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Artwork for Sunday School Dropouts
Religious Trauma
Purity Culture
Mental Health
Christianity
Christian Nationalism
High Control Religion
Somatic Experiencing
Evangelicalism
Noah
Fundamentalism
Trauma Recovery
Apostle Paul
Job
Trauma Resolution
Gender Roles
Couples Therapy
Sexual Health
Trauma
Ark Encounter
LGBTQ Rights

Sunday School Dropouts is a podcast hosted by trained therapists Dr. Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs. Both Andrew and Laura grew up in high control religion and spent years trying to live up to the rules and standards until one day, they couldn’t do it anymore. They spent our lives aspiring to be true followers of God and all they got from it was religious trauma.So now, they’re taking our lived e... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes86Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityHealth & FitnessMental Health

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Artwork for Sunday School Dropouts

Latest Episodes

In the conclusion of this two-part series, Andrew and Laura reunite with therapists Julia Postema and Jeremiah Gibson to reveal how purity culture reaches far beyond the bedroom. The conversation pulls back the curtain on the "Internal Panopticon," e... more

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In the first half of a compelling two-part series, Andrew and Laura are joined by sex therapists and researchers Julia Postema and Jeremiah Gibson to unpack the enduring grip of purity culture. Moving beyond simple deconstruction, the conversation ex... more

YouTube

In Part 2 of their conversation with licensed marriage and family therapist Ashley Buckner, the Sunday School Dropouts crew explores the deeper psychological and therapeutic impact of Mormon purity culture. Ashley shares clinical insights into how LD... more

YouTube

In this first of a two part conversation on Sunday School Dropouts, Andrew Kerbs and Laura Anderson sit down with Ashley Buckner, LMFT, to explore her journey growing up in an unorthodox Mormon home in Cedar City, Utah, and the lasting impact of puri... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ashley Buckner
Licensed marriage and family therapist, brain spotting practitioner
Private practice; LDS/purity culture focus
Episode: Purity Culture in the LDS Church
Ashley Dunston
A writer and former evangelical whose work explores the intersections of purity culture and diet culture.
Episode: Purity Culture & Body Shaming
Brandon Robertson
Renowned pastor, author and public theologian
Independent, LGBTQ+ activist
Episode: Reclaiming Faith as a Queer Person
Michelle Moseley
A licensed clinical mental health counselor with expertise in supporting adults harmed by high-control religious settings.
Episode: Neurodivergence and Purity Culture
Tricia Wilkerson
Dedicated health and wellness coach, yoga teacher, and co-founder of the Aftermath Agency.
Aftermath Agency
Episode: Purity Culture, Diet Culture, and Body Image
Lauren Elise Rogers
Certified Holistic Sexuality Educator and Embodied Intimacy and Relationship Coach
SexEd for You
Episode: From Purity Culture to Pleasure Preacher w/ Lauren Elise Rogers
Elizabeth DeVaughn
Practitioner at the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery with over 15 years of experience in healing from trauma, shame, and anxiety.
Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Episode: Non-Religious Purity Culture
Sharah Pettis
Associate practitioner at the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Episode: Exploring Your Body for Healing
Kim Johnson
Associate practitioner at the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery, certified yoga therapist and somatic practitioner specializing in healing from religious trauma and CPTSD.
Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Episode: Rebellious Healing: Using Yoga and Breathwork to Heal from Purity Culture

Hosts

Dr. Laura Anderson
Co-host of Sunday School Dropouts; therapist and trauma-focused professional
Andrew Kerbs
Co-host of Sunday School Dropouts; therapist and educator

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 114 ratings
  • So helpful!

    After growing up in a highly conservative Christian household, school and church, I have a lot of CPTSD to unpack and I wasn’t sure where to start. This podcast has helped me significantly with identifying and understanding the religious trauma I’ve experienced. It feels so good to finally start releasing the shame I’ve been hanging onto since childhood!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    QuesoQueen422
    United States5 months ago
  • Somewhat helpful

    A couple of these episodes were incredibly helpful having left the lds church and now leaving a fundamentalist evangelical church. I want to say that upfront.

    However, It’s hard to trust the hosts when they start mocking stories in the Bible. Not thoughtful disagreement or seeking to understand a different meaning but like full on mocking.

