#28 - Jenni's Coming Out Story Part One: The Bob Jones's Handbook and Experiences with Anti-LGBTQA+ Practices

The Modesty Files

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Step into the mysterious and visually stunning world of The Electric State as host Francesca Amiker takes you behind the scenes with the creative masterminds who brought Simon Stålenhag’s dystopian vision to life. In this premiere episode, directors Joe and Anthony Russo, stars Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and producers Angela Russo-Otstot and Chris Castaldi reveal how they transformed a haunting graphic novel into an epic cinematic experience. Watch The Electric State coming to Netflix on March 14th. Check out more from Netflix Podcasts . State Secrets: Inside the Making of The Electric State is produced by Netflix and Treefort Media.…

4 anni fa 1:10:40

Today we are speaking with Jenni, an alum from Bob Jones University, a private, non-denominational evangelical university in Greenville, South Carolina. It is known for its conservative cultural and religious positions. At Bob Jones, Jenni had to abide by strict rules enforced by the school, like a bell that rang at 11 pm and 7 am for mandatory bedtime and wake time every day. The university fostered a “tattling culture” and so as Jenni discover her sexual identity, it made coming out as a queer person pretty difficult. Jenni is here today to share all the details about Bob Jones and her incredible coming out story.
Topics in this episode include mature themes, so listener discretion is advised.
Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles
Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.

48 episodi

#Documentaries #Society #Modesty Files

#28 - Jenni's Coming Out Story Part One: The Bob Jones's Handbook and Experiences with Anti-LGBTQA+ Practices

The Modesty Files

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published 4 anni fa

MP3•Pagina principale dell'episodio

48 episodi

#Documentaries #Society #Modesty Files

Tutti gli episodi

1
#42 - Two Sides of the Same Coin: Kathy and Christine, A Mother and Daughters Generational Divide in IBLP 1:21:34

3 years fa1:21:34

1:21:34

Today, we have a Modesty Files first as we welcome mother and daughter duo, Kathy and Christine to the show. Kathy and Christine journeyed through IBLP together throughout her daughter, Christine’s, formative years. Through their time at IBLP, both Kathy and Christine interacted with Bill Gothard, and in this episode, they detail the strange way Gothard interacted differently with mothers and their teen daughters. Kathy and Christine have an honest conversation about their differing perspectives on the situation at the time. Topics in this episode include mature adult themes, so listener discretion is advised. So it’s time to strip that modesty cover, put on some comfy pants, and let’s catch up with Kathy and Christine on this week’s episode of the modesty files! Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#41 - Where Are They Now: Unpacking April's Backpack 46:28

3 years fa46:28

46:28

On today’s “Where are They Now” special episode we’re speaking with April, one of our Season 2 guests. While her episode was released in 2021, we recorded with her in 2020. Since chatting, April has quit her job for good at a white evangelical church and is finally ready to share an additional piece of her story that she wasn’t ready to speak about at the time. We recommend relistening to Episode #20 - Girl, You're a Missionary: April's Divine Calling to Study at the Masters Commission so you can jump straight into the new one! Content Warning: This episode includes the use of strong language, so listener discretion is advised. So it’s time to strip that modesty cover, put on some comfy pants, and let’s catch up with April on this week’s episode of the modesty files! Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#40 - A Cycle of Abuse: How Christian Commitment Led Sarah to a Toxic Marriage 1:08:42

3 years fa1:08:42

1:08:42

Today we’re speaking with Sarah, who left the Church of Christ about a decade ago. After having an abortion at age 19, she felt so guilty that she vowed that the next person she would date she would marry. However, she ended up trapped in an abusive marriage. Their relationship started with love-bombing and eventually turned into heavy verbal abuse and manipulation. Her pastors encouraged her to remain married because, “you can’t divorce your husband just because he’s mean to you.” Sarah remained inside the cycle of abuse until she finally escaped a year and a half later. A brief content warning, we will be discussing physical and emotional abuse and other mature themes, which may be upsetting, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#39 - The Return of Pastor "Granny" Jane: Billy's Perspective on his Toxic Pentecostal Community 46:13

