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FYI: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS A SMALL SECTION OF EXPLICIT CONTENT IN REGARDS TO SEXUAL ABUSE.

*FOR VIEWING PODCAST - YOUTUBE VIDEO LINK
(Advantages: Artwork is shown when it is being described)
https://youtu.be/Etc_Gxr-6IQ

DAVID'S WEBSITES
www.nakedpastor.com
His main site where you can find his cartoons and his blog

www.thelastingsupper.com
His online community

DAVID'S BOOKS
Adult books: Questions are the Answer, The Liberation of Sophia, Til Doubt Do Us Part, Money is Spiritual, The Art of Coming Out, The Lasting Supper - Letters for Deconstruction, Without a Vision My People Prosper

Children's book: The Rainbow Sheep

Cartoon books: Flip It Like This & Naked Pastor 101

DAVID'S SOCIAL MEDIA
Look for "Naked Pastor" on Instagram

DESCRIPTION OF PODCAST
A single frame can say what a thousand sermons won’t. That’s the power David “Naked Pastor” Hayward brings to the table as we explore spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and the radical courage it takes to tell the truth with humor and heart. David shares how a decades‑long journey from pulpit to pen sharpened his eye for systems that control, how cartoons validate the wounded at a glance, and why critiques of the church are not betrayal but care for the community it could be.

We trace the invisible contours of harm—sermons turned into weapons, authority used to silence, group pressure passed off as discipleship—and talk about the moment survivors realize their “soul bruises” are real. David walks us through the images that resonated worldwide: Sophia’s scarred spirit, Jesus erasing the lines we draw, and the gut-punch panel where leaders say, “It’s not that we don’t believe you. It’s that we don’t care.” Humor becomes a scalpel, not a sledgehammer, opening space for reflection without letting power off the hook. He also pulls back the curtain on his process, from sensitivity checks with diverse friends to the ongoing work of unlearning bias.

We dig into why systems drift toward dehumanization, how denial and silence protect brands over bodies, and what it takes to rebuild a life after leaving a toxic church. David’s answer is both practical and hopeful: cultivate spiritual independence while choosing interdependence, seek communities that honor dignity without control, and keep curiosity alive. He founded The Lasting Supper as a safe, diverse space for people rethinking faith to be fully seen without a new gatekeeper. If you’ve wondered whether you’re allowed to name what happened, or you’re searching for belonging without surrendering your agency, this conversation meets you where you are.

If the episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs language for their pain, subscribe for more soul-honest conversations, and leave a review so others can find the show. Your voice helps build healthier, more compassionate communities.

"Be Human, Be Kind, Be Both."

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SHOW NOTES:

Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMjsVQIepZw

Dark Truth Behind Netflix’s ‘Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story
Law & Crime Network
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPipALF5glc

Was Ruby Franke Brainwashed? - Jodi Hildebrandt's Tactics Dissected
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvvgHlPZFrM

Some stories shock because they’re new; this one shocks because it feels familiar. We dig into how a therapist wrapped control in spiritual language, turned doubt into “distortion,” and built a closed system where obedience looked like healing and disagreement looked like moral failure. Using the Jodi Hildebrandt documentary as a case study, we trace the slow creep from guidance to coercion and outline the subtle tells—language shifts, isolation, and financial pressure—that signal spiritual abuse long before the headlines.

We walk through the backstory of Connexions, the promise of moral clarity, and the way binaries like truth versus distortion hollow out a person’s inner compass. You’ll hear how clients were nudged to distrust their own signals, cut off outside support, and accept “loving correction” as proof the process worked. Along the way, we connect these patterns to tactics common in high-control religious spaces: information control, shunning, and leader-centric authority dressed up as care. The goal isn’t to sensationalize; it’s to name the playbook so you can recognize it early—whether it shows up in therapy, church, parenting advice, or coaching.

We also offer practical tools to test any authority: Who can ask questions here? What happens when someone disagrees? Are fees and expectations transparent? Does this space invite dialogue and referrals, or does it monopolize trust? Healthy authority connects rather than isolates, welcomes feedback, and never asks you to abandon yourself to belong. If your body says something is off, that signal matters. Your worth isn’t measured by compliance, and choosing truth over loyalty is not a failure—it’s healing. Listen, reflect, and share this conversation with someone who needs language for what they’ve felt but couldn’t name.

"Be Human, Be Kind, Be Both."

Send us a text

FREEZE
YouTube Video of Bobi Gephart confronting Pastor John Lowe II (13:39) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Sh2-Peefo

FIGHT
YouTube Video of "Remembering Jennifer Lyell" (5:37)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ekxdMchxA

FLIGHT
Who are the 2 x 2's?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83DZdzxpR84 (Short Version - 1:58)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o_vTxBShFA (Long Version - 16:10)

FAWN
Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQopCn4MFwM (10:52)
The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill Podcast (Episode 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cou36nSmJY

"When Religion Hurts You" Dr. Laura Anderson
What is Religious Trauma?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjdBoBOhXvA (short clip)

4 Trauma Responses (Dr. Alex Howard)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVQDRrs-a8A (6:28)

*************************************************************************************************This episode of Soul Bruises explains how fight, flight, freeze, and fawn show up in faith spaces and why they are survival, not sin. We share real stories, practical regulation tools, and a path from shame to curiosity so survivors can rebuild safety, voice, and trust.

• defining spiritual abuse and the autonomic nervous system
• clear explanations of fight, flight, freeze and fawn
• how churches mislabel trauma responses as moral failings
• scenarios that map all four responses in a church conflict
• whistleblowing, delayed disclosure and high control groups
• tend and befriend versus fawning and why it matters
• practical regulation skills and boundary setting
• moving from survival to healing with supportive community
• recommended reading: When Religion Hurts You by Dr Laura Anderson

You can reach me at soulbruises@gmail.com or send me a message on Instagram at SoulBruises2023

"Be Human, Be Kind, Be Both."