BACKSLIDERS

Happy Pride Month! On this episode of Backsliders, we talk with our new friend, Kristina Cunningham, of the blog and Instagram account Transitional Christian. Kristina grew up in the Ozark Mountains in a very fundamentalist family. Her childhood was spent going to an independent church that wasn't connected to any other larger denomination. She describes her family's church as a "little shack in the woods" where the entire congregation consisted of 45 people...all her family members. Aside from the tent revival preachers that would pass through, her church congregation kept to themselves and believed that all outsiders were going to hell. She remembers praying by the time she was four or five that she would wake up in the body she knew she was—a girl. But little Kristina belonged to a church that every Sunday was talking about "those homosexuals and trans folks that were abominations of God." Kristina's family didn't even own a TV growing up, and she first learned about the real existence of other queer people when she went to a video store at 17 years old. This made her finally feel like she could have options and maybe even find acceptance of her true self, outside of the family she was born into. Kristina talks with us about her experience with homelessness after being outed by her boyfriend in high school, and how the greatest people she ever met were those she met while living on the street. While Kristina admits she went through many years of being angry with the image of God, she now finds peace in spirituality outside of religion and sees God in connection and nature. This is a great conversation and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Note from Key and Micah: We apologize for our delay in releasing this latest episode. We have been taking a pause to listen, reflect, and take actions in this fight to dismantle hatred in all its current forms throughout our nation. We want to state that we are not only committed to being allies to the LGBTQ+ community, but we are committed to anti-racism. We stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and its goal to dismantle systemic racism, white supremacy, and end the unjust murders and abuse of precious black lives. We hope you do, too. We created a new page with a compilation of some helpful resources on large and small actions we can all take against racism, as well as other accounts to follow from anti-racism advocates, leaders, and teachers. This resource hub will be permanently featured on our website. Check it out here.NEW NEWS: If you enjoy this podcast and want to hang out with us a little more, we also have a web series titled Backsliders! This show was recently selected by the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Creators Market sponsored by HBO! Check out our new episode by clicking here.CONNECT WITH KRISTINA Transitional Christian BlogInstagramOUR LINKSBacksliders InstagramBob Billiams Productions InstagramFacebookTwitterKeylee InstagramMicah InstagramCREDITSSound Mixing by Darren AugustusVideography and Photography by Claude CharlesIntro Music "7.2.19" by Chase BurnettOutro Music "Stay Mad" by Chase Burnett ft. Julia NunesTitle Animation/Poster art by Cody WalzelSpecial Thanks to Angie CharlesFREE WAYS TO SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you can't give financially, we understand. Please consider these free things you can do to help our projects reach others!1) Subscribe to this podcast!2) Leave us a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review!3) Share your favorite episode with your friends or in a group you're a part of!4) Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and leave us a comment!Thank you so much for your support! WATCH OUR OTHER SHOWSBacksliders the seriesHome the seriesTalk the seriesREACH OUTWe'd love to hear from you directly! Let's talk about what we were raised to believe, where we are now, and how that affects our relationships with others and ourselves! keylee@bbobbilliams.com micah@bobbilliams.com

On this episode of Backsliders, we talk with our friend, fellow actor/writer/director/producer Jason Nguyen. Jason was born in Vietnam and moved to the U.S. when he was really young. We talk with him about his upbringing in a Buddhist household in Vancouver, Washington. His parents were spiritual people but Jason felt like he had to piece together their beliefs as if they were the Zodiac Killer. He tells us stories about going to Temple as a child and how he thought it was a Vietnamese community space for immigrant families to get to know each other, but he didn’t really know what the monks were doing. Jason thinks about death a lot, and deals with being depressed by talking to other people about how they stay positive (Check out his podcast Stay Positive!). Other fun topics in this episode include: some superstitions that Jason’s parents held, how Jason first heard about Jesus and hell, the first time he stepped foot in a church, meditation, and more.NEW NEWS: If you enjoy this podcast and want to hang out with us a little more, we also have a web series titled Backsliders! This show was recently selected by the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Creators Market sponsored by HBO! Check out our new episode by clicking here. CONNECT WITH JASONStay Positive PodcastInstagramTwitter OUR LINKSBacksliders InstagramBob Billiams Productions InstagramFacebookTwitterKeylee InstagramMicah Instagram CREDITSSound Mixing by Darren AugustusVideography and Photography by Claude CharlesIntro Music "7.2.19" by Chase BurnettOutro Music "Stay Mad" by Chase Burnett ft. Julia NunesTitle Animation/Poster art by Cody WalzelSpecial Thanks to Angie Charles HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you enjoy our show and are able to give, we kindly ask for a donation of your choice via Venmo. Think of it like buying a latte for a friend when you can't leave your house. :)Venmo Donation Link: https://venmo.com/keylee-sudduthPayPal Donation Link: https://paypal.me/bobbilliams FREE WAYS TO SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you can't give financially, we understand. Please consider these free things you can do to help our projects reach others!1) Subscribe to this podcast!2) Leave us a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review!3) Share your favorite episode with your friends or in a group you're a part of!4) Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and leave us a comment!Thank you so much for your support! WATCH OUR OTHER SHOWSBacksliders the seriesHome the seriesTalk the series REACH OUTWe'd love to hear from you directly! Let's talk about what we were raised to believe, where we are now, and how that affects our relationships with others and ourselves! keylee@bbobbilliams.com micah@bobbilliams.com

