In this week’s episode of The Audaci-Tea Podcast, hosts Lisa and Sovereign are joined by former evangelical pastor turned author and advocate Brian Recker to unpack a question many women who grew up in religious spaces have been asking: Was the church designed to control women? Together, they explore how evangelical teachings around gender, marriage, sexuality, and obedience can reinforce patriarchal power structures and shape the way women understand themselves, their relationships, and their place in the world. Brian shares his own journey of deconstructing his faith, the loss of community that often comes with questioning long-held beliefs, and why he ultimately became an outspoken advocate for women and LGBTQ+ rights. The conversation dives into the ways scripture has been weaponized against women, the realities of coercion and consent within Christian marriage, and how fear, shame, and rigid gender expectations can keep people trapped in harmful systems. They also examine Christian nationalism, the historical ties between religion and supremacy, and whether spirituality can exist without oppression. This is a conversation about power, belonging, faith, and what happens when people begin asking difficult questions they were never supposed to ask. But first, in Tea Time, Lisa and Sovereign react to The Wizard Liz's latest custody update, discuss a disturbing new study examining how often men admit to using sexual force against women, and break down a viral video reminding parents that children should never have to change themselves to accommodate unsafe adults. Later, they open the mailbag to hear from a listener whose male business partner's wife keeps undermining and embarrassing her professionally, leaving her wondering whether she's missing warning signs everyone else already sees. 🎧 This episode exposes the ways religion has been used to reinforce patriarchy, explores what deconstructing faith actually looks like, and examines why liberation often begins with questioning the stories we've been taught. 🎙️ Topics Discussed: • Deconstructing faith and leaving evangelicalism • How religion reinforces patriarchal gender roles • Scripture, coercion, and consent within Christian marriage • Christian nationalism and the roots of supremacy • Community, belonging, and life after deconstruction • Why men's feminism matters in dismantling oppression ✨ Links and Resources Mentioned: Did Wizard Liz Leave Her Son Behind In The US? Here Is What We Know https://www.missmalini.com/did-wizard-liz-leave-her-son-behind-in-us-what-we-know-details-landon-nickerson High Rates of Sexual Force Against Women Are Reported When Young Men Given Anonymous Surveys https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08862605261432630 Sexual Force Survey Highlights https://www.reddit.com/r/Feminism/s/IOvcPcJuES The Clergy Project https://clergyproject.org Understanding Why Women Seek Abortions in the US https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3729671/ The Expanded Child Tax Credit Briefly Slashed Child Poverty. Here's What Else It Did https://www.npr.org/2022/01/27/1075299510/the-expanded-child-tax-credit-briefly-slashed-child-poverty-heres-what-else-it-d 📚 This Week’s Recommendation: Follow Brian! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berecker/ Buy Hell Bent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Bent-Holds-Christians-Spirituality/dp/0593853199 The Unpunishable Woman ft. Ashanti Podcast | Coffee No Cream Ep. 58 https://youtu.be/jsopUk0eDjg?is=pgh5UqXt9iCPlhQq 💌 Join the Conversation: Got questions or wild stories to share? Email us at mailbag@sirensound.co with “The Audaci-Tea” in the subject line. ☕✨ Support the Show: Join our Patreon and become a Tea VIP for perks like: • Early access to every episode (and the show notes!) • Ad-free listening or viewing • Our weekly bonus unhinged and uncensored Crumpets after show • Priority mailbag + topic submissions, and voting power on future topics • Access to our private women only community, and chat channels just for you 👉 https://www.patreon.com/audacitea 🛍️ Shop The Audaci-Tea Merch Store https://audaci-tea-shop.fourthwall.com ▶️ Subscribe and watch full episodes on YouTube https://youtube.com/@theaudaci-teapodcast 📱 Follow Us Online: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@the_audacitea0 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_audaci-tea_podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585115231509 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1qfGGpJ0aS626IGBGwLtdU Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-audaci-tea/id1779370788 🕰️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Tea Time! 03:21 Wizard Liz Custody Update 10:43 Sexual Force and Coercion Study 14:53 Video React: Kids' Clothes and Unsafe Adults 17:51 Welcome Brian Recker! 28:53 The Church's Control Over Women 35:14 The Trappings of Pastoral Institutions 45:44 Escapism and Religion 50:05 Weaponizing Scripture Against Women 01:00:01 Christian Nationalism and Supremacy 01:13:18 Consent and Sexual Obligation in Marriage 01:16:35 Community and Belonging After Deconstruction 01:23:10 Mailbag: Professional Relationships as a Woman 01:38:34 Poll Results 🎙️ The Audaci-Tea is a production of Siren Sound, executively produced by Lisa Carr and The Sovereign Woman. Music, audio, video, and show production by Ryan Marth and Siren Sound. 📩 For business, press or advertising inquiries: info@sirensound.co 💡 Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Siren Sound or its affiliates. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
