
Honoring the Journey
by Leslie Nease
Is this your podcast?Leslie Nease is an independent podcast creator known for her engaging approach to exploring personal narratives and perspectives. With a focus on spirituality, society, and culture, she guides listeners through diverse life experiences, enc…
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
- spiritual growth and development
- understanding diverse perspectives
Podcast Focus
- exploring individual life journeys
- sharing personal stories and insights
Publishing Consistency
- 104 episodes produced
- active for 2 years
Platform Reach
- available on major podcast platforms
- growing listener base
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 12 chart positions in 12 markets.
By chart position
- 🇨🇦CA · Religion#12300K to 1M
- 🇺🇸US · Religion#35100K to 300K
- 🇩🇪DE · Religion#50100K to 300K
- 🇬🇧GB · Religion#6330K to 100K
- 🇦🇺AU · Religion#6630K to 100K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
190K to 612K🎙 Daily cadence·104 episodes·Last published 2d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
634K to 2.0M🇨🇦49%🇺🇸15%🇩🇪15%+9 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
254K to 816K497 real followers tracked across platforms
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
Testify to Love: Honoring the Journey of Melissa Greene
Jun 22, 2026
Unknown duration
From the Alter to the Stage: Honoring the Journey of LJR
Jun 15, 2026
Unknown duration
Rethinking Hell, The Bible & The Nature of God: Honoring the Journey of Brian Zahnd
Jun 8, 2026
Unknown duration
Songs of Peace in Times of War: Honoring the Journey of Savannah Locke
Jun 1, 2026
Unknown duration
"What the Hell Did You Expect Me to Do": Honoring the Journey of Chris Kratzer
May 25, 2026
Unknown duration
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/22/26 | ![]() Testify to Love: Honoring the Journey of Melissa Greene | Today, Leslie invites Melissa Green, a former member of the beloved Christian music group Avalon, for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about faith deconstruction, spiritual evolution, and the courage to question inherited beliefs. Melissa traces her journey from growing up in the Southern Baptist church and becoming a member of Avalon, through the pivotal moment when founding member Michael Passons was quietly removed from the group after being outed as gay, to her gradual theological shifts sparked by travel, loss, relationships with LGBTQ friends, and her years at a progressive post-evangelical church. The episode also celebrates the recent re-release of "Testify to Love" — a collaboration between Melissa, Michael, and Ty Herndon — which has unexpectedly become a queer anthem and a message of radical, boundless love. Woven throughout is a tender, raw moment as Melissa shares the grief of walking alongside a beloved family member through the final stages of a terminal illness, reflecting on how joy and sorrow coexist, and how the divine shows up not in miraculous intervention but in the simple, profound act of people showing up for one another. | — | ||||||
| 6/15/26 | ![]() From the Alter to the Stage: Honoring the Journey of LJR | Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Luke Justin Roberts (LJR) — a recording artist she found on TikTok. Luke was a former worship leader who grew up deeply embedded in evangelical and homeschool culture. They talk about his winding spiritual path from devoted churchgoer to questioning, deconstructing and finding his true path to freedom and now making music that speaks to others who are questioning their inherited beliefs. Luke shares candid stories about his childhood faith, the pressures and identity that came with growing up in ministry, and how he found his way to making music that meets people in their doubt and deconstruction. The conversation is warm, honest, and wide-ranging, touching on TikTok fame, building unexpected friendships across belief systems, and the exciting road ahead for LJR as an independent artist. | — | ||||||
| 6/8/26 | ![]() Rethinking Hell, The Bible & The Nature of God: Honoring the Journey of Brian Zahnd | Today, we chat with pastor and author Brian Zahnd for a wide-ranging conversation about faith deconstruction, theological reimagining, and the journey of losing — and rediscovering — Jesus. Brian shares how, after 30 years of ministry, he found himself rethinking core evangelical doctrines including hell, the Bible's role as foundation, and the nature of God, ultimately arriving at the conviction that "God is like Jesus." He candidly recounts the painful fallout of losing 1,000 church members through that process, the healing that followed, and why he believes the discomfort of deconstruction is not a crisis of faith but a necessary path to spiritual growth. The episode also touches on his new book Unseen Existences, which is out now! Such a powerful episode. | — | ||||||
