STRONGWILLED

Erica Smith & The Purity Culture Dropout Guide

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We were so grateful to have a conversation with Erica Smith, sex educator and author of the incredibly helpful new bookThe Purity Culture Recovery Gui...

We Talk About Spotlight (yep the 2015 film starring Mark Ruffalo)

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin and DL discuss the movie Spotlight, about the team of journalists who broke the story about abusive Catholic priests in Boston, and eventually...

Purity Culture is Pedophile Culture

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

TW: childhood sexual abuse, CSAMThis episode, DL gives an overview of their research on Dobson's knowledge and failure to use that knowledge to protec...

HOPECORE with DL: Wake Up Dead Man, A Knives Out Mystery

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Here's another Hopecore episode! DL talks about why the latest Knives Out Mystery gives them hope. We discussed the way it approaches different types...

James Dobson's Worst Nightmare Part 2

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW: eugenics, racism, forced sterilization, gendered violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse materials, and homophobia/conversion therapy.This episo...

James Dobson's Worst Nightmare Part 1

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW: eugenics, racism, forced sterilization, gendered violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse materials, and homophobia/conversion therapy.This episo...

HOPECORE with DL Mayfield: Derry Girls

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is our second Hopecore episode! It's a special series where we take a break from talking explicitly about religious authoritarianism, and talk ab...

HOPECORE with DL Mayfield: Superman (2025)

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re trying something new this week! Instead of talking about religion authoritarianism, we took some time for DL to talk about something they love...

Interview with Ryan Stollar

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW: childhood sexual abuse, child sexual abuse imagesThis episode, DL talks with RL Stollar about threats to children’s safety in child-centric orga...

Mocking Jay Part 2 (Hunger Game Series)

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin & DL recap and discuss the fourth movie of The Hunger Games, wrapping up the series and discussing picking up the pieces after trauma -- a...

Christian Zionism 101 (Again)

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we’re re-playing an episode from early 2024 about the origins of Christian Zionism — with an updated introduction (actually, two updated in...

Mocking Jay Part 1

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW: Homophobia, corporal punishment / spanking, drug overdose.Krispin & DL recap and discuss the third movie of The Hunger Games and talk about th...

Catching Fire Part 2 (Hunger Games Series)

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW: Homophobia, corporal punishment / spanking, drug overdose.Krispin & DL recap and discuss the third movie of The Hunger Games (which was a diff...

Catching Fire Part 1 (Hunger Games Series)

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin & DL recap and discuss the second book/movie of The Hunger Games and talk about strategies of authoritarian governments. If you want to h...

Hunger Games: Authoritarianism & Violence Against Children

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin & DL recap and discuss the first book/movie of The Hunger Games and talk about how James Dobson and President Snow use the same methods of...

When Your Partner Comes from a Religious Authoritarian Family

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin discuss what it’s like when you start to notice your partner’s family is dysfunctional, as well as what it’s like when you’re t...

Wild Faith: An Interview with Talia Lavin

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW: child abuse, corporal punishmentDL interviewed Talia Lavin, author of the phenomenal book Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over Ameri...

Estrangement in Nazi Germany?

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW: Holocaust denial, homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny, religious traumaDL took some time during their estrangement story to do a deep dive into ...

DL' s Story of Estrangement

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW/CW: denial of structural racism in the US, COVID denial / death, transphobia, homophobia, fatphobia. DL shares their story about going no contact ...

Focus on the (Estranged) Family

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TW/CW: physical abuse, corporal punishment, emotionally abusive caretakerKrispin & DL discuss the second part of the the Adventures in Odyssey epi...

Krispin's Story of Estrangement

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TW/CW: sexual abuse, spanking, religious traumaKrispin shares his story about going no contact with his parents. This is a heavy one, and has an ongoi...

How Do You Set Boundaries in a Family Like this?

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TW/CW: corporal punishment, spanking, mention of sexual abuseKrispin & DL discuss the factors that make setting boundary in religious authoritaria...

Corporal Punishment & Brain Development with Tori Williams Douglass

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TW/CW: physical abuse, corporal punishmentKrispin & DL interview Tori Williams Douglass about corporal punishment and their experience working in ...

Spanking on Christian Radio

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TW/CW: physical abuse, emotionally abusive/aggressive caretaker, sexual abuse, animal/pet death.Krispin & DL discuss a Christian radio drama about...