On this episode of Backsliders, we talk with our friend and filmmaker Sarah Joy Byington! Sarah was raised in Austin in an Evangelical Christian home that at times was more legalistic in nature. She was homeschooled until her sophomore year of high school, once her parents separated and she started taking care of her siblings after school while her mom worked. We talk with Sarah about her experience at a Christian film program, meeting her husband, and how the experience of becoming a mother has taken her faith to a deeper level. Right now, she says she is still figuring out what she believes and is becoming more and more comfortable asking questions and embracing uncertainty. Other topics we cover: learning to overcome the fear of what other people( particularly Christian family/peers) might think of you, the controversy of dressing up for Halloween, Christianity and social activism, the desire to go off the grid, feminism, purity culture, Micah’s yogi Jesus computer background, and more.NEW NEWS: If you enjoy this podcast and want to hang out with us a little more, we also have a web series titled Backsliders! This show was recently selected by the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Creators Market sponsored by HBO! Check out our new episode by clicking here. CONNECT WITH SARAH Sarah's InstagramLet Me Do Right by You - Film - Instagram OUR LINKSBacksliders InstagramBob Billiams Productions InstagramFacebookTwitterKeylee InstagramMicah Instagram CREDITSSound Mixing by Darren AugustusVideography and Photography by Claude CharlesIntro Music "7.2.19" by Chase BurnettOutro Music "Stay Mad" by Chase Burnett ft. Julia NunesTitle Animation/Poster art by Cody WalzelSpecial Thanks to Angie Charles HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you enjoy our show and are able to give, we kindly ask for a donation of your choice via Venmo. Think of it like buying a latte for a friend when you can't leave your house. :)Venmo Donation Link: https://venmo.com/keylee-sudduthPayPal Donation Link: https://paypal.me/bobbilliams FREE WAYS TO SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you can't give financially, we understand. Please consider these free things you can do to help our projects reach others!1) Subscribe to this podcast!2) Leave us a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review!3) Share your favorite episode with your friends or in a group you're a part of!4) Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and leave us a comment!Thank you so much for your support! WATCH OUR OTHER SHOWSBacksliders the seriesHome the seriesTalk the series REACH OUTWe'd love to hear from you directly! Let's talk about what we were raised to believe, where we are now, and how that affects our relationships with others and ourselves! keylee@bbobbilliams.com micah@bobbilliams.com

