Sunday School Dropouts

Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
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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 experiences along with their education, training, and work with clients to create this podcast–a podcast that goes beyond deconstruction and focuses on the unique aspects healing and recovery for folks coming out of high control religions, cults, fundamentalism, purity culture and those with religious trauma. Each episode they will be talking with other experts, mental health practitioners, coaches, advocates, therapists and folks who have survived fundamentalist systems, to learn from their experiences and offer resources and support for healing.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    How Deconstructing POWER Healed My Marriage

    In this episode, Andrew is joined by writer and editor Halley Kim to explore the profound intersection of theology, patriarchy, and personal agency. As a former pastor’s wife within conservative Evangelicalism, Halley shares her journey of moving beyond simple theological deconstruction to dismantle the power structures that once defined her life and marriage. Together, they discuss the dehumanizing effects of purity culture and the "anti-knowing" messages that discourage women from trusting their own intuition. Halley offers a unique perspective on the professional and personal costs of questioning the status quo while navigating the slow, redemptive process of building a marriage rooted in mutual power rather than hierarchy. Beyond her history in the church, Halley brings her extensive background in maternal healthcare as a registered nurse and doula to the conversation, drawing striking parallels between the midwifery model of care and liberation theology. She reflects on the transformative experience of finally preaching from a pulpit once forbidden to her and discusses her ongoing research into how our internal God images—whether authoritarian or benevolent—shape our real-world behavior. This conversation is a deep dive into reclaiming one's voice, the nuances of raising children with theological plurality, and the messy, beautiful work of healing after years of institutional silence. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or sending your story to us! Guest Info:  Website: https://halleykim.com/ Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/maybegodisamidwife/ https://www.instagram.com/maybegodisamidwife/https://substack.com/@maybegodisamidwifehttps://www.halleykim.comRecent article for Feminism and Religion: https://feminismandreligion.com/2025/10/26/god-is-a-midwife-by-halley-kim/#more-72948My website and portfolio, including my writing, editing, sermons, and podcast interviews: https://halleykim.com/portfolio/My freelance editing business, Jigsaw Editing: https://halleykim.com/services/My instagram and Substack @maybegodisamidwifeThis podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_kerbs Follow Andrew’s post-SDA account @lifeafteradventism Follow Andrew’s account on neurodivergence and high control religion @divergent.faith  Join Andrew’s Substack (Kerb Your Enthusiasm) www.andrewkerbs.substack.com  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call

    1hr 21min

  2. 31 MAR

    When the Body Keeps the Faith: Purity Culture and Chronic Pain

    In this episode, we're joined by Nicole Clifton, a coach specializing in faith deconstruction, purity culture trauma, and chronic illness support. Nicole shares her personal journey navigating chronic pain for nearly 20 years while growing up in evangelical Christianity. We explore the often-overlooked connection between purity culture and chronic health conditions, discussing how high-control religious environments create constant hypervigilance and stress that can manifest as long-term physical symptoms. Nicole explains how messages about ignoring bodily signals, maintaining perfectionism, and living in perpetual fear of making mistakes kept her disconnected from her body's wisdom for years. The conversation dives into practical healing approaches for those dealing with both religious trauma and chronic illness. Nicole emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, body neutrality (rather than toxic positivity), and learning to tune into bodily signals without judgment. We discuss how shame operates as both an emotional and physiological state, the value of acceptance-based approaches for chronic pain, and why rebuilding trust with your body is essential after years of being taught it's dangerous or sinful. Nicole offers hope through her own transformation—from viewing her body as "defective" and a "liability" to recognizing it as resilient and deserving of care and compassion. Website: CTRR Bio Social Media: @nicoleclifton_inyourcorner Anything else (e.g. book title and link)  Resources discussed in this episode:  What Doesn’t Kill You by Tessa Miller This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_kerbs Follow Andrew’s post-SDA account @lifeafteradventism Follow Andrew’s account on neurodivergence and high control religion @divergent.faith  Join Andrew’s Substack (Kerb Your Enthusiasm) www.andrewkerbs.substack.com  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson or on her website: www.drlauraeanderson.com  Join Laura’s Substack (Therapy in the Headlines) www.drlauraeanderson.substack.com  To work with Laura as a coach, therapist, consultant, or to inquire about other services, you can do so here Hosts:  Laura Anderson and A

