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Artwork for Leave Laugh Love

Leave Laugh Love

Leave Laugh Love
Catholicism
Catholic Church
Deconstruction
Mental Health
Franciscan University
Religious Trauma
LGBTQ+ Rights
Lent
Community Building
Identity
Youcat
LGBTQ+ Community
Purity Culture
Community
Trauma
Queerness
Fasting
Spirituality
Immigration
Christianity

We may have left the Church, but we’re still laughing and loving! Join your hosts Evelyn and Veronica as we chat about life after high-control Catholicism.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes69Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Religion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Leave Laugh Love

Latest Episodes

If you have any other information that you’re willing to share with us about the charismatic renewal, covenant communities, or Sword of the Spirit, please email leavelaughlovepod@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram.

We are indebted to John Flaher... more

order a candle: ⁠https://dzhe0h-k0.myshopify.com/products/i-survived-steubenville-prayer-candle?utm_source=copyToPasteBoard&utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=web⁠

leave laugh love on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4owQNOi ⁠

⁠⁠⁠leave laugh love... more

YouTube

Join us for Part 2 of our conversation with author, poet, queer parent, fellow FUS alum, and sometime college professor R/B Mertz. In this episode, we're discussing the education system, higher ed, right-wing politics, and how it all impacts the quee... more

YouTube

Join us for Part 1 of our conversation with author, poet, queer parent, and sometime college professor R/B Mertz.

check out R/B's other work, including their debut memoir, Burning Butch: rbmertz.com/

order a candle: dzhe0h-k0.mysh... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

R/B Mertz
Writer focused on themes of Christian trauma, identity, and societal issues.
Episode: 67. Right-Wing Politics Are Infiltrating Education (with R/B Mertz)
RB Mertz
Author of The Book Burning Butch
Episode: 66. Finding God in the Burning Butch: From Catholic Homeschooling Cult to Non-Binary Lesbian (ft. R/B Mertz)
Cade Bradley
Content creator and former Catholic, now focusing on LGBTQ+ issues within the church.
GayExTrad
Episode: 63. Theos Bros & Church Girlies (ft. Cade Bradley @GayExTrad)
Kevin Nontradicath
YouTuber known for creating content that critiques and analyzes traditional Catholic teachings.
YouTube
Episode: 44. Get Married or Get Out: Growing Up FSSP (ft. Kevin Nontradicath)
Garrett Pryor
Guest with a background in conservative Christianity and social media
Episode: 43. We're Both Dating Women Now (ft. Garrett Pryor)
Charlotte Eisenberg
Former anti-abortion activist who now advocates for reproductive rights
Episode: 42. Charlotte's Story: From Poster Child to Prisoner of the Pro-Life Movement
Syd King
Comedian and host of Good Girls Gone Sad
Good Girls Gone Sad Podcast
Episode: 41. St. Sydney
Elizabeth Craig
Friend and former student of Franciscan University who shares her journey of deconstruction from high-control Catholicism, touching on themes of identity and authenticity.
Former Catholic student at Franciscan University
Episode: 24. Sipping Holy Koolaid (ft. Elizabeth Craig)
Jenn Morson
A journalist covering issues within the Catholic Church, particularly abuse and scandals at Franciscan University.
Episode: 26. Making Stories Heard (ft. Jenn Morson)

Hosts

Evelyn
Host with long-standing involvement across episodes, frequently discussing deconstruction, Catholic culture, and personal journeys.
Veronica
Cohosts and frequent voices in deep-dive conversations on faith, identity, and social issues.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 220 ratings
  • Grating listen, lacking substance.

    Plus side: this kind of content is so needed, namely: to examine the damaging effects of high-control Catholicism and ask hard questions.

    Minus side: it is difficult (at least for me) to listen to these two. The number of times they say “like” & talk like the cast of Clueless is grating on the ears.