3 years fa46:13

46:13

Content Warning: We spend a fair amount of time in this episode discussing suicide and abuse, which may be upsetting, so listener discretion is advised. We have a very special show for you today. In Season 2, we released an episode featuring Julie and the Pentecostal Community she grew up in. Julie’s congregation was run by a female pastor who members referred to as “Granny.” She encouraged adult men to get vasectomies and forced teenagers to clean offices at night. Well, today we are continuing this story. Our guest, Billy, is a close friend of Julie’s and was also a member of Granny’s toxic church environment. He’s going to share with us his experience inside the church and how he eventually left this high control group We highly recommend going back to listen to episode #15 to learn more about the church’s practices and beliefs, but if you want to jump right in, you should be good to follow along. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicide ideation, please use the following resources: Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255 Crisis Text Hotline: Text "HOME" to 741741 Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#38 - Risking it all for Christ: Anne Jisca's Dangerous Year as a Missionary in West Africa 54:33

3 years fa54:33

54:33

Today, we are speaking with Anne Jisca, a Canadian woman and former evangelical missionary. She participated in short-term mission trips as a teenager, and after getting married at 22, she and her husband, Josiah, pursued full-time missionary work all over the world. During that time, Anne Jisca gave birth to five children, and the pressure of being the perfect missionary started to build up. Her mental and physical health suffered, and in 2019, Anne Jisca and Josiah decided to leave missionary work for good. Topics in this episode include suicide ideation and other mature adult themes, so listener discretion is advised. After leaving the church in March 2020, She and Josiah began a podcast of their own called Seeking Health, where they aim to bring fun and informative discussions about deconstruction, reconstruction, health, and hope in a post-evangelical world. You can listen to Anne Jisca's podcast "Seeking Health" here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seeking-health-with-josiah-anne-jisca-meyer/id668410493 Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#37 - A Sinner’s Hell: Clarissa Details Her Upbringing Influenced by Michael and Debi Pearl’s Teachings in "To Train Up a Child" 1:08:21

3 years fa1:08:21

1:08:21

In this episode we discuss physical child abuse, sexual assault, suicide ideation, and other topics that may be upsetting, so listener discretion is advised. Today we’re speaking with Clarissa, who is here to share with us the fundamentalist teachings that were enforced in her home. Her parents were primarily influenced by Michael and Debi Pearl, writers of the 1994 book “To Train Up a Child.” This book encourages parents to use corporal punishment and has sold hundreds of thousands of copies to evangelical Christians since its release. Clarissa’s parents inflicted these abusive practices on her younger siblings and justified the actions with their religious beliefs. Clarissa is now sharing her story to shed light on this abusive parenting ideology. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#36 - Soft Were Her Curls: Allie Details IBLP and the Actions of Bill Gothard 1:04:21

3 years fa1:04:21

1:04:21

On today's episode, we're speaking with Allie, who is here to share with us her experience growing up influenced by the Advanced Training Institute. She spent most of her childhood focused on perfection, like following her parents' rules or protecting her purity. Her interactions with the organization’s leader, Bill Gothard, left her feeling uneasy and confused about her relationship with faith. But as she grew older, she started to question why following human made rules supposedly led to rewards from God. Ultimately, Allie decided to walk away from the Gothard teachings and break from the regulations that once defined her. Topics in this episode include mature adult themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#35 - Shattering the Golden Plates: AnnaMarie Breaks Down the Mormon Church 56:10

3 years fa56:10

56:10

Today, we are speaking with AnnaMarie, a woman who has recently left the Mormon church. The Mormon church is one of the newest Christian denominations and also has one of the most unique origin stories. AnnaMarie was born into and grew up in the Mormon Church and accepted its customs as ordinary until she went off to college. She was committed to her role and the expectations of her church, but when she tried to leave quietly she was stalked by missionaries in the group. She’ll get into the details on her involvement and more in today’s episode. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#34 - ...Or Your Girlfriend: Alex's Coming Out Journey with a Life Shaped Through Bob Jones University 51:46

