Reconnect Pod

14: Hell, Fear, and a Spirituality of Love with Brian Recker

Deedra and Megan sit down with public theologian and author Brian Recker to unpack his new book, Hellbent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. Brian shares his journey from fundamentalism and eight years in the evangelical pastorate to a more inclusive way of following Jesus—one that replaces fear, punishment, and gatekeeping with curiosity, reclamation, and love. Together they explore how doctrines of eternal torment shape our image of God, our bodies, and our communities—and why removing hell from the center can actually deepen faith and free us to do the work of justice and mercy now. Listen as we discuss: * Growing up fundamentalist (yes, Bob Jones University) and the first “mini-deconstruction” * Why fear of hell quietly programs our spirituality (and our church cultures) * How punitive atonement stories make God the “bad guy” and stunt real transformation * The demonic as forces that split us from God, self, and neighbor (not cartoon villains) * Reclaiming practices, language, and church life after deconstruction * Centering the margins: why Jesus starts with the last, lost, least, and left out * Living the good news here and now vs. selling fire insurance for the afterlife Brian Recker, M.Div, is a public theologian, speaker, and writer on Christian spirituality without exclusionary dogma. The son of a Baptist preacher and an alum of the fundamentalist Bob Jones University, he spent eight years as an evangelical pastor before deconstructing his faith to find a more inclusive spirituality. He now speaks about following Jesus without fear of hell on his popular Instagram account and his Substack, Beloved. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has four children and a rescue pup named Maev.

13: Beyond Belief — with Jennie Bellinger

Deedra and Megan sit down with Jennie Bellinger, certified professional coach and host of the Badass Direct Sales Mastery Podcast, for an honest, funny, and wide-ranging conversation about faith, spirituality, and living authentically. Jennie shares her journey from growing up in a “love like Jesus” home to questioning organized religion, redefining spirituality, and finding purpose in love, connection, and energy. In this episode, we discuss: * Jennie’s evolving faith—from devoted churchgoer to agnostic seeker * The difference between “God Christians” and “Jesus Christians” * How she finds connection and meaning through “the universe” and energy * Why she still finds herself drawn to Jesus’ example of love and inclusion * A new definition of love inspired by The Ohana Way: “I want the best for you. I want to be the best for you. I want you to have transcendent joy.” * Journaling, introspection, and self-awareness as spiritual practice * Humor, authenticity, and finding grounding in curiosity rather than certainty Connect with our guest: 🎙️ Badass Direct Sales Mastery Podcast — badassdirectsalesmastery.com [https://badassdirectsalesmastery.com] 💡 Follow Jennie for coaching, leadership, and entrepreneurial growth resources. Jennie Bellinger is a certified professional coach, international best-selling author, and award-winning podcast host. Top direct sales leaders hire her to gain both financial and time freedom through effective leadership coaching. Known as the “Direct Sales Dom,” Jennie brings humor, candor, and strategy to everything she does. She’s also a two-time business owner, mom of two, and advocate for showing up authentically in every space. Her personal motto: “I don’t half-ass anything — I badass everything.” Guest Bio