DL's Story

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TW: suicidal ideation, child loss, emotional neglect/abuseA conversation between Krispin and DL, where DL talks about their childhood with a parent wh...

Krispin's Story

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TW: corporal punishment, child physical abuse, child sexual abuseThis episode, Krispin talks about growing up in a small town with conservative paren...

Send this Episode to Your Therapist Part 2: Family Dynamics

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin discuss how religious authoritarian parenting often creates dysfunctional family dynamics, and how it impacts the individuals who grow ...

Send this Episode to Your Therapist Part 1

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin cover the basics of growing under religious authoritarian parenting — and what we believe therapists should know when they’re helpi...

A daughter of Focus on the Family speaks out

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For this bonus episode, D.L. Mayfield interviewed Amber Cantorna-Wylde, author of Out of Focus, My Story of Sexuality, Shame, and Toxic Evangelicalis...

Holymotherforkingshirtballs

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DL & Krispin discuss the season finale of The Good Place Season 1, titled "Michael's Gambit." We talk about recognizing rotten systems (that claim...

I Did It My Way

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E12 titled “Mindy St. Claire” We ask whether you actually have any ethical choices in a capitalistic system and other...

The Catastrophe

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

D.L interviews Kelley Nikondeha, author of First Advent in Palestine about Christian zionism, and how Palestinians view the year 1948 (often called "T...

Strange Bedfellows

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The book we are discussing is The Gates of Zion by Brock and Bodie Theone. You can follow Josh’s work over on his substack called New Means. He most...

Christian Zionism 101

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about Christian Zionism, The Left Behind Series, Dispensationalism and more!Here's some resources we reference in this episode:Lef...

She Makes the Bass Drop in my Heart

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E10 titled “What's My Motivation?” We talk a lot about religious trauma, being trained to discount your own experienc...

Mulling Over the Ethical Implications of Various Soups

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E10 titled “Chidi’s Choice.” We talk about our romantic lives as teenagers and young adults. We also talk more abou...

The Attachment Style of a Trashbag

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E9 titled “...Some Like Me as a Member.” We talk ethical OCD, feeling of shame, attachment styles and more. Krispin ...

Snitches Get Stitches

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E8 titled “Most Improved Player.” We talk about how systems maintain the status quo, and the ethics of transparency ...

White Lies & Red Boots

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E7 titled “The Eternal Shriek.” We talk about how being polite isn't always the most ethical decision. We also talk a...

Friends are Friends Forever

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E6 titled “What We Owe to Each Other.” We talk about the ethics (and exploitation) of promises, the TV show Friends, ...

Bonus episode: Reaching for the Invisible God by Phillip Yancey (Books from the Bad Place episode)

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're releasing last month's patreon-only episode on the main feed today. We talk about Yancey's book that came out in 2000 that validated doubts, dis...

Doomsday Crisis

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Spoilers in the episode! DL and Krispin talk about S1 E5 titled “Category 55 Emergency Doomsday Crisis.” We talk about unjust systems that we call...

Mr. Music the DJ

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E4 titled “Jason Mendoza.” We talk about self-acceptance, shame, and systems that create hierarchies of who is consid...

60 Billion Dollars

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL and Krispin talk about S1 E3 titled "Tahani Al Jamil." We talk about what makes a person good, directional insanity and what could be done with 60 ...

Questions & Fears

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is flying the most selfish super power? And can people change? This episode, DL and Krispin talk about S1E2 (“Flying”) of the Good Place and the p...

Everything is Not Fine

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is the FIRST EPISODE of This Is the Bad Place, a recap podcast of the NBC's Good Place TV show.We’re covering the pilot episode, and talking ab...

Image Management Strategies (Recap of Ep4 Shiny Happy People)

26 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TW: religious abuse, sexual abuse, family cover-up of abuse, psychological abuse, retaliation for abuse allegations.Most of this episode discusses sex...

Fascism in Plain Sight (Recap of Shiny Happy People Ep 3)

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TW: religious abuse, sexual abuse, family cover-up of abuse, psychological abuse, harsh punishment of children), controlling parenting, grooming and s...

An Environment Where Abuse Thrives (Recap of Ep 2 of Shiny Happy People)

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TW: religious abuse, sexual abuse, family cover-up of abuse, emotional neglect, psychological abuse, physical abuse (and violent punishment of childre...

