What Happens After Leaving Mormonism?

What Happens After Leaving Mormonism?

Check Out Audra's FREE Masterclass about navigating the grief, guilt, and identity crisis after leaving Mormonism: https://mamaaudra.com/trainingWhat happens when your entire identity is built around a high-control religion, and you begin to question it? This week, I sit down with Audra Phelps, an educator, former member of the LDS Church, and coach who helps people navigate life after leaving high-control religions. We discuss the overlap between homeschooling and religious environments, why questioning your beliefs can feel terrifying, and the long process of rebuilding your identity after deconstruction. Whether you've left religion yourself or are simply curious about how people reclaim their lives after high-control systems, this conversation is full of empathy, nuance, and hopeConnect with Audra * Website: https://mamaaudra.com * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamaaudraofficial/ * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mama-Audra * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mamaaudra Resources Mentioned * When Religion Hurts You: https://drlauraeanderson.com/book * Coalition for Responsible Home Education: https://crhe.org If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Connect with me * BuyMeACoffee: buymeacoffee.com/exhsclub * Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub * Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/ * Substack: https://exhsclub.substack.com Chapters00:00 Welcome to the Ex-Homeschoolers Club00:58 Meet Audra Phelps01:35 Audra's Teaching Journey02:57 Homeschooling Pros and Cons03:41 Teacher Training Respect05:46 Homeschool Outcomes Seen07:40 Teamwork With Schools10:40 Why Move Overseas13:14 Homeschool Bubble Effects14:48 Jacob Leaving the Bubble16:51 Growing Up in the Mormon Church18:24 High Demand Religion Explained20:36 Church Taught Me To Distrust Myself24:03 How Mormonism Adds Prophets and Extra Scripture To The Bible26:05 Comparing Faith Traditions28:47 Deconstruction Starts Small29:55 Exiting High-Controlled Religion33:11 Anxiety And Panic From Gender Roles35:13 Finding Independence Through Teaching36:56 Going Overseas Changed My Perspective39:06 Pandemic and Stepping Back41:21 Are These Sacred Spaces Evil?42:41 An Awakening In Sagrada Familia44:09 Saying It Out Loud44:53 Religious Trauma Resurfacing46:42 Identity Loss and Mom Guilt48:54 Leaving Leads To Loneliness and Family Fallout51:33 Marriage Through Deconstruction57:29 Grieving for the Unlived Life01:00:47 How To Get Out Of The Confusion01:05:02 Becoming A Coach For The Ex-Mormon Moms01:11:37 Regulating the Nervous System01:14:04 Body Based Belief Work01:16:56 Finding Your Voice Again01:19:17 Connect with Audra

Does Homeschooling Prepare You for the Real World?

Check out Liliana's Poetry on Amazon: https://bit.ly/4eYOJve In this episode, I sit down with Liliana to talk about growing up homeschooled in a conservative Christian environment, navigating a sheltered childhood, and learning how to build a life on her own terms. We dive into culture shock after leaving home, making friends outside the homeschool bubble, questioning long-held beliefs, receiving an adult ADHD diagnosis, and finding healing through writing and poetry. Liliana also shares how creativity helped her process emotional abuse, difficult relationships, and rebuilding confidence. It's an honest conversation about growth, identity, and discovering who you are after homeschooling. Key Takeaways * Growing up homeschooled in a highly religious and sheltered environment. * Navigating culture shock and expanding your worldview after leaving home. * Building a chosen family and meaningful friendships as an adult. * How an adult ADHD diagnosis answered lifelong questions. * Using poetry and creative writing to process trauma and healing. Connect with Liliana * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valiantiaqueen/ * Poetry Books: https://bit.ly/4eYOJve Connect with me * Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/ * BuyMeACoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/exhsclub * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub * Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com * Substack: https://exhsclub.substack.com Chapters 00:00 Meet Liliana 01:06 Homeschool Background 01:46 Homeschool Normalization 03:58 Typical School Day 05:52 Co-ops and Classes 09:27 Siblings and Dual Enrollment 10:16 College Culture Shock 13:58 Leaving Home and Work 16:29 Marriage Roles Pressure 19:32 New Friends New Views 24:46 Trying Forbidden Things 28:41 Homeschooling Today 29:49 Homeschool Pros And Cons 30:53 College Worries And Bigger Goals 32:24 Chosen Family As Adults 33:32 How To Make New Friends 36:41 Writing And Self Publishing 38:55 Why Poetry Hits Different 41:39 Creativity Through Breakups 44:30 Adult ADHD Diagnosis Story 49:26 ADHD Coping Tools That Work 52:04 Therapy Help 53:27 Wrap Up

