In this episode, I offer deconstructed thoughts on what it means to be born of water and spirit. And how the process of being born again is one that is repeated throughout the spiritual journey of life over and over again. Anna's Blog: www.ann

Trauma bonding - a spiritual act

Feb 13th, 2020 25m 37s

Trauma bonding is either healthy or unhealthy. These bonds are built through shared trauma experiences, whether through story sharing of the trauma or through shared experiences. The effects of unhealthy trauma bonding often result in anxiety,

A new wave of spirituality - get ready for 2020

Feb 6th, 2020 29m 52s

It is no secret that during the last few years we witnessed a huge rise in faith deconstruction. Where new questions were being asked, new conversations and new ways of thinking emerged. Many left the church during this time and have been wande

Happy Holidays? 3 Things I'm doing differently this year

Dec 9th, 2019 29m 43s

There is magic this time of year that is often overlooked by commitments, obligations, sadness, grief and anxiety. But, in this episode, I share how I'm changing the way this season feels for me - and most importantly, how I am learning to hono

Evangelize? Post deconstruction thoughts

Nov 20th, 2019 39m 6s

This is such an awkward topic! It was awkward back when I was trying to "save" and witness to my friends. And now it feels super awkward as I can't remember the last time I said even that word. lol Like many Christians, years ago, I was despera

How my relationship with the Bible changed (and why it needed to) - post deconstruction thoughts

Nov 14th, 2019 47m 14s

In middle school, reading the Bible became my outlet and central point of connection with Spirit. It was a tender place that I held onto through adulthood. The studying of scripture became a passion and led me to eventually become a pastor. But

Why being desperate and hungry for God isn't always healthy - how my prayer life changed

Nov 7th, 2019 46m 40s

Before deconstructing, my life involved loads of prayer. Since I was a kid, prayer was a huge part of my life. I literally have nearly 50 journals filled with tear-stained pages, pleading and begging for God's comfort, peace and direction. In t

I want what they have! A confession of jealousy

Oct 17th, 2019 42m 44s

Every single person deals with jealousy on some level. But, it's one of those hush-hush topics that no one talks about. Whether it's jealousy over someone's relationship, career, good opportunity, house or lot in life, just know that these thou

How to survive toxic relationships (and finally have peace)

Oct 9th, 2019 44m 22s

For years, I believed it was my job to fix the toxic relationships in my life. I believed by doing everything "right", eventually good would win out and all would be well. But my fear of being disliked, rejected and misunderstood blinded my abi

Feel a shift happening? You're right on time

Sep 27th, 2019 36m 11s

This week marks the Autumn equinox which often brings a significant amount of change. As many of us are leaving a season of loss, heartache, grief and wilderness wandering, this shift offers an invitation to step into the next chapter. This sea

When life gets lonely - finding hope in the wilderness

Sep 18th, 2019 32m 19s

The path to authenticity can often feel lonely. When we leave the status quo to run after something real, an empty space is created. Whether it's a deconstruction of faith, community, marriage or friendship, the voids left behind can be a lonel

The culture we come from - how it affects us and those around us

Sep 6th, 2019 35m 56s

One thing I'm beginning to learn is how much we see the world through our own cultural lens. And when I say culture, I don't mean our demographics - I mean what our background is, what we have been taught to believe about the world and those ar

Embracing the FEELS - rage, power, sadness, tenderness - ALL of them have a purpose

Aug 19th, 2019 38m 53s

We all have tender, soft parts of us. We equally have strong, powerful parts of us. For a long time, these dynamics were out of balance for me. Not because I didn't have them, but because I thought I needed permission to access them. Which left

Talking about body - self-acceptance, sexuality and being present in your skin

Aug 9th, 2019 41m 46s

We are made of three equal parts: mind, body and spirit. But, for many of us, mind and spirit are seen as the focus while our bodies are the afterthought. The body is often viewed as the flesh; the part that needs to be contained, managed and t

Every choice has value - letting go of regret

Jul 18th, 2019 29m 7s

Living with regret is something many of us struggle with. From our career, parenting, love life, marriage and relationships, the desire to do everything "right" is a high standard to achieve. But, because of the pressure to be "perfect", we can

Religious Trauma Syndrome - with Dr. Marlene Winell

Jul 8th, 2019 50m 5s

Dr. Winell is a human development consultant, educator, and writer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her background includes 28 years of experience in human services, in both community and academic settings. She holds a doctorate in Human Developm

Pain does not have to define you

Jun 28th, 2019 30m

Before I sat down to record this episode, I asked myself: if I could only say one thing what would it be? My answer to that question was immediate: you don't have to be defined by pain. THIS is the core of my message. This one sentence is every

The Bible and Homosexuality - how I became affirming

Jun 15th, 2019 41m 42s

After writing a recent blog on my journey of becoming affirming, I received a lot of questions like, "How can you be affirming when the Bible is so clear?" I decided a podcast would be the best way to address this subject in its entirety. I sha

30 Religions before turning 30 - with Reba Riley

Jun 9th, 2019 54m 19s

I invite the author of, Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome Reba Riley to chat with me about her spiritual quest of experiencing thirty religions before her thirtieth birthday. As a former self-described Evangelical poster child, her journey defied

Thoughts on Paul's conversion - leaving religion and embracing love

Jun 1st, 2019 30m 6s

The idea of "conversion" typically sparks thoughts of salvation experiences or of exchanging an old life for a new one. But, when I read the story of Paul's conversion now, I can't help but see it through a different lens. The story of Paul's c

When life gets hard - finding light in the dark

May 19th, 2019 31m 47s

With recent events including the loss of Rachel Held Evans and the legal case my family has been involved in, I have felt overwhelmed by dark. Where is God in any of it? How can I even say that "God is in control" or that God is even good? In t

What do I do now? Finding purpose outside of religion

Apr 29th, 2019 37m 55s

For most of my life, I chased after my "calling". Believing my purpose was to minister, be a pastor and evangelize was what I thought I was supposed to be about. After all, isn't that the Jesus way? But, after having much of my "callings" strip

When dead things rise - the story of nature, of Jesus and of me

Apr 20th, 2019 35m 48s

I hear many people say that they can't wait to get to heaven - to be in their "forever home" with their forever family. But, if heaven is the ultimate destination, why did Jesus raise Lazarus from the grave? Why did he weep at his tomb? Why did

Letting go of relationships - when it's time to move on

Apr 12th, 2019 31m 36s

Whether in a friendship, partnership, spouse or community, sometimes the season changes and it's time to move on. Recognizing when it is time to let go can be difficult - especially if you have experienced any trauma or abuse in your life, you

"Take off the grave clothes and let him go"

Apr 6th, 2019 40m 39s

The story of Lazarus is one that continues to grip me. In this episode, I cover the story of Lazarus, his death and how this Jesus character showed up and wrote a different ending. No matter if your story includes divorce, being LGBTQ, a single