| 6/1/26 | ![]() Songs of Peace in Times of War: Honoring the Journey of Savannah Locke | In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie has a conversation with Savannah Locke — artist, songwriter, and podcaster — for a rich, wide-ranging conversation about faith deconstruction, religious trauma, and spiritual reimagining. Savannah shares her personal journey from confident evangelical Christianity through a crisis of belief, her discovery of the Anabaptist tradition and the transformative phrase "God looks like Jesus," and how that journey inspired her album Songs of Peace in Times of War. The two explore themes of trust, humility, love, and prophetic witness, discussing how lived experience, creative expression, and community shape the way we understand God — and why asking hard questions, far from being a failure of faith, may be the very heart of it. | — | ||||||
| 5/25/26 | ![]() "What the Hell Did You Expect Me to Do": Honoring the Journey of Chris Kratzer | Today, Leslie speaks with Chris Kratzer, a former Lutheran and Southern Baptist evangelical pastor who spent over 20 years in ministry before undergoing a profound faith deconstruction. Chris shares how ambition and ego initially drove him into the contemporary megachurch world, how a series of personal crises — including a near-suicide — forced him into radical honesty about his faith, and how he eventually became an affirming, progressive voice for those questioning religion. He and Leslie discuss the cult-like control mechanisms of evangelicalism, the cost of leaving (financially, relationally, and emotionally), and how stepping away ultimately felt like resurrection rather than loss. Chris also talks about his two books and his mission as a writer: to expose the harms of conservative evangelicalism and to give voice to those who feel alone in their deconstruction journey. | — | ||||||
| 5/18/26 | ![]() Honoring the Journey: A Deep Dive Into Quantum Theology | This special episode of Honoring the Journey is an insightful group conversation between Leslie and five guests — physicist Jenny Nielsen, mathematician-turned-writer Nish Dubashia, theologian John Van de Lair (South Africa), philosopher Eric English, and author/publisher Keith Giles — all contributors to the anthology book Quantum Theology, Volume 1. The discussion begins with playful introductions and embarrassing playlist confessions before diving into the core thesis: that quantum physics — particularly concepts like entanglement, non-locality, and the wave function — may scientifically validate what mystics and early Christians have long taught about the interconnectedness of all things and humanity's inseparability from God. The guests explore how quantum thinking reframes traditional Christian doctrines around sin, salvation, the nature of God, the devil, and prayer, arguing that the illusion of separation from God is the root of spiritual dysfunction, and that concepts like coherence and entanglement map surprisingly well onto the teachings of Jesus and Paul. The conversation closes with each guest sharing their diverse religious backgrounds — Catholic, Hindu, Methodist, Baptist, and non-religious — all of which converged on this same quantum-informed spirituality, and Keith encourages anyone curious to pick up the book on Amazon, with Volume 2 already in progress. | — | ||||||
| 5/11/26 | ![]() From Fear to Freedom: Honoring the Journey of Pastor Joe Smith | Today, Leslie sits down with Pastor Joe Smith, who leads Maison Church in Gainesville, Florida — a progressive, welcoming congregation formed from a merger of two churches. Joe shares his faith deconstruction journey, beginning in the Free Will Baptist tradition, where childhood teachings instilled deep fear of hell and the rapture. He traces his gradual shift away from fundamentalism, sparked by the birth of his daughter in 2002 and questions about gender hierarchy, accelerated by the political climate, and deepened during the COVID-19 shutdown when he had time to deeply study queer inclusion theology through books like Unclobbered and Changing Our Minds. The conversation explores themes of religious trauma, Christian nationalism, HSPs (highly sensitive people) and deconstruction, evolving views on sin and repentance, universalism, and the difference between certainty and faith — with both Leslie and Joe reflecting candidly on their own journeys out of fear-based religion and into a more inclusive, love-centered spirituality. | — | ||||||
