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Artwork for Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus

Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus

Freidom Fighter
Islam
Orthodox Judaism
Mental Health
Judaism
Cultural Identity
Israel
Chabad
Religious Freedom
Apostasy
Christianity
Zionism
Gender Roles
Gender Dynamics
Women's Rights
Religious Trauma
Therapy
Family Dynamics
Recovery Programs
LGBTQ Identity
Talmud

Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus is a podcast by Freidom Fighter that explore the personal journeys and experiences of people who have left fundamentalist religions. Hear from people who have deconstructed their region, high-control upbringing, and dogmatic beliefs, hailing from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Buddhist denominations. Raw and unedited, the podcast is an invitation for you to ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes39Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus

Latest Episodes

In this bonus episode, Shalom sits down again with his brother Mike for a wide-ranging conversation about Zionism, Hasbara, and the psychological mechanisms that can make political narratives difficult to question. Rather than systematically fact-che... more

Suri Robinson grew up in an Orthodox Jewish community in Baltimore, where she learned to suppress her needs, protect her family’s image, and strive for religious perfection. After seminary, she married at 20, moved to Lakewood, raised five children, ... more

YouTube

In this episode of Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus, host Shalom interviews Chantal, an Episcopal priest from North Carolina who grew up with both traditional church life and expansive spirituality, felt a clear call to priesthood, and was or... more

YouTube

Gabi shares his experience growing up in New York’s Bukharian Jewish community, becoming deeply committed to Orthodox Judaism, and eventually building a life outside religious observance. He discusses racism within Jewish institutions, the intellectu... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Diabolical LiesKatie Gatti Tassin & Caro Claire Burke

Recent Guests

Chantal McKinney
Former Episcopal priest, author of Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls, founder of Water and Light
Independent, Water and Light network
Episode: Chantal: Exposing Abuse in the Episcopal Church

Host

Freidom Fighter
Host of the podcast focusing on religious exodus themes; often involved in advocacy around Freidom Fighter

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Interview with Rachel

    What might have been an interesting and informative interview was deficient regarding the central issue in Rachel’s departure from Aish HaTorah. The interviewer who overly identified with his subject was glaringly unsophisticated and lacking in both interview skill and knowledge of the subject matter, and was of no help to his subject and more importantly his audience. There are a number of examples one could cite but the use of the word “cult” is left unexplained and is used only as a epithet t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    A. H. RUBENSTEIN
    Canada8 months ago
  • Insightful and fresh

    Great interviewer who does real talk with the guests. Love it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AbbyBabble
    United States2 years ago
  • Insightful

    As someone raised by atheist parents, this podcast has given me a lens into a different world. I’ve watched a lot of documentaries about people who have left religion (typically in extreme cult-forms), but listening to conversations on the topic hits it from a different angle. Excellent interviewer, too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tbonejamesflock
    Canada2 years ago
  • Fascinating and important conversations

    Great podcast! These are such important voices, glad this podcast is elevating these stories! Host does an excellent job interviewing, and guests all have interesting stories and experiences leaving different strands of religion behind. 10/10 recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mike Sh.
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show's brave, personal storytelling and its ability to surface diverse ex-religious experiences.
Some critiques note uneven interview depth and pacing, suggesting stronger host preparation or topic focus could help.
Audiences value the raw, unedited feel and the range of backgrounds represented by guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Suri: Former Orthodox Jewish
Q: Why did you eventually leave the community, and how did you manage that transition?
A combination of sustained burnout, abuse within the rabbinical system, and the realization that staying would be life-threatening to her mental health led to seeking treatment and ultimately leaving, even though her children remained in the community.
Suri: Former Orthodox Jewish
Q: What helped you most in healing?
Group therapy and authentic human connection in treatment were the most transformative, allowing her to expose secrets, feel seen, and rebuild trust in herself and others.
Suri: Former Orthodox Jewish
Q: What was religious abuse, and how did it manifest in your experience?
Abuse is improper treatment of a person; religious abuse uses religion to shame, threaten excommunication, and tie a person's worth to their religious performance, which she describes as a pervasive, coercive force.
Chantal: Exposing Abuse in the Episcopal Church
Q: What is the core message of your book and what hopeful direction does it offer for people who have left traditional churches?
The book describes a journey from systemic harm to spiritual expansion, advocating for future church models that prioritize justice, community, and the divine accessible anywhere, not just within church walls.
Chantal: Exposing Abuse in the Episcopal Church
Q: Do women hold the same rank as men in the Episcopal Church, and is there parity at the top?
Yes, there are women bishops and a woman presiding bishop, but the system remains patriarchal in practice, with evidence of pay gaps and fewer leadership opportunities for women in many contexts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus

What is Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A hard-hitting, human-centered series that foregrounds personal journeys out of fundamentalist and high-control religious environments across Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and other traditions. Guests share intimate stories of leaving, healing from trauma, and rebuilding meaning outside inherited belief systems, often weaving in mental health, identity, and reform within communities. The conversations tend to blend memoir with social critique, featuring ex-clergy, activists, and scholars who challenge dogma while seeking constructive paths for belonging and future faith or secular meaning. A notable throughline is the emphasis on authentic self-determination, resilience, and practical insights for listeners considering or supporting similar jo... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus:

1. Cults to Consciousness
2. Diabolical Lies
3. Trust Me: Cults, Extreme Belief, and Manipulation
4. The Secret Room | True Stories
5. Bad Hasbara - The World's Most Moral Podcast

How many episodes of Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus are there?

Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus launched 2 years ago and published 39 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus?

Recent guests on Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus include:

1. Chantal McKinney

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