4 years fa51:46

51:46

On today’s show, we’re speaking with Alex, a woman who was raised in United Pentecostal Church International. She attended an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist school whose practices were heavily influenced by its neighbor, Bob Jones University. She frequently visited the campus for sports and music recitals, and had to follow all of the required rules. Alex is going to share with us what religious practices she followed growing up and how breaking away from the church allowed her to embrace her sexuality as a queer woman. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#33 - Deconstructing with an Audience: Lindsey of TikTok's @cultchronicals Shares Her Experience with Bill Gothard and IBLP - Part Two 45:25

4 years fa45:25

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Today we’re continuing our conversation with Lindsey. Last week, she shared with us was it was like growing in ATI culture and working with Bill Gothard at Headquarters for the Advanced Training Institute. If you haven’t listened to Part One, we highly recommend going back to hear Lindsey's story from the beginning. Lindsey is going to share with us how she ultimately left ATI, fell in love, and started a new life for herself outside of the church. Topics in this episode include mature adult themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#32 - Deconstructing with an Audience: Lindsey of TikTok's @cultchronicals Shares Her Experience with Bill Gothard and IBLP - Part One 1:01:36

4 years fa1:01:36

1:01:36

Welcome to SEASON THREE of The Modesty Files! On today's episode, we're speaking with Lindsey, a former member of Advanced Training Institute, the infamous homeschool curriculum created by Bill Gothard. While we know our guest as Lindsey, for those on TikTok, you may know her as at @cultchronicles. Looking for something to do at the start of quarantine, Lindsey decided to re-read her old journals and document her re-exploration of the past on TikTok. She went viral, and people were fascinated by the stories she was sharing. But more importantly, Lindsey discovered that opening up about her life in ATI was what she needed to finally begin her healing process. So today, instead of hearing Lindsey's experience growing up in ATI in a 1-minute video, we have two episodes to explore the depths of her upbringing. Topics in this episode include mature adult themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#31 - Where Are They Now: Lydia's New Life as a Wife and How She Reshaped Her Views on Marriage 31:20

4 years fa31:20

31:20

On today’s “Where are they now” special episode we’re talking with one of our season 1 guests, Lydia. She was the first one to introduce us to Christian purity culture and Josh Harris's book “I Kissed Dating Goodbye.” Lydia shared with us last year that she had yet to have her first kiss, and while we’ll let Lydia share with us what she has been up, let’s say it’s almost as perfect as a hallmark movie. We highly recommend going back and listening to her episode in season 1, episode 8 to hear her complete story. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#30 - Where Are They Now: Angela’s Transformational Year Since Speaking Out 28:09

4 years fa28:09

28:09

On today’s “Where are They Now” special episode we’re talking with Angela, who was a guest in Season 1. She comes from a Pentecostal background and taught us all about the church’s rituals, such as healing and speaking in tongues, her experience being a pastor’s kid, and what it means to take a “liberal” stance on sex education and morals. We highly recommend going back and listening to her episode in Season 1, Episode 9 to hear her complete story. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#29 - Jenni's Coming Out Story Part Two: Life on Guam, Conversion Therapy, and the Decade after Leaving Fundamentalism 50:03

4 years fa50:03

50:03

Today we’re continuing our conversation with Jenni, an alum from Bob Jones University. If you haven’t listened to Part One, we highly recommend going back to hear Jenni's story from the beginning. She explained to us many of the rules enforced by the school and how challenging it was for Jenni to come out as a queer. Jenni going to share with us what it was like to undergo years of conversion therapy, what led her to leave fundamentalism, and how she learned to embrace her true self as a queer woman. Topics in this episode include abuse, mental health difficulties, and other mature themes, so listener discretion is advised. This is the last episode of Season 2 of The Modesty Files! Thank you once again to all the incredible people that we’ve spoken to this year and the supporters we’ve connected with along the way. We’ll be back in September for Season Three, so in the meantime, please to leave us a rating or review wherever you listen to your podcasts, follow us on Instagram and support us over on Patreon to get access to bonus segments throughout the summer. And one final thank you to our female power squad: Allison, Amanda, Caroline, Emma, Kelsey, Janelle, Jessica, Savannah, and Sophie for helping us bring season two to life. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#28 - Jenni's Coming Out Story Part One: The Bob Jones's Handbook and Experiences with Anti-LGBTQA+ Practices 1:10:40

