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Artwork for Beyond The Surface

Beyond The Surface

Samantha Sellers
Religious Trauma
Purity Culture
Deconstruction
Christianity
Australia
Christmas
Spiritual Abuse
Mental Health
Psychology
Nature
Coercive Control
Exclusive Brethren
Conversion Therapy
Coming Out
Triggers
Faith Deconstruction
Baptist Church
Pentecostalism
Queer Identity
Therapy

Welcome to Beyond the Surface, where being seen means being understood. Here, we explore the ups and downs of exploring and sometimes losing faith and community, and the healing power of shared stories. This is a safe space to connect, share, and find support in our common experiences of religious trauma and leaving fundamental communities. Join us as we build a community of understanding and conn... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes128Founded2 years ago
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Society & CulturePersonal JournalsReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Beyond The Surface

Latest Episodes

Brandan joins Sam to talk about what it was like to find belonging in a fundamentalist Baptist community at twelve years old and to be a closeted gay kid inside it at the same time. He speaks honestly about the cognitive dissonance of feeling genuine... more

In this solo episode, Sam sits with something that doesn't get talked about enough during Pride Month - grief. For queer people who've come out of religious environments, the celebrations of June can sit alongside a very specific kind of loss, and Sa... more

Jay (they/them) joins Sam to talk about growing up as a pastor's kid, navigating queerness and gender identity within a family deeply embedded in faith, and what it meant to wrestle with all of that while also surviving childhood leukemia. Jay is hon... more

YouTube

In this solo episode, Sam examines the deeply uncomfortable overlap between domestic violence and high-control religious environments. Specifically, how the same systems that teach women what love looks like also teach them not to recognise abuse whe... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Brandan Robertson
Author of Queer and Christian, pastor, mental health advocate
Queer and Christian, author
Episode: The Queer Christian
Jay Pesavento
Guest, son of Linda Pesavento, discussing LGBTQ+, autism, and faith transformation
Episode: When The Pastor's Kid Comes Out
Hilary McBride
Author and psychologist focused on spiritual trauma and embodiment
Speaker, US-based expert
Episode: Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
Tia Lemmings
Author, advocate and content creator on Christian fundamentalism and patriarchy
US-based author and advocate
Episode: Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
Ash Buckner
Ex-Mormon therapist in Utah, contributor on religious trauma conversations
RTC extended guest
Episode: Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
David Faria
Journalist covering conspiracy theories and religion
US-based journalist
Episode: Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
Catherine Carey
Organizer of Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Cults and High Control Groups
Catherine Carey (inquiry organizer)
Episode: Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
Ryan Carey
Co-initiator of the cults inquiry
Ryan Carey (inquiry organizer)
Episode: Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
Johanna Knyn
Psychologist, clinician specializing in DID and high-control environments
Brisbane, Australia
Episode: DID, High-Control Systems, and Plural Identity

Host

Sam Sellers
Host and therapist specializing in Religious Trauma and the Queer Community, facilitating dialogues centered on healing and understanding within faith deconstruction.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When The Pastor's Kid Comes Out
Q: Jay, where does your story start?
The story begins with cancer in early childhood and the intense church environment that followed, which set the stage for later questioning of faith, identity, and belonging.
Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
Q: What is the motivation behind the rebrand to Religious Trauma and Cults?
To broaden the audience and include non-religious cultic spaces while keeping RTC as a recognizable brand; language matters to ensure survivors see themselves reflected in the work.
Behind the Scenes at the RTC: The Event & Beyond
Q: Why did you decide to bring discussions about the cult inquiry into the event?
Survivors are driving the need for legal conversations and reforms, so their experiences justify centering the discussion and showing how advocacy costs and rewards intersect with policy.
The One Who Challenged Purity Culture & Reclaimed Asexuality
Q: What is your advice for someone who is fresh in their deconstruction and facing fear of loss or rejection?
Be authentic to yourself, seek at least one supportive person or professional to talk to, and remember you are not alone; gradually explore beliefs without forcing drastic changes, and prioritize safety and self-care.
The One Who Challenged Purity Culture & Reclaimed Asexuality
Q: How did you come to identify as asexual and demisexual, and what was the journey like to explain this to others?
She explains realizing she didn't experience sexual attraction, discovering the term asexual later shared with a close friend, and then learning about demisexuality, which helped contextualize emotional bonds as a prerequisite for attraction; the process was slow and involved personal exploration and conversations with friends.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond The Surface

What is Beyond The Surface about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations focus on the intersection of religious trauma and personal identity, particularly highlighting narratives of individuals who have navigated strict religious environments. The discussions often explore the complexities of faith deconstruction, addressing systemic issues within various religious communities while advocating for healing and self-acceptance. Episodes feature in-depth dialogues with individuals who share their experiences with purity culture, LGBTQ+ acceptance, and the psychological impact of belonging to high-control faith groups, as well as their journeys toward reclaiming their identities. This content is particularly notable for its openness and emphasis on community support, providing listeners with insights a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Beyond The Surface?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond The Surface:

1. The Imperfects
2. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
3. All In The Mind
4. Conversations
5. It's A Lot with Abbie Chatfield

How many episodes of Beyond The Surface are there?

Beyond The Surface launched 2 years ago and published 128 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 The Surface?

Recent guests on Beyond The Surface include:

1. Brandan Robertson
2. Jay Pesavento
3. Hilary McBride
4. Tia Lemmings
5. Ash Buckner
6. David Faria
7. Catherine Carey
8. Ryan Carey

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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