Untangled Faith – Details, episodes & analysis

In this conversation, Amy Fritz and Matt Alexander discuss the mission of the Kineo Center, which provides resources and support for pastors experiencing burnout. They explore the complexities of burnout, including its causes and the importance of preventative care. Matt shares personal experiences with burnout and highlights the significance of community support and healthy leadership in ministry. The discussion also touches on the need for sabbaticals and the journey of renewal for pastors, emphasizing the importance of self-care and discernment in leadership roles.

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 Some topics covered:

Introduction to Kineo Center and Its Mission Personal Experiences with Burnout in Ministry The Spectrum of Burnout and Support Needs Causes of Burnout in Ministry Four Key Components of Burnout The Role of Expectations in Burnout Navigating Vocational Disappointment The Importance of Sabbaticals Loneliness and Relational Injuries in Ministry Supporting Pastors: Practical Strategies Authenticity in Healing and Accountability

Featured Guest

• Matt Alexander, Director of Kineo Center

 

Resources mentioned

• Kineo Center The KINEO Center | Renew the Soul of Your Leadership Today

 

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In this conversation, Dr. Alan Godwin discusses his book 'Ties That Blind,' exploring the themes of individual and collective deception, cognitive dissonance, and the importance of attachment and identity in relationships. He shares personal experiences and insights from his practice as a psychologist, emphasizing the need for humility and compassion in understanding the complexities of human behavior and belief systems. The discussion also touches on the role of the church in fostering community and justice, and the challenges of navigating relationships with differing beliefs.

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 Topics:

Introduction to Ties That Blind Understanding Blindness in Relationships The Shift from Individual to Collective Deception The Role of Attachment and Identity Navigating Painful Realizations Cognitive Dissonance Explained The Power of Cognitive Dissonance Five Reasonabilities for Healthy Relationships The Church's Role in Community and Justice

Featured Guest

• Dr. Alan Godwin

 

Resources mentioned

• The Ties The Blind https://amzn.to/4tswxk4

• The Barn https://amzn.to/4a7qwll

 

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Chris Staron, host of the Truce podcast joins Amy to talk about the importance of looking at history to make sense of this current moment.

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In this episode we:

• Talk about the origin story of the Truce podcast and Chris's approach to using history to illuminate today's faith questions.

• Discuss the power of curiosity and humility in addressing gaps in our knowledge.

• Reflect on the importance of surrounding ourselves with experts—and being open to their feedback.

• Examine how historical context can reshape our assumptions about gender roles, especially in the context of "biblical womanhood."

• Challenge the idea that "this is the worst it's ever been" by exploring history's patterns and precedents.

• Talk about identifying trustworthy sources—and red flags—in historical writing, including the importance of bibliographies and the dangers of consuming information solely from those who share our theological or political biases.

• Analyze the work (and controversy) surrounding figures like David Barton and the misinterpretation of America's Christian roots.

• Highlight the value of reading outside our usual bubbles and expanding our knowledge beyond World War II or familiar American history.

• Encourage listeners to approach new information, especially history, with a willingness to be challenged and changed.

 

Featured Guest

• Chris Staron

• website: www.trucepodcast.com
• x: https://x.com/trucepodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trucepodcast
• Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/trucepodcast.bsky.social
• instagram: www.instagram.com/trucepodcast
• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@trucepodcast

 

Resources mentioned

• Robert Caro's "The Years of Lyndon Johnson" series

• Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns"

 

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Amy Fritz shares an update on what's happening with the Amos v. Lampo Group and O'Connor v. Lampo Group lawsuits and a brief summer update.

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Resources mentioned

• Substack Update https://untangledfaith.substack.com/p/finding-my-podcast-rhythm

• Amos v. Lampo Group filings https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61614266/amos-v-lampo-group-llc-the/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

• O'Connor v. Lampo Group filings https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17372107/oconnor-v-the-lampo-group-llc/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

You can find more Ramsey Episodes here: https://www.untangledfaithpodcast.com/categories/ramsey-solutions-dave-ramsey/

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Dr. Camden Morgante joins Amy Fritz to talk about all the awful metaphors and false promises of purity culture, and a better way forward. If you grew up reading Josh Harris and Elisabeth Elliot, you're going to love this one!

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Featured Guest

• Dr. Camden Morgante https://drcamden.com/press/

 

Resources mentioned

• Dr. Camden's site: https://drcamden.com/press/

• Dr. Camden's Substack: https://drcamden.substack.com/

• Recovering From Purity Culture https://amzn.to/4kQmSPN

 

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Have you been told to (or seen others) push through personal pain and trauma while engaging in advocacy for the health of the Church without being given the tools to manage your (or their) own emotional wellness? Are you often feeling overwhelmed and exhausted?

Meet Lori Anne Thompson: a compassionate survivor, storyteller, and student. Lori Anne is a devoted wife, mother, and enthusiastic cook who loves to share her passion for sustainable rhythms and healing for those who have survived trauma.

This episode was initially shared in April 2023, but with the heartbreaking loss of Jennifer Lyell, I wanted to share it again. You can find more information on Jennifer Lyell here: Died: Jennifer Lyell, SBC Abuse Survivor and Former Lifeway Executive - Christianity Today

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Lori Anne and Amy talk through these topics in this episode of the Untangled Faith podcast:

 

Who is Lori Anne Thompson?