19 Cults & Counting (Recap of Ep 1 of Shiny Happy People)

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TW: religious abuse, sexual abuse, family cover-up of abuseThis is the first of a four episode series called Too Many Cults, where Krispin and Lindsay...

Can You Catch the Wind?

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DL & Krispin finish the season discussing tracks "What Have We Become?" "Mind's Eye" and bonus track, "Alas My Love."Join our patreon community to...

The Disease of Self

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TW: suicide, abuseKrispin interviews Dr. Mark G. Karris, therapist and author of The Diabolical Trinity: Healing Religious Trauma from a Wrathful God,...

You Need Some Jesus in Your Life

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin and DL talk about "Like It, Love It, Need It," and what it was like growing up being told that Jesus is answer to all your life's problems.We ...

Wanna Grab Coffee, Just Between You and Me?

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin and DL interview Grace Baldridge (who performs music under the name Semler). We talk religious trauma and cringe-worthy middle school stories....

Before Jesus Freaks there were Jesus People

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The movie "Jesus Revolution" has brought the Jesus People Movement on the radar again, and we talk about some of the history, including Lonnie Frisbee...

Mrs. Morgan

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hello all! We are taking a little break this week (an interlude, if you will) - and we wanted to share a clip from our patreon-only episode this week....

The Most Skippable Song on the Album

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

BUT NOT THE MOST SKIPPABLE EPISODE!Krispin & Kevin Nye discuss "Day by Day" from Jesus Freak, and talk about the heavy weight of daily devotions, ...

Sister Freaks

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode, DL talks with her two sisters about their memories of Jesus Freak and the culture surrounding it.You can follow Lindsay Strannigan on tw...

The Greatest Single Cause of Atheism

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin talks to Derrick Scott III about "What If I Stumble?" by DC Talk, and discuss "the single greatest cause of atheism in the world today."Derric...

The Worst Song on the Album

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin and DL interview Peter Choi about DC Talk’s song “Colored People.”Peter Choi is the Director of the Center for Faith and Justice (that D...

I Got Something for You, Man

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

TW: suicide, sexual abuseKrispin and DL talk about "So Help Me God," developmental psychology and about the organization that partnered to produce the...

From Jesus Freak to Therapy Freak (w/Jessie McLaughlin)

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We talked to Jessie McLaughlin about “So Help Me God.” She shares with us about her experience of growing up Christian, the inner turmoil of takin...

Colorado Springs, Colorado

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We took some time to talk about the recent shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Focus on the Family, which is located there. We started this po...

Was Dorothy Day a Jesus Freak? Our 100th episode!

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin interviews DL about starting out to as a Jesus Freak to wanting to be just like Dorothy Day to wanting to be herself. We talk about the perfe...

My Best Friend Was Born in a Manger

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Season nine of Prophetic Imagination Station is here!!Before listening, go ahead and check out the music video for Jesus Freak.We’re diving into the...

I Kissed Christian Romance Goodbye

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for the final episode of season 8! Krispin and Danielle talk about the classic purity culture read, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl an...

God Lovers

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

D.L. has a delightful conversation with Erin Moon about the very first Christian YA series, written by Robin Jones Gunn and published by Focus on the ...

Texts of Terror

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

TW: sexual assault, rape, abuseD.L. once again revisits Redeeming Love with Dr. Alexiana Fry. We get more into the weeds of some of the problematic an...

Are You Not Captivated?

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

D.L. chats with Jenna DeWitt about Captivating, the highly-influential prescriptive romance guide for young Christian women in the early 2000s.We tack...

The One Thing You Can't Do

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

D.L. chats with Devi Abraham about the wildly popular novel (and now movie) Redeeming Love. We delve into some of the troubling elements of the story...

Onto the Bonnet Rippers!

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

D.L. chats with Valerie Weaver-Zercher about all things Amish Christian fiction! We explore the unique, multi-faceted world of Amish romance, how it ...

Benevolent Patriarchy on the Prairie

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

D.L. interviews Daniel Silliman about the Christian romance novel that started it all—Love Comes Softly. We talk about Oke’s Canadian background ...

A clip from "First Love" - a recent patreon-only episode.

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Since Krispin's laptop was being repaired all last week, we won't have a new Christian romance episode up until next week - BUT here's a little clip f...

Bad Women of the Bible (interview with Sharifa Stevens)

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Danielle interviews Sharifa Stevens about the book of Esther, and the Bible stories that have been romanticized - and shouldn’t have been. Follow S...

