Unholier Than Thou

Jennifer Bartlett-Smith
  • 4.6 (9)
  • Religion & Spirituality

Unholier Than Thou is for anyone who has ever questioned the beliefs they were told they weren't allowed to question. We unpack religion, religious trauma, deconstruction, cult dynamics, purity culture, spiritual abuse, and the cultural beliefs that shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. Through raw conversations, personal stories, and thought provoking interviews, we explore what happens when you stop accepting inherited beliefs as unquestionable truth. We talk to survivors, former believers, therapists, authors, pastors, spiritual seekers, and people who have walked away from the systems that once defined them. This isn't about telling you what to believe. It's about giving you permission to ask better questions. Question the narrative. Challenge the paradigm. Expand your perspective. If you're ready to think for yourself, you're in the right place. Welcome to the conversations you weren't supposed to have. #exvangelical #deconstruction #religioustrauma #SpiritualAbuse  #FaithDeconstruction  #MentalHealthMatters  #CrimeAndConsequences

  1. 2d ago

    The Beliefs We Inherit, the Truths We Question | Heather Foy

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the beliefs you were raised with no longer make sense? In this episode of Unholier Than Thou, I'm joined by Heather Foy, host of The Awakening Podcast and a former pastor's daughter who grew up in the Pentecostal church. Together, we explore the complicated process of questioning the beliefs, expectations, and narratives that shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. What happens when you begin to challenge the things you were taught never to question? How do our inherited beliefs influence the way we view identity, morality, personal autonomy, and other people's experiences? And what does it really mean to keep an open mind when a conversation challenges everything you thought you knew? This is an honest conversation about the power of questioning, the courage it takes to examine our own assumptions, and the importance of making room for perspectives that differ from our own. We also touch on sensitive and deeply personal subjects that may challenge some listeners or bring up strong emotions. You don't have to agree with every perspective shared here. But I do encourage you to listen with curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to consider a different point of view. And just when you think the conversation is over, there's more! Heather and I continued talking after we officially wrapped up recording, and we decided that conversation was too good not to share. Stick around for the bonus discussion at the end of the episode. Because this isn't about telling you what to believe. It's about giving you permission to ask questions, think critically, and decide for yourself. 🎧 Connect with Heather: Check out The Awakening Podcast for more of Heather's conversations and insights. https://www.youtube.com/@TheAwakeningPodcast-w6s If this episode makes you think, challenges your perspective, or sparks a question you've never considered before, share it with someone who loves a good conversation. Stay curious. Question the narrative. Think for yourself. Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

  2. 6d ago

    Welcome to Unholier Than Thou

    Send us Fan Mail New here? Start here. Welcome to Unholier Than Thou — a podcast for the curious, the questioning, and anyone who's ever felt like they weren't allowed to think outside the box. This is a space to challenge inherited beliefs, question the narratives we've been handed, and explore perspectives that may challenge everything we thought we knew. Through honest conversations with guests from different backgrounds and areas of expertise, we'll ask the questions others might avoid and make room for ideas that deserve a closer look. You don't have to agree with everything you hear. You just have to be willing to think for yourself. Come curious. Leave questioning. Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

  3. Oct 13

    Part 4 | Hidden History of Humanity | Tim Kelly — AI & the Fight for Our Sovereignty

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the pursuit of progress becomes a question of control? In the final installment of my four-part conversation with Tim Kelly, we explore the intersection of ancient narratives, emerging technology, concentrated power, and the future of human autonomy. Could the technologies being developed today fundamentally change what it means to be human? What are the implications of connecting our brains to computers? And why do theories about secret bloodlines, global elites, and a one-world system continue to capture people's attention? We get into Neuralink, artificial intelligence, Project Blue Beam, and the controversial idea that biblical prophecy and ancient texts may offer clues to the ambitions of those seeking global power. We also explore the possibility of extraterrestrial influence on humanity and the growing debate over who gets to shape our collective future. Beyond the theories, this conversation raises a more personal question: How much of your freedom are you willing to trade for convenience, security, and technological advancement? From control over our food and water to bodily autonomy, independent thought, and the nature of consciousness itself, we examine what it means to reclaim personal sovereignty in a rapidly changing world. Tim also shares his perspective on the pineal gland, higher consciousness, and the importance of breaking free from habitual ways of thinking. This episode explores controversial theories and interpretations that should be examined critically rather than accepted as established fact. Some ideas challenge conventional explanations; others invite serious questions about evidence, credibility, and the difference between possibility and proof. If you're interested in alternative history, hidden power structures, emerging technology, biblical mysteries, and the future of human freedom, this conversation is an invitation to look deeper. A note for YouTube viewers: Tim's identity is concealed for safety reasons. Four conversations. Bigger questions. No demand for blind agreement. Welcome to Unholier Than Thou...where questioning the narrative is only the beginning. Tim's homepage: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com Hidden History of Humanity: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/history.html The Math Wizard: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/science.html Natural Healing Self Empowerment: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/health3.html Nature of Energy booklet: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/tech.html #hiddenhistory #artificialintelligence #deconstruction #thinkforyourself #conspiracytheories #religioustrauma #exvangelical  Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