    While I totally understand the anger and resentment I think if it was more respectful and sounded like they were actually curious over trying to mock whatev... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    markasores
    United States9 months ago
  • Fantastic And informative

    I love this podcast. I accidentally discovered it while listening to some podcast on somatic experiencing and they detailed the approach in an episode. Such a really important topic and I think today more so than ever!! I’m a therapist myself and I treat people with religious trauma and I think this is an absolutely fantastic podcast. Look forward to more episodes. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lkwgofsu
    United Statesa year ago
  • Ehh 🤷🏻‍♀️

    I initially found Sunday School Dropouts with Dr. Laura Anderson helpful in the early stages of my deconstruction journey. The podcast tackles critical topics, and Dr. Anderson does provide some insightful critiques of evangelicalism. However, as time went on, I noticed significant flaws in the rhetoric that completely undermined its credibility.

    Her approach to conservative ideologies is alarmingly biased, often leaning on misrepresentations, out-of-context claims, and sweeping generalizations... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    FitnessPro6520
    United Statesa year ago
  • Really Enjoy this Show & Looking Forward to Season 2

    So glad I found you. Left organized religion years ago. But am drawn to your experiences as survivors of fundamentalism and cultish influence. Looking forward to season 2. Keep up the good work. Laura, please consider tamping down your use of “yeah” when acknowledging what your co-host and guests are saying. Hearing it repeatedly is distracting. Thanks for all you do!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mama TCR
    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 trauma-informed, educational approach to religious deconstruction and healing.
Some listeners desire more nuanced discussion of scripture and theology and have criticized perceived bias in episodes.
Guests are often clinicians or survivors providing practical tools for recovery.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Untangling Mormon Sexual Shame
Q: What makes Mormon purity culture distinct from other purity cultures?
Ashley explains that while core ideas are similar (avoidance of sexual impurity and emphasis on modesty), Mormon purity culture has a unique generational trauma component, early and systematic questioning in temples, and a belief in afterlife penalties tied to polygamy concepts, which intensify the policing of women and the secrecy around sexual topics.
The Long Reach of Purity Culture: Sex, Gender, and the Body
Q: What does purity culture 2.0 look like now, beyond church spaces?
Purity culture 2.0 appears in secular and progressive communities, often wrapped in talk of divine masculine/feminine and coded gender language, and reinforced by political and cultural frameworks that still prescribe binary gender roles and moral behavior.
Purity Culture & Body Shaming
Q: What would you say to someone still struggling with the messaging of shame?
None of this matters. There's so many more important things in the world than what your weight is and what you look like.
Reclaiming Faith as a Queer Person
Q: What gives you hope about the future of the church and the role of queer people within it?
There are sanctuaries packed with people of diverse backgrounds, allies to the LGBT community, progressive people of faith, resisting what's happening in their communities.
Reclaiming Faith as a Queer Person
Q: If you could go back and say one thing to your younger self before you found the language for your queerness or your call to ministry, what would that be?
It's love over fear. There is nothing to be afraid of. God is not judging us.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sunday School Dropouts

What is Sunday School Dropouts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Relatable, therapeutically informed discussions about healing from high-control religious environments, purity culture, and religious trauma. Episodes feature clinicians, researchers, and survivors sharing clinical insights, practical healing strategies, and personal narratives to help listeners understand body autonomy, sexual ethics, and healthy relationships after leaving fundamentalist frameworks. Noteworthy are in-depth conversations with guests who bring both professional expertise and lived experience, including discussions of Mormon purity culture, neurodivergence, and the transition from rigid beliefs toward embodiment and autonomy. The show often ties clinical concepts to real-world healing resources and community support, making ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Sunday School Dropouts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sunday School Dropouts:

1. The Tim & April Show
2. Preacher Boys Podcast
3. The New Evangelicals Podcast
4. Straight White American Jesus
5. A Little Bit Culty

How many episodes of Sunday School Dropouts are there?

Sunday School Dropouts launched 3 years ago and published 86 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 Sunday School Dropouts?

Recent guests on Sunday School Dropouts include:

1. Ashley Buckner
2. Ashley Dunston
3. Brandon Robertson
4. Michelle Moseley
5. Tricia Wilkerson
6. Lauren Elise Rogers
7. Elizabeth DeVaughn
8. Sharah Pettis

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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