Episodes
-
What's up everyone! New episode up in the "We Were In a Cult?" Series here on the Clemenz with a "Z" Podcast. In this episode I had the pleasure of talking to former member of the International Churches of Christ or "ICOC" Ljuba. We discussed how it was for her coming from Denmark to New York City right after high school to follow her dreams of dancing and being met by a member right away. We discussed what it was like for after joining, her life in church, the pressures and time commitments, dating, and her eventual need for leaving the church, what it was like leaving, and her life post church.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What is up everyone! This episode is my message for this week of May 5th. I look at the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. I talk about the intentionality of the authors of the bible in their use of metaphors and characters in these parables. I discuss how all of can get so caught up in our rituals and practices that it disconnects us from the people around us, much like the priest and the Levite in the parable. I also talk about how for all of us there are "Samaritans" in our lives that we think don't deserve our love support. I hope that this look at the good Samaritan can bring you peace and clarity like it did for me.
Peace!
-
Missing episodes?
-
What's up everyone! In this episode I talk about the fear I have as a parent and a person in situations with my kid and in life that remind me of past hurt and trauma. I discuss how I have been finding my through it and a mantra that I have adopted this year. The mantra is "Just because it was doesn't mean it has to be." I hope this helps all of you as much as it has been helping me heal old crap and becoming a more present father.
Be excellent to each other!
Peace!
-
What is up everyone?! New episode alert for the series "We Were In a Cult?" here on the "Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast". I was able to chat with former member of the ICOC Liz about her life in and out of the church.
We were able to talk about growing up as "kingdom kid" and all that came with that, seeking approval from the leaders, seeing the wrongs in the church, trying hard to ignore them, how that ignoring led to internalization, and living with all of that became too much to bear which led to her leaving the church in the 2010s. We also discussed what life is like for her out of the ICOC and how she has reconstructed her life.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What is up everyone! For this episode I use the text Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zaccheaus and Jesus. I discuss a couple of things here: How when we read the bible we bring into the story our ideas and views on the world and what we seem possible, the power of being seen and heard, and for us to not become the gatekeepers of who is in or out by letting our own prejudices get in the way.
Be excellent to each other!
Peace everyone!
And remember, I am just a channel. I aint the source.
-
How many of us spend all our time and energy looking for the one answer to fix it all? I know I get caught up in that so much. I had this realization after reading Matthew 7:7-8 HCSB that its not about the answer but the search for the answer that changes us, impacts us, where we learn the most. Its not the answer in the parenting book that makes us a better parent but the caring enough to be the better parent and that quest to implement new ideas that does the most change in our lives.
There is no one answer to life.
If we stay focus more on the search for growth and be more present to our lives instead of focusing so much on whatever this "ideal" we have made up for ourselves, I believe we will find we are already there.
-
What is up everyone! New episode up for the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the "Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast". I was able to speak with former member of the International Churches of Christ Diane about her story of being a member and leaving the church. Diane's story spans almost 45 years, 5 states/ministries, marriage/divorce, and she was the first person I was able to talk to about life in the Crossroads Church in the mid 70's. Her story shed more light on this wild thing we all were a part of and I even learned about a place called the "Upside Down Club"!
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What's up everyone! New episode up in the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast. I was able to speak with former member Chelsea about her life growing up in the ICOC. We were able to speak about all things growing up in this church and what it was like leaving. We spoke a good bit about the one place for us that was a bright spot in this mess and that was the summer camp The Swamp and why this place was so great for all of us kingdom kids.
We were also able to speak more about the teen ministry, feeling eyes on us all the time, the purity culture in the teens, and the way girls were treated here. The biggest take away for me was that it is important to only have a sandwich at lunch and not a sandwich, chips and a pickle.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What is up everyone! I got a bonus episode here for you all. Former member of the ICOC and previous guest Kesia reached out to me saying that she had more she would like to share specifically, the way we were indoctrinated with no sense of agency in our lives, public shaming of sin, pattern of narcissistic leaders, and how even after the letter went out not much changed in our church. I was glad we were able to bring more issues into the light.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What is up everyone! I got a new DADTALK and it’s a great one. I was able to sit down with my father in law, yes my father in law to have a great discussion on being a dad and becoming a grand dad. We were also able to do a deep dive conversation in the benefits of Meditation; its benefits, how he uses it in his daily life, and how it inspired him to want to be called "Ompa" instead of granddad. We even participated in a guided meditation in the beginning of the episode led by Dr. Sue Morter. I am glad that we were able to sit down in this space and talk. It was a wonderful conversation and I know you all will find it wonderful as well.
