What happens when a marriage isn't a partnership, but a proving ground for patriarchal power? In this episode, psychotherapist Bethany Jantzi (Free From Control) joins us to expose a dark reality within high-control religious circles: the idea that a wife is a "training ground" for a man's leadership. We discuss how the domestic sphere is often used as a laboratory for men to practice "authority" and "dominion," effectively turning women's lives into stepping stones for male ego and spiritual status. We explore the psychological toll of being a "helpmate" used for a man's development, and how to break free from the cycle of religious grooming.

Welcome to Remedial Theology: Mattie Mae and Meghan Take TheoBros Back 2 School.

The TheoBros have been loud, confident, and very wrong—and Mattie Mae and Meghan are handing out syllabi. In this episode, we take on Josh, who argues that Paul is the most "gender-based guy ever" (whatever that means) and tries to make the point that naturally women should stay home and men should provide. Spoiler: the theology and science doesn't hold up.

Class is in session. Egos will be bruised. Homework is mandatory.

In this episode, we sit down with author Amanda McCracken to explore the "purity to limerence pipeline"—where religious expectations of "the one" collide with the addictive rush of romantic obsession. We discuss how waiting for a soulmate can inadvertently prime us for a life of chronic longing rather than real connection. Join us as we deconstruct the spiritual and feminist implications of choosing fantasy over the grounded, messy reality of being known.