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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes71Founded3 years ago
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Health & FitnessMental HealthReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Sunday School Dropouts

Latest Episodes

Andrew and Laura sit down with Sherah Pettus from the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery for a real, heartfelt look at how purity culture keeps shaping our bodies, sexuality, and sense of worth long after we leave high control religion. Sherah... more

Andrew and Laura hang out with yoga therapist and somatic practitioner Kim June Johnson for a really grounding and honest conversation about what it actually looks like to heal purity culture wounds through Eastern practices. Kim shares her story of ... more

Andrew and Laura welcome trauma professional and theologian Willow Sipling for an unflinching look at purity culture within the Catholic Church and beyond. Together they dig into how teachings on chastity, celibacy, and confession shape shame, contro... more

Andrew and Laura sit down with Dr. Bethany Peake, a trauma-informed counselor and spiritual director at the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery, for a raw, thoughtful, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about what happens when patriarchy sha... more

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Recent Guests

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
Willow Sipling
Certified trauma professional with advanced degrees in theology, psychology, and Catholic studies, dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and survivors of abuse, focusing on healing from purity culture and conversion practices.
Episode: Purity Culture in the Catholic Church
Dr. Bethany Peake
Nationally Certified Counselor, Trauma-Informed Spiritual Director, and Practitioner at the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Episode: Patriarchy and Purity Culture
Terri Allred
Practitioner at the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Episode: Purity Culture to Domestic Violence Pipeline
Katherine Spearing
Trauma practitioner and author of the upcoming book 'A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts'
Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
Episode: A Thousand Tiny Papercuts: Purity Culture and Spiritual Abuse
Jo Luehmann
Former pastor, theologian and writer
Episode: If You're Poor, You Deserve It w/ Jo Luehmann
Angela Denker
Reverend and author focused on religious and gender issues
Author of 'Disciples of White Jesus'
Episode: The Radicalization of American Boyhood with Rev. Angela Denker
Sarah Henn Hayward
Author of the book 'Giving Up God'
Episode: Giving Up God with Sarah Henn Hayward
Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers
Licensed sex and gender feminist psychotherapist, best-selling author, researcher, and media personality.
Episode: The Impact of Purity Culture on Women (re-release)

Hosts

Dr. Laura Anderson
Co-host of the Sunday School Dropouts, trained therapist, and expert in religious trauma recovery.
Andrew Kerbs
Co-host of Sunday School Dropouts, trained therapist with a focus on mental health and healing from fundamentalist backgrounds.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 103 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 Statesa month 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 States5 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 States6 months 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, audience feedback indicates a strong demand for the topics covered, as many feel that they contribute meaningfully to discussions around healing and recovery.
Some listeners express concerns about the hosts' approach, feeling that some discussions lack nuance and can come off as dismissive of differing views.
The podcast provides a community for those facing religious trauma, offering resources and support as listeners navigate post-religious life.
Many listeners appreciate the therapeutic insights shared, finding them relatable and validating for their own experiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rebellious Healing: Using Yoga and Breathwork to Heal from Purity Culture
Q: What is the difference between a sexual ethic or sexual ethics and sexual shame?
Sexual shame informs your sexual ethic and is rooted in purity culture, often creating boundaries that are seen as necessary due to foundational beliefs about one's inherent worth and brokenness.
Patriarchy and Purity Culture
Q: How can faith leaders, therapists, communities and such, begin to like, really directly begin to repair the harm that has been done by patriarchal theology, purity-based control and all of that?
There has to be an ownership of how has my adherent or how have we just, we have to own our part in this.
Patriarchy and Purity Culture
Q: If you could go back and say one thing to your younger self during the height of purity culture's influence, what would that be?
I would just want to go be with her and just let her experience safe presence, you know, safe, attuned presence that gives permission for whatever she would need to make and say.
Purity Culture in the Catholic Church
Q: What core values guide your approach to sexuality now?
The values of liberation and a revived hedonism, focusing on ethical, pleasure-centered interactions instead of constraints imposed by traditional sexual ethics.
Purity Culture in the Catholic Church
Q: How do you see purity culture impacting the LGBTQ+ community?
Purity culture creates dissonance for LGBTQ+ individuals, leading to feelings of shame, lack of trust in oneself, and difficulty reconciling their identity with religious teachings.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

This podcast presents an exploration of healing and recovery from high-control religions, emphasizing the personal journeys of its hosts and various guests. With both hosts having experienced the challenges associated with religious trauma, they leverage their backgrounds as trained therapists to facilitate discussions that encompass topics such as purity culture, fundamentalism, and the impacts of high-control environments on mental health. The episodes often include insights from other experts, survivors, and mental health practitioners, allowing for a rich dialogue concerning the complexities of post-religious life while fostering a supportive community for those undergoing similar experiences.

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How many listeners does Sunday School Dropouts get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Sunday School Dropouts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sunday School Dropouts:

1. Preacher Boys Podcast
2. The New Evangelicals Podcast
3. I Hate James Dobson
4. Religion on the Mind
5. Pantsuit Politics

How many episodes of Sunday School Dropouts are there?

Sunday School Dropouts launched 3 years ago and published 71 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 Sunday School Dropouts?

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What guests have appeared on Sunday School Dropouts?

Recent guests on Sunday School Dropouts include:

1. Kim Johnson
2. Willow Sipling
3. Dr. Bethany Peake
4. Terri Allred
5. Katherine Spearing
6. Jo Luehmann
7. Angela Denker
8. Sarah Henn Hayward

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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