Religious Trauma Syndrome affects up to 33% of U.S. adults — and most people have never heard of it.

Stephen sits down in-studio with his friend Joe, an ex-member of the LDS Mormon Church, for an honest conversation about what religious trauma actually looks like from the inside. Stephen, who left Christianity himself, recently learned about RTS from his own therapist and brings AI-assisted research to the table. Joe shares what it was like growing up LDS — worthiness interviews, mission pressure, tithing — and the moment his own son's approaching adolescence forced him to re-examine everything.

Together they cover the clinical research behind RTS (coined by Dr. Marlene Winell in 2011), the psychological toll of leaving high-demand religions, and a deeply personal story of loss that underscores why this conversation matters. The secon ...