The Homeschool Secret I Couldn't Tell Anyone

Want to join our Purity Culture Livestream? Follow Kate on Substack: https://substack.com/@katejohnsonwrites or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katejohnsonwrites Kate Johnson joins me to share one of the most powerful and difficult stories we've featured on the podcast. We talk about growing up homeschooled in a conservative Christian environment, navigating life after her father's arrest for child sexual abuse material, and how isolation, purity culture, and parentification shaped her childhood. Kate also reflects on finding her voice, questioning long-held beliefs, and rebuilding her identity as an adult. This conversation is heavy at times, but it's ultimately about healing, resilience, and why protecting vulnerable children must be part of the homeschool conversation. In this episode we discuss: * Kate's experience growing up homeschooled using Abeka, Calvert, Classical Conversations, and other Christian curricula. * How her father's arrest shattered the sense of safety her family had built around homeschooling and church. * The hidden dangers of isolation, parentification, and secrecy within some homeschooling environments. * Purity culture, consent, and the long-term impact those teachings had on both girls and boys. * Finding healing, embracing authenticity, and reclaiming her own voice. Connect with Kate Johnson: * Substack: https://substack.com/@katejohnsonwrites * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katejohnsonwrites * Threads: https://www.threads.com/@katejohnsonwrites * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katejohnsonwrites * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katejohnsonwrites Resources Mentioned: * Coalition for Responsible Home Educators: https://crhe.org If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to the Ex-Homeschoolers Club, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. If you'd like to support the show, be sure to join the newsletter for updates and future episodes. Connect with me: * Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub * Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com * Substack: https://exhsclub.substack.com Chapters 00:00 Trigger Warning 00:39 Invitation To Purity Culture Livestream 01:20 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:28 Kate’s Homeschool Origins 02:43 First Day Was 9/11 08:15 Finding a Homeschool Rhythm 11:05 Classical Conversations Explained 17:32 Curriculum Nostalgia and Resources 23:16 Siblings and Public School Switch 25:38 High School Culture Shock 28:51 Pastor’s Kid Pressure 31:21 TW: Dad’s Arrest and Fallout 36:38 TW: Isolation and System Gaps 39:36 TW: Silence, Control, Parentification 44:04 TW: Healing and Purity Culture 46:46 Guys Taught No Control 50:17 Consent And Worthlessness 52:45 College Identity Shifts 57:27 Politics And Deconstruction 01:01:32 Trusting Inner Intuition 01:03:41 TW: Dad Arrested Again 01:08:42 Somatic Healing Journey 01:15:50 Ritual Of Letting Go 01:23:20 Values And Bodywork Tools 01:29:22 Where To Follow Kate 01:31:45 Homeschool Safety Advocacy 01:34:25 Final Thanks And Wrap

