Luis Cornejo - Born this way!

DIVORCED: Chrisitan Fundamentalism

My guest today is Luis Cornejo: A Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, and the founder of Queer Magic Entertainment LLC. He also hosts the Queer Magic Podcast.

A proud first-generation Guatemalan and Mexican American, Luis is passionate about empowering the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities through his work in mental health, fashion, and self-expression.

As a speaker, model, and advocate, he uses his platforms to challenge oppressive systems, celebrate diverse identities, and inspire others to embrace their authentic selves.

Today, Luis shares some of the challenges of growing up queer in a fundamentalist family.
FIND LUIS
Instagram: @luis_thee_lmft
Websites: www.luis-cornejo.com
www.psychosocialtherapy.com
and https://psychosocial.media/
Queer Magic Podcast: https://www.luis-cornejo.com/queermagicpodcast

Janice's Amazon Best-Seller Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in

USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
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The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2025
www.porthosmedia.net

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Jamin Coller - Almost A Cult

TW: Mentions of suicidality

My guest today is Jamin Coller – and if you got Rapture Anxiety after watching the 1970s Christian cult movie A Thief in the Night, you’ve already met Jamin’s dad! After th e movie, his dad started a fundamentalist church. A seminary graduate, pastor’s kid, and true believer, Jamin spent his first 40 years as a Bible scholar, theologian, worship pastor, national children’s speaker, and Christian educator. But the inconsistencies were too much.

In this episode, Jamin shares about growing up with his controlling, fundamentalist pastor for a father. Upon leaving his dad's church, Jamin was shunned and experienced a smear campaign launched by his father. Since leaving, Jamin has written two books and an autobiographical website with a timeline of his experiences.
FIND JAMIN
Dear Evangelicals: The Real Reasons People Are Exiting Church book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPCPPLH5 and book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S90j6ql1QE
If I’m Really Honest – The Transparent Thought Life of a Reluctant Deconstructionist book: https://www.amazon.com/Really-Honest-Transparent-Reluctant-Deconstructionist-ebook/dp/B0CW1FQ5TR and book trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9cVM55pzZ4
Jamin's autobiographical site: https://AlmostACult.com
Jamin's community group aspirations are here: https://PersonalExplorationSpace.com

Janice's Amazon Best-Seller Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in

USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to
Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellor
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligion
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/

The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2025
www.porthosmedia.net

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Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Annie Laurie Gaylor - Religion is Killing American Women

Annie Laurie Gaylor is co-founder and co-president of FFRF – the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
In addition to being a long-time women's rights activist, Annie Laurie is an accomplished author.
Her book, Woe to the Women: The Bible Tells Me So, was first published by FFRF in 1981, and is in its 4th printing.

In 1988, FFRF published her second book Betrayal of Trust: Clergy Abuse of Children, the first book documenting widespread sexual abuse by clergy.
Her 1997 anthology, Women Without Superstition: 'No Gods, No Masters,’ is the first collection of the writings of historic and contemporary women freethinkers.

Today, we discuss how religious beliefs are strangling the USA and harming women - and what we can do about it. If you care about the rights of women and non-christians in America, please become a member of FFRF today.

RESOURCES:
https://ffrf.org/
The FFRF Action Fund, the c4 lobbying group, is: ffrfaction.org

Janice's Amazon Best-Seller Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in

USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to
Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligion
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/

The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2025
www.porthosmedia.net

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Malkie Schwartz - From Fundy to Freedom Fighter
Divorced: Ultra-orthodox Judaism

In her early 20s, Malkie Schwartz chose to leave her ultra-orthodox Jewish community. Within 3 years, she founded Footsteps, the first organization in North America to help people who wish to leave the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and live in mainstream society. Footsteps gained notoriety in 2017, with the release of the Netflix documentary “One of Us.” To date, Footsteps has served over 1300 individuals.

Malkie is also co-founder and board member of the Rights and Religions Forum. In 2023, the Rights and Religions Forum (RARF) launched the Borgenicht Fellowship Program for Community Leaders. This first-of-its-kind program connects a diverse cohort of leaders who are challenging religious oppression and supporting the ability of individuals raised in insular religious groups to make personal choices and lead lives that reflect their personal values and beliefs.

I met Malkie when a Footsteps representative reached out to me in 2021 interested in sending a Footsteps contingent to the inaugural Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT), and today I am proud to be a Borgenicht Fellow.

In this episode, Malkie shares about leaving her insular community, why she started Footsteps, and the importance of groups like RARF, who rely on generous donations to provide support for others who are Divorcing Religion.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
https://rarforum.org/
https://www.footstepsorg.org/
Janice's Best-selling book Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in
USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to
Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligion
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/

The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2025
www.porthosmedia.net

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Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Carol Merchasin - Suing Predatory Spiritual Leaders

Carol Merchasin is an attorney who leads a practice group litigating sexual misconduct in religious, faith-based and spiritual communities at McAllister Olivarius. She is an experienced investigator who has conducted dozens of workplace investigations, including those involving sensitive allegations made against top level executives.