    1hr 29min

  3. 24 MAR

     Purity Test, Perfectionism, and Power in Relationships

    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," exploring how religious conditioning manifests as perfectionism, decision-making paralysis, and the compulsive emotional caretaking often found in high-control environments. The guests discuss how these evangelical patterns are frequently replicated in progressive spaces and social media "call-out" cultures, where rigid performance often replaces human nuance. By shifting from a fixed mindset of "right vs. wrong" to one of growth and authenticity, Julia and Jeremiah provide a practical framework for naming needs and building relationships without the weight of inherited shame. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or sending your story to us! Guest Info:  www.sexvangelicals.com  Substack (Relationship 101): https://sexvangelicals.substack.com/ IG: @sexvangelicals Resources discussed in this episode:  The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Gregorie Matthew Bodie book This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_kerbs Follow Andrew’s post-SDA account @lifeafteradventism Follow Andrew’s account on neurodivergence and high control religion @divergent.faith  Join Andrew’s Substack (Kerb Your Enthusiasm) www.andrewkerbs.substack.com  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson or on her website: www.drlauraeanderson.com  Join Laura’s Substack (Therapy in the Headlines) www.drlauraeanderson.substack.com  To work with Laura as a coach, therapist, consultant, or to inquire about other services, you can do so here Hosts:  Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs Music by Benjamin Faye Music @heytherebenji

    1hr 19min

  4. 17 MAR

    The Long Reach of Purity Culture: Sex, Gender, and the Body

    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 explores how high-control religious environments leave lasting "body memories" that manifest as sexual pain, orgasm gaps, and anxious attachment patterns decades later. From the political "Industrial Complex" of the 1990s to the modern-day "manosphere" and wellness culture, Julia and Jeremiah blend clinical data with raw personal vulnerability to illustrate why cognitive shifts aren't always enough to heal the nervous system. This episode is an essential look at the journey from performance-based morality to a values-based, embodied sexuality. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or sending your story to us! Guest Info:  www.sexvangelicals.com  Substack (Relationship 101): https://sexvangelicals.substack.com/ IG: @sexvangelicals Resources discussed in this episode:  The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Gregorie Matthew Bodie book This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_kerbs Follow Andrew’s post-SDA account @lifeafteradventism Follow Andrew’s account on neurodivergence and high control religion @divergent.faith  Join Andrew’s Substack (Kerb Your Enthusiasm) www.andrewkerbs.substack.com  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson or on her website: www.drlauraeanderson.com  Join Laura’s Substack (Therapy in the Headlines) www.drlauraeanderson.substack.com  To work with Laura as a coach, therapist, consultant, or to inquire about other services, you can do so here Hosts:  Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs Music by Benjamin Faye Music @heytherebenji

    1hr 18min

  5. 10 MAR

    Untangling Mormon Sexual Shame

    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 LDS structures such as worthiness interviews, the Law of Chastity, and confession culture shape a person’s relationship with their body, sexuality, and sense of autonomy. Drawing from both her professional work and personal experience growing up in an unorthodox Mormon community, Ashley discusses the lasting effects purity culture can have on survivors of childhood sexual abuse, including shame cycles, anxiety, disembodiment, and difficulty trusting oneself. The conversation also addresses institutional failures within the church’s handling of abuse, gender specific harms caused by purity teachings, and what real healing can look like through body based therapies, supportive communities, and rebuilding safety and self trust outside high control religion. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or sending your story to us! Guest Info:  Social Media: @ashleyb_therapy Resources discussed in this episode:  Melissa Urban - The Book of Boundaries Non Violent Communication book Non Violent Communication graphic This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_kerbs Follow Andrew’s post-SDA account @lifeafteradventism Follow Andrew’s account on neurodivergence and high control religion @divergent.faith  Join Andrew’s Substack (Kerb Your Enthusiasm) www.andrewkerbs.substack.com  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson or on her website: www.drlauraeanderson.com  Join Laura’s Substack (Therapy in the Headlines) www.drlauraeanderson.substack.com  To work with Laura as a coach, therapist, consultant, or to inquire about other services, you can do so here Hosts:  Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs

    1hr 17min

  6. 3 MAR

    Purity Culture in the LDS Church

    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 purity culture and childhood sexual abuse. Ashley shares what it was like to grow up in a “less than” Mormon family with a Catholic father prior to his baptism, the pressure to perform worthiness, and the shame of being born to parents who were pregnant before marriage. She reflects on how purity culture shaped her understanding of her body, sexuality, and value, and how secrecy and silence created the conditions for abuse to remain hidden for years. Ashley bravely recounts being sexually abused at age four by an older family member and the way cultural messaging around sex and worthiness reinforced silence and self blame. She opens up about not disclosing the abuse until age twenty, leaving the LDS church after moving to Los Angeles, and how experiences of unconditional love outside Mormonism shifted her perspective. The conversation also explores why talk therapy alone was not enough for trauma recovery and how brainspotting and other nervous system based approaches helped her access healing stored in the body. Together, they unpack how trauma and shame live in the hips and stomach, why embodiment and safe relationships are essential for recovery, and how sharing shame in safe spaces begins to loosen its grip. Share your purity culture stories with us by leaving a voicemail or sending your story to us! Guest Info:  Social Media: @ashleyb_therapy Resources discussed in this episode:  Melissa Urban - The Book of Boundaries Non Violent Communication book Non Violent Communication graphic This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_kerbs Follow Andrew’s post-SDA account @lifeafteradventism Follow Andrew’s account on neurodivergence and high control religion @divergent.faith  Join Andrew’s Substack (Kerb Your Enthusiasm) www.andrewkerbs.substack.com  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson

