Leaning Forward is the title of a book by Karl and Laura Forehand about moving beyond the confines of organized religion. It is also the title of an online conference we have hosted for several years. This year, we decided to host a series of podcasts primarily to help us understand religious trauma and how to move forward. We are also hosting an online conference with the understanding that amplifying women’s voices is probably the most important component.
The videos below are from the conference held on December 9th, 2023. They are free to access, but please consider donating to help offset expenses using the scan below. There are helpful links throughout this page. Please like, share, and subscribe! Comment!
We hope you find everything you need here!
Enjoy this FREE E-book “Evolving From Religious Trauma”
Speakers for Leaning Forward
Introduction
- Laura Forehand – Trauma and the Pastor’s Wife
- Rebekah Drumsta – Band-Aid’s, Stitches, and Scars: Tending the Wounds of Religious Trauma
- Janyne McConnaughhey – Women as Advocates for Healing and Change
- Paula Stone Williams – As a Woman
- Ashley Easter – The Intersection of Patriarchy and Abuse
- Nikki G – Trauma in the Black Community
- Susan Cottrell – How to Speak Women
- Megan Benninger – Reclaiming Married Sex from Purity Culture
- Sherri Bothwell – Usurping Women’s Voices from the Patriarchy: Taking Back the Narrative by Telling our Stories.
Resources Links
Introduction to Leaning Forward Videos
1. Laura Forehand
Preview
2. Rebekah Drumsta
Preview
3. Janyne McConnaughhey
Preview
4. Paula Stone Williams
Preview
5. Ashley Easter
Preview
6. Nikki G
Preview
7. Susan Cottrell
Preview
8. Megan Benninger
Preview
9. Sherri Bothwell
Preview
10. Additional Resources
Ted Talks
Why You Could Be Vulnerable To A Cult –
Ashley Easter – TEDxDanville
You can help by leaving comments on this video!
Why I chose my LGBTQ daughter over the Evangelical Church –
Susan Cottrell – TEDxMileHigh
Other Links, Podcasts & Websites
Global Center for Religious Research * Black Religious Trauma Recovery Network
Attachment and Trauma Network * Vashti Institute * Baptist Accountability Database
Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools
G.R.A.C.E -Empowering Christian communities to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse.
PODCASTS
The Desert Sanctuary (Karl & Laura Forehand)
Surviving the Black Church Podcast (NikkiG)
Preacher Boys Podcast (Eric Skwarczynski)
Biology of Trauma Podcast (Dr. Aimee Apigean)
FreedHearts Podcast (Susan & Rob Cottrell)
Almost Awakened Podcast (Brittney Hartley)
COLLECTIONS OF RESOURCES from Speakers
Rebekah Drumsta Resouces * Janyne McConnaughhey Resources
Courage 365 Resources * Reclaiming Married Sex from Purity Culture Resources
FreedHearts Resources * Sherri Bothwell Facebook – Instagram – TikToc
NikkiG Facebook – Website – Clubhouse
Karl & Laura Forehand – The Desert Sanctuary
MISC.
The Power and Control Wheel * The Equality Wheel
Brad and Becky were guests on our podcast, The Desert Sanctuary. Their discussion was titled, “Narcissism, The Dark Triad, and Religious Trauma.”
Becky Garrison Resources – Becky Garrison Website
https://wittenburgdoor.substack.com/gaslighting-for-god-part-1
then change to part-2 and so on through part-8
https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/authors/becky-garrison
My articles on narcissism and trauma are posted here. It is a satirical quiz that helps folks sense when someone’s actions rise to the level of spiritual narcissism.
Brad Sargent Resources – Brad Sargent Website
Key download articles on the Pyramid of Abuse and dynamics of toxic institutions are at this link:
This page links to posts with FAQs on abuse and recovery.
The Field Guides blog is being updated periodically as I compile and update older material and add visuals. Readers can rummage around there … The entire first Field Guide has already been posted.
https://futuristguysfieldguides.wordpress.com/
Those key links should especially help newbies. For more details and advanced info, this page is my long-form article on toxic systems with some summary charts at the end.
David Hayward – The Naked Pastor Website
Stuart Delony – Snarky Faith Website
Theo Bros Beer Camp
A Church Goes After a Gay Pastor
Support Leaning Forward
PayPal or Venmo
The Desert Sanctuary Blog Posts & Podcasts
333 – Kiersten Hathcock – Little Voices 2
(From her website) To most who know me, I’m a Shark Tank-winning, self-taught carpenter & furniture designer who built an internationally-known kids’ furniture company out of my LA garage. What many don’t know; however, is that I’m also an ordinary, science-minded mom of two who was thrown into extraordinary circumstances at the age of 36 when…
The Four Existential Concerns
The Four Existential Concerns (From our new book, Evolving From Religious Trauma. June 4th) Audio version of this blog! AI Generated Healing religious trauma and embarking on a journey of discovery can be terrifying! Many assumptions about the dangers of setting out on our own exist, but there are also the very real fears that all of…
332 – Paul Anthony – The Paranormal Among Us
I have a degree in broadcasting from Webster University here in STL. I had to give it up for family reasons but have recently been getting back into it. Been doing podcasts for almost 5 years now. It started with a fitness show called Shed It and several sports shows called St Louis Sports Scene…
The Desert Sanctuary 