#19 Jo Luehmann: Reclaiming Christianity when you have religious trauma

Claire Baker is a sought-after period coach, author and speaker. For nearly a decade Claire has taught thousands of women how to live in harmony with their menstrual cycle, rather than working against it. Claire believes menstrual cycle awareness is the missing key in women’s wellbeing, empowerment and creativity, and her immersive online courses and workshops inspire women to know their flow and become the authority in their own lives. Claire’s online program Adore Your Cycle has students in over 35 countries. With a background in visual arts and creative business, Claire is a certified health and life coach, has studied Menstruality Leadership and is a trained natural fertility teacher. Known for her authentic voice and ability to ‘make periods fun’, Claire is regularly featured in publications such as Red, Glamour, and Women’s Health magazine. Originally from Australia, Claire now lives in sunny East London and spends her days coaching, teaching, writing, dancing and being as close to trees as she possibly can. Connect with Claire on Insta https://www.instagram.com/_clairebaker_/ and through her website: https://www.clairebaker.com/

This is a special one for me, because I felt like a proper fangirl recording this conversation. Jo Luehmann has played a big role in my deconstruction of faith and I am forever grateful to her for who she is and what she does. Jo is a Colombian born and raised pastor with a Masters degree in ministry and theology. This woman knows her stuff. You just have to have one look at her IG or listen to her for 5 minutes and she will blow you away. Jo teaches about decolonizing + dismantling theology (and what the difference is) a lot - and it's something we cover in this episode as well. Apart from that we also speak about her own journey and the questions that kicked off her deconstruction, why deconstruction is not enough and where she has landed on today.  One thing that fascinates me is that she calls herself a Christian, even though she does not subscribe to the 'You are a sinner, Jesus died for you' message at all: you will find out how she defines that and what Christianity means to her.  We speak about her work with @dobetterchurch , a team that fights to hold churches accountable for the individual and collective abuse that gets covered up, about learning your own intuition when you have religious trauma and a lot more that's too good to miss. You can find all that Jo has to offer here: https://linktr.ee/joluehmann  and you should also follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joluehmann/ As always, be kind and respectful online (and IRL) x If you enjoy this episode please leave me a review and share this with someone you love :)  Thank you! Love x Nadia

Follow Tyson here: https://www.instagram.com/iamtysonjoseph/ https://www.instagram.com/storieslikeus/ Check out some of his films: http://storieslikeus.com/portfolio-item/the-story-of-success/ http://storieslikeus.com/portfolio-item/i-am-not-your-villain/ http://storieslikeus.com/portfolio-item/where-are-you-from-amazon-prime-uk/ My guest in todays episode is Tyson Joseph, he is a producer and director from London, founder of STORIES LIKE US and stories are his BIG passion, you'll be able to hear that from the minute he starts talking. This chat is so full of gold nuggets. Tyson was generous in sharing his own story and how that has shaped him. Storytelling is a big responsibility and an honour. And Tyson is very particular about the difference of telling a story about someone and a story that actually reflects someone. We talk about growth and love too - and the running theme throughout this episode is ultimately living in truth, whether that is in work, in your relationships, in your mindset. Using your story to walk yourself home. Back to the authentic, healthiest version of yourself.  I really hope this conversation fires you up the way it did with me. I hope it makes you remember who you are and what makes you the most alive. Enjoy, subscribe and share! xx Nadia

Todays guest is Phil Drysdale. I first found Phil on Instagram because of his hilarious christian deconstruction memes: https://www.instagram.com/phildrysdale/ This is the second episode on this podcast about faith deconstruction, I have done one before with Joshua Harris, the author of I kissed dating goodbye, if you haven’t listened to that one, that might be interesting for you too. Phil Drysdale helps people loose their faith :) That is what his bio says but it’s much much more than that. When you deconstruct christianity or any other faith you are not set out to loose it. That is not the intention. You have questions. You are understanding , knowing new things from different perspectives. Things that once you. Know them you just cannot un-know them , it’s impossible, there is no turning back. Phil went through this process himself , is going through it, we are never done. And he simply helps people through the stage they are at. It’s one thing we cover extensively in this episode : the different psychological stages of growth and development and what they mean in the christian context , in a deconstruction context. Personally, I have often struggled with those stages and relating to people in stages that I have outgrown and relating to my former self in those former stages. That’s something Phil explains so generously in this conversation. We also speak about what to do with those difficult emotions like pain, shame , guilt once you are not a christian anymore. How to transform those emotions, we talk about shadow work and so many other things If you are a deconstructing christian , or an ex-christian you are going to find this episode so enlightening and healing , there is no doubt in my mind. Hope you enjoy this episode and it makes you feel less alone on your journey! Follow Phil here and check out the Deconstruction Network he created: https://www.phildrysdale.com/

