The Ex-Baptist Sisters Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

The Ex-Baptist Sisters Podcast

The Ex-Baptist Sisters Podcast

by Vikki Mansheim

Comedy Personal Journals

Season 1

How the Turn Tables | Taniya Talks Part 1

Connect & Support: Patreon & Discord Community: [Patreon Link / patreon.com/exbaptistsisters] Email Us Your Story: exbaptistsisters@gmail.com Instagram: [@exbaptistsisters] TikTok: [@exbaptistsisters] Facebook: [The Ex-Baptist Sisters Podcast] In Part 1 of Taniya’s personal deep dive, the sisters unpack what happens when deconstruction leaves the realm of theology and collides with real life. Taniya opens up about the awkward, painful transition from being the "godly example" in church to becoming the subject of whispered prayer requests after her husband, Dustin, walked away first. From the shock of finding a hidden stash of The Office DVDs to shedding the doctrine of male headship, she details the messy work of deprogramming purity culture and fundamentalist expectations. Finally, Taniya shares a candid, heartfelt perspective on navigating societal pressure around having children, coming to peace with infertility through personal unattachment, and reframing a child-free adulthood not as a secret sorrow, but as a hard-earned luxury.

Just As I Am Without a Skirt | The Exclusionary Nature of IFB Churches

https://www.maddiezahm.com/ Connect & Support: Patreon & Discord Community: [Patreon Link / patreon.com/exbaptistsisters] Email Us Your Story: exbaptistsisters@gmail.com Instagram: [@exbaptistsisters] TikTok: [@exbaptistsisters] Facebook: [The Ex-Baptist Sisters Podcast] In this episode of the Ex-Baptist Sisters podcast, Vikki and Taniya explore how the rigid, exclusionary culture of the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) movement shaped their childhoods, distorted their relationships, and dictated who was considered "safe" or worthy of connection. Prompted by a listener whose non-IFB family experienced subtle alienation at an IFB Christian school, the sisters examine how high-control religious environments enforce conditional acceptance through superficial markers of holiness like dress codes, modesty rules, and church attendance. Reflecting on their own time inside the "in-crowd," Vikki and Taniya unpack the quiet condescension, fear-based paranoia, and intense guilt instilled by purity culture and fundamentalist doctrine, contrasting it with the authentic, unconditional love they now value. The conversation turns vulnerable as they discuss the profound loneliness and grief of deconstruction, the loss of lifelong social networks, and Vikki’s experience facing church betrayal and victim-blaming after speaking out about surviving childhood abuse by a trusted mentor. From laughing over the absurdity of performative piety to finding comfort in secular friendships, neighborly kindness, and the music of artists like Maddie Zahm, Vikki and Taniya share an honest, relatable look at what it takes to unlearn religious bias, untangle moral anxiety, and rebuild life on one’s own terms.

I Miss the Village, Not the Cage | Finding Community Ouside the Church

In the continuation of the previous episode, Vikki and Taniya dive into the very real grief and neuro-chemical withdrawal of losing a built-in church village. They break down the concept of "collective effervescence," ditching the quiet shame of missing church routines, and practical, low-pressure ways to build authentic community outside the walls of high-control religion. From community theater and tabletop campaigns to effortless neighborhood meetups, there are so many ways to find where you belong. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language and candid discussions of religious trauma, cult deconstruction, isolation, and brief mentions of sexual abuse and childhood corporal punishment. Connect & Support: Patreon & Discord Community: [Patreon Link / patreon.com/exbaptistsisters] Email Us Your Story: exbaptistsisters@gmail.com Instagram: [@exbaptistsisters] TikTok: [@exbaptistsisters] Facebook: [The Ex-Baptist Sisters Podcast] If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, and leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help other people find the show!

Not as Poised and Polished | Unscripted Decompression and Cycle-Breaking

Vikki and Taniya take a step back after their heavy two-part series on corporal punishment for a raw, unscripted decompression session. The sisters unpack the emotional impact of re-listening to their own trauma, share a powerful and triggering listener story highlighting the link between physical abuse and sexual trauma, and examine the ways fundamentalist religious environments normalize violence against children under the guise of biblical discipline. They also discuss practical cycle-breaking in parenting, unlearning spiritual bypassing, and how to rebuild a sense of purpose and community outside of the church. Listen in for: Honest conversation on deconstruction, bodily autonomy, processing childhood trauma, and finding real connection beyond religious control. Email your stories: exbaptistsisters@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exbaptistsisters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dNf8qxkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr Our Sponsor: LOTRAMAPOD, hosted by Matthias Austin https://lotramapod.carrd.co/ Related links: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Good-Humans-Parenting-Confident/dp/1684033888 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lauren-boeberts-21-year-old-son-arrested-child-sexual-exploitation-cha-rcna591830 https://wjla.com/news/local/kenneth-baldwin-alexandria-pastor-crossroads-baptist-church-baileys-crossroads-pennsylvania-state-police-explicit-images-teenager-minor-church-sermon-victim-investigation-exposure-nude-photos-evangelist-dr-harrison-ministry-allegations-children Content Warning: explicit language, child abuse, religious trauma, physical abuse, sexual abuse