Carol’s current work shines a light on the failures of many spiritual centers and retreats, and the abuse of power by cult leaders.

In this episode, Carol and I discuss cults, litigating spiritual leaders, and the need to educate judges and jurors about coercive control. We also mention Dr. Steven Hassan's work, which you can find here:

https://freedomofmind.com/

FIND CAROL:

cmerchasin@mcolaw.com

Website: https://mcolaw.com/team/carol-merchasin/

Instagram: @mcallisterolivarius (https://www.instagram.com/mcallisterolivarius/)

Janice's Amazon Best-Seller Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in

USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to
Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligion
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/

The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2025
www.porthosmedia.net

Support the show

Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Mandisa Thomas - WTF, USA?!

My guest today is activist and speaker Mandisa Thomas. Although never formally indoctrinated into belief, Mandisa was heavily exposed to Christianity, Black Nationalism, and Islam.

In 2011, Mandisa founded Black Nonbelievers, Inc., as a non-profit, secular organization. Its goals include eliminating stigma, increasing visibility, and providing support and networking opportunities around non-belief in the African-American community. In addition to founding Black Nonbelievers, Mandisa is also the president.

Today, Mandisa shares how Caucasians can support their BIPOC neighbors in light of the upcoming challenges and threats posed by a Republican government.

FIND MANDISA

https://blacknonbelievers.org/

Janice's Best-selling book Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in

USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to
Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligion
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/

The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2024
www.porthosmedia.net

Support the show

Lonnie Mann - Gaytheist
Divorced: Orthodox Judaism

Lonnie Mann grew up Orthodox Jewish in New York. It's a strict, difficult lifestyle for anyone; but Lonnie found additional challenges growing up as he realized he was gay, and struggled to reconcile his faith and sexuality. Ultimately, Lonnie managed to leave the community. Eventually, he wrote a graphic novel about his experiences, with his partner Ryan Gatts helping provide artwork.

Lonnie’s book is called Gaytheist: Coming Out of My Orthodox Childhood.
FIND LONNIE:
https://www.lonniecomics.com/

Janice's Best-selling book Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Subscribe to the audio-only version here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/religious-trauma-podcast

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to
Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligion
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/

The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2024
www.porthosmedia.net

Support the show

Strong Women in Secular Spaces: Dr. Marlene Winell - Christianity Run Amok

DIVORCED: Christianity

Dr. Marlene Winell is a licensed psychologist, educator, and writer. Her background includes 30 years of experience in human services, in both community and academic settings. She holds a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University and is the author of Leaving the Fold: A guide for former fundamentalists and others leaving their religion.

Dr. Winell directs the organization Journey Free, which offers services for recovery from harmful religion. In 2011, she named "Religious Trauma Syndrome." Marlene is also a filmmaker, photographer, mother, and grandmother.

Today, we explore institutionalized religionism in the USA, as well as ways in which Trump represents the worst elements of Christianity.

Below are Dr. Winell's articles referenced in our conversation:

• Trump's Worldview Mirrors the Most Archaic and Apocalyptic of Christian Beliefs

https://www.alternet.org/2016/09/trumps-worldview-mirrors-most-archaic-and-apocalyptic-christian-beliefs

• It's Not Just Personal: The Collective Trauma of Religion

https://americanhumanist.org/what-we-do/publications/eph/journals/volume29/winell/

FIND Dr. WINELL

https://www.journeyfree.org/

www.marlenewinell.net

Janice's Best-selling book Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in

USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP78TZZF and CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP78TZZF

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Shameless Sexuality: Life After Purity Culture conference, happening LIVE in Seattle May 23-25, 2025! Get yours now: https://www.shamelesssexuality.org/

Purity Culture Survivor Support Group is happening on Thursdays at 5pm Pacific. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others for healing and support: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Need help on your journey of healing from Religious Trauma? Book a free 20-minute consultation with Janice here: https://www.divorcing-religion.com/services

Support this channel by becoming a Member of the Divorcing Religion YouTube channel! When you support this channel by joining our YouTube membership (starting as low as $3/month) you'll get early access to all of our new content, access to badges and special chat emojis, and more. Every dollar helps, so sign up to be a member today by clicking "Join" under the video.

Follow Janice and Divorcing Religion on Social Media:
Mastodon: JaniceSelbie@mas.to
Threads: Wisecounsellor@threads.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/divorcereligion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wise_counsellor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComeToCORT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivorcingReligion
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janiceselbie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisecounsellor/

The Divorcing Religion Podcast is for entertainment purposes only. If you need help with your mental health, please consult a qualified, secular, mental health clinician.

Podcast by Porthos Media
Copyright 2024
www.porthosmedia.net

Support the show