In this first episode of Season 2 of Unburdened, Trevor Little welcomes his new co-host, Ryan Schuck. Ryan shares his journey of growing up in a conservative Christian home, immersing himself in scripture, and pursuing ministry. From wrestling with theological questions like free will to facing the pressure of doing “something great for God,” his story through Bible college and beyond reveals the weight of spiritual expectations and the cracks that emerge when certainty can’t be found.

Now stepping into the role of co-host, Ryan reflects openly on this first chapter of his path toward authenticity and healing after spiritual trauma. This is part one of his story, with more to come in the next episode.

We discussed:

• Growing up in a conservative, homeschooled Christian family
• Early passion for scripture and theological study
• Wrestling with questions of free will and God’s plan
• Disillusionment with Bible college and ministry training
• The pressure to do “something great for God”
• How friendship and community shaped his questioning years
• Beginning the journey toward authenticity and healing

Learn more about Unburdened Podcast:

Website: https://www.unburdenedpodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunburdenedpodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Unburdened, Trevor and Carey welcome Jim Larkin, a former minister who shares his journey of spiritual transformation. Growing up in a deeply religious family, Jim followed a conformist path, eventually entering ministry despite lingering questions about his faith. A pivotal moment during his ministry led him to reflect on his beliefs and step away from the church, finding a new spiritual expression through Kabbalah and interfaith work.

Now a life coach, Jim helps others navigate transitions and heal from spiritual wounds, offering insights into reclaiming personal authenticity and spirituality. He also leads programs like Healing Your Spiritual Wounds, creating safe spaces for individuals to explore and redefine their spiritual paths.

We discussed:

• The pressure and expectations of being a minister’s child.

• Struggles with indecisiveness and people-pleasing.

• The impact of leaving organized religion on personal identity.

• Rediscovering spirituality outside traditional frameworks.

• Balancing personal desires with community expectations.

Learn more about Jim Larkin at:

Website: https://jimlarkin.today/

Program: https://jimlarkin.today/the-hysw-journey/

Learn more about the Unburdened podcast:

Instagram: @theunburdenedpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Unburdened

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our conversation with Jillian Houghton, licensed psychotherapist, spiritual/intuition recovery coach, religious trauma consultant, and undue influence educator.

In this episode of Unburdened, we welcome Jillian Houghton, a licensed trauma therapist who specializes in religious trauma. Jillian shares her personal journey of healing and faith deconstruction, including experiences with a high-control religious environment. She discusses the complexities of balancing her clinical work with her personal healing, especially around issues of identity and acceptance.

They delve into the role of love and fear in navigating personal beliefs and boundaries, as well as her path toward self-acceptance and reconciling family dynamics. Finally, Jillian shares about her coaching practice, dedicated to guiding others in building a self-aligned life after deconstruction.

We discussed:

• Jillian’s eye-opening journey of realizing her involvement in a religious cult and the mental toll of that environment.

• How some religious teachings can instill a pervasive sense of personal inadequacy or “badness” that clients bring into therapy.

• The challenges of reconciling her sexuality with religious teachings and her journey toward acceptance.

• Emotional complexity of setting boundaries with family members who maintain strict religious beliefs.

• How Jillian’s clinical techniques help clients reframe damaging beliefs and rediscover self-worth outside of rigid religious systems.

Learn more about Jillian Houghton at:

Website: https://www.jillianhoughton.com/

Learn more about the Unburdened podcast:

Instagram: @theunburdenedpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Unburdened

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.