4 years fa1:10:40

1:10:40

Today we are speaking with Jenni, an alum from Bob Jones University, a private, non-denominational evangelical university in Greenville, South Carolina. It is known for its conservative cultural and religious positions. At Bob Jones, Jenni had to abide by strict rules enforced by the school, like a bell that rang at 11 pm and 7 am for mandatory bedtime and wake time every day. The university fostered a “tattling culture” and so as Jenni discover her sexual identity, it made coming out as a queer person pretty difficult. Jenni is here today to share all the details about Bob Jones and her incredible coming out story. Topics in this episode include mature themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

The Modesty Files

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#27 - Redefining Womanhood: How Nick Embraced Her Identity as a Queer Woman 1:00:45

4 years fa1:00:45

1:00:45

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Nick, a former member of the Church of the Brethren. Growing up, Nick expressed many questions about her non-denominational faith and religious practices. She had a hard time performing the role she had to play for the church community. As queer person, Nick struggle with the church’s required head covering, dresses on sunday, overall traditional femmine expectations. The Brethren openly opposed same-sex marriage and these teachings became problematic as Nick grew older and started exploring her sexual identity. Her religious beliefs began to fade in college and her involvement on Tumblr and fandoms helped her realize the importance of self-expression and freedom in creating your own identity. Topics in this episode include mature adult themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#26 - Slow Boil Persuasion: Martina's Fall into the Mormon Church 54:56

4 years fa54:56

54:56

Welcome back to the second episode of our Pride Month celebration series. Today we’re speaking with Martina, a queer woman from Belgum who’s going to share with us her unique experience with the Mormon church. After a traumatic incident as a teen, Martina was searching for a community of people. She encountered a group of Mormon missionaries and her friendship with them turned into a slow boil of indoctrination into the church. She fell for the love bombing, and soon enough, the church convinced her that she “struggled with same-sex attraction” and that she could easily fall in love with a man. After a year of participating in Mormon practices and attempting to deny her sexuality, Martina decided on the day of her baptism that she needed to leave the Mormon church for good. Topics in this episode include mature adult themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#25 - From ATI to Bob Jones University: Elizabeth Hunter's Battle to Change Anti-LGBTQA+ Policies 1:13:42

4 years fa1:13:42

1:13:42

Today is the first episode of our Pride Month celebration series. We’re bringing to you five incredible episodes from people in the LGBTQA+ community who have left fundamentalism. We’re kicking off our series with an interview with Elizabeth Hunter, or @ThatLizHunter for those who know her from Instagram and TikTok. Elizabeth has spent the last year on social media documenting her experiences growing up influenced by Bill Gothard's homeschool curriculum, the Advanced Training Institute. Additionally, Elizabeth attended Bob Jones University and was almost kicked out of the school for her sexuality. Administrators threatened her student status after she tweeted “Happy Pride” and wrote a book with lesbian characters. Now in 2021, Elizabeth is participating as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education. She’ll get into the details on her involvement and more in today’s episode. Topics in this episode include physical and sexual abuse, depression, and other mature themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#24 - Rewriting the Past: Halt's White-Washed Education in History and Politics 56:35

4 years fa56:35

56:35

Today’s guest is Halt and he’s going to share with us his male perspective of what it was like attending a Non-denominational Christian school in Las Vegas. From Kindergarten through 12th grade, Halt was immersed in Christianized education. He received very little sex education and participated in purity banquets, pledging that they would maintain their virginity for marriage. Halt’s history courses also focused on white-washed history topics like Great Replacement Theory and used “Apologetics” to justify their teachers. Halt finally began to question his beliefs as a junior in high school when he began taking non-sanitized history courses at the local college. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

The Modesty Files

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#23 - The IBLP Umbrella in the Land Down Under: Kez’s Life as a Pastor’s Kid 1:09:58

