehicle the cost of spiritual abuse should church be charg...

Trigger Warning: This is a conversation about Frank Houston's three-decade history of sexually abusing children, and there are many references to the subject. Please proceed with caution if this topic is triggering for you. There are resources in the show notes about healing after trauma. Frank Houston was a serial sexual abuser of children, but he walked off the church stage into forced retiremen...

We dive deep into the shocking downfall of Carl Lentz, former pastor of Hillsong New York, and ask questions about the supposedly eye-opening revelations from "The Secrets of Hillsong" documentary. A former member of Hillsong NYC joins us to uncover what the documentary misses, the culture of celebrity pastors, and the consequences of blind faith in broken institutions.  Full show notes here (incl...

What is true about the global megachurch Hillsong? There's a new docuseries out from Vanity Fair and FX trying to get to it. But do they get it right? Starting this week Jess and Devi recap the episodes for those of you in Australia who can't watch it yet and for those of you in the US who need a debrief. We've got you.  Full show notes here Want more ? Our partners get episodes weekly , including...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to spiritual, religious, and sexual abuse. Please proceed with caution. What do we do when a spiritual hero is accused of abusive practices? Jess and Devi were both impacted by Soul Survivor founder, the Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, and in this raw and real episode, they process the recent news about the investigation the Church of England announced....

At some point in childhood you first learnt about sex.  This might have been in the form of "the sex talk" from your parents. Or you might have heard it elsewhere.  In this episode we reflect on that sex talk from parents and from a parent and child's perspective. Join Jessica and her mum Caren for this special discussion between a mother and daughter around the sex talk.  What do we remember abou...

Ever wonder what it's like to gather with a group of strangers to talk about purity culture ? Our partners get to experience it every month in The Big Debrief . And now you get to listen in. In this episode you get a taste of the warmth, wisdom, and fun that's in our monthly zoom conversations.  Join us this month on April 27 (in the US) at 9pm EST and April 28 (in Australia) at 11am to talk about...

Join us for an insightful discussion with Laura Tremaine, author of The Life Council, as we explore the challenges of making and keeping friends in adulthood. From busy schedules to changes in life stage, we uncover the top reasons why building meaningful connections as grown-ups can be tough, and share practical tips to overcome them. Full show notes here Partner with us to hear a conversation wi...

In this episode for our partners , we delve into the ups and downs of Bridget Jones' Diary. From its charming wit and relatable protagonist to its problematic themes, fat phobia, and single-shaming , we take a critical look at this iconic piece of chick-lit and explore its lasting impact on pop culture and female representation .   Want to hear the rest? Join us in patreon for $3/month (USD). 

We delve into the world of Evangelical parenting with journalist Bekah McNeel. From perfectionism to purity culture, we uncover the the impact of Evangelical parenting on children's emotional, mental, and spiritual development. This is a sneak peak but you can listen to the full conversation when you  partner with us for $3/month (USD). You'll also get Purity Culture News & Views , a romcom recap...

Trigger warning: this episode contains a short discussion of childhood sexual abuse. Please proceed with caution. Purity Culture was bad for men, too. In this episode Zachary Wagner joins us to share his story combined with his theological study on how to build a non-toxic masculinity. We discuss: how purity culture dehumanized men growing up from boys to adult men strategies to help you grow Full...

This episode is for all the people who were told your virginity was the most important thing about you. In this episode, we get into the meaning of virginity to evangelicals, the history, what we were told the Bible says, what the Bible actually says, and of course, we talk about where we can go from here.  Full show notes here Join us for $3/month (USD) to get the full conversations with historia...

In this partner-only episode , we're dusting off our VHS tapes (or maybe just streaming it online) and rewatching the classic rom-com , Sleepless in Seattle. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan stole our hearts in this movie over 25 years ago, but how does it hold up in 2023 ? Is it still as charming and romantic as we remember, or does it feel dated and cheesy? Grab your tissues and your apple peeler , and jo...

If you thought bad evangelical sex books were a thing of the 80s and 90s, guess again. Last week The Gospel Coalition lit the interwebs on fire by publishing an excerpt from an upcoming book by one of their (now former) fellows. This conversation untangles the sloppy reading of Ephesians 5, disturbing Roman Catholic roots, and what happens when we misuse biblical metaphors.  Partner with us for $3...

Ready to take center stage ? In this episode, we dissect the problems with the 2000 cult classic dance movie, Center Stage. From unrealistic depictions of relationships to cringe-worthy dialogue, we'll break down the issues with this beloved flick. Join us for an entertaining critique of one of the most iconic dance movies of all time. Only partners get to hear the full episode , so join us for $3...

Jess and Devi look back at their teenage years and wonder what if... we hadn't kissed dating goodbye. We talk about: what it's like to not get asked out our first dates regrets wisdom we learned along the way what YOU would tell your younger self about dating Full show notes here (so many links about dating and app dating) Follow us on Instagram and Twitter Partner with us to hear our romcom recap...

Kendall Vanderslice is with us to talk about her upcoming book By Bread Alone , and this conversation is all about hunger, and the way our physical hunger for food mirrors sexuality, the distortion in our culture (and Christian culture) around hunger and women. This episode is exclusively for partners , but you get to hear a sneak peak today . Get the full conversation for $3/month. Show Notes: By...

This is for anyone who feels like they don't belong in church or among white evangelicals. Journalist Sara Billups traces the question - "How did we get here?" - by looking at the impact of the culture wars and consumerism on a generation of white evangelicals. And she helps us take steps home. We talk about what is an orphaned believer and how did we get here the dignity of choice a propehtic ima...

"Clueless" is the romcom that started the flood of high school coming of age movies in the 90s and early 00s, but what do we think about it today ? You get a sneak peak of what our partners get to hear this week . To hear the rest , join us for $3/month! It'll get you a ticket to our monthly zoom call next week on Tuesday at 9pm EST and Wednesday 1pm AEDT. 

You get to hear a sneak peak of our conversation about Prince Harry's first time - what's the difference between how our culture talks about the first sexual experiences of men and women? SPOILER - we think there's a difference .  Want to hear the full conversation ? Join our partners in patreon to hear about low libido after babies , plus all of Jess' recommendations about what you should be watc...

Jess and Devi are finishing 2022 out with some big announcements about what's next for the show! Plus we also discuss: changes in opinion about gay marriage evangelicals' favorite heresies and why purity culture "helps" "Harry & Meghan" - is it a documentary or PR? We have a lot of thoughts Full show notes here Partner with us to hear our take on "The Holiday." Can women be single during the holid...