Almost Awakened

What if the reason you felt like you were never enough… wasn’t you? In this episode, Teresa explores the striking parallels between narcissistic relationship dynamics and high-demand religious systems, specifically within Mormonism. Through a compassionate but honest lens, she examines how institutional patterns like shifting expectations, avoidance of accountability, image preservation, and conditional belonging can shape identity, nervous system regulation, and long-term wellbeing, especially physical health. This conversation goes beyond theology and into lived experience and explores: • Why high-demand systems can mirror narcissistic dynamics. • How that creates codependency patterns. • Chronic self suppression and its impact on the nervous system. • Why chronic symptoms like fatigue, pain, anxiety, and autoimmune conditions can emerge in these environments. • How healing often requires moving through grief, anger, and identity reconstruction. • And why the body’s response is not a character flaw, but a survival adaptation. If you’ve ever felt exhausted from striving, confused by persistent symptoms, or disconnected from your authentic self after leaving a high-demand environment, this episode may help you understand why and that healing is possible. Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast Teresa will be launching her upcoming Anchor and Regulate groups beginning March 11th. These groups are structured nervous system healing spaces designed for individuals navigating chronic symptoms, chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety and mystery illnesses that are driven by stress or trauma. These groups combine psychoeducation, somatic practices, emotional processing, and supportive community to help you rebuild safety in the body and support you in resolving chronic symptoms.Learn more here: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/group-support Join the conversation. Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

Kimberly Bryant (Miss Bliss), a dominatrix and intimacy coach who helps people leaving high-demand religions reclaim sensuality and agency. She discusses reclaiming Eros as life force. Short, practical steps for nervous-system regulation, consent-centered containers, and how dominance/submission can rebuild agency. Play, safety, and structured kink as pathways to reconnect with desire and embodiment.

What if humanity suddenly shared one mind? In this episode, Bill Reel and Britt Hartley dive into the provocative sci-fi film Pluribus and unpack the ethical, psychological, and existential questions it raises. Would you join a collective consciousness if it promised peace, belonging, and an end to loneliness? Or would you choose autonomy—even if it meant isolation? We explore: • Whether individuality is sacred or just biological habit • If shared consciousness eliminates conflict—or eliminates dissent • The ethics of consent when “the greater good” becomes dominant • Why some characters embrace the hive while others resist • What this story reveals about human nature, freedom, and fear Is a hive mind utopia… or the softest form of tyranny? This conversation goes beyond the plot and into deeper territory: identity, morality, connection, loneliness, trauma, agency, and what we’re actually afraid of losing when we say we value “freedom.” If you had the choice, would you join? Let us know in the comments.

What happens after you leave religion — but still feel a deep pull toward meaning, ritual, spirituality, or transcendence? In this conversation, Bill Reel and Britt Hartley sit down with religious ethicist and author Liz Bucar to explore what fills the vacuum when traditional faith falls away. From modern wellness culture and yoga to psychedelics, embodiment, and moral pressure, we ask hard questions about where people turn next — and whether those new spaces truly free us or quietly recreate the same dynamics we thought we escaped. Liz shares insights from her work and her book Beyond Wellness, examining how even “spiritual but not religious” communities can reproduce shame, hierarchy, and invisible expectations — often without realizing it. Together, we explore: Why wellness culture increasingly functions like religion How moral pressure sneaks into spiritual spaces What it means to “steal from religion” ethically Why humans still crave ritual and transcendence How authority, identity, and meaning-making persist after deconstruction What secular communities often miss emotionally How embodiment, yoga, and psychedelics can be approached with care rather than dogma This is an honest, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation for anyone navigating life after faith — especially those who are intellectually out but still feel emotionally or culturally tethered to their religious past. If you’ve ever wondered why leaving belief didn’t automatically bring peace… this episode helps explain why 00:02:41 – Who is Liz Bucar and how she became a religious ethicist00:04:13 – Why Liz wrote Beyond Wellness00:07:01 – What modern wellness culture gets wrong00:12:22 – When spirituality becomes moral pressure00:16:45 – Stealing from religion ethically00:22:38 – What secular people often miss after deconstruction00:30:14 – Yoga, embodiment, and deeper spiritual practice00:38:52 – Psychedelics, meaning-making, and ethical use00:49:41 – Authority, experience, and who gets to decide truth01:00:27 – Why humans still crave ritual and transcendence01:10:36 – Advice for those intellectually out but emotionally tethered01:17:39 – Reflections on Beyond Wellness and modern spirituality01:19:26 – Britt & Bill reflect on Liz’s insights

What happens when reason starts questioning itself? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Britt Hartley and Bill Reel sit down with Austin DiValentino, creator of the rapidly growing platform Reason & Religion (@austindivalentino). Austin has built a large following by exploring philosophy, belief, atheism, morality, and meaning—often asking the questions most people quietly avoid. While he has identified as an atheist, his thinking continues to evolve, and this conversation dives straight into the tension between certainty, doubt, and what it actually costs to pursue truth. Together, we explore: What led Austin to begin creating content around religion, philosophy, and critical thinking When belief or disbelief stops being theoretical and becomes deeply personal Whether reason and religion are truly opposed—or falsely framed as enemies Why modern humans vastly overestimate how rational we actually are Where reason genuinely helps us—and where it completely breaks down We also wrestle with some of the biggest existential questions people face after faith shifts: Can morality exist without God or a transcendent framework? Is losing belief in God harder—or losing belief that the universe “cares”? Is it always good to know what’s true, even if truth destabilizes hope and meaning? Should everyone be exposed to ideas that may unsettle mental health—or should some stories be handled with care? Austin also reflects on: The emotional cost of studying philosophy deeply Whether there are ideas that feel beautiful even if they may not be true What modern people most avoid asking because the answers might change them What he ultimately hopes people take away from his work beyond simply “being right” This is an honest, human conversation about meaning after certainty—about what remains when belief loosens, and how we learn to live anyway. If you’re navigating belief, disbelief, or somewhere painfully in between, this episode is for you. Follow Austin DiValentino— Reason & Religion Instagram: @austindivalentino Support Almost Awakened https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/