4 years fa1:09:58

1:09:58

On today's episode, we're speaking with Kez, who joins us all the way from the other side of the world in Australia. She is here today to share with us her experience growing up in the Independent Baptist church, and how the Advanced Training Institute homeschool curriculum was implemented in her home. Growing up as a pastor's kid, Kez faced the pressures of perfection and was isolated from anyone outside her IB community. Her father even became a key player in bringing fundamentalist figures, like Bill Gothard and SM Davis, to Australia. Kez struggled for years with mental health challenges but eventually escaped to seek help and discovered what freedom felt like on the outside. Trigger warnings for topics including child sexual abuse and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion advised. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#22 - The Domino Effect: An Inside Look at Josh Duggar's Arrest and the Complexities of Leaving Abuse 53:01

4 years fa53:01

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This episode involves topics of physical and sexual abuse and other mature themes. Listener discretion is advised. On April 29th, Josh Duggar, the oldest son of the TLC reality show family was arrested by federal authorities and now faces charges of possessing depictions of sexual abuse of children, some of whom were under the age of 12. In response to the varying opinions out there on social media, we ourselves wanted to understand the situation better. We reached out to someone who we believe may be able to shine some light on the complexities of child abuse inside fundamentalist communities. Author and Trauma Recovery Advocate, Emily Elizabeth Anderson has a first-hand account of the abuse that occurs inside the Institute in Basic Life Principles & The Advanced Training Institute and will help us process this complex situation. Connect with Emily at ThrivingForwardBlog.com or on Facebook.com/ThrivingForwardBlog Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#21 - "The Daughters" - Deep Dive Into the Stay At Home Daughter Movement with Joanna Adams 1:02:49

4 years fa1:02:49

1:02:49

Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. Today we are speaking with Joanna Adams, the producer and director of “The Daughters,” an upcoming audio documentary exploring the Stay at Home Daughter movement. This movement focuses on the idea that daughters should never leave the covering of their fathers until and unless they are married. Joanna is sparking a conversation about the movement and sharing the stories of those who grew up in it, including in their relationships, careers, education choices, emotions, dress, and religious choices. You can learn more about "The Daughters" at www.thedaughtersdocu.com Follow "The Daughters" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stay-at-Home-Daughter-Documentary-989322501271153…

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#20 - Girl, You're a Missionary: April's Divine Calling to Study at the Masters Commission 1:06:36

4 years fa1:06:36

1:06:36

Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. This episode contains mature language so listener discretion is advised. On today’s episode, we’re speaking with April who was raised in the Pentecostal denomination known as Assemblies of God. After being told by a preacher it was her destiny to become a missionary, she applied and was accepted to the Master Commission, an intense discipleship training program. At the school, students train to become AG ministers. April was expected to eat, sleep, and drink the Bible, 24 hours a day. And after several years of some shady leadership, she began to question whether the intensity of the program was worth it. April will walk us through all of the details including a crazy story of the time she and a group were dropped off in the woods with nothing but a single tent.…

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#19 - The Writing on the Wall: Charity's Life as a Branhamism Message Believer 1:12:09

4 years fa1:12:09

1:12:09

Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. Today we are speaking with Charity Wottrich, a Christian author, who grew up in a homeschooled family in rural Pennsylvania and is 8th out of 13 children. Growing up, she belonged to a Branhamism Church. This institution was founded by William M. Branham, a Pentecostal pastor who gained popularity by hosting “healing revivals” in the 40s and 50s. His followers, who call themselves Message believers, go beyond merely having faith in the supernatural but actively anticipate and induce the rapture. After a scandal in her Pennsylvania church, Charity left the organization doubting her faith, but abandoning the Message ultimately led to her freedom and faith stronger than ever before. You can find Charity on Instagram @ thisartistslife and @thisartistslifeco. Also, read Charity's book! "Where the Willow Weeps" is available on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2GOZDEy…

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#14a - Back Pocket Minisode - Bernie Discusses Her Dating Standards 4:59

4 years fa4:59

4:59

Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. We're taking a brief break this week so that we can continue working on amazing episodes for you all. But we have some extra bonus content. We've received so many requests for more content from our season two opener, Bernie. Enjoy our "Back Pocket" Minisodes with extra content from Episode #14: Thirty, UnFlirty, but Trying: Bernie's Quick Explosion Out of Purity Culture. Bernie shares some of her personal standards as she experiments with modern-day dating apps. If you enjoy this content, please join us over on Patreon and support our podcast. We released all of our episodes early and post bonus content every week. Our theme song is written by Savannah Kunze.…