| 5/4/26 | ![]() Faith Funk: Honoring the Journey of Michael Camp | In today’s episode, Leslie reunites with returning guest Michael Camp to discuss his new book Faith Funk, which explores how people become trapped in high-control religious systems and the psychological toll — including anxiety, depression, and PTSD — that results from toxic faith experiences. Michael and Leslie dive deep into topics like cognitive dissonance within evangelicalism, the doctrine of original depravity, and how religious communities sometimes exploit vulnerability and suppress independent thinking. Together they examine the often painful but ultimately liberating process of deconstruction, reframing it not as a loss of faith but as a refinement — a shedding of toxic theology to discover a more authentic, love-centered spirituality. Michael shares practical tools from his coaching practice for navigating the stages of deconstruction, and both hosts reflect candidly on their own journeys out of fundamentalism, with Leslie sharing personal experiences from her time on Survivor and her ongoing work to undo deeply ingrained religious conditioning. | — | ||||||
| 4/27/26 | ![]() Leaving Mormonism: Honoring the Journey of Megan Verno | In this episode of Honoring The Journey, Leslie talks with Megan Verno — a therapist, writer, and founder of Novo Nexus — about their parallel journeys out of high-control religions (Megan from Mormonism/LDS, Leslie from Evangelical Christianity). They explore the striking similarities between their experiences, including the loss of identity, community, and self-trust that comes with religious deconstruction, as well as specific LDS practices like the temple ceremony and excommunication culture. The conversation touches on patriarchy, LGBTQ+ issues as a catalyst for doubt, the concept of religious trauma, learning to trust one's own authority, and finding spiritual freedom beyond organized religion. Megan shares details about Novo Nexus, her support group and coaching program for those rebuilding their identities post-religion, and both women offer encouragement to listeners who may be in the midst of their own deconstruction journey. | — | ||||||
| 4/20/26 | ![]() The Wilderness Priest: Honoring the Journey of Father Pete Nunnally | In this episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with Father Pete Nunnally — an Episcopal priest who calls himself "the Wilderness Priest" — about his nature-based church called Water and Wilderness Church near Washington, DC. Pete shares how the church meets outdoors, rain or shine, along the banks of the Potomac River, intentionally lowering the barriers to worship for people who've been hurt by or disconnected from traditional church settings. The conversation weaves through Pete's lifelong love of fishing and how it became a spiritual practice, culminating in his upcoming book Catching Hope: The Hidden Spiritual Wisdom of Fishing (releasing May 12th). Together, Pete and Leslie explore progressive Episcopal theology — including the idea that everyone belongs, that salvation is held by God rather than earned by works, and that faith should always be expanding — while also affirming those who need space away from organized religion to heal and find their own path. | — | ||||||
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| 4/13/26 | ![]() All Those Opposed: Honoring the Journey of Jen Nielsen | What happens when the questions you’ve been taught to silence refuse to stay quiet? Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie talks with Jen Nielsen (@allthoseopposed), who shares her powerful journey out of the LDS Church—the doubts that started it, the cost of following them, and why she’s chosen to speak out. This is a story of courage, clarity, and reclaiming your voice. | — | ||||||
| 4/6/26 | ![]() The Justice of Jesus: Honoring the Journey of Rev. Joash Thomas | In this episode of Honoring the Journey, I sit down with Rev. Joash Thomas—priest, public theologian, and author of The Justice of Jesus. Joash shares his journey from an Indian Pentecostal upbringing in Mumbai, to political consulting in Georgia, to a powerful awakening that led him into human rights work. We talk about how Western Christianity has been shaped by colonialism, the difference between the “colonizer’s Jesus” and the historical Jesus, and how practices like prayer were meant to form us—not control outcomes. This conversation got personal for me, especially when we talked about the cost of deconstruction—the grief, the loneliness, the loss of community. Joash offers such a grounded, compassionate perspective here, reminding us that love, curiosity, and “holy indifference” can guide us forward. We close with a simple invitation: to look for the face of Jesus in the people around us—especially those on the margins. You can find Joash’s work through his book and his Substack, Masala Chai Theology. | — | ||||||
