In this episode, we discuss and journey through how high-control groups can stunt our ability to break out of conformity in our thinking and beliefs. This often leads to erasure of self, where we disappear as people, and our souls languish into what feels like a forgotten place. Much of our discussion is centered around how the autonomic nervous system deals with trauma and abuse, as well as the neuroplasticity of the brain. Also, we unpack more of our own experience of deconstruction and how the process can be so nuanced, especially as we move away from binary, black and white ways of thinking.

In this episode, Adam & Melissa give an update on the Dr. Michael Brown scandal, including how the fallout is impacting them and the wider body of Christ. Also, the discussion highlights how the New Apostolic Reformation tends to lead people to experience spiritual FOMO because of loaded language around prophetic words/culture. Finally, the episode covers Adam & Melissa's journey around finding community post cult involvement.

In Episode 8, Adam & Melissa get into how spiritually esoteric beliefs and practices in the hyper-charismatic churches (such as Bethel, IHOPKC, & MorningStar) have harmed many people's lives. They open up about the impact of this on their own experience, and how so much of the teaching is actually unintelligible, pie-in-the-sky nonsense. Also, Adam & Melissa hone in on how the impact happens at the intersection of human agency and spiritual abuse. Beyond that, they explore how gaslighting and spiritual bypassing is harmful when survivors try to tell their story of what happened to them, at the hands of spiritual leaders who deny it.