If you are a dad and would like to share your story here on the podcast you can reach out to me via email at [email protected] or you can DM me at the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't, just remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What's up everyone! New episode up in the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast. I was able to speak with former member TJ about his life in the ICOC. We talked about being a member in college and getting baptized, his life in the church and the struggle it became, his desire to "Do things Right", being a minster in the church, and his eventual leaving the church. It was a great conversation and I could tell it was healing for both of us.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What is up everyone! I have a new episode for you in the "We Were In a Cult" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast. I was able to sit with former member of the ICOC and author of the book "A Jumble of Crumpled Papers" and podcaster Austin Noll to talk about his life in and out of the ICOC. We talked about growing up in the church and the troubles he faced regarding our church's purity culture as a young man and his subsequent struggle it has been since leaving the church. It was a great conversation!
If you would like to learn more about his story, you can check out Austin's book: "A Jumble of Crumpled Papers" here: https://a.co/d/dhXGVI0
You can check out Austin's Podcast "The Crumpled Papers Podcast" on all platforms or here on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pc778qvzAxG0kB7vMSDyb?si=595697bc7ce44742
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What is up everyone? I know it has been a few weeks but this is my message for the week of March 25th. I talk about the "Triumphal Entry" where Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. I discuss the significance of this particular event and how it has helped me in my understanding of Jesus and his mission.
Scriptures used:
Matthew 21:1-11
Luke 19:41-44
John 12:13
Zechariah 9:9
I had help from the Bema podcast and Marty Solomon's book: Asking Better Questions of the Bible.
Here is a link to the episode that guided me:
https://share.fireside.fm/episode/7HMQ5AvZ+FyF57B0o
Here is a link to his book if you would like to purchase it for your own study:
https://a.co/d/h2sc4Yo
-
What is up everyone! New episode up in the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz with a "Z" podcast. This episode is a big one for me and its because it is my first international episode. I was able to speak with former member of the International Churches of Christ Kesia who was a part of our church in Denmark. Kesia shared her story of growing up in the church and how even though she was a whole ocean away from us here in the stated the church was still the same. I am grateful for her sharing her story with me, to connect you all with more members who are feeling like we are, and to be able to get a more global perspective of the church. She even brought up "The Great Pruning" which was something that I had forgotten about. I hope you all continue to find healing through these stories and are able to feel a little less alone and maybe even a little less crazy.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What's up everyone. New episode up and its a DADTALK. I was able to have conversation with rad dad Dan Ellis.
Dan is a Reiki Practitioner and Yoga Teacher in Atlanta, GA who specializes in integrative wellness for empathic individuals. He co-hosts the podcast, Call of Your Soul which expounds on how sensitive and intuitive people can find his or her calling. He resides in Decatur, GA with his partner and 10 yr old daughter.
It was a great conversation about fatherhood, healing and parenting with intentionality.
If you are a dad and would like to share your story here on the podcast you can reach out to me via email at [email protected] or you can DM me at the Clemenz With a "Z" podcast Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't, just remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
What is up everyone! New episode out for the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Clemenz With a "Z" Podcast. I was able to speak with former member of the International Churches of Christ Kristin. Our conversation touched on growing up in this church, the strong desire to please parents and authority figures, the shame and guilt that comes with growing up in purity culture, the overall pressure that it was being in this church as a child, and where she is now with all of this. It was a great talk and you all should check it out!
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
Hello Everyone! New episode alert for the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Balanced Male Podcast. I was able to speak with former member of the !COC Steph about her life in the church and leaving the church. She did not stay in the church long after high school so the meat of the talk focused on what is was like being a kid/teen in the church. We touched on dating, purity culture, what it was like moving multiple times in the church, and being in a more affluent area of the church and not being affluent herself. It was a great talk and you all should check it out!
If you were a member or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering "we were in a cult?" please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the balanced male podcast Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
This is not as much of an episode as it is a giant thank you! I am amazed that it's been 5 years, 78 total episodes which include 31 DADTALKS, 12 "We Were In a Cult?" episodes and 45 episodes of my life and experiences. I'm grateful for all of your love and support.
Here's to 5 more years!
-
What's up everyone! I got another episode to share of the "We Were In a Cult?" series here on the Balanced Male Podcast. I was able to speak to a former member Jon. We talked all things ICOC and his life in and out of the church. We discussed what it was like coming out in high school, his struggles being a gay man in the church, race relations and what church was like during COVID times. We also talked about what led to him having to walk away from church to honor himself.
If you were a member or know someone who was a member of the ICOC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering "we were in a cult?" please contact me via email at [email protected] or you can DM via Instagram at the balanced male podcast Instagram page.
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review! If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
-
This is the communion message for this week. I use the passage Luke 15:25-32 as the text. I focus on how hard it was for the older brother to be ok for the younger son's forgiveness in the story of the prodigal son and how tough it is for us to forgive.
I also reference a comic by David Hayward titled "All Sheep Matter" as well as the outcry from the "He Gets Us" commercial to reinforce what I am observing in my life as well us as a people.
Thank you for listening and your continued support. I hope you all have a great week.
Peace!
- Show more