Romancing the Gospel

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Danielle tells Krispin about why Christian romance has flown under the radar - and needs some attention!Did you grow up reading Christian Romance book...

More Than a Feeling (Adventures in Odyssey)

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We decided for Krispin's book release day to drop an episode, and we're talking about feelings & faith. We listened to & discussed this episod...

Ruining Love

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin and Danielle compare the film adaptation of Redeeming Love.Trigger warnings: sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence and pan...

Tear It Down, Brick by Brick

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Trigger warning! Sexual & religious abuse.We think it's worth watching the 2-minute trailer before listening to this episode. We discuss the Netfl...

Faith Enough to Win the Super Bowl

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about the movie American Underdog.Send us an email or find us on social media to tell us about what movies you think we should watch!You can s...

A Very Special Christmas Replay

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a replay of an episode from two years ago - we talk about Christmas in evangelicalism, evangelistic musicals and why Krispin thinks Christmas ...

The Most Long-Winded Convert

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss The Most Reluctant Convert, which featured Nicholas Ralph from All Creatures Great and Small (some of our favorite boringly-calming British...

The Jesus-Juke Box

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin tells DL about "The Jesus Music" documentary about CCM.Trigger warning: childhood verbal abuse.This is a documentary about Amy Grant, Michael ...

Eyes on the Eyes of Tammy Faye

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

DL went to The Eyes of Tammy Faye and we talked about how there are examples of Christians in conservative circles who were standing up for LGBTQ+ peo...

Show Me the Patriarchy

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're starting our new season where one of us watches a Christian movie and tells the other about it. This episode we discuss a documentary called Sho...

Shamecore Records: the Epilogue

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We had two great conversations with people who have been interviewing numerous people within the scene, and how this scene impacted people (musicians...

God of Peace, We Want You

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We wrap up the Shamecore season talking about how shame is healed - through relationship.Drew Hart is the author of Who Will be a Witness and Trouble ...

All I am is a Monster

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Curt Thompson has published Anatomy of the Soul and Soul of ShameDr. Karyn Purvis audio was taken from lectures available from the Karyn Purvis Instit...

The Soft Song

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin talks with Robert Monson about the theology behind all these "soft songs," as well as short bit with Danielle Shroyer, who we heard earlier th...

Sons of Holy Wrath

04 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re posting on Sunday because this is a special 4th of July Episode! (You know we’re SO patriotic like that!)What’s the connection between Fat...

The Creation of Hell

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why would anyone willingly choose hell over heaven? In this episode, we'll hear from a couple of people who found themselves in a place in which they ...

I Thought You Had Me Forever

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin talks with Mandy Smallwood about Dead Poetic and hell anxiety.There's a clip from an Adventures in Odyssey episode that we talked about in our...

But Is It Changing a Wretch Like Me? Pt 2

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin explains addictive behaviors from an attachment perspective and asks whether Christianity offers any concrete help when we’re stuck in behav...

But Is It Changing a Wretch Like Me? Pt 1.

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"Oh how sweet is the sound / I know it saved, but is it changing a wretch like me?"Krispin explores the angst around purity culture that shows up in C...

With Sinning Hearts that Make Us Equal

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Brandi Miller is the host of the Reclaiming My Theology Podcast. You can follow her on twitter and instagram. We talk about her love for Emery, end up...

I'm a Vampire!

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Krispin & DL talk about Bindside and “the gospel” message based on having a dirty, rotten heart. Krispin interviews Danielle Shroyer about ori...

Destroy the Me that Lives Inside

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pádraig Ó Tuama is an Irish writer, poet & theologian. Host of On Being's Poetry Unbound podcast, he was recently named On Being's Theologian in...

My Heart Broke

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Soong Chan Rah is author of several books, including Prophetic Lament. You can follow him on twitter here.Hillary McBride is the author of Mothers, Da...

Emotions Shall Be Laid to Waste

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Leah Payne is a professor of Christian studies at George Fox University, author of Gender and Pentecostal Revivalism: Making a Female Ministry in ...

Shamecore Records Prelude: Electric Jesus

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To start off the Shamecore Records season, Krispin interviewed director Chris White and composer/musician, Daniel Smith about their recent movie Elect...

Cooper Kids! (Frank Peretti Patreon-only throw back)

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After D.L. talked about Frank Peretti on the Good Christian Fun podcast, we decided to release this episode for the general public, a Patreon-only epi...