Is Online School Really Homeschooling? A Conversation We Need to Have

Where does online school fit into the homeschooling conversation? In this week's episode, I sat down with Mindy to explore that question while unpacking the similarities and differences between public online education and traditional homeschooling. We discuss educational gaps, socialization, student safety, and why the rapid growth of homeschooling is forcing us to rethink how we define home-based education. We also dive into the broader cultural and political influence of the homeschooling movement, the role of regulation, and why nuanced conversations are essential if we want to improve educational outcomes without losing the flexibility that makes alternative education valuable. Whether you were homeschooled, attended online school, or are simply interested in education policy, this episode offers plenty to think about. Resources we mentioned * Lifetime Prevalence of Investigating Child Maltreatment Among US Children: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303545?journalCode=ajph * How a true believer’s flawed research helped legitimize home schooling: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/12/11/brian-ray-homeschool-student-outcomes/ * The Christian home-schooler who made ‘parental rights’ a GOP rallying cry: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/aug/31/the-christian-home-schooler-who-made-parental-righ/ * Ten Homeschooling Parent Myths Debunked: https://rlstollar.com/2025/06/06/ten-homeschooling-parent-myths-debunked/ * Online schools 'worse than traditional teachers': https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34671952 * Coalition for Responsible Home Education: https://crhe.org * Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=t Connect with Me * Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/ * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ex-HomeschoolersClub * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub * Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com * Substack: https://exhsclub.substack.com Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:14 Mindy’s Early Schooling 01:47 Middle School Pressures 05:23 Bullying and High School Fears 07:57 Homeschool vs Online School 10:28 Online School Day to Day 11:21 Tutoring Center Realities 13:11 Did Online School Work 15:55 Why Study Homeschooling Now 22:15 Guardrails and Learning Gaps 26:22 Homeschooling Political Pipeline 30:45 Shiny Happy People Connections 32:54 Homeschool Political Grooming 33:24 Lobby Days And Fake Scores 35:14 HSlda And Child Safety Gaps 39:20 Online School Under Homeschooling 40:44 Mandated Reporters And CPS Fear 43:32 Bullying And Queer Panic 46:58 Unlearning Homophobia 51:31 Defining Laws And New Models 55:51 Parental Rights And Anti Vax Roots 01:02:06 Research Myths And Data Needs 01:04:29 Former Homeschoolers Speak Up 01:07:37 Wrap Up And Community Invite

We Deconstructed Our Homeschool and Religious Experiences

Want to hear Liz's homeschool experience? Check out this episode: https://youtu.be/rvHUlhOM9hI?si=j7JGWwCJAMwtrChb Liz is back in the clubhouse to explore the role religion played in our homeschool upbringings and how those beliefs shaped our identities long after childhood. Liz shares what it was like growing up in an intensely Catholic homeschool environment, from her involvement in the Legion of Mary to embracing modesty culture, purity culture, and the expectation that she might one day become a nun. Together, we unpack the complicated process of questioning long-held beliefs, navigating religious trauma, and separating personal faith from the cultural expectations that surrounded us. We discuss purity culture, the lack of sex education in many homeschool environments, the experience of deconstruction, and the grief that can accompany rebuilding your worldview. Whether you're still religious, no longer religious, or somewhere in between, this conversation is about finding space to ask questions, heal, and better understand the stories that shaped us. Resources We Mentioned * When Religion Hurts You: https://drlauraeanderson.com/book * Homeschooled: A Memoir: https://bookshop.org/p/books/homeschooled-a-new-york-times-bestselling-memoir-and-read-with-jenna-pick-stefan-merrill-block/7e9b1465fdf608ff?ean=9781335000989&next=t * The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score * Interview with D.L. Mayfield: https://youtu.be/ohzrQqPq0Dw?si=vi3cp1QPt8fy3wfi Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back Liz 01:07 Homeschooler Connection 03:32 Catholic Roots And Belonging 06:21 Evangelical Upbringing 08:33 Confirmation And Commitment 11:11 Legion Of Mary Explained 13:30 Conference Culture And War Talk 19:37 Performing Faith Publicly 21:29 Christian Mime And Evangelism 24:00 Modesty Purity And Shame 28:29 Deconstruction And Questioning 31:55 Where Beliefs Came From 33:11 Silence Around Sex And Expectations 34:56 Nunhood and Holiness 35:41 Purity Books Osmosis 36:40 Period Shame Lesson 37:51 Apple Pie Purity Talk 41:06 No Sex Ed Basics 43:27 Bridgerton Level Ignorance 45:20 Study Abroad Cracks Bubble 47:43 Grief and Quiet Deconstruction 54:34 Naming Religious Trauma 01:01:30 Inner Child Healing 01:04:20 Finding Community Through Stories 01:06:50 Closing Thoughts and Resources If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might benefit from hearing this story. Follow Ex-Homeschoolers Club on Instagram and TikTok for updates, and send us a message – we’d love to hear from you! Connect with Me * Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exhsclub * Email me at exhsclub@gmail.com