12: Hospitality for the Soul — with Wendy Shuffett & Sarah Anderson

Megan and Deedra sit down with spiritual directors Wendy Shuffett and Sarah Anderson to demystify spiritual direction and contemplative practice. From breath prayer to the Examen, they unpack why “hospitality for the soul” matters, how to slow a hurried life, and what safe, trauma-aware accompaniment can look like when you’re reconnecting with God. In this episode, we discuss: * What spiritual direction is (and isn’t): invitation over advice, presence over performance * “Hospitality for the soul”: creating safe, confidential space to listen for the Spirit * Contemplative practices explained: breath prayer, Lectio Divina, Imaginative Prayer, the Examen, and visual journaling * Common barriers (busyness, fear, control) and how the body helps us pray * Using tools like the Enneagram wisely (to tailor practices, not label people) * Navigating pushback—from inside and outside the church—and keeping Jesus at the center * A guided breath prayer you can practice anytime Connect with our guests: * Sarah Anderson — Spiritual Direction & retreats: hospitalityforthesoul.com [https://hospitalityforthesoul.com] • Space & Grace retreats: spaceandgraceretreats.com * Wendy Shuffett — Spiritual Direction: wendyshuffett@gmail.com • Space & Grace retreats: spaceandgraceretreats.com Sarah Anderson is a Spiritual Director, contemplative retreat leader, and Pastor of Spiritual Formation in the Free Methodist Church. Over the past 23 years, she has served in various roles in ministry, including living overseas as a missionary with her family of six. She loves serving alongside her husband, who serves as lead pastor. In this phase of ministry, she feels called to offer hospitality to the soul through means such as spiritual direction, writing, retreats, teaching, prayer, and occasionally preaching. Sarah has been married to her college sweetheart for the past 23 years and has four amazing daughters. If she's not serving in one of her roles, you can find her either in the garden tending to her plants, writing, spending time with her family, or redecorating her home. Wendy Shuffett is an ordained minister and spiritual director who became aware of human trafficking in 2010. Her education includes an M.A. in Education and an M.A. in History. As a college instructor, Wendy created and led an anti-trafficking movement in her school where she trained students and staff to recognize the signs of trafficking, created and hosted Freedom Days, and helped raise awareness in the community through events. She has worked with Eden’s Glory for the last several years and co-pastors a Free Methodist church with her husband. She enjoys walking with others as we encounter Jesus together. Wendy loves her husband and family deeply, enjoys traveling, and cherishes open spaces to meet with God and enjoy His Presence.

11: Reconnecting through Resilience with Kimberly Beckley

This week, Megan and Deedra sit down with Kimberly Beckley, owner of Simplifying Beauty in O’Fallon, Illinois, for a conversation about faith, trauma, motherhood, and rediscovering connection. From navigating childhood wounds to parenting two adult sons with special needs, Kimberly shares how her relationship with God has shifted through heartbreak, healing, and unexpected grace. In this episode, we discuss: * Finding faith amid childhood abuse, control, and religious confusion * The complexity of trusting God through profound parenting challenges * How grief and purpose can coexist for special needs parents * Reparenting the inner child through compassion and authenticity * Learning to approach God as love instead of performance * What self-care and reconnection look like in real, imperfect faith Kimberly Beckley is a licensed cosmetologist, lash artist, and salon owner with over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry. As the founder of Simplifying Beauty Salon & Academy, she’s passionate about empowering women through self-care, education, and authentic leadership. Beyond her business, she’s a community connector, Chamber of Commerce ambassador, and advocate for making self-care a guilt-free priority.

10: An Expansive God — with Pastor Morgan Goymer

This week, Megan and Deedra sit down with Pastor Morgan Goymer from The Gathering to talk about what it really means to reimagine faith and reclaim church as a space of belonging. From unpacking harmful traditions to redefining God’s attributes beyond gender and fear, this conversation invites listeners into a more expansive, loving view of the divine. In this episode, we discuss: * What it means to “plant” a church and why inclusive, innovative communities still matter * Healing from church hurt and rediscovering abundance over fear * Seeing God in love, justice, and creation—not just within church walls * Reframing gendered language for God and embracing the divine feminine * How open theology makes space for LGBTQ+ inclusion, curiosity, and belonging * Why reconnecting to God is inseparable from reconnecting to ourselves and others About Pastor Morgan Goymer: Pastor Morgan Goymer is a pastor with The Gathering [gatheringnow.org]church in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she grew up in the church and felt a call to ministry at 15 years old. Inspired to be close to family and learn about ministry from clergy colleagues nearby, she attended Louisiana State University (LSU) for Communication Studies and Business. Then, she completed her graduate program at Duke Divinity School, studying pastoral ministry, innovative church, and community development. Now, she’s living with her husband in O’Fallon, IL as a church planter with The Gathering. She’s starting a new site of the church, focused on new people and the next generation asking questions about life, faith, and God.