Joel Michael Herbert is an artist, coach, speaker, and musician. Joel opens up about his profound and often challenging journey from growing up in a conservative religious environment to becoming a worship pastor, and eventually deconstructing his faith. Through personal stories and key influences like Brennan Manning, Donald Miller, and Rachel Held Evans, Joel shares how he navigated through doubt, academic scrutiny, and a shifting theological landscape. Together, we discuss the impact of the 2016 election, the ongoing quest for truth, and the importance of holding beliefs loosely. The conversation underscores the complexities of faith, growth, and transformation, offering you a raw and genuine exploration of spiritual evolution.

To learn more about Joel's band, The World in Lights, click here!

Joel is all over social media, too! You can search for Joel Michael Herbert on most platforms.

You can leave a review by clicking here!

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!

Shane Larsen grew up in the Latter Day Saints faith, but after a faith crisis, he began using critical thinking, asking the tough questions and found himself deconstructing his faith. Now, he wants others who leave the comfort and familiarity of their faith tradition to know that they are not alone. He has a TikTok account called "Shane Deconstructs" where he talks very openly about his faith shift, sometimes in funny ways and sometimes in ways that make one think a little deeper about the things they've been told are true. He shares his journey with openness, vulnerability and a lot of heart.

Shane can be found on TikTok at this link!

The podcast Shane talked about, Marriage on a Tightrope, can be found here!

The book Shane talked about that made his faith shift begin is called A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger. This is more of a business book, just fyi. But here are a few more books Shane recommends if you want to improve critical thinking or if you are deconstructing Mormonism:

The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan

The CES Letter: My Search for Answers to my Mormon Doubts

No Man Knows My History: the Life of Joseph Smith by Fawn Brodie

An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!

Jay's church, Revolution Gathering, can be found on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X(Twitter).

You can pick up any of Jay's books on Amazon! Here is a link to do that.

Jay's mom, Tammy Faye Bakker, wrote a book he talks about in the interview that I think you should pick up, too! Here is the link for the book, I Gotta Be Me.

You can also find Jay's writings on Patheos.

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Want to attend Theology Beer Camp? Save $50 on the registration fee with code JOURNEY2024 and you can register at this link!

Would you like to be a Patreon Supporter for Honoring the Journey and help keep the episodes coming? You can do that by clicking here! Thank you for your support! :)

If you'd like to leave a review on Apple, please do! We grow by word of mouth. Click here to leave a review!

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!

Sherea Lloyd was a contestant Leslie met on her season of Survivor: China. Leslie & Sherea have a very special relationship that really developed the few weeks after the game was over for them as they traveled China as roommates. This episode is so much fun! Sherea shares the hardest parts of the show for her, along with her favorite parts, how she got on the show in the first place and what she's up to now. She also shares her faith journey a bit with us. Enjoy!

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To join the Honoring the Journey Patreon and support this podcast, please click here!

To find out more about Theology Beer Camp and to register by using the code JOURNEY2024 to save $50, click here!

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!

Jared Byas is the co-host of The Bible for Normal People Podcast and he is also a writer, and a former professor of Philosophy and Biblical Studies. In this episode, he shares his journey through deconstruction and his consistently deep desire to know the love and truth of God. He doesn't hold back in offering some of the wisdom he has learned along the way! A fabulous conversation that will leave you with tons of insightful things to consider!

Find out more about Jared on his website: https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/about-jared-byas/

Listen to him and Pete Enns on The Bible for Normal People here!

Pick up Jared's newest book, Love Matters More.

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Join the new Honoring the Journey Patreon here!

Sign up for Theology Beer Camp in October in Denver by visiting this website and use code JOURNEY2024 to save $50!

Find out more about the next Religious Rehab by visiting Leslie's website: www.leslieneasecoaching.com

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!

Andrea, who uses the pen name Cheydrea (shy-drae-uh), had a childhood filled with instability, neglect and fear. Through the years, she has fully deconstructed her evangelical beliefs and has found tremendous healing in her writing and art. Her poetry reveals her pain in raw and vivid detail. Through courageous and vulnerable self-expression, she has learned to honor her emotions, re-parent herself, and liberate her authentic voice. Her story is one of tremendous resilience and her desire to help others heal is inspiring!

Find out more about Cheydrea and get ahold of her book by visiting her website: www.cheydrea.com.

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To sign up for Leslie's next Religious Rehab Group Coaching Experience, click here!

Theology Beer Camp registration is still open! Save $50 off the registration fee by using code JOURNEY2024. Here is the link to register!

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!

Reza Aslan came to the US when his family fled from Iran when he was 7 years old. He was raised in the Muslim religion, but converted to Christianity in college, then found his way back to his Muslim/Islam roots in his twenties. He has studied religion deeply for years, has written books, has been on podcasts and documentaries about religion and has incredible insights into the purpose and role of religion in our society. His journey is fascinating and he doesn't hold back from sharing with incredible compassion, vulnerability and a true desire to help others find their path. Don't miss this incredible conversation!

Find out more about Reza and get his books at his website! www.rezaaslan.com

Listen to his podcast with Rainn Wilson, Metaphysical Milkshake, here!

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Sign up for Leslie's next Religious Rehab Group Coaching Experience here!

Register for Theology Beer Camp, using code JOURNEY2024 to save $50 here!

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!

Gary Alan Taylor was very active in ministry for a number of years. He actually worked with Focus on the Family, where he was in charge of touring with The Truth Project (remember that?). But when he began to question some things about his theology, there was a huge shift in his life. He now has a podcast called Holy Heretics, helped found The Sophia Society, and is a writer and speaker in the deconstruction community. His story is so relatable and powerful, friends. I know you will enjoy hearing from him on today's episode!

To join Honoring the Journey on Patreon, click here! Just $5 per month gets you exclusive content, and a monthly meet and greet on Zoom!

To be on the waitlist for Religious Rehab, send Leslie an email at LeslieNease@gmail.com and let her know you want to know more about Religious Rehab! This group coaching experience is for those going through deconstruction, looking for connection and a place to share, learn and grow! It's completely confidential and a safe place to process these important things together.

Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.

Interested in working with Leslie as your 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 as a Patreon Supporter, please check it out at this link!

If you are looking for community as you deconstruct or just a place to go and enjoy the company of people who are seekers, learners and who are looking to connect with the Divine without religious baggage, please join the Private Facebook Community! Leslie is very passionate about connection and community, so if that sounds like you, please come join us!