  4. Oct 6

    Part 3 | Hidden History of Humanity | Tim Kelly — Noah, Atlantis & the Origin of Species

    Send us Fan Mail What if the stories we’ve been told about our origins aren’t the whole story? Tim Kelly is BACK for Part 3 of our deep dive conversation, and this time we’re going even further down the rabbit hole... In this episode, we explore fascinating and controversial theories surrounding the Origin of Species, Noah and the Great Flood, Atlantis, ancient civilizations, and the possibility that our understanding of human history may be missing some important pieces. Where do these stories come from? Are they mythology, history, distorted memories of real events... or something else entirely? As always, this episode is about exploring ideas, asking questions, and challenging assumptions... not presenting speculation as fact. Some of the theories discussed are highly debated and controversial, so take what you hear as an invitation to investigate for yourself. Do your own research. Don't simply take my word for it, and don't simply take Tim's word for it. Follow the evidence, question the narrative, and come to your own conclusions. And if you're watching this episode on YouTube, you'll notice that Tim has concealed his identity. That's intentional and is being done for safety purposes. This is Part 3 of my conversation with Tim Kelly... and we're not done yet. If you enjoy conversations that challenge the narrative, question what we've been taught, and encourage you to think for yourself, like, subscribe, follow, and share Unholier Than Thou. And as always... stay curious. Links: Tim Kelly Website homepage: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com Hidden History of Humanity: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/history.html The Math Wizard: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/science.html Natural Healing Self Empowerment: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/health3.html Nature of Energy booklet: http://polytope.www1.50megs.com/tech.html Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

  5. Sep 29

    The Pastor Was an Addict: What His Wife Couldn't Tell the Church

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the man standing in the pulpit every Sunday is secretly battling alcoholism...and his wife is the one carrying the weight of it behind closed doors? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Sam, a former pastor’s wife, to talk about what it was really like to be married to a pastor struggling with addiction while living in full-time ministry. To the congregation, they were a ministry family. But behind the scenes, Sam was navigating the reality of loving someone with an addiction while also dealing with the expectations, pressure, and image that can come with being a pastor’s family. When an unexpected event eventually brought her husband’s struggle into the light, everything changed. We talk honestly about addiction, marriage, faith, ministry, shame, forgiveness, and the complicated reality of loving someone you cannot simply save. Sam also shares the story behind her book, The Prodigal's Son: Crackhead to Jesus Freak...a deeply personal account she wrote from the conversations and interviews she had with her husband during the final months of his life. This conversation is about more than addiction. It’s about the people who love addicts, the secrets families carry, and what happens when the life people see on Sunday doesn't tell the whole story. If you've ever loved someone struggling with addiction...or wondered what happens behind the doors of a ministry family...this conversation is for you. #Addiction #Alcoholism #Deconstruction #Pastorswife #Exvangelical #AA #Recovery https://linktr.ee/lovesamevans Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

  6. Sep 22

    Their Pastor Controlled Who They Could Talk To | Paul & Toby's Story

    Send us Fan Mail How much authority should a pastor have over your life? Paul and Toby spent years inside an Independent Fundamental Baptist church where loyalty, obedience, and spiritual authority were deeply intertwined. What they experienced was not one dramatic event. It was a gradual realization that something they had trusted for years was no longer sitting right with them. In their first ever public telling of their story, Paul and Toby open up about growing up IFB, the subtle ways control can enter a church community, the cost of questioning leadership, and the painful impact it can have on family relationships. We also talk about what happened when they began developing relationships outside their church, seeing their former beliefs through a different lens, and realizing that faith and fear do not have to be the same thing. This conversation raises some uncomfortable questions. When does spiritual leadership become control? What happens when questioning your pastor feels like questioning God? And what do you do when following your conscience means disappointing the people you've trusted for years? Paul and Toby's story is ultimately about learning to think for themselves, reclaiming their voices, and discovering what faith can look like when fear is no longer driving the conversation. If you've ever experienced religious control, fundamentalism, spiritual abuse, family estrangement, or the complicated process of deconstructing your faith, this is a conversation you will not want to miss. Follow Unholier Than Thou Podcast and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. https://wegotout.org/ #Deconstruction #Exvangelical #ReligiousTrauma #SpiritualAbuse #Estrangement #IFB #Religion  Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