| 3/30/26 | ![]() Bonus Episode: Let's Talk About the Bible with Former Pastor, Joe Boyd | This episode is a deep dive conversation between Leslie and Joe Boyd, a former pastor and biblical scholar, exploring how to approach scripture during deconstruction. They discuss the challenging journey of questioning long-held beliefs about biblical inerrancy, examining how the Bible was compiled, and wrestling with its ancient cultural context versus modern interpretation. Joe explains how evangelicals are often deconstructing their understanding of the Bible itself rather than losing faith entirely, and offers a historical-literary lens for reading scripture that acknowledges its human authorship, biases, and contradictions while still finding spiritual value. The conversation covers topics like biblical canon formation, the multiple versions of Jesus across the gospels, reading ancient texts "forwards" rather than through modern assumptions, and ultimately encourages listeners to courageously let the Bible "be what it is" rather than what they were taught or want it to be. | — | ||||||
| 3/23/26 | ![]() The Courage & Humility to Say "I Was Wrong": Honoring the Journey of Josh Harris | Today on Honoring the Journey, we have a powerful conversation with Josh Harris, author of "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," as he shares his journey of reckoning with the impact of purity culture. Harris openly discusses how he came to recognize the harm caused by his influential book after years of hearing stories from people affected by its teachings, ultimately leading him to unpublish it and apologize publicly. The conversation explores the difficult process of deconstructing deeply held beliefs, navigating church leadership failures and sexual abuse mishandling, his own marriage ending, and stepping away from evangelicalism. We reflect on the challenges of leaving rigid certainty for authentic faith, the importance of self-compassion during deconstruction, the dangers of algorithmic rage and groupthink, and the freedom that comes from holding beliefs with open hands rather than dogmatic certainty, emphasizing that healing and growth are possible even after significant mistakes. | — | ||||||
| 3/16/26 | ![]() Leaving the Lord's Recovery: Honoring the Journey of Halli Carbrey | Today on Honoring the Journey, Leslie chats with a new friend, Hallie Carbrey about leaving high control religion. Halli shares her story of growing up in a small, insular group called the Lord's Recovery, experiencing excommunication with her then-husband in 2019, and navigating the complex process of deconstruction while raising three children. The discussion explores themes of religious trauma, purity culture's impact on sexuality, the struggle to find identity beyond rigid belief systems, and the journey toward self-trust and authentic spirituality. Both women reflect on questioning deeply held beliefs, the loss of community when leaving religion, and finding healing through vulnerability and connection. Halli, who transitioned from being a Christian couples therapist to a religious trauma and sex coach, emphasizes the importance of rest, unconditional self-love, and creating safe spaces for others wrestling with similar experiences. | — | ||||||
| 2/23/26 | ![]() From Southern Baptist to Mainline: Honoring the Journey of Beau Stringer | It's the 100th Episode of Honoring the Journey today!! Leslie welcomes Beau Stringer, a former Southern Baptist preacher who transitioned to mainline Christianity. Beau shares his journey from growing up in an evangelical bubble in West Texas, serving as a youth pastor at 19, and eventually becoming a senior pastor, to questioning biblical inerrancy and evangelical theology—particularly around the violence in the Old Testament versus Jesus's command to love enemies. After wrestling with these tensions for years, he left vocational ministry briefly before finding a home in the United Methodist Church in Kansas City, where he now serves at one of the largest mainline churches in North America. Throughout the conversation, they discuss what mainline Christianity is, the importance of pastoral care over conversion agendas, the shift from fear-based faith to love-centered faith, rethinking hell and the kingdom of God, and how to lovingly engage with people still in evangelical spaces without erasing or dismissing them—emphasizing humility, questions, and staying in relationship rather than canceling those who disagree. | — | ||||||