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#18 - A Lady No Longer Against Feminism - Lyndall's Gateway into Fundamentalism 53:03

4 years fa53:03

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Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. Today we are speaking Lyndall, a woman who entered into the world of fundamentalism by her own choice as a teenager. After experiencing mental health challenges at 13, she discovered that Christian media offered her an escape from her emotional struggles. Books written by the fundamentalist Botkins sister conveyed idyllic images of courtship, stay-at-home-daughterhood, and modest wardrobe choices. Lyndall found this very appealing and what she considers her gateway into fundamentalism. She’s going to share with us her journey with faith and how she’s now pursuing a career in filmmaking in order to share healthy narratives about the world that she needed when she was young.…

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#17 - Dorm Room Confessions: How Kristin and Tripp Found Love at a Church of Christ University 1:05:39

4 years fa1:05:39

1:05:39

Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. In today’s episode, we have not one, BUT TWO guests, Kristin and Tripp! This awesome couple met at Abilene Christian University, a private Christian university in Texas affiliated with the Church of Christ. Growing up within the Church of Christ community, Kristin was accustomed to the church's practices, such as Acappella only worship songs and plain interior design buildings. However, Tripp discovered Abilene totally on accident and was surprised by the university's Christian policies, like gender-separated dorm rooms. Students were required to follow strict protocols when it came to interacting with members of the opposite sex, So how did Kristin and Tripp date? Well, let’s just say baggy sweats and a baseball cap go a long way.…

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#16 - Beneath the Umbrella: Victoria Details the Teachings of ATI, Bill Gothard's Homeschool Curriculum 1:08:00

4 years fa1:08:00

1:08:00

Today we are talking to Victoria. a former member of the Institute in Basic life Principles or IBLP. This organization was founded by Bill Gothard and is most known as the system of beliefs that TLC’s Dugger family subscribes to. As a kid. Victoria was homeschooled using the Advanced Training Institute curriculum, a “biblically-based” homeschool program also developed by Bill Gothard. She also attended IBLP's Journey to the Heart, a retreat for teenage girls and Victoria will go into all the details about her experience on this retreat. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#15 - Inside Julie’s Pentecostal Community and Their Mass Exodus Out of Pastor Jane’s Control 1:11:22

4 years fa1:11:22

1:11:22

Julie joins us today, ready to share experience growing up in a fundamentalist Pentecostal church in the south. Julie’s story is quite unique, as her congregation was run by a female pastor who we will refer to as Jane. Younger members of the community were asked to call her “Granny.” She preached the Armageddon and practiced speaking in tongues. But Jane went farther than your typical pentecostal preacher. She encouraged adult men to get vasectomies, forced teenagers to clean offices at night, and manipulated elderly community members to put her in their will. The manipulation is outstanding, so Julie will walk us through Jane’s narcissistic behavior and ultimately what it took for Julie to escape this high control group. Topics in this episode include abuse, neglect, suicide, and other mature themes, so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#14 - Thirty, UnFlirty, but Trying: Bernie's Quick Explosion Out of Purity Culture 1:14:02

4 years fa1:14:02

1:14:02

Our first guest of the season is Bernie, who is a former member of both the baptist church community and the non-denominational charismatic church in the midwest. She is going to share with us her experience with Christian Purity Culture. To give some context “Purity culture” is a Christian movement that promotes a biblical view of sexual purity by discouraging dating and promoting virginity before marriage. The toxicity that these teachings can impress on a young teen likely lasts even long after leaving the evangelical world. Bernie is going to share her experience with purity balls, rings, and pledges, and she’s now reshaping her beliefs on love, intimacy, and faith. This episode features mature adult themes and language so listener discretion is advised. Support us on Patreon! patreon.com/themodestyfiles Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. Theme song was written by Savannah Kunze…

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#13 - Thriving Forward: Emily’s Fight for Justice Against IBLP and Bill Gothard - Part Two 55:06

