I was so pleased to recently have Janyne McConnaughey on the Sacred Thoughts Podcast. She is an author, professor, speaker, and trauma specialist. I was first introduced to her work in 2022 through her book Trauma in the Pews: The Impact on Faith and Spiritual Practices (https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Pews-Impact-Spiritual-Practices/dp/1957321067). Now, she recently released An Exhausted Faith: What If the Struggle Isn’t Spiritual (https://www.amazon.com/Exhausted-Faith-What-Struggle-Spiritual/dp/1957321334)?
In her new book, which serves as a kind of part 2 to Trauma in the Pews, she looks deeper at how abuse and trauma truly affect our faith experiences and walk with God. This is such an important book and I cannot recommend enough that pastors and counselors alike read it.
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23 Sept 2026
Podcast Episode 16: Standing Up to Her Abusers
In December 2024, Stephanie Chernyavskiy went public with her story for the very first time on the Sons of Patriarchy podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lion-of-judah-louder-roars-abuse-in-the-opc-part-1/id1772141068?i=1000680939601). It was a gripping tale of survival in the midst of physical, spiritual, and sexual abuse. Just a few weeks later, I had Stephanie on the podcast here at Sacred Thoughts (https://sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/podcast-episode-9-stephanie-chernyavskiy), serving as a part 2 of what she had previously shared.
Now, after almost two years since her story broke, I asked Stephanie if she would come back on Sacred Thoughts and give an update of what has been happening since then. In this episode, she briefly recaps her story of abuse and then brings us up to speed on her decision to stand up to her abusers. I am grateful for Stephanie’s courage and strength throughout it all.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredthoughts.substack.com/subscribe (https://sacredthoughts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
26 Mar 2026
Podcast Episode 15: Christian Nationalism on the Right and Left?
Christian Nationalism is exploding today. Not just because of adherents to it, like Doug Wilson and Pete Hegseth. But it’s also on our radar because of the swaths of people who are standing against its heinous vision for America – to make the US a primarily white, Christian nation.
But something got me thinking over the past weeks about whether there might be a progressive Christian Nationalist vision as well. Could such a concept be found upon the lips of rising Democrat star James Talarico, as laid out in this interview-gone-viral with Stephen Colbert?
Watch the Talarico video below, if you haven’t already, and then have a listen to my reflections in the next installment of the Sacred Thoughts Podcast.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredthoughts.substack.com/subscribe (https://sacredthoughts.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
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