Leaving My Echo Chamber

From Preacher’s Kid to Optimistic Agnostic | Leaving My Echo Chamber

Jon Michael grew up in the Church of Christ in Dixon, Tennessee, where his dad was a preacher and church was his entire world. He shares what it was like growing up in that environment, the beauty of it, and also the pressure that came with not having space to openly wrestle with struggles or questions. We talk about divorce in the church, free will, suffering, and how he thinks about God in a world that includes school shootings and real pain. He describes himself as an “optimistic agnostic” rather than an atheist, and we unpack what that actually means for him. We also get into church hypocrisy, why some people feel unwelcome in faith spaces, and why he believes honesty about doubt matters just as much as certainty. This is a conversation about belief, uncertainty, and learning how to hold both at the same time. The episode is now live on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Chaotic Childhood Meets Bad Theology | Leaving My Echo Chamber

This was my first time meeting Tausha and hearing her whole story. She grew up in Oregon in a single mom household, experiencing homelessness and instability at a young age, and feeling like she had to protect her brother. She shares what it was like navigating church while life at home felt chaotic, and how by middle school she was already drinking and smoking weed as a way send this to cope and feel in control. As she got older, she made the decision to start over and moved to Arizona, where she found community and reconnected with church. She also spent time in India, which expanded her perspective in a meaningful way. One moment that really stood out to me is when she shares that she felt like God was telling her to move to Nashville. She had never been here, didn’t know anyone, and within a few weeks packed up her car and went. We also talk about where she is now with her faith. What was once central in her life now comes with questions and doubt, and she shares that honestly. This is a story about survival, growth, and learning how to hold both belief and uncertainty at the same time. I’d love for you to watch or listen and let me know what stood out to you.

She Doesn’t Fit Either Party; She’s Running for Governor and She's Raw and Real | Leaving My Echo Chamber

I sat down with Lauren Pinkston, an independent candidate for governor of Tennessee, and found her so refreshing! Raised in Tennessee (like me!) with a strong sense of who she is and what she believes, Lauren shares how her upbringing, faith, and curiosity about others have shaped the way she sees the world today. From living in Laos and Uganda to earning a PhD in International Family and Community Studies, her experiences have given her a global perspective that shows up in how she talks about human trafficking, globalization, and the ways we are all more connected than we realize. We talk about some hard and complex topics in this episode, including transgender rights, her thoughts on sex-change surgeries for minors, and what it looks like to approach these conversations with both conviction and care. We also dive into what is happening closer to home—how global trade and tariffs are impacting farmers in Tennessee, the growing role of technology and what future conflict could look like, and the ways our economy connects to the rest of the world. Lauren also shares her concerns about where we are as a state, from the education system and school vouchers to cell phones in classrooms, and why she believes teachers and communities need a stronger voice in the conversation. What stayed with me most is her desire to understand people, even when it’s uncomfortable, and her belief that we are more connected than we think. With the upcoming election, this race has the potential to look very different than what Tennessee has seen in a long time. If you’re willing to listen to a perspective that might challenge you or make you think a little deeper, I hope this conversation stays with you like it did with me.

A Mexican American Calls Out Church & Politics in America | Leaving My Echo Chamber

Growing up in Los Angeles with very little, Ed learned early what it meant to work hard, stay grounded, and not take opportunity for granted. As a Mexican American whose parents came to the United States to build a better life, his story is shaped by sacrifice, resilience, and a deep sense of gratitude. But his early experience with the church was complicated. Raised Catholic but only attending sporadically, the times he did go felt boring and out of place. He grew up in a neighborhood where everyone went to the same church, yet he never felt comfortable there, surrounded by people who often seemed hypocritical and far from living in a Christ-like way. These experiences shaped how he sees faith today. What stayed with me most is the way Ed honors his parents for the sacrifices they made—coming to the U.S. to create a home for him and give him opportunities he would never have had—despite not typically being a family-oriented person. If you are willing to sit with a perspective that might challenge your own, I think this conversation will stay with you

I Died at 19 and Lived to Tell the Tale (Part 2) | Leaving My Echo Chamber

In this conversation, Sara dives deeper into her journey after the accident that changed her life at 19. She reflects on the four phases of trauma—denial, anger, depression, and acceptance—and how allowing herself to feel the pain was necessary to begin truly healing. There is also an important life update for Sara regarding her relationship with her dad that happened after Part 1 was filmed! Don't miss this! This episode reminded me why I started Leaving My Echo Chamber: to sit with hard stories, listen, and learn alongside people who have lived experiences different from my own. Sara’s story is honest, raw, and full of lessons about resilience, perspective, and what it means to keep going.