STRONGWILLED

Growing Up in the Fold: Being Born into a High Control Religion

What’s the difference between experiencing religious trauma in the church — and being born into it? This episode, we begin to explore what kinds of long-term impacts come

The Prodigal Summer Series Part 3: Life After Leaving

This episode we heard from listeners about what they’ve found most rewarding about being leaving either dysfunctional families, the faith they were raised with – or both.

The Prodigal Summer Series Part 2: Prodigal Parents

This episode we discuss what Focus on the Family and James Dobson Institute recommending to estranged evangelical parents. We dig into what Dr. John Townsend (Peter Thiel

The Prodigal Summer Series Part 1: Prodigal Children

Welcome to our new series on estrangement! This episode we discuss what Focus on the Family and the James Dobson Institute are saying about estranged adult children. This

Jenai Auman & Being on the Lookout for Power and Control Dynamics

Krispin talked with Jenai Auman about learning to spot power and abuse dynamics in any group or organization.  She is author of Othered, and writes regularly on her subs

Erica Smith & The Purity Culture Dropout Guide

Trigger warnings: religious trauma regarding purity culture throughout, allusions to pedophilia around 15:00, mention of sexual abuse around 49:00. We were so grateful t

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

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

Purity Culture is Pedophile Culture

TW: childhood sexual abuse, CSAM This episode, DL gives an overview of their research on Dobson's knowledge and failure to use that knowledge to protect kids, and instea

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

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 of Christianity, a

James Dobson's Worst Nightmare Part 2

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

James Dobson's Worst Nightmare Part 1

TW: eugenics, racism, forced sterilization, gendered violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse materials, and homophobia/conversion therapy. This episode, DL gives an ov

HOPECORE with DL Mayfield: Derry Girls

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

HOPECORE with DL Mayfield: Superman (2025)

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 and that is giving th

Mocking Jay Part 2 (Hunger Game Series)

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

Christian Zionism 101 (Again)

Today, we’re re-playing an episode from early 2024 about the origins of Christian Zionism — with an updated introduction (actually, two updated intros). Krispin & DL di

Mocking Jay Part 1

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

Catching Fire Part 2 (Hunger Games Series)

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

Catching Fire Part 1 (Hunger Games Series)

Krispin & DL recap and discuss the second book/movie of The Hunger Games and talk about strategies of authoritarian governments.  If you want to hear Part 2 of this epis

Hunger Games: Authoritarianism & Violence Against Children

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 control.  Download Pra

When Your Partner Comes from a Religious Authoritarian Family

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 the one in the enmeshed famil