Honoring the Journey

Leslie Nease
  • 5.0 (39)
  • Religion
  • Updated Weekly

Life is a journey, and we’re all walking our own unique path. But every now and then, we get the chance to step onto someone else’s path, to see the world from their perspective, and to learn from their experiences. That’s what we do here on Honoring the Journey. We walk alongside others, explore their stories, and then step back onto our own path—hopefully with new insights, deeper understanding, and a broader perspective for the journey ahead. Honoring the Journey is hosted by Leslie Nease, a former Christian Radio Host, Speaker & Writer and Contestant on Survivor China known as "Sister Christian". Leslie has since deconstructed her Evangelical beliefs, but is still deeply connected to God and is seeking to understand faith from every perspective. Let's journey together!

  1. 1d ago

    Let's Talk About Religious Trauma: Honoring the Journey of Vernique Esther

    This conversation with Vernique Esther went so many places, and I loved every minute of it! Vernique grew up in a beautiful and sometimes chaotic mix of denominations, cultures, and ideas about God, shaped by her Haitian and West African roots. Her journey eventually led her into a legalistic campus ministry that she now describes as “culty,” an early marriage that ended in devastating infidelity and divorce, and the political upheaval of 2016 that caused the cracks in her faith to break wide open. We talked about purity culture, patriarchal church systems, and the impossible burden so many women were taught to carry—the idea that we were somehow the “moral vessels” responsible for holding everything together. We were expected to suffer well, forgive endlessly, stay faithful, remain quiet, and somehow keep everyone else from falling apart, even when we were the ones being deeply harmed. Today, Vernique describes her faith as a Jesus-centered, non-religious spirituality. We had such an honest conversation about separating the character of Jesus from some of the violent and troubling portrayals of God we encounter elsewhere in Scripture, and what it looks like to keep following Jesus after so much of the religious framework around him has fallen away. Vernique also shared her powerful concept of “trauma languages”—the patterns our pain can create in relationships, including control and rejection sensitivity—and opened up about who holds space for her while she continues doing her own healing. Find out more about Vernique here: www.verniqueesther.com Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Let's Talk About Religious Trauma: Honoring the Journey of Vernique Esther

  2. Aug 31

    LSD to Galilee: Honoring the Journey of Rob Zahn

    Today, Leslie has a conversation with Rob Zahn, a Lutheran pastor and author of LSD to Galilee. The episode weaves together Rob's unconventional path into ministry, the story of discovering his estranged father on his deathbed and uncovering his father's ties to a 1960s drug-smuggling countercultural movement (the Brotherhood of Eternal Love), and a deeply theological conversation about certainty, deconstruction, and where the divine can be found — including surprising historical and academic parallels between psychedelics and early Christian/religious practice. Together they explore themes of doubt, humility, religious trauma, freedom in faith, and staying curious rather than certain. Get Rob's book LSD to Galilee here!   Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    LSD to Galilee: Honoring the Journey of Rob Zahn

  3. Aug 24

    From Christian Worship Leader to Atheist: Honoring the Journey of Promise Backlund

    In this episode of Honoring the Journey, we hear from the lovely Promise Backlund (Eve Was Framed), a former worship leader in Charismatic Churches, to discuss her deconstruction from an evangelical upbringing to eventual atheism. We explore themes like the fear of hell and losing salvation, the loss and rebuilding of authentic friendships, navigating family relationships after leaving the faith, and the difference between dogmatic belief and lived kindness — all tied to her new book, The Gospel of Lies: Surviving and Resisting Evangelical Extremism. Follow Promise: Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    From Christian Worship Leader to Atheist: Honoring the Journey of Promise Backlund

  4. Aug 17

    Grief, Deconstruction & Holding Onto Jesus: Honoring the Journey of Rob Bell

    In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie sits down with writer, artist, playwright, and speaker Rob Bell—someone whose work had a tremendous impact on her own deconstruction journey. If you’ve spent any time questioning or reexamining the faith you inherited, chances are you’ve come across Rob’s work. His groundbreaking book Love Wins famously landed him in hot water within evangelical circles for challenging long-held beliefs about hell, salvation, and the character of God.   In this rich and vulnerable conversation, Rob reflects on what it was like to experience rejection from the evangelical world he had once been such a prominent part of, and shares some beautiful wisdom for anyone currently navigating a season of questioning, uncertainty, or deconstruction. He also catches us up on life now—what he’s creating, what he’s discovering, and what midlife is teaching him about growth, identity, and becoming. This conversation is thoughtful, funny, tender, and full of the kind of wisdom that makes you want to grab a notebook. You won’t want to miss this one! Want to listen to the series Jesus H. Christ that Leslie & Rob spoke about? HERE is a link to the first episode!  Find out more about Rob's work and where you can find him online on his website: https://robbell.com/ Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Grief, Deconstruction & Holding Onto Jesus: Honoring the Journey of Rob Bell

  5. Aug 10

    Bridge Builder: Navigating Faith, Family & Deconstruction with Britt Hartley & Leslie Nease

    Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie welcomes back Britt Hartley from No-nonsense Spirituality for a wide-ranging conversation about navigating relationships with family members who are still religious after leaving the faith. The two cover the emotional dynamics of deconstruction, including the desperate need for validation, the defensive reactions of loved ones, and why leading with vulnerability rather than debate tends to be far more effective for maintaining connection. They explore how differing core values (truth-seeking vs. loyalty) can explain why people have such vastly different experiences within the same religion, discuss the ethics of sharing one's evolving worldview publicly without destabilizing others, and reflect on what it means to follow Jesus outside of institutional religion. The conversation also touches on existential crisis, the psychological benefits of releasing the need for ultimate truth, and the meaningful distinction between religious deconstruction coaching and spiritual direction — all woven together with warmth, humor, and a shared sense that human-to-human connection ultimately transcends theological differences. Find Britt online! Her Website Instagram TikTok Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Bridge Builder: Navigating Faith, Family & Deconstruction with Britt Hartley & Leslie Nease

  6. Aug 3

    Funny Songs, EDM, Gay Christians, & More: Honoring the Journey of Kurt & Jason

    Helpful links we discuss on the pod: Page on homosexuality and Christianity - www.kexc.us "You Should Know" song (topic of homosexuality and Christianity) - https://youtu.be/UNqMMsoVDZU?si=s3tkxcnypuSU8yAy INEVITABLE (dance, trance, electropop music) - www.inevitablemusic.org Kurplunk (various styles, all funny songs) - www.kurplunk.lol Kurt's career search handbook, Here Today Hired Tomorrow - www.kurtkirton.com and https://www.amazon.com/Here-Today-Hired-Tomorrow-Practical/dp/1941558062/ref=tmm_pap_title_0     Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Funny Songs, EDM, Gay Christians, & More: Honoring the Journey of Kurt & Jason

  7. Jul 27

    Walking Away from MAGA: Honoring the Journey of Steven Francisi

    What happens when someone wakes up and starts to question their entire life? He was MAGA, happily patriarchal and deep in evangelicalism, but one day he began to question it all. In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Steven Francisi, founder of Healing Roots On Up and author of From A-Hole to All Right. Steven shares a raw and wide-ranging story that begins with a difficult childhood in New York marked by inconsistent parenting, feeling like an outsider in his own Italian family due to his red hair and fair skin, and early trauma that led to a suicide attempt at 16. He joined the Navy at 17 partly to earn his father's approval, later got drawn into evangelical Christianity through an Amway meeting, and spent years in high-control religious environments that deepened his shame while masking his unresolved trauma. After a serious motorcycle accident in 2015 that left him with a traumatic brain injury, a subsequent marriage breakdown, and a second suicidal crisis, Steven finally entered trauma-informed therapy through the VA, where he experienced a breakthrough moment of grief that unlocked decades of suppressed emotion. Through therapy, a close friendship with a younger, non-Christian man, and reading works like The Power of Myth, Steven began deconstructing not just his faith but also his patriarchal worldview and far-right political identity, including walking away from the MAGA movement. The conversation is an honest, compassionate exploration of shame, healing, masculinity, religious trauma, and what it means to become a whole person. Get his book, From A-Hole to Alright HERE. Follow Steven on all social media outlets at Healing Roots On Up!   Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Walking Away from MAGA: Honoring the Journey of Steven Francisi

  8. Jul 20

    Unbelieve: Honoring the Journey of Marla Taviano

    Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie interviews Marla Taviano — a former evangelical Christian author who wrote books for conservative Christian wives and later went through a very public deconstruction. Marla shares her journey from being deeply embedded in evangelical Christianity (as a missionary, author, Christian school teacher, and camp counselor) to leaving the faith altogether, driven by growing questions about salvation-focused theology, racism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and the pro-life movement. The conversation covers the role books like Love Wins by Rob Bell and Rachel Held Evans's work played in her shift, how humor and poetry became her tools for processing and communicating her deconstruction, the personal cost of losing her sister and other relationships, and her belief that true love — not religious obligation — is the guiding principle worth living by. Marla's Website: www.MarlaTaviano.com Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease. To help her keep these stories coming and fund the podcast expenses, you can donate here. Pick up Leslie's book, Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian here. Interested in working with Leslie as your Spiritual Director or Life/Faith Transitions Coach? Check out her website and learn more about what she offers! https://www.leslieneasecoaching.com If you'd like to be a part of the Honoring the Journey Team on Substack, click here! You can find her work and also support her financially if you desire. Would you like to leave a voicemail for Leslie? Click here! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Unbelieve: Honoring the Journey of Marla Taviano
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5
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

Life is a journey, and we’re all walking our own unique path. But every now and then, we get the chance to step onto someone else’s path, to see the world from their perspective, and to learn from their experiences. That’s what we do here on Honoring the Journey. We walk alongside others, explore their stories, and then step back onto our own path—hopefully with new insights, deeper understanding, and a broader perspective for the journey ahead. Honoring the Journey is hosted by Leslie Nease, a former Christian Radio Host, Speaker & Writer and Contestant on Survivor China known as "Sister Christian". Leslie has since deconstructed her Evangelical beliefs, but is still deeply connected to God and is seeking to understand faith from every perspective. Let's journey together!

Information

  • Creator
    Leslie Nease
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Honoring the Journey
  • Show Website
    Honoring the Journey

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