4 years fa55:06

55:06

Today we’re continuing our conversation with Emily Elizabeth Anderson, a Christian blogger, and activist for people who have experienced abuse within a Christian environment. If you haven’t listened to Part One, we highly recommend going back to hear Emily’s story from the beginning. Emily shared with us her experience growing up as a member of the non-denominational organization, the Institute in Basic Life Principles. She shared with us her challenges with her home abuse, diagnosis with Chrone’s disease, and her experiences meeting the organization’s leader, Bill Gothard. In today’s episode, Emily will walk us through her experience as a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Gothard, leaving IBLP, and her journey towards recovery. This episode includes topics on physical and sexual abuse and other mature themes, so listener discretion is advised.…

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#12 - Thriving Forward: Emily’s Fight for Justice Against IBLP and Bill Gothard - Part One 1:07:32

4 years fa1:07:32

1:07:32

This week on The Modesty Files, please help us give a warm welcome to our special guest, Christian blogger, and rising activist, Emily Elizabeth Anderson. Growing up in the Insitute in Basic Life Principles, in Part One, Emily reveals life as a teenager in the church and how the church handled her chronic illness. She then details her first-hand experience with the notorious church leader, Bill Gothard, and how his grooming behavior led her to eventually becoming a plaintiff in a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual abuse made by many women. This episode involves topics of physical and sexual abuse and other mature themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content. Connect with Emily at ThrivingForwardBlog.com!…

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#11 - It's the End of the World as Melanie Knew It: Life as a Jehovah's Witness 57:28

4 years fa57:28

57:28

We are diving into new territory this week on The Modesty Files as Melanie walks us through her family's transition into the world of Jehovah's Witnesses. Melanie remembers celebrating her birthday in the 5th grade, but as her family fell deeper into the church, all celebrations of any kind had to cease. Her life became focused on biding her time as she waited and prepared for Armageddon and the end of the world as they knew it. This episode involves mature adult themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#10 - Judith's Sperm Won the Race: Life at a Christian Summer Camp 56:03

4 years fa56:03

56:03

Grab your sleeping bag and oversized tye-dyed t-shirts! We are going back in time to summer camp in this episode of The Modesty Files. We interview Judith, who spent her childhood summers at a Canadian Christian summer camp. While this camp provides good teachings as a child, the teachings grew toxic as the campers grew into young adults. When Judith was promoted to a camp counselor, she began to see the "man behind the curtain" as she realized how significant a negative influence this camp was having on the spirit of those who attended. This episode involves mature adult themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#9 - No Longer Bound4Life: Angela’s Life in Pentecostalism 56:25

4 years fa56:25

56:25

As requested, we are diving into Pentecostalism in today's episode. We speak to Angela, a former member who explains the church's belief system rooted in spiritual healing and speaking in tongues. Raised as a Pentecostal, Angela describes the hurtful ramifications of these beliefs as the church claimed her scoliosis was healed despite any medical evidence of such. She also details her involvement in Bound4Life, an anti-abortion agency, that encouraged protests in front of Planned Parenthood facilities. This episode involves mature adult themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

The Modesty Files

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#8 - The Princess and the Kiss - How Lydia Kissed Fundamentalism Goodbye 55:47

4 years fa55:47

55:47

In today's episode, we are so thrilled to be speaking with Lydia, who was raised as a member of the Sovereign Grace Church. This church denomination is a new one for us here at The Modesty Files, so Lydia outlines the church's practices and expectations. She describes life as a homeschooler and a full time stay at home daughter for her younger siblings. She also expresses the pain she felt as any of her own aspirations were halted while being a lifeline for her siblings. After leaving her parents home five years ago, she's taking back her independence and is currently attending a different Christian church, demonstrating how to participate in a religious community in a healthy way. She is developing the skills to look at faith with a critical eye, and most importantly, she is learning that her faith cannot be anyone's decision but her own. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#7 - Beth's Escape from Church of Christ and Her Tumblr Happily Ever After 1:11:58

4 years fa1:11:58

1:11:58

In this episode, we interview Beth, a former member of the Church of Christ. If you haven't heard of CoC, Beth will walk us through the ins and out of this religious community. Most outside communication was strictly forbidden, so when Beth discovered Tumblr, she began developing a life outside of her family bubble. Beth shares how the blog site helped her escape the church, and in the end...finding true love. This episode involves mature adult themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#6 - "Ring by Spring" at Liberty University: Marie and the Evangelical College 56:34