| 2/16/26 | ![]() Slutty Grace: Honoring the Journey of Jeromy Johnson | Today we honor the journey of Jeremy Johnson, host of the Slutty Grace podcast, as we explore our parallel journeys of religious deconstruction. Both of us were raised in evangelical fundamentalist Christianity, and we discuss how we moved from rigid theological certainty to a more expansive, grace-centered faith. Jeremy shares his path from youth pastor to questioning core doctrines like total depravity, hell, and exclusionary salvation, catalyzed by reading Brian McLaren and experiencing diverse Christian traditions. Jeremy chats about how his childhood religious teachings shaped his self-worth, his eventual separation of faith from institutional paychecks, and his discovery that God's love might be far more generous and inclusive than he was ever taught. The conversation touches on the nature of sin, human connectedness, and the freedom found in embracing mystery and curiosity rather than doctrinal certainty. | — | ||||||
| 2/9/26 | ![]() Empty Chairs Community: Honoring the Journey of Justin Telthorst | This episode of Honoring the Journey is a deeply personal conversation with Justin Telthorst, who shares his journey of coming out as gay at age 25 while remaining within the Catholic Church—a path that defied the common narrative of leaving religion behind. Growing up in a conservative Catholic environment in the Midwest, Justin initially viewed his sexuality as a "cross to bear" and his secret testimony to overcome. After years of internal struggle, falling in love with a man, and experiencing profound peace in that relationship, he faced a pivotal moment: conversations with unsupportive priests led him to leave his dream job at a Catholic nonprofit and begin the painful process of coming out. Rather than abandoning his faith entirely, Justin found his way back to Catholicism after several years, choosing to stay and create welcoming spaces within the church. He now runs a Discord community for LGBTQ+ Catholics, offers one-on-one spiritual direction, and advocates for a theology centered on God's infinite mercy and love rather than rules and condemnation. | — | ||||||
| 2/2/26 | ![]() The Faith Between: Honoring the Journey of Faith Beyond Conservative and Liberal | Today, Leslie brings back a past guest: Jonathan Foster. They chat about navigating the "messy middle" of faith deconstruction—the space between conservative and progressive Christianity where people seek compassion, curiosity, and nuanced thinking rather than quick reactions. They discuss Jonathan's work with the Curian Network, a new denominational ecosystem that credentials pastors, chaplains, and faith leaders around "uncontrolling love" rather than rigid theological boundaries, offering a safe alternative for those who've been pushed out of traditional evangelical spaces. The conversation explores the challenges of living with uncertainty, resisting the urge to become what you're fighting against, and creating healthier systems centered on grace and human flourishing. | — | ||||||
| 1/26/26 | ![]() Snarky Faith: Honoring the Journey of Stuart Delony | Today on Honoring the Journey, we chat with Stuart Delony, a former pastor turned satirist and creator of the "Snarky Faith" podcast and column. Stuart shares his colorful journey from growing up as a Southern Baptist kid whose mother took him to tent revivals seeking healing for his disabled sister, through 20 years of ministry marked by constant questioning, to his current work using humor and satire to examine faith and deconstruction. Leslie & Stuart touch on the absurdity of end-times theology, the trauma embedded in evangelical culture, the importance of self-care during difficult times, and how laughter can be a powerful tool for healing. Stuart's new book, "The Tribulation Survival Guide: How to Stay Alive When Everything Else Is Dead," uses satire to hold up a mirror to the anxiety-inducing escapism of rapture culture, while the conversation itself offers a refreshing reminder that sometimes we need to step back, laugh, and focus on what we can actually control—loving people right in front of us. | — | ||||||