Follow Soraya here: https://www.instagram.com/sorayastuart/  Today's delightful guest is Soraya Stuart, mental health blogger, host for Black Minds Matter and human extraordinaire.   Soraya started posting and sharing about mental health before it was everywhere and she does it so generously, with a lot of heart, humour and honesty. She did not hold back in this episode, sharing about therapy, her mental health journey, family, racism in the workplace, how a religious upbringing influenced her mental health, how she handles social media and what 2020 taught her.  One of my favourite quotes from this chat is: “Don’t be afraid to burn bridges if you don’t plan to walk back” I hope you take value from our conversation - if you do, please leave a little review, it would mean so much! Enjoy this episode xx  Follow TSB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesignatureboss/

Follow Bianca here: https://biancabass.com/ + https://www.instagram.com/biancabass/?hl=en Bianca is an incredible Marketing Coach that has worked with the likes of Google, has been published in Forbes and British Vogue - and in this episode she brings the GOLD! Marketing is telling stories - and she shows us so well how she draws strength from her story and weaves it into her work.  There is so much we cover here, from childhood trauma, being a third - culture - kid to how we can change work environments around us and how we can change what normal looks like: in business and in life. I am so excited for you to listen to Bianca's wisdom! Let her know how much you appreciate this episode and show your support if you are listening. Sharing is caring after all. Follow The Signature Boss on Instagram , leave us a review and some love: https://www.instagram.com/thesignatureboss/?hl=en   Bianca's recommendations in this episode:  'Soulfriends' by Stephen Cope  'Time' on Amazon Prime, the story of Fox Rich  Have a beautiful Monday! Love x Nadia

Follow Ayesha online: https://www.instagram.com/ayeshaerkin/ Today's episode is close to my heart, because it's all about identity and belonging as an immigrant. Ayesha is Pakistani born of Turkic and Arab descent and she has lived in many places all over the world. The question 'Where are you from?' is not a simple one to answer for Ayesha and the explanation is long and interesting. I recommend listening to our full conversation, as she goes into all the details of her family history.  Ayesha is an architect but has a lot of talents and passions outside of architecture: like fashion and food. What those things mean to her and how they tie together her many identities is fascinating.  We talk meeting immigrant parents expectations, something we both relate to very well, breaking out of comfort zones and finding the place you belong and who you want to be. I love Ayesha's manifesto when she says: 'I can be more than one thing' .  What a beautiful way to enter the new year, 2021. Realising we are not set in stone, we are not trapped in the past. We can decide who we want to be, while honouring where we come from. Over and over again. Love x  Nadia

Follow Rebecca here: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.munroe/ This episode if full of big things like heartbreak, joy,  anger, romance, grief, self love, passion - Becca was so open with her life, I appreciate her so much for it! She talks to me about her dad who suffers from MS and how this has impacted her life, we talk about her beautiful work, her relationship with her partner (they've been together since they were kids!) and all the beautiful in between feelings this life throws at us.  She also tells me how this years BLM events have changed her: this episode is so RICH with content, goodness and grace and honesty ! And also very long. So you can listen to it while you’re cooking or going for a walk. Enjoy! And please leave me 5 stars and some nice words :) It really helps TSB! Much love x Nadia

Follow Vienda here:  https://viendamaria.com/ https://www.instagram.com/viendamaria/ Vienda is a powerhouse:  a women’s coach and a writer - and so much more. She has a psychology degree, she runs online courses on different topics, she sells a beautiful yearly planner, she writes beautifully (check our her blog!) When I look at her load of work it looks so busy and full - but Vienda and she does all of these things while drawing from her feminine energy a lot and not leaving that - which is something I am still learning how to do, something I had no idea was possible, for me HUSTLE or business , making money was always strongly connected to masculine energy and I always felt a big gap in my life because of it. We talk about this today - as well as healing the past, the divide between feminine and masculine energy - and so much more soul conversation! Enjoy!  

Follow Charisse here: https://www.instagram.com/charisse.kenion/  https://www.instagram.com/beautymepodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKuq1As9ifCJOxvPOv6w3wQ/videos?app=desktop Charisse is a writer, content creator for brands, a photographer and a podcast host - and she has become a friend this year! We met in a very unexpected way - that started all because of Nikon not posting anything about the Black lives matter movement - but I will let you listen to that story in this episode.  A few months ago I was a guest on her own podcast - the beautymepodcast - linked above -  and she was a big inspiration actually in me picking up my sleeping podcast again! Charisse and her husband Dan are  an inspiration to me in many other ways, to sum it up - they create a life on purpose instead of running with conventions, social contracts and expectations. You know how much I love people like that. That’s what this podcast is about and I am so grateful that Charisse sat down with me to talk about her life choices and views. This was recorded pre lockdown 2.0 by the way, I feel like I have to mention that! :) I hope you enjoy meeting Charisse, give her a follow and show her some love if you like this episode! xx