99 episodes

Brian and Troy used to be loyal Christian megachurch leaders. They’re not anymore. This podcast explores life after fundamentalism.

I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. An Exvangelical podcast‪.‬ Brian McDowell & Troy Waller

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.7 • 106 Ratings

Brian and Troy used to be loyal Christian megachurch leaders. They’re not anymore. This podcast explores life after fundamentalism.

    096 - What About Near-Death Experiences? with Dr Eben Alexander

    096 - What About Near-Death Experiences? with Dr Eben Alexander

    In this episode, we talk with Dr Eben Alexander, an American neurosurgeon and author. In 2008, he suffered a coma caused by a rare and mysterious bacterial meningo-encephalitis of unknown causes. We talk with him about his own near-death experience and his book, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife.
    Dr Alexander's links:
    Eben Alexander
    Division of Perceptual Studies - University of Virginia School of Medicine
    Home - Scientific and Medical Network
    Home - The Galileo Commission
    Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies
    Inner Sanctum Center
    Sacred Acoustics
    After our recording, we came upon three articles in particular that make some serious allegations against Dr Alexander. One is from Esquire Magazine and another from writer, Sam Harris. These were both quite hostile. The third is from the Harvard Crimson, and while it is certainly not hostile, it does echo many of the allegations made in the Esquire article.
    Dr. Eben Alexander Proof of Heaven Investigation (esquire.com)
    This Must be Heaven by Sam Harris
    To Do No Harm | The Harvard Crimson (thecrimson.com)
    We contacted Dr Alexander about these articles and the allegations they make, and his assistant replied with the following links:
    First, Robert Mays, an NDE researcher and longtime leader of IANDS.org, wrote a thorough article criticizing the journalism of Esquire's author: JNDS_ Winter 2016 2PP.indd (unt.edu) 
    A peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (flagship journal for physicians in neurology & psychology), by Bruce Greyson et al. It is about Eben's personal case, from the standpoint of a lifelong NDE researcher and colleagues: nmd50598 744..747 (virginia.edu) and more about the professors in the department, so you know their calibre of work and background: Faculty and Staff - Division of Perceptual Studies (virginia.edu)
    A reply from Eben during another interview, re: Sam Harris' allegations: Eben Alexander answers skeptics' criticisms (iands.org) 
    A valuable set of essays about consciousness, several of which cite Eben's case study in their work: Essay Contest - Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies. Start with the winning entry by Jeff Mishlove and then peruse other topics. 
    --
    Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here. 
    Transcript of this episode is here.
    Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf 
    Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 
    Deconversion Therapy Podcast

    • 1 hr 10 min
    Bonus: Sexvangelicals - The Sex Ed We Wish We Had: Consent, Part 1 of 2,

    Bonus: Sexvangelicals - The Sex Ed We Wish We Had: Consent, Part 1 of 2,

    We recently stumbled upon a podcast we thought you'd love. Sexvangelicals is a sexual health podcast and education platform with the mission to support relationships in reclaiming sexuality following adverse religious experiences. This is one of their episodes, The Sex Ed We Wish We Had: Consent, Part 1 of 2. We hope you enjoy it.
    If you want to connect with Sexvangelicals then find them here:
    Sexvangelicals (website)
    Sexvangelicals (podcast)
    --
    Want more IWATF? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here. 
    Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf 
    Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 

    • 51 min
    095 - What About Progressive Islam? with Ani Zonneveld

    095 - What About Progressive Islam? with Ani Zonneveld

    We talk with Ani Zonneveld about Progressive Islam and the life she lives as a Progressive Muslim. Ani is a writer, singer/songwriter, and founder & President of Muslims for Progressive Values, an international human rights organization that advocates for social justice and equality for all, a strong supporter of freedom of expression and of conscience, women’s rights and as an ally, LGBTQ rights. 
    --
    Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here. 
    Transcript of this episode is here.
    Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf 
    Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 
    Deconversion Therapy Podcast

    • 1 hr 16 min
    094 - What About Certainty? with Bernard Warnick

    094 - What About Certainty? with Bernard Warnick

    In this episode, we talk with writer Bernard Warnick about humanity's obsession with certainty and ask, is certainty attainable? Bernard spent nineteen years as a judge of the trial division and later the Appeal Division of the Family Court of Australia before retiring from the bench in 2010. He developed a deep interest in the reasoning process and researched the works of neurobiologists, cognitive scientists, philosophers, linguists and other thinkers for ten years, culminating in his book, Illusions of Certainty | thoughts about thinking.
    --
    Want more? Check out our exclusive Patreon episodes here. 
    Transcript of this episode is here.
    Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf 
    Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 

    • 58 min
    093 -What About the Podcast?

    093 -What About the Podcast?

    We're back for Season 5! In this episode we review the highlights of Season 4, let you know about the changes we've made and where the podcast is heading in 2024.
    --
    Transcript of the episode is here.
    Podcast links: https://linktr.ee/iwatf 
    Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/

    • 51 min
    Trailer: I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. Season 5

    Trailer: I was a Teenage Fundamentalist. Season 5

    Brian and Troy used to be loyal Christian megachurch leaders. They’re not anymore. This new season explores life after Fundamentalism.
    Shortlisted for the 2022 Australian Podcast Awards.
    Find out more at iwasateenagefundamentalist.com/ and https://linktr.ee/iwatf 
    ---
    Doubting your beliefs? Have questions about changing or leaving your faith? You are not alone and Recovering from Religion is here to help. Please visit: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ 

    • 1 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
106 Ratings

106 Ratings

ShelP75 ,

Love it!

One of my favorite podcasts about moving on after religious fundamentalism!

lbc 123456 ,

Great!

So helpful and important!

Kwright23 ,

Fantastic resource!

This podcast is amazing! So many much needed conversations take place. I appreciate the experiential, and fairly neutral mindset of this podcast. It is helpful to wrap your mind around many of concepts taught and experiences of growing up in fundamentalism and being a fundamentalist. Regardless of a person’s current beliefs, I think many can find value in this podcast.

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