  7. Sep 15

    MENTAL HELL: Are You Living in Plato’s Cave? What Deconstruction Reveals | Caitlin

    Send us Fan Mail What if the reality you’ve been taught isn’t the whole story? In this episode of Unholier Than Thou, I sit down with Caitlin, an influential voice in the deconstruction community, for a fascinating conversation about what happens when you begin questioning the beliefs you inherited...and start searching for truth for yourself. Throughout our conversation, we keep coming back to Plato’s Cave, the ancient metaphor of people who have spent their entire lives watching shadows on a wall and believing those shadows are reality. It raises a powerful question: How much of what we believe is actually true, and how much of it is simply what we were taught to see? We talk about deconstruction, religious conditioning, fear, identity, spirituality, and the uncomfortable process of figuring out what you actually believe once you give yourself permission to ask the questions you were once afraid...or even forbidden...to ask. Does questioning your beliefs mean you’ve rejected God? Does deconstruction destroy faith, or can it actually lead you toward a deeper understanding of truth? And once you’ve stepped outside the “cave” and seen your beliefs from a different perspective...can you ever really go back? Toward the end of our conversation, Caitlin also shares about Mental Hell, the documentary she’s currently working on that explores religious trauma and its psychological impact. If you’ve ever questioned your faith, your upbringing, Christianity, or simply wondered whether the beliefs you inherited are actually your own, this episode is for you. Sometimes finding truth requires having the courage to question everything you thought you knew. Question the narrative. Challenge your paradigm. Expand your perspectives. #UnholierThanThou #Deconstruction #ReligiousDeconstruction #MentalHell #PlatosCave #ReligiousTrauma #FaithDeconstruction #QuestionYourBeliefs #QuestionEverything #ThinkForYourself #Exvangelical #SpiritualDeconstructio Show Notes: Mental Hell - Documentary Connect with Caitlin on YouTube Deconstruction Course Conscious Rebel Podcast Caitlin's Substack The Video They Don't Want You To See Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

  8. Sep 8

    Is Meditation Really a Portal for Demons? | Paul Davis Explains

    Send us Fan Mail For years, many Christians have been taught that meditation, certain spiritual practices, and anything outside of traditional Christianity can open the door to demonic influence. But is that actually biblical? Or have fear-based teachings convinced Christians that they're constantly walking through a spiritual minefield? In this episode of Unholier Than Thou, Jennifer welcomes back returning guest Paul Davis from RealGoodNews.org for a fascinating conversation about Christianity, meditation, fear, anxiety, consciousness, spirituality, and what happens when we start questioning the things we were taught to fear. Paul shares his experience attending a Dr. Joe Dispenza retreat, including how the experience impacted his understanding of meditation and consciousness. One of the biggest questions raised in this episode is simple: If Christians believe Jesus and the Holy Spirit must be willingly invited into someone's life, why do they believe a demon can simply enter without permission? Are we living in faith? Or are we living in fear?  Let us know what YOU think in the comments. If you enjoy conversations about deconstruction, Christianity, spirituality, religious trauma, consciousness, and questioning inherited beliefs, make sure to subscribe to Unholier Than Thou.  Connect with Paul at RealGoodNews.org Conscious Rebel Podcast  Like this video Leave a comment Subscribe for more conversations that challenge the narrative #Meditation #Christianity #Deconstruction #ChristConsciousness #Oneness #DrJoeDispenza #ReligiousTrauma #Spirituality #Exvangelical #UnholierThanThou Support the show https://www.tiktok.com/unholier_pod https://www.instagram.com/unholier_podcast https://www.facebook.com/UhholierPodcast

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4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Unholier Than Thou is for anyone who has ever questioned the beliefs they were told they weren't allowed to question. We unpack religion, religious trauma, deconstruction, cult dynamics, purity culture, spiritual abuse, and the cultural beliefs that shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. Through raw conversations, personal stories, and thought provoking interviews, we explore what happens when you stop accepting inherited beliefs as unquestionable truth. We talk to survivors, former believers, therapists, authors, pastors, spiritual seekers, and people who have walked away from the systems that once defined them. This isn't about telling you what to believe. It's about giving you permission to ask better questions. Question the narrative. Challenge the paradigm. Expand your perspective. If you're ready to think for yourself, you're in the right place. Welcome to the conversations you weren't supposed to have. #exvangelical #deconstruction #religioustrauma #SpiritualAbuse  #FaithDeconstruction  #MentalHealthMatters  #CrimeAndConsequences

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Bartlett-Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unholier Than Thou
  • Show Website
    Unholier Than Thou

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