In Part 2 of our conversation with Joanna Whaley, we continue unpacking Joanna’s journey from evangelical pastor to political candidate — diving into the intersections of faith, politics, and identity in a time when Christian values and nationalism collide.

Join us as we dive into Joanna’s campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives, how she confronts Christian nationalism in American politics, and the ways the MAGA movement leverages fear and deception to gain power. We also reflect on our grief for family and friends who have been lost to MAGA ideology… and what it looks like to maintain love and hope for our reconciliation.

Follow and support Joanna’s work:

• SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joannawhaley
• SOCIALS:
  • https://www.tiktok.com/@joannawhaleyofficial
  • https://www.instagram.com/joannawhaleyofficial/
  • https://www.facebook.com/joannawhaleyofficial
  • https://bsky.app/profile/joannawhaley.bsky.social

Recommended to View on Netflix:

• Boy Erased, Edgerton, J. (Director). (2018). Boy Erased [Film]. Focus Features.
• Pray Away, Stolakis, K. (Director). (2021). Pray Away [Film]. Multitude Films; Netflix.

References:

Robb, A. (2025, October 30). The truth about IFS, the therapy that can break you. The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/article/truth-about-ifs-therapy-internal-family-systems-trauma-treatment.html

Connect with Us:
📸 Instagram: @praisebetopod
🎵 TikTok: @praisebetopod
▶️ YouTube: @praisebetopod
💻 Web: www.praisebetopod.com
💸 Patreon: patreon.com/praisebetopod

In Part 1 of our conversation with Joanna Whaley, candidate for Michigan House of Representatives, Ashley and Bailee sit down with Joanna to unpack her story as a former evangelical pastor navigating identity, faith, and institutional power.

After being outed as a transgender woman by a congregant, Joanna was dismissed from one of Michigan’s largest megachurches—an event that upended every aspect of her life. She candidly shares her experiences surviving conversion therapy, confronting transphobia within the church, and reclaiming her faith and understanding of God in the aftermath.

Join us next week for Part 2!

Follow and support Joanna’s work:

• SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/joannawhaley
• SOCIALS:
  • https://www.tiktok.com/@joannawhaleyofficial
  • https://www.instagram.com/joannawhaleyofficial/
  • https://www.facebook.com/joannawhaleyofficial
  • https://bsky.app/profile/joannawhaley.bsky.social

Recommended to View on Netflix:

• Boy Erased, Edgerton, J. (Director). (2018). Boy Erased [Film]. Focus Features.
• Pray Away, Stolakis, K. (Director). (2021). Pray Away [Film]. Multitude Films; Netflix.

References:

Robb, A. (2025, October 30). The truth about IFS, the therapy that can break you. The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/article/truth-about-ifs-therapy-internal-family-systems-trauma-treatment.html

Connect with Us:
📸 Instagram: @praisebetopod
🎵 TikTok: @praisebetopod
▶️ YouTube: @praisebetopod
💻 Web: www.praisebetopod.com
💸 Patreon: patreon.com/praisebetopod

This week, Ashley and Bailee engage in a discussion and cultural analysis of evangelical millennials — exploring why we are the way that we are. From the militarization of youth at Acquire the Fire to the push to dedicate your life to global missions with YWAM, the evangelical church bombarded us with messages that we were the generation called to “change the world.”

Now that we’re older, we reflect on coming of age during that period of American history — the empty promises we were given, the fading pipe dream of financial prosperity, and the sometimes contentious relationship between millennials and the generations that raised us. We also explore how those formative messages from the evangelical church primed many of us to seek meaning and purpose in social justice movements, channeling the same moral urgency we were taught as kids into new forms of activism and advocacy.

Connect with Us:
📸 Instagram: @praisebetopod
🎵 TikTok: @praisebetopod
▶️ YouTube: @praisebetopod
💻 Web: www.praisebetopod.com
💸 Patreon: patreon.com/praisebetopod