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When news breaks that a respected Christian author has carried on an eight-year affair, the story doesn’t end with the confession. It reveals a familiar reflex inside many high-control religious systems: forgiveness flows upward to powerful men—while people who feel hurt or disillusioned get scolded, shamed, and told to “move on.” But why is the finger of blame so quickly pointed at those who feel the disappointment most deeply? And what do these calls for instant forgiveness distract us from?

• Why “it could be any of us” can function as a warning sign, not a comfort
• The double standard: why mercy is often extended to powerful men while women, LGBTQ folks, and “rebellious” question-askers get crushed
• Why shame is such an effective control tool—and how it keeps people thinking with their “downstairs brain”
• The gendered story we’re handed early: how the Adam & Eve narrative is often told to teach people to distrust women
• Why pressured forgiveness isn’t forgiveness—and how rushing it can deepen resentment and kill real connection
• How parenting can move from control to connection—and why that shift matters for breaking cycles
• To nurture connection, start honest conversations with safe people, trust what you know, and practice curiosity again

Relevant Links

Author Philip Yancey Confesses Affair, Withdraws from Ministry - Christianity Today

What the Story of Adam and Eve Teaches about Communication (@marriageishappening)

Anti-Purity Ball: Jessica Valenti on Fighting Sexualization

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• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
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We're back! As podcasters, when we can't be consistent, we aim for persistence. In this episode, Naomi and Rebecca reflect on the slow end of a long relationship, mapping how trust erodes, how patriarchy trains us to ignore women’s needs, and how grief and loss can be gateways to new dreams.

• How relational trust is like a jar of marbles
• Emotional labor, minimising, and who does the work
• Default patriarchal patterns that prevent collaboration
• Concrete signs a relationship is already over
• Sitting with the awkwardness of growth and change
• New avenues for finding mutuality and genuine connection

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• Instagram: @uncoveredlifebeyond
• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171591

Subscribe (for free) to Uncovered: Life Beyond on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts so you'll never miss an episode!

What topics at the intersection of education, high-demand religion, career, parenting, and emotional intelligence are of interest to you? Help us plan future episodes by taking this quick listener survey. We appreciate your input very much!

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As midlife moms who have navigated identity changes without roadmaps, we're sharing what we've learned about translating caregiving experience into professional opportunities when facing a blank resume. We break down some of the emotional and practical aspects of job hunting for those who may have never had an official job title or feel their skills have expired.

• Challenging the myth that resume gaps mean you lack marketable skills
• Understanding how society's devaluation of women's work creates artificial barriers to employment
• Recognizing that managing family schedules, budgeting, and organizing events are valuable professional skills
• Using AI tools like ChatGPT to help translate caregiving experiences into professional resume language
• Identifying strategies to build confidence in job interviews without apologizing or sounding cocky
• Learning alternatives to excessive apologizing in professional settings
• Recognizing that experience matters, regardless of whether it came with a paycheck
• Finding the right support network that offers both encouragement and valuable feedback

Whether you're 21 or 61, you're not too late to make a career change. Your story isn't behind you—it's always unfolding, and we are cheering you on!

Links to Resources

ChatGPT, Google Gemini and other AI models are using your data for training: here's how to stop it (Tom's Guide)

How can I protect my privacy when using ChatGPT? (Boston University))

How To Write A BIFF Response® (High Conflict Institute): Brief, Informative, Friendly, Firm

Deborah Tannen and Language (National Endowment for the Humanities)

18 Sample AI Prompts for Career Exploration

Digital Writing Careers Information Sheet

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• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171591

Subscribe (for free) to Uncovered: Life Beyond on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts so you'll never miss an episode!

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Rebecca and Naomi explore why curiosity requires courage, especially for those on the margins. We examine how gender, race, and religious upbringing shape who feels safe to ask questions and who faces consequences for challenging the status quo.

• Safety is a prerequisite for curiosity, but not everyone is equally encouraged to be inquisitive
• Women, particularly women of color, often face negative consequences for asking challenging questions
• Religious communities frequently use concepts like submission, forgiveness, and respect for authority to silence questioning
• Power structures in churches, schools, and families often treat curiosity as a threat rather than a virtue
• Critical thinking asks uncomfortable questions: who built these systems, who benefits, and what alternatives exist?
• Developing internal safety and self-trust helps us ask difficult questions even in unsafe environments
• The more dangerous a question feels to ask, the more important it probably is

We'd love to hear your story. When was the first time you remember feeling safe enough to ask hard questions but then realized it wasn't safe after all? Send us a voice memo, email, or text using the link above.

Thanks for listening! Connect with us via

• Facebook: Uncovered: Life Beyond
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• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171591

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Celebrating Rebecca's recent college graduation has been a long time coming! In this episode, we reflect on the challenges and rewards she experienced as a midlife student as well as on the complicated transition to life after graduation.

• What it was like starting college without knowing all available options or having proper guidance
• How she learned to ask for help (including successfully advocating for scholarship funds)
• Her thoughts on navigating the tension between motherhood responsibilities and educational goals and how she consciously resisted passing along the tradition of parentification
• What she discovered about the common adage that "belief is an inside job"
• How she's finding the job market as a 50-year-old new liberal arts graduate
• The comfort she's finding in fiction, writing, and supportive relationships right now--as well as the tiny house community she's dreaming of building.