    I’ve also found so far that the substance of their criticisms includes a fair amount of ad hominem mockery of those they’ve come to disagree with, propping up straw man arguments, or just appealing... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    giannaslily412
    United States7 months ago
  • Good with lots of potential

    This is NEEDED, and I’m so appreciative that these women are making it happen. The interviews in particular have been excellent. I do think tightening up the format would take this from good to great (I skip the rose and thorn every time) and polishing some technical stuff would do WONDERS. (Microphone issues, too much rambling, too many uses of “slay.” 🤣) That said, this is sorely needed and a bright spot in my week. Keep it up!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    TerraNivea
    United States9 months ago
  • A valuable resource for deconstructing Catholics

    I’m only two episodes in, and already I’m so appreciative of this podcast. The hosts so articulately describe what it’s like to deconstruct fundamental Catholicism. I left the church seven years ago and don’t have many, if any, friends who have experienced what I have. I wish I’d had a resource like this when I first left.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    miansch
    United States9 months ago
  • Brings back a lot of memories!

    It’s hard to find content about this particular corner of Catholicism and the strange world of Steubenville. This is far from being a great podcast, but it’s been a long time since I deconstructed and I’m still processing some things, and I’m finding it helpful.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    holly10191
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great resource!

    Been listening since day 1. Ev and Veronica do such a good job drawing you into their stories and making things relatable. Definitely a great resource for anyone coming out of a high demand/high control religious experience!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoeCleveland1964
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the honest, compassionate approach to deconstructing faith and finding community.
Fans value the guest conversations and real-world storytelling that tie spirituality to identity and activism.
Some listeners wish for tighter formats and better audio quality, but still find the content important and healing.

Top Religion & Spirituality Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

42. Charlotte's Story: From Poster Child to Prisoner of the Pro-Life Movement
Q: What was your experience like on the day of your appointment?
Charlotte detailed the fear and anxiety she felt, compounded by the presence of activists outside the clinic who attempted to dissuade her from proceeding with the abortion.
42. Charlotte's Story: From Poster Child to Prisoner of the Pro-Life Movement
Q: How did your experiences with anti-abortion activists shape your views on the movement?
She expressed that her experiences made her realize how exploitative and manipulative the movement can be, especially targeting vulnerable individuals.
42. Charlotte's Story: From Poster Child to Prisoner of the Pro-Life Movement
Q: What led you to eventually seek an abortion despite your past in the anti-abortion movement?
Charlotte explained that after leaving rehab and facing complex emotions about her pregnancy, she realized she could not go through with having a baby given her past trauma and current instability.
41. St. Sydney
Q: Walk us through what your Catholic upbringing was like?
I was a cradle Catholic, grew up very involved in the church and immersed in Catholicism. However, when I went to college and encountered different perspectives, I began to question and deviate from those teachings.
9. SoS (ft. John Flaherty)
Q: Could you talk about what your relationship with the Catholic Church is now?
Flaherty expressed that he tried to participate in the Catholic faith but ultimately felt disconnected due to the Church's handling of sexual abuse scandals and the overall hypocrisy of its leadership.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Leave Laugh Love

What is Leave Laugh Love about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A candid, thoughtful show about life after high-demand Catholicism, mixing personal storytelling with sharp cultural analysis. Hosts Evelyn and Veronica explore faith deconstruction, identity, LGBTQ+ topics, and politics through a lens of humor, vulnerability, and community. The conversations often center on navigating religion's boundaries, finding belonging, and reimagining spirituality in a more inclusive context. A standout aspect is the duo's willingness to tackle heavy subjects—from canonical debates to queer identity—while maintaining an accessible, empathetic tone that invites both personal reflection and broader discussion.

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How many listeners does Leave Laugh Love get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Leave Laugh Love?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Leave Laugh Love:

1. Intrinsically Ordered
2. Friendly Atheist Podcast
3. Data Over Dogma
4. Mormon Stories Podcast
5. Behind the Bastards

How many episodes of Leave Laugh Love are there?

Leave Laugh Love launched 2 years ago and published 69 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Leave Laugh Love?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Leave Laugh Love?

Recent guests on Leave Laugh Love include:

1. R/B Mertz
2. RB Mertz
3. Cade Bradley
4. Kevin Nontradicath
5. Garrett Pryor
6. Charlotte Eisenberg
7. Syd King
8. Elizabeth Craig

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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