The Three Phases of Recovery

How trauma can't be your whole life

Chronic activation

Finding sustainable ways to give back

Red flags to look for

Becoming what we're against

The power of saying no.

 

Resources:

Victim Impact Statement from Lori Anne Thompson regarding Ravi Zacharias:

 https://loriannethompson.com/2021/02/08/lori-anne-thompson-victim-impact-statement/

https://loriannethompson.com

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/bulletin/cpac-trump-transgenderism-oscars.html

Truth & Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice by Judith Herman: https://amzn.to/3mxzx0W

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This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Aaron Armstrong joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to explore the nuances of leaving a beloved church community, navigating the awkwardness of joining a new church, and the motivations and process behind his new book, Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It. The conversation moves from personal stories of faith transitions to honest insight into Christian publishing, endorsements, and what it means to thoughtfully engage with the important theological tenants of the Christian faith.

 

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In this episode we:

• Hear Aaron's story of leaving a church he loved and the emotional and practical realities of church closure—reflecting on how endings don't always mean failure.

• Discuss the strange and sometimes awkward season of being new in a church, resisting the urge to jump right in, and learning to simply "be."

• Delve into the complexities of book endorsements in Christian publishing, including why they matter (or don't), how they're decided, and the landmines authors and publishers face.

• Talk about how reducing people to social media snippets can distort real-life relationships, and why discernment is important when choosing where to show up and engage.

• Wrestle with common theological distractions and accidental heresies.

• Explore Aaron's new book, Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It, including his approach to foundational theology, why he wrote it, and who it's for.

 

Featured Guest

• Aaron Armstrong Aaron Armstrong: Author, Speaker, Canadian

 

Resources mentioned

• Aaron's web site https://aaronarmstrong.co

• Faith Simplified https://amzn.to/43PxkzT

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Bill Henson, founder and director of Posture Shift Ministries, joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to talk about cultivating a posture of radical love and hospitality toward LGBTQ+ individuals and families within the church, regardless of theological position.

 

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In this episode we:

• Explore the difference between a church's theological position and its posture toward LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Hear why Posture Shift was founded in the midst of the culture wars around LGBTQ+ rights and the church's response.

• Discuss the importance of practical, missional skill sets for churches to truly love and include LGBTQ+ people, beyond merely good intentions.

• Address common language pitfalls and the impact of terminology like "lifestyle" on LGBTQ+ individuals seeking belonging in faith communities.

• Examine the need for clarity and transparency about church beliefs on sexuality—and the harm of ambiguity or "bait and switch" scenarios for LGBTQ+ congregants.

• Reflect on the dangers of treating LGBTQ+ presence in church as a threat, and instead view it as a missional opportunity.

• Consider best practices for using names and pronouns, and the principle of "pronoun hospitality," especially in youth ministry and family settings.

• Learn about practical resources like the "Guiding Families" book and direct care coaching for families navigating these conversations.

Featured Guest

• Bill Henson, Posture Shift Ministries Posture Shift | postureshift.com

 

Resources mentioned

• This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

• About - Posture Shift | postureshift.com

 

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If you loved this episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast app and share it with a friend. Tag us if you share it on social media.

 

Follow Untangled Faith wherever you listen to podcasts

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Email: amy@untangledfaithpodcast.com

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Pete Singer passed away on May 1, 2025.

He is missed by his many family and friends.

 

Make a donation to GRACE: https://netgrace.org/donate

 

Pete Singer, executive director of GRACE, shares about grooming, hidden trauma, being "overly" sensitive to abuse, and the importance of third-party investigations.

"Perpetrators put a lot of effort into being the kind of person who would never do that."

"Being more sensitive may be the product of having more knowledge."

 

Pete Singer is the Executive Director of GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment and an expert on third-party investigations, trauma, and trauma-informed practice.

 

GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment is a nonprofit organization that specializes in safeguarding initiatives to guard against church abuse, sexual abuse in the church.

 

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. What misconceptions about perpetrators of abuse do people have, and how can we ensure we are more informed?

2. How does trauma-informed practice apply in churches, and why is it important?

3. How can churches protect possible victims and be transparent and trustworthy in their response to allegations of misconduct?

Links:

https://netgrace.org

SAMHSA's Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care – Post-Secondary Peer Support Training Curriculum (opentextbc.ca)

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Dan and Summer Watt & Melissa Hogan joined me for episode 39: The Problem with Financial Peace University and Dave Ramsey's Financial Rhetoric.  ⁠ This conversation we had was made possible by the fact that those of us involved in this episode have spent the last several years processing together our experiences with the ups and downs of Financial Peace University and the rhetoric coming from the Ramsey Show.⁠ ⁠ While we all had different levels of understanding and adhering to the plan, each of us have found ourselves with serious questions. Some of these questions started before we broke ties with the organization and some of these realizations came later.⁠ ⁠ We don't claim to be unbiased observers. We all have had very painful and disappointing experiences with Ramsey Solutions, but we don't think that negates the very real questions we raise.⁠

Links:

D.L. Mayfield, The Myth of the American Dream

Dan Watt- Why Write About Lampo?

Dan Watt- Getting a Mortgage with no credit score

American Gospel movie

 

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If you loved this episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast app and share it with a friend. Tag us if you share it on social media.

 

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