See the summa cum laude graduate in her regalia! (Summa cum laude means "with highest honors") https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16jAraWNb7/

Important Announcement: The Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund offers mentorship and financial support for anyone who left an Amish or Plain community with only an eighth-grade education and is now pursuing college. Apply now for funding for the 2025-2026 school year! (Application deadline is July 20, 2025.) Visit AmishScholarship.com to apply for mentorship or scholarships, or to donate to support others' educational journeys.

Not sure if you qualify? Reach out to them with your questions before you apply. Remember, they want to help!

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• Facebook: Uncovered: Life Beyond
• Instagram: @uncoveredlifebeyond
• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171591

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This episode recaps a family reunion we recently attended, tracing five generations back to our great-great-grandfather Daniel D. Miller, discovering unexpected connections and untold stories that shape how we see ourselves today.

• Rebecca and Naomi join with Margaret (Naomi's sister) to discuss their experiences at a gathering of the descendants of Daniel D. and Mary Miller's ten sons.
• The recurring theme of strong, unsubmissive women in our family history raises more questions than answers as we wonder about their lived experiences and influence on their descendants.
• Were the frequent sawmill accidents unique to our family line or do they simply remind us of the harsh realities of farm life and child labor in the past?
• What value do extended family reunions hold for younger generations? How can we access a sense of belonging regardless of the life choices or current identity of individuals?
• What qualities (such as hospitality, pacifism, or a quirky sense of humor) do we want to consciously preserve and pass down to future generations?

If you're part of the DD Miller line, save the date for our next reunion in Sarasota in two years. Join our Facebook group for updates and connections!

Links We Mentioned (or should have)

Attendees representing Daniel D.'s Valentine's Irene: https://www.facebook.com/share/18zkW5aVts/

The cousin party: https://www.facebook.com/share/18vrrirHpj/

Daniel D. Miller Family (private Facebook group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1791987254171830

Geauga Amish History Center (Geauga County, Ohio): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553567564967

Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center (Holmes County, Ohio): https://behalt.com/

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• Facebook: Uncovered: Life Beyond
• Instagram: @uncoveredlifebeyond
• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171591

Subscribe (for free) to Uncovered: Life Beyond on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts so you'll never miss an episode!

What topics at the intersection of education, high-demand religion, career, parenting, and emotional intelligence are of interest to you? Help us plan future episodes by taking this quick listener survey. We appreciate your input very much!

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Tricia joins Rebecca and Naomi to share her journey from homeschooled student to college graduate and beyond, offering valuable insights for first-generation students navigating higher education without traditional guidance.

• Following curiosity and determination despite lack of traditional educational pathways
• Navigating college applications and standardized tests without guidance counselors
• Balancing full-time work with educational pursuits
• Finding funding for undergraduate education through grants and scholarships
• The challenges of financing graduate education without institutional support
• The value of on-campus living for building social connections and networks
• Taking risks to teach in Texas and Japan after graduation
• The importance of maintaining identity through continuous learning
• How small steps build confidence for bigger life changes
• The reality that educational journeys rarely follow straight lines
• The value of asking questions and seeking information when facing obstacles

Keep bringing on your questions! Message us at uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com with your thoughts and experiences.

Connect with Tricia:

https://www.facebook.com/patricia.a.lewis

https://bsky.app/profile/hopenafuture.bsky.social

Thanks for listening! Connect with us via

• Facebook: Uncovered: Life Beyond
• Instagram: @uncoveredlifebeyond
• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171591

Subscribe (for free) to Uncovered: Life Beyond on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts so you'll never miss an episode!

What topics at the intersection of education, high-demand religion, career, parenting, and emotional intelligence are of interest to you? Help us plan future episodes by taking this quick listener survey. We appreciate your input very much!

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Patricia Lewis shares her remarkable journey from financial struggle to stability by challenging traditional gender roles and overcoming the shame of accepting public assistance. After marrying her husband who she met while teaching in Japan, they returned to the U.S. to start a family in the midst of the Great Recession. Through the birth of their five sons and many job changes, they faced years of financial hardship before finding an unconventional solution.

Key points from Tricia's story:

• Growing up Mennonite with a father who taught practical skills regardless of gender
• Becoming reacquainted with her husband online while teaching in Japan and developing a relationship built on honest communication
• Struggling through dozens of jobs, medical bills, and raising five boys born via C-sections within eight years
• Confronting the shame of accepting public assistance while living at poverty level
• Transforming their finances by flipping traditional roles – Tricia becoming the primary breadwinner while her husband drove a school bus and homeschooled their sons
• Learning to counter negative self-talk and treat ourselves with the same kindness we show others
• Practical tips for financial independence: knowing your accounts, passwords, and financial situation
• Creative ways to stretch resources like buying turkeys in bulk during sales

For women facing financial insecurity, know what your plan is going forward. Identify your networks, consider your abilities, and understand your current financial situation – including accounts, debts, and assets. Don't let shame prevent you from using available resources designed to help you reach stability.

Connect with Tricia:

https://www.facebook.com/patricia.a.lewis

https://bsky.app/profile/hopenafuture.bsky.social

Thanks for listening! Connect with us via

• Facebook: Uncovered: Life Beyond
• Instagram: @uncoveredlifebeyond
• Email: uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171591

Subscribe (for free) to Uncovered: Life Beyond on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts so you'll never miss an episode!

What topics at the intersection of education, high-demand religion, career, parenting, and emotional intelligence are of interest to you? Help us plan future episodes by taking this quick listener survey. We appreciate your input very much!