4 years fa56:34

56:34

In this episode, we are thrilled to speak with Marie, who comes from a fundamentalist southern baptist background. After being homeschooled her entire K-12 years, Marie eventually attended one of the most well-known and highly controversial Christian Evangelical colleges, Liberty University. Marie has major insight into what it was like to attend this conservative school and will spill the tea on how most students achieved their “Ring by Spring.” Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

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#5 - Navigating the Gray: A Childhood Influenced by "People of Praise" 54:39

5 years fa54:39

54:39

In this episode, Zoe interviews a former member of Servants of the Light, which was a religious group in 1970s that folded into the currently controversial group People of Praise. The group's belief system is rooted in the Catholic Pentecostal movement, and members are required to sign a lifetime covenant vow. Their practices include praying in tongues, receiving divine prophecies, healing the sick, and casting out evil spirits. And while the group’s name was different during our guest’s involvement, it is the same belief system as People of Praise. The covenant vows, the shepherding mentality, and the male/female leadership hierarchy. It has been reported that the current Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is a member of People of Praise. And though this episode isn't about Judge Barrett or her ties to the religious group, by the end of this show, we want to pose the question: Can someone involved in a radical religious group become a lifetime decision-maker for the nation? This episode involves mature adult themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

The Modesty Files

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#4 - Finding Freedom in Divorce with Kayla 53:35

5 years fa53:35

53:35

In this episode, we are thrilled to speak with Kayla who comes from a fundamentalist Baptist background, specifically The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches or for short, GARB-C. Kayla’s experience with fundamentalism is slightly different though from the other women we have interviewed so far. She attended public school, hung out with friends, and even had a boyfriend...that she kissed. She discusses the church's views on marriage, divorce, and how she finally found happiness and learned to love. This episode involves mature adult themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

The Modesty Files

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#3 - Behind The Office Door: Liz and IBLP - Part Two 1:00:31

5 years fa1:00:31

1:00:31

In the second part of our interview with Liz, a former member of the Institute in Basic Life Principals, she shares how she began working at the IBLP headquarters as a teenager. She also walks us through her experiences with the church's infamous leader Bill Gothard. If you haven't listened to part one of Liz's interview, we highly recommend going back before listening to this episode, as it will provide a deeper foundation into IBLP church's beliefs and practices. This episode does include topics on physical and sexual abuse, and other mature themes, so listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

The Modesty Files

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#2 - Behind The Office Door: Liz and IBLP - Part One 50:33

5 years fa50:33

50:33

In Part One of this two-part series, we speak to Liz, a former member of the Institute In Basic Life Principles, where TLC’s reality TV family the Duggars are active members. They hold strict modesty standards for women, limit outside worldly influences, and follow intense dating and relationship rules. As a teenager, Liz worked at the Advanced Training Institute (ATI) which is IBLP’s biblically-based home education program. In Part One, she will share her first-hand account of the church's beliefs. Next Monday, in Part Two, Liz will share her experience with IBLP’s infamous leader, Bill Gothard, who has faced over thirty allegations of sexual abuse in 2014. Our topics include mature themes. Listener discretion is advised.…

The Modesty Files

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#1 - Lessons from Shelly’s History Book 50:38

5 years fa50:38

50:38

In this podcast, we speak with Shelly, who grew up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist church. Growing up, Shelly dreamed of pursuing missionary work, becoming a pastor's wife, and having numerous children. She attended a private school in the IFB community. However, during her years as a student, she became very wary of their questionable teachings, specifically in American history. We get into the details of what she was taught inside and outside of school and her journey to discovering the truth. Shelly also shares her thoughts on the current Black Life Matter Movement and COVID-19 and helps us understand the reasoning behind the fundamentalists' conservative viewpoint. This episode involves mature adult themes. Listener discretion is advised. Follow us on Instagram @themodestyfiles for updates and bonus content.…

The Modesty Files

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PILOT: Laura's "Journey to the Heart" with IBLP and Bill Gothard 49:56

5 years fa49:56