Rainn Wilson, actor and creator of Soul Boom, blends comedy fame with deep spiritual curiosity. He discusses creative spiritual practice, recovery and mental health, wrestling with the language of God, and how rituals, community, and wonder help people find meaning in a fragmented world.

The Hardest Part of Leaving Religion: On Loss of Community Leaving religion often comes with a sense of relief, clarity, and freedom, but for many people, the hardest part isn’t the loss of belief. It’s the loss of community. In this episode, Teresa talks about the quiet grief that often follows a faith transition: losing built-in belonging, shared language, familiar rhythms, and the sense of social safety that religion once provided. I explore why rebuilding connection outside of organized religion can feel so difficult, especially in a post-pandemic world where many of us are already feeling more isolated and disconnected than before. This episode isn’t about fixing yourself or rushing the process. It’s about understanding what you’re actually grieving, normalizing why this phase feels so hard, and gently reminding you that meaningful connection is still possible, even if it looks different than it did before. Join us at our NEW CHANNEL:  @almostawakenedpodcast  Resources mentioned: Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs facilitate a Faith Transition & Deconstruction Support Group, a trauma-informed, bi-weekly space for people navigating life after religion. The next group begins January 20, 2026, and a few spots are still available. Sign up here: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle Join the conversation. Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

In this solo episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Teresa Hobbs explores codependency through a nervous-system and systems lens, with a specific focus on why high-demand religious environments, especially Mormonism, are fertile ground for codependent patterns. Rather than framing codependency as a flaw or character issue, this episode reframes it as a survival adaptation that develops when safety, belonging, and worth are tied to external approval, emotional harmony, or compliance. If you grew up: Monitoring other people’s moods Scanning the room before checking in with yourself Feeling responsible for others’ emotions Struggling to identify your own needs, feelings, or limits …this conversation is for you. Interested in the Upcoming Religious Deconstruction Support Group starting in January? Go here to sign up: https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast Join the conversation. Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org 

Getting together with family during the holidays can be beautiful… or it can feel like stepping into a spiritual escape room you never signed up for. In this episode of Almost Awakened, Teresa and I dive into the real-life challenges that mixed-faith families face this time of year — from surprise prayers to passive-aggressive testimony moments to the subtle pressure to play your old role in the family system. In this episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, We’ll walk through 10 practical, human, and emotionally intelligent tools that help you stay regulated, connected, and true to yourself when the room is full of different beliefs and a whole lot of history. If you’re navigating a faith transition, supporting someone who is, or just trying to get through Thanksgiving without a meltdown or a debate about Kolob, this one’s for you. What you’ll get in this episode: • Tools to stay grounded when old patterns show up • Ways to create internal boundaries that actually work • Scripts for redirecting tricky conversations • Tips for mixed-faith families who want peace (not pressure) • How to choose connection over correction • Why you don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to • And yes… how to sneak outside for a 2-minute nervous-system reset We’re here to make your holidays less stressful, more connected, and a whole lot more human. Join us at our NEW CHANNEL:  @almostawakenedpodcast  Join the conversation. Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Join our Support Group – https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

Britt Hartley from No Nonsense Spirituality and Bill Reel from the Almost Awakened Podcast are teaming up again for a brand-new series built around honest, wide-open conversations on spirituality, atheism, psychology, consciousness, and whatever else grabs our curiosity in the moment. In this first episode, we jump from one fascinating question to the next. What is the nature of reality? Are we living in a simulation? What does an AI revolution mean for human meaning and purpose? And would you pull your kids out of a religion you know is false… even if staying in it meant they’d live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life? No scripts, no guardrails, just two friends following the most interesting threads wherever they lead. If you enjoy deep questions, sharp insights, and conversations that blend intellect with real-life stakes, this new series is for you. Support Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Spiritual Trauma Support: If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/ Britt Hartley’s work can be found * https://nononsensespirituality.com/ * https://www.audible.com/pd/No-Nonsense-Spirituality-Audiobook/B0F25P5DV2 * https://www.youtube.com/@nononsensespirituality RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: DMT and the Mapping of Other Dimensions * https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2016.00211/full * https://newrepublic.com/article/169525/psychonauts-training-psychedelics-dmt-extended-state* https://www.dmtx.org/resources-1 * https://psychedelicspotlight.com/researchers-are-mapping-out-new-dimensions-through-dmtx-technology/ Donald Hoffman and What is Reality * https://sites.socsci.uci.edu/~ddhoff/ * https://www.mindscienceacademy.org/en/do-we-see-reality-as-it-is-donald-hoffman/ * https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-evolutionary-argument-against-reality-20160421 * https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/consciousness-self-organization-and-neuroscience/201912/what-is-reality-interview-donald * https://tim.blog/2022/04/13/donald-hoffman The Argument That We Are Living In A Simulation * https://simulation-argument.com/simulation.pdf * https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-we-living-in-a-computer-simulation/