Explain to the 4 Year Old What His Crime Was | Spanking and Physical Abuse in IFB Culture Part 2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exbaptistsisters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dNf8qxkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr Our Sponsor: LOTRAMAPOD, hosted by Matthias Austin https://lotramapod.carrd.co/ In Part 2 of this deep dive into corporal punishment, Vikki and Tanya continue the conversation on the heavily normalized culture of physical abuse, spanking, and spirit-breaking within the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) movement. This week, they open up space for raw, vulnerable listener stories that highlight the real-world impact of these practices. They examine the disturbing guidelines in Jack Hyles’ literature (How to Rear Infants), pit cult discipline tactics against actual developmental science, and explore how physical control in childhood seamlessly morphs into emotional and verbal manipulation in adulthood. Most importantly, Vikki and Tanya discuss how to break the cycle by moving away from coercion toward co-regulation and share a concrete toolkit of books and resources to support listeners on their healing and deconstruction journeys. Resources & Books Mentioned: Parenting Forward by Cindy Wang Brandt Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of physical abuse, corporal punishment, and childhood trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

Spoiler Alert, It's Bad. It's Very, Very Bad | Spanking and Physical Abuse in IFB Culture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exbaptistsisters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dNf8qxkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr Our Sponsor: LOTRAMAPOD, hosted by Matthias Austin https://lotramapod.carrd.co/ This week, Vikki and Taniya dive deep into one of their most highly requested and heaviest topics yet: the deeply normalized culture of corporal punishment and the deliberate breaking of a child's spirit within the independent fundamental Baptist movement. From the authoritarian teachings of James Dobson and Michael and Debbie Pearl to the rantings of Jack Hyles they unpack how normal, healthy childhood curiosity was twisted into a spiritual crisis. With a blend of raw personal memories and dark humor, the sisters call out the psychological and emotional grooming behind delayed discipline, validation for survivors breaking the cycle, and a reminder that you were always worthy of unconditional love. Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions of childhood physical, spiritual, and emotional abuse.

A Beautiful, Rebellious Act | Reclaiming Your Mind, Body, and Boundaries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exbaptistsisters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dNf8qxkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr In this week's solo episode, Vikki shares a deeply personal open letter and safe harbor for survivors navigating life after fundamentalist church abuse. She explores a profound recent realization: even if we could completely erase a primary individual perpetrator from our history, the broader system of IFB culture inflicted institutional trauma that still demands the same heavy work of healing. Vikki gently unpacks the core pillars of this conditioning while validating the natural confusion and resistance that survivors often face when untangling their past. To provide immediate support, she guides listeners through a practical toolkit and an interactive, on-mic somatic grounding exercise designed to help reclaim trust in our own bodies and judgment. Finally, she highlights the necessity of trauma-informed care and shares a teaser for an upcoming, securely gated community space designed for deeper connection and mutual support.

If They Said Twilight is Evil, It's Evil | Another Piece of Vikki's Story

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exbaptistsisters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dNf8qxkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr This week, we react to TikTok comments from former fundie and IFB listeners sharing the surprisingly ordinary things they were taught were dangerous, sinful, or “gateways to hell” growing up. From Harry Potter and Halloween to roller skating, public school, and saying “oh my gosh,” we unpack the fear, control, and shame that shaped so many of our childhood experiences. The conversation also turns more personal as Vikki shares a piece of her own story and reflects on what happens when abuse, grooming, and institutional failure are minimized or rewritten to protect reputations instead of people. We talk about deconstruction, questioning harmful systems, and why telling the truth—even years later—still matters. Content warning: discussion of grooming, sexual abuse, institutional abuse, child abuse, victim blaming, mental health, coercive control, and strong language.

That I Might Not Sin Against God | Patriotism and Christian Nationalism

TPUSA Women's Summit Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSz1txJEyv8&t=75s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exbaptistsisters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dNf8qxkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr This week, Vikki and Taniya revisit an episode they thought was lost and unpack Christian nationalism, patriotic culture in church, and the ways politics and religion became deeply intertwined in the world they grew up in. The episode explores how fear, certainty, and black-and-white thinking shaped their worldview—and what it has looked like to slowly question those beliefs, separate faith from politics, and become comfortable with uncertainty. Along the way, they discuss religious deconstruction, parenting, empathy, and the process of building values intentionally instead of simply inheriting them. Content Warning: strong language, corporal punishment, abuse, sexual assault, war and violence, racism, and dediscussion of biblical stories containing violence and sexual themes

You Make Me Feel Less Alone | Listener Stories from IFB Culture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exbaptistsisters/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dNf8qxkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr Polished Shaft Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr0UpQXYkGs In this solo episode, Vikki shares powerful listener stories about growing up in Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) spaces and the lasting impact of religious trauma, modesty culture, and spiritual control. Listeners open up about experiences with modesty rules, abuse of pastoral authority, shame, deconstruction, grief, and rebuilding identity after leaving high-control faith environments. The episode explores what it means to untangle belief from fear, heal from harmful systems, and find community in being seen and understood. Through honest reflection, difficult stories, and moments of hope, this conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t linear—and no one has to do it alone. CW: religious trauma, spiritual abuse, sexual abuse, rape references, purity culture, misogyny, victim blaming, suicidal ideation, suicide loss, eating disorder mention, deconstruction, and discussions of emotional abuse and faith-related trauma.

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