Touchy Subjects Podcast Erin Billings

In this eye-opening episode, our three guests—Bre, Dr. Jan, and Hillary—bravely share their personal journeys within various cults, shedding light on the dark corners of manipulative environments. Bre, raised in a non-denominational cult in Canada, discusses the toxic religious aspects and her subsequent venture into coaching to aid others in their recovery. Dr. Jan, a former school psychologist, provides insights into the damaging effects of the shepherding movement, exposing the perils of authoritarianism and control. Hillary's story unveils her experiences in the Twin Flames Universe, an online spiritual group, detailing emotional manipulation, financial exploitation, and the pressure to conform.
The heart of the episode explores the theme of high-control environments, commonly associated with cults. Bre emphasizes power dynamics and the coercion to serve and tithe within religious communities, revealing a lack of autonomy in decision-making. Instances where seeking permission from pastors for personal choices was the norm, especially for women, illustrate the extent of control. Hilary contributes her perspective from the Twin Flame universe, delving into how the group leader manipulated relationships and influenced gender transitions to fit prescribed unions.
This insightful conversation brings attention to the red flags indicative of cult-like control in various environments, urging listeners to recognize and navigate these warning signs. Join us as we delve into the shared struggles of autonomy, manipulation, and the quest for freedom within the diverse experiences of our guests.
Connect with Erin Billings and the Touchy Subjects Podcast:
Check out our website and follow us on Instagram @letstalktouchysubjects
About our Guests:
Dr. Jan Fox-Peterson practiced school psychology for many years for a large, urban k-12 school district until she became a consultant in restorative practices and a Supreme Court approved mediation/dispute resolution provider. In a nutshell, in the last decades, Dr. Jan has focused on coaching people in relationship wellness, compassionate communication, transforming conflict, and discovering their inner strength to persevere through trials in life.
Bre Hamilton is trained through an ICF accredited coach training, as well as utilizing her own methodology, Awareness to Action Method™️. She works with Folx who have escaped toxic religion to heal and deconstruct their beliefs in order to live the life they truly intend to live through tapping back into their intuition, primarily through community focused programs.
Hillary Dahl is a trauma sensitive coach that has a passion and desire to guiding others to get out of their heads and into their lives. Hillary works with you in a loving and compassionate way to guide you to a solution to bring you more peace and ease.

In this episode, we dive deep into the complex world of spiritual narcissism with Stacy Sanderson, a registered psychotherapist with expertise in narcissism and narcissistic recovery. Stacy shares her personal experiences and insights on these topics, shedding light on the distinctions between regular narcissism and spiritual narcissism. She also provides valuable advice on dealing with toxic situations and finding healing and recovery.
In this episode, we discuss:
Narcissism as a trait vs. Narcissism as a personality disorderThe misuse of diagnostic language in everyday conversationsThe red flags of Narcissistic AbuseHow to recognize Spiritual Narcissism, with examples in different contextsHow to handle toxic situations What the recovery and healing process looks like for someone that has experienced narcissistic abuse
More about Erin Billings and the Touchy Subjects Podcast:
Follow the Touchy Subjects Podcast on Instagram @letstalktouchysubjects or check out our website for more information.
About our Guest:
Stacey Sanderson is a Registered Psychotherapist, author, facilitator and teacher taking a holistic approach to healing narcissistic wounding in individuals, families, groups and organizations. She is passionate about helping people be empowered, embrace their spiritual gifts and live their mission - because the world needs them! Stacey is married and the mother of two amazing adult children, and some rescued fur babies!
Follow Stacey on Facebook and subscribe to her YouTube channel

In this episode of the Touchy Subjects Podcast, Erin Billings engages in a thought-provoking conversation with David Hayward, also known as Naked Pastor, shedding light on the crucial topic of spiritual abuse within religious institutions. David shares his journey from being a pastor for three decades to becoming a full-time artist and community leader, emphasizing the importance of transparency within the Church.
We Discussed:
What Spiritual Abuse is and what it looks likeThe red flags of Spiritual AbuseDeconstructing after Spiritual AbuseHow to report Spiritual AbuseAccountability in the Church
Connect with Erin Billings and the Touchy Subjects Podcast:
Follow @letstalktouchysubjects on Instagram or check out our website for more information.
About our Guest:
David Hayward served the church for about 30 years, then left the ministry in 2010.
He’s been running the nakedpastor blog since 2005 where he posts his provocative cartoons and articles, as well as his artwork.
He launched an online community called The Lasting Supper, a place for people to change without being judged or instructed, and where they can learn to become spiritually independent.
He’s been cartooning, making art, writing, and speaking around his core passions: personal authentic freedom, the power to change our own lives, community, and the creative spirit to make our world a better place.
He and his wife live in eastern Canada. They have three adult children.
Connect with NakedPastor David Hayward:
Website: www.nakedpastor.com
Instagram: @nakedpastor