On this episode of Backsliders, we talk with our friend and fellow writer, producer Nick Morton! Nick was raised Catholic and went to an Episcopalian boarding school. We talk with Nick about his upbringing, the fear of hell, and some valuable lessons he learned at Georgetown (like the effectiveness of action, recognizing that change is inevitable and that itself is divinity). After graduating from college and spending 18 years in LA, Nick got sober and re-evaluated his spirituality through AA’s encouragement of a relationship with a Higher Power. He doesn’t believe in hell or pray, but he believes that God sends him challenges to make him stronger. Nick is now a father and he tells us some funny stories about sending his kids to a Jewish school and Episcopalian school as a non-religious person. Other topics include: finding divinity in the present moment, meditation, releasing control, helping others to help yourself, etc. **Note: This episode was recorded in-person weeks before the COVID-19 quarantine was enacted. Keep staying home and social distancing, y'all.** NEW NEWS: If you enjoy this podcast and want to hang out with us a little more, we also have a web series titled Backsliders! This show was recently selected by the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Creators Market sponsored by HBO! Check out our new episode by clicking here. CONNECT WITH NICK Drunkalogues PodcastTwitterInstagram OUR LINKSBacksliders InstagramBob Billiams Productions InstagramFacebookTwitterKeylee InstagramMicah Instagram CREDITSSound Mixing by Darren AugustusVideography and Photography by Claude CharlesIntro Music "7.2.19" by Chase BurnettOutro Music "Stay Mad" by Chase Burnett ft. Julia NunesTitle Animation/Poster art by Cody WalzelSpecial Thanks to Angie Charles HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you enjoy our show and are able to give, we kindly ask for a donation of your choice via Venmo. Think of it like buying a latte for a friend when you can't leave your house. :)Venmo Donation Link: https://venmo.com/keylee-sudduthPayPal Donation Link: https://paypal.me/bobbilliams FREE WAYS TO SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you can't give financially, we understand. Please consider these free things you can do to help our projects reach others!1) Subscribe to this podcast!2) Leave us a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review!3) Share your favorite episode with your friends or in a group you're a part of!4) Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and leave us a comment!Thank you so much for your support! WATCH OUR OTHER SHOWSBacksliders the seriesHome the seriesTalk the series REACH OUTWe'd love to hear from you directly! Let's talk about what we were raised to believe, where we are now, and how that affects our relationships with others and ourselves! keylee@bbobbilliams.com micah@bobbilliams.com

In this episode of Backsliders, we talk with our new friend Brenda Marie Davies. Brenda is from New Jersey and grew up 'Casual Catholic' before going to a non-denominational evangelical church when she was in middle school. Brenda has always been a passionate, outspoken person. We talk with her about how she went from being a leader in her youth group, praying on the front lawn of her school, organizing a purity ceremony with her friends, arguing with her science teacher about creationism--to eventually deconstructing her fundamental Christian views in a public forum. Brenda tells us the story of how she aligned her sexuality with her spirituality and became inspired to create the sex-positive, LGBTQ-affirming, science-affirming progressive Christian YouTube channel God is Grey. Brenda proudly identifies as a Christian and believes Jesus was a feminist, a teacher, and inclusive to the core. We loved having her on the show and hope you enjoy our conversation!NEW NEWS: If you enjoy this podcast and want to hang out with us a little more, we also have a web series titled Backsliders! This show was recently selected by the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Creators Market sponsored by HBO! Check out our new episode by clicking here. https://youtu.be/eQpFKO6IxDICONNECT WITH BRENDAhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Xf6ScN9riYhTOUsvhkhaw/featuredhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-is-grey/id1437717099?mt=2https://www.instagram.com/godisgrey/OUR LINKSBacksliders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backslidersshow/Bob Billiams Productions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebobbilliamsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebobbilliamsBob Billiams Productions website:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thebobbilliamsKeylee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keyleemakesMicah Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micah_sudduthCREDITSSound Mixing by Darren Augustus: http://www.darrenaugustus.com/Videography and Photography by Claude Charles: https://www.shotsbytopnotch.com/Intro Music "7.2.19" by Chase Burnett: https://chaseburnett.bandcamp.com/track/7219Outro Music "Stay Mad" by Chase Burnett ft. Julia Nunes: https://chaseburnett.bandcamp.com/track/stay-mad-71519Title Animation/Poster art by Cody Walzel: https://codywalzel.com/Special Thanks to Angie Charles: https://www.instagram.com/topnotchbodbyang/HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you enjoy our show and are able to give, we kindly ask for a donation of your choice via Venmo. Think of it like buying a latte for a friend when you can't leave your house. :)Venmo Donation Link: https://venmo.com/keylee-sudduthPayPal Donation Link: https://paypal.me/bobbilliamsFREE WAYS TO SUPPORT BACKSLIDERSIf you can't give financially, we understand. Please consider these free things you can do to help our projects reach others!1) Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Podbean!2) Leave us a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review!3) Share your favorite episode with your friends or in a group you're a part of!4) Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and leave us a comment!Thank you so much for your support! WATCH OUR OTHER SHOWSBacksliders the series: https://youtu.be/0Eyrd4x0xs0Home the series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaLr_U_Ej0HnhzV1CxL_j-LTKAwdEdTSTTalk the series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaLr_U_Ej0Hmye_iODsdIgjUsOjpsz5ma REACH OUTWe'd love to hear from you directly! Let's talk about what we were raised to believe, where we are now, and how that affects our relationships with others and ourselves! keylee@bbobbilliams.com micah@bobbilliams.com