| 1/19/26 | ![]() God, Sex & Rich People: Honoring the Journey of Mattie Jo Cowsert | This episode features Mattie Jo Cowsert, author of "God, Sex and Rich People: Recovering the Evangelical Testimony," in a deeply personal conversation about growing up in evangelical purity culture, deconstructing faith, and finding autonomy. Mattie Jo shares her journey from being raised in a multi-generational Baptist ministry family in Branson, Missouri, through her transformative move to New York City at 22 to pursue acting, where her insular religious worldview collided with diverse cultures and experiences. The conversation explores the damaging effects of purity culture on self-esteem and autonomy, the process of questioning long-held beliefs through academic study of scripture, and the unexpected role that working for wealthy New Yorkers played in her identity crisis. Both Leslie and Mattie Jo discuss the importance of respecting others' belief systems while maintaining personal boundaries, the stages of grief in deconstruction, and how their parents' responses shaped their journeys. | — | ||||||
| 1/12/26 | ![]() The Top 10 Things I Used to Teach but Don't Believe Anymore: Honoring my Journey with Leslie Nease | In this, the first episode of Season 6, and our first episode of the year, I decided to do a little life update and read an entry from my Substack about some of the doctrines I used to teach that I do not believe anymore. This essay from my Substack has spurred a lot of real, deep conversation in the comments section of my Substack. Not only do I share the article and what I no longer believe, but I also share what I believe now and offer an apology to those I have hurt along the way. This was so hard for me, but I found it so very helpful. I am thankful that on my holiday break, I was able to reconnect with writing a bit more, as it was something that was not consistent in my life prior to the break. But it's here to stay because I'm finding tremendous healing in it and also a bonus community on Substack of people just like me who are seeking, asking deeper questions and being curious about their faith! Thank you for supporting this podcast. I appreciate you all so very much! | — | ||||||
| 11/17/25 | ![]() Only Us: Honoring the Journey of Jaxon Phoenix | Today we welcome Jaxon Phoenix, an author and hand pan musician, to discuss his new book "Only Us: Searching for Truth About the Identity of God and Humanity." The conversation delves into Jaxon’s personal journey of faith, deconstruction, and healing from religious trauma. Together, we explore the challenges of questioning inherited beliefs, the psychological impact of indoctrination, and the process of finding a more authentic, compassionate spirituality. Jaxon shares his experiences with depression, therapy, and discovering the hand pan as a tool for healing, while he and Leslie reflect on the importance of critical thinking, empathy, and embracing uncertainty in faith. | — | ||||||
| 11/10/25 | ![]() A Conversation with My Daughter: Honoring the Journey of Stephanie Nease | In this special episode of Honoring the Journey, Leslie sits down with her oldest daughter, Stephanie, for an open and vulnerable conversation about faith, family, and personal transformation. Together, they reflect on their shared history, the impact of religious upbringing, and the challenges of deconstructing long-held beliefs. Through laughter, honesty, and a few tears, they explore what it means to find healing, autonomy, and genuine connection—both with each other and within themselves. | — | ||||||
| 11/3/25 | ![]() No-Nonsense Spirituality: Honoring the Journey of Brit Hartley | In this episode, we welcome Brit Hartley, an atheist spiritual director, to discuss her personal journey of deconstructing from Mormonism and religion at large. Brit shares her upbringing in a loving Mormon community, the cognitive dissonance she experienced as a teenager, and the pivotal moments that led to her faith crisis and eventual atheism. The conversation explores the challenges of losing faith, rebuilding identity and meaning, and the importance of love, authenticity, and human connection beyond religious dogma. Brit and Leslie also discuss the complexities of maintaining relationships with religious family members, the benefits and shortcomings of religion, and Brit’s work in helping others find spiritual tools without belief requirements. The episode is a compassionate, nuanced look at deconstruction, spirituality, and the search for meaning. | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
12 placements across 12 markets.
Chart Positions
12 placements across 12 markets.
