In this episode, we delve deep into the world of deconstruction and how it affects our relationships and support systems. Our guests, Rebecca Lynn, Erin Watson Mohr, and Julie Tran, share their personal journeys through deconstruction and the impact it has had on their lives. From family dynamics to finding a new sense of community, we explore the multifaceted aspects of this transformative process.
We Discussed:
Deconstruction's Impact on RelationshipsThe Role of Support SystemsThe Impact on ChildrenFinding Community and Creating Safe SpacesPrioritizing Self-Care
Connect with Erin Billings and the Touchy Subjects Podcast:
Follow @letstalktouchysubjects on Instagram or check out our website for more information.
About our Guests:
Rebecca Lynn (RebL) is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, speaker, writer, coach, and leadership expert. She currently runs her own coaching practice where she works with individuals, families, and teams to become more emotionally aware, increase their self-awareness, and to break out of the roles they take on based on societal expectations and individual limiting beliefs, especially when those cause harm. Rebecca is especially passionate about helping women see themselves through the lens of trauma, social pressures, and their own self-imposed expectations so they can emerge as their most authentic, whole self. Rebecca Lynn loves speaking to teams about team dynamics and communication, and the value of vulnerability and holding space. She also loves bringing awareness to groups and organizations about the presence and impacts of trauma on individuals and the team.
Erin Watson Mohr was a pastor for 20 years serving the church in many ways, though her main focus was music ministry, youth and young adults and associate pastor where she developed and oversaw prophetic ministry. Erin is currently a life coach serving her clients through her own organic model of holistic healing. She has two daughters and lives on a little hobby farm near Winnipeg Canada.
Julie Tran is a former executive in the commercial real estate industry turned Compassionate Communication Marriage Coach. She works with modern, success driven women and mentors them in mastering the art and skill of compassionate communication. Her soul mission is to empower women to become powerful, courageous, feminine leaders, so that they can lead their marriage to peace and paradise, without couples therapy.

In this episode, we dive deep into the effects of trauma on the body and nervous system. Many of us are unaware of how trauma can manifest physically, and our guests, Nervous System Regulation Expert Rhysa Sisco and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Virginia Wingler shed light on this crucial topic.
We discuss:
How trauma (Big T and little t traumas) affect the bodyRecognizing the physical manifestations of emotional traumaTrauma's impact on the nervous systemThe importance of self-advocacy
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Nervous System Regulation Quiz
Connect with Erin Billings and the Touchy Subjects Podcast:
Follow @letstalktouchysubjects on Instagram or check out our website for more information.
About our Guests:
Rhysa Sisco is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and life and business empowerment mentor who has a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy and transitioned from healthcare to pursue her dreams as an entrepreneur and Founded Regulate with Rhysa. In her decade long career, she has empowered over 1000+ high-achievers and leaders to transform their lives by unlocking the keys to tap into their full potential with her HIERARCHY OF POWER system and Regulation Program. She has been invited to speak at places such as PodTalks, TagTalks, health and wellness summits, been a guest on top 1% business podcasts, and her work has been featured in Authority Magazine.
Virginia Wingler has been a nurse for more than 10 years and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner for 4 years. Most of her career has been in corrections, inpatient psychiatry and community mental health. She has been married to her husband for 27 years and has two children.

In this episode, we delve into the topic of spiritual bypassing and its impact on individuals dealing with chronic health issues. Our guests, Brooke and Tay, share their personal experiences and insights on how well-intentioned but misguided spiritual responses can affect those who are struggling with serious health conditions.
We discuss:
How people with chronic illness has impacted our personal lives, as well as our deconstructionThe need for boundaries and self-care rituals when you have a chronic illnessWhat Spiritual Bypassing is, sounds like, and how it affects peopleHow to create a supportive environment for someone with a chronic illness
About our Guests:
Tay Francis is more than a brand consultant - she is also an award-winning researcher and a human design expert. A Caribbean native with advanced degrees in psychology and population statistics, Tay has dedicated her career to understanding how people behave and communicate.
During the global pandemic, Tay left corporate market research and launched her own consulting firm: The Empowerment Axis Consultancy. Today, she uses her unique background and human design expertise to help coaches and entrepreneurs build better relationships with their clients and themselves.
Brooke Gurrad is a liver transplant recipient, wife, mom, and chronically ill human. After a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis in 2005, she received a life-saving liver transplant that same year. She has a Bachelor's in Music, Vocal Performance from Lee University and a Masters in Teaching from St. Martin’s University.
Brooke has accumulated quite the repertoire of jobs, but they all come back to teaching, coaching, and helping people. With experience using tools of EQi (emotional intelligence), Strengths Finder, Myers-Briggs, and Enneagram, she developed a 2-year Self Awareness curriculum to coach clients as they go through job transitions, discover new dreams, navigate relationships, and dig into emotional health. Brooke is now honored to use those same tools to support my community with chronic illness, focusing on transplant patients.