    1hr 23min

  7. 24 FEB

    Purity Culture & Body Shaming

    What happens when purity culture and diet culture collide? In this episode, Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs sit down with writer Ashley Dunston to unpack the complicated overlap between evangelical theology, fat phobia, and body shame. Ashley shares her story of growing up in Colorado Springs during the peak of 1990s and early 2000s purity messaging, navigating intense pressure to present a “perfect” family image, and being pushed into gastric bypass surgery at just 19 years old. After losing 100 pounds in a year, she faced not only the physical consequences but the emotional and spiritual fallout that followed. Together, they explore how phrases like “your body is a temple” became tools of control, how food and weight were moralized in church spaces, and why purity culture often excluded or invisibilized girls who did not fit a narrow beauty standard. The conversation moves through grief, bodily autonomy, medical fat phobia, and the painful unraveling of a faith identity that once felt essential. Ashley also reflects on healing, learning to trust her body again, reclaiming desire as strength rather than weakness, and the hope she sees in younger generations finding more diverse and affirming representations of their bodies. Guest Info:  Website: AshleyDunstonWriter.com Social Media: Instagram: @ashley_dunston_writer, https://substack.com/@ashleydunstonwriter This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrew_kerbs Follow Andrew’s post-SDA account @lifeafteradventism Follow Andrew’s account on neurodivergence and high control religion @divergent.faith  Join Andrew’s Substack (Kerb Your Enthusiasm) www.andrewkerbs.substack.com  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson or on her website: www.drlauraeanderson.com  Join Laura’s Substack (Therapy in the Headlines) www.drlauraeanderson.substack.com  To work with Laura as a coach, therapist, consultant, or to inquire about other services, you can do so here Hosts:  Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs Music by Benjamin Faye Music @heytherebenji

    1hr 18min

  8. 17 FEB

    The Unique Impacts of Purity Culture on Men w/ Brad Onishi (re-release)

    This month we are talking about purity culture and its impact on individuals who grew up male in this system. We are thrilled to have Dr. Bradley Onishi on the podcast today as our professional who has done research on purity culture and client-facing work in this area as well as being a purity culture poster boy himself. Join Brad and Laura as they discuss the unique impacts of purity culture on men, shame, the expectations of being a “Godly man” and what happens when you don’t measure up to that, as well as the importance of men learning how to step out of of the prescribed roles and mentality that both purity culture and patriarchy prop up.  Resources Mentioned:  Fair Play (book and game) by Eve Rodsky  Mild at Heart podcast series (can be found on the website below and using “Mild” in the search bar) Guest: Brad Onishi Website: https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com Instagram/TT: @straightwhitejc This podcast is brought to you by the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery: an online trauma coaching company whose practitioners are trauma informed and trauma trained to work with individuals, couples and families who have experienced high control religion, cults, and religious trauma. For more information on the support that CTRR provides, for resources–including courses, workshops, and more–head to traumaresolutionandrecovery.com or follow us on Instagram: @traumaresolutionandrecovery  The views and opinions expressed by Sunday School Dropouts are those of the hosts and not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery. Any of the content provided by our guests, sponsors, authors, or bloggers are their own ideas and opinions. The Sunday School Dropouts podcast is not anti-religion but it is anti -harm, -power and control, -oppression and, -abuse and will speak to the harmful practices and messaging of fundamentalist groups.  Follow Andrew on Instagram and TikTok @deconstruct_everything  To begin working with Andrew as a coach, schedule your FREE inquiry call here Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @drlauraeanderson or on her website: www.drlauraeanderson.com  To work with Laura as a coach, therapist, consultant, or to inquire about other services, you can do so here Hosts:  Laura Anderson and Andrew Kerbs Music by Benjamin Faye Music @heytherebenji

    1hr 10min
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About

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 experiences along with their education, training, and work with clients to create this podcast–a podcast that goes beyond deconstruction and focuses on the unique aspects healing and recovery for folks coming out of high control religions, cults, fundamentalism, purity culture and those with religious trauma. Each episode they will be talking with other experts, mental health practitioners, coaches, advocates, therapists and folks who have survived fundamentalist systems, to learn from their experiences and offer resources and support for healing.

Information

  • Creator
    Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sunday School Dropouts
  • Show Website
    Sunday School Dropouts

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