What if discovering your life purpose isn’t about decoding some hidden blueprint… but about alignment? In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele Kus and Dr. Martin Trench begin a two-part series on discovering your life purpose, looking through the lens of Romans 12.

Romans 12 describes God’s will as good, pleasing, and perfect. But what does that actually mean?

In Part One, Michele and Martin explore:

• what it means to dedicate your body as a living sacrifice
• why renewing your mind matters more than chasing prophecy
• how to honestly assess your spiritual gifts without exaggerating or minimizing them
• why copying the world’s definition of success distorts purpose
• the danger of “American Idol” style ministry culture

This conversation challenges hustle-driven Christianity and the idea that God’s will must involve suffering. Instead, it reframes purpose as something discovered through surrender, integrity, self-awareness, and divine design.

God does not force you into someone else’s calling like a square peg into a round hole. He has handcrafted plans that are the perfect fit for you!

Ready to go deeper?

Throughout the month of March, Martin is leading his interactive Discover Your Life Purpose Challenge — a 30-day guided journey to help you:

• discover your authentic self
• identify your gifts, talents, and personality type
• discern the right path for your life
• clarify next steps toward your divine purpose
• move toward a life of real fulfillment

If this episode stirred something in you, this challenge is the natural next step.

👉 Join us here!

Part Two continues next week. Follow the show so you don’t miss it!

Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction is an audio and video podcast that helps you unlearn toxic religious dogma and rediscover a freer, healthier, life-giving way of understanding God, Scripture, faith, and yourself.

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel and FOLLOW Unhinged on your favorite podcast player. Fresh, new episodes drop every Friday!

Watch this episode on our brand new Unhinged YouTube channel!

Check out our new Unhinged merch shop for some epic snarky shirts! Your purchases help support the show and keep it ad-free.

Check out Martin’s community called The Gathering.

Check out Michele’s community called New Creation Academy.

Check out Martin’s books: Victorious Eschatology, Eyes Wide Open, and Secrets of Spiritual Growth.

Follow Michele and Martin on Facebook

Follow Michele and Martin on Instagram

Follow Michele and Martin on TikTok

Michele Kus, M.A. on Linktree

Dr. Martin Trench on Linktree

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction!

02:17 Romans 12 Explained: What Is God’s Will?

02:55 What Does “Living Sacrifice” Really Mean?

05:58 How to Learn to Know God’s Will for Your Life

09:05 Living in Alignment with Your Divine Design

14:29 Honest Self-Assessment (Without Ego or Shame)

21:07 Natural Talents and Developed Skills

28:29 Your Life Purpose Is Tailored to You

35:01 Dedicate Your Body, Renew Your Mind, Discover Your Gifts

41:04 Discover Your Life Purpose Challenge (this March!)

What is the Evangelical Industrial Complex — and why does it feel like people are suddenly waking up to it across the entire Church?

In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele Kus and Dr. Martin Trench slow down to finally define a phrase they’ve referenced in prior episodes but never formally explained: the Evangelical Industrial Complex (EIC).

This episode isn’t about debating doctrine or offering next steps. It’s about naming and defining the system that has shaped much of modern evangelicalism — often quietly, often invisibly — and understanding why so many people feel anger, grief, relief, or clarity once they begin to see it.

And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

In this episode, Michele and Martin:

• define what the Evangelical Industrial Complex is and why it’s so toxic
• explore how Christianity can become an industry
• name common system-level patterns rather than individual failures
• clarify that not all churches operate this way (and why it often exists on a spectrum)
• reflect on why the EIC appears to be “melting down” in real time

This is NOT an anti-Christian or anti-church episode. It is pro-awareness, pro-honesty, and pro-naming what has been operating in the background for decades so you can better spot it when you encounter it.

If you’ve deconstructed your faith but still feel like something hasn’t fully clicked yet, this episode helps you see The EIC Machine.

Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction is an audio and video podcast with Michele Kus and Dr. Martin Trench, helping listeners unlearn toxic religious dogma and rediscover a freer, healthier, life-giving way of understanding God, Scripture, faith, and themselves.

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel and FOLLOW Unhinged on your favorite podcast player. Fresh, new episodes drop every Friday!

Watch this episode on our brand new Unhinged YouTube channel!

Here is Michele’s Facebook post about the EIC.

Check out Martin’s Skool community called The Gathering.

Check out Michele’s Skool community called New Creation Academy.

Check out Martin’s books: Victorious Eschatology, Eyes Wide Open, and Secrets of Spiritual Growth.

Follow Michele and Martin on Facebook

Follow Michele and Martin on Instagram

Follow Michele and Martin on TikTok

Michele Kus, M.A. on Linktree

Dr. Martin Trench on Linktree

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction!

02:07 What Is the Evangelical Industrial Complex?

07:09 How the EIC Discourages Independent Thinking

07:55 How the Evangelical Industrial Complex Actually Works

09:07 What Happens When Someone Wakes Up from the EIC Machine

11:34 Signs a Church May Be Operating Inside the Evangelical Industrial Complex

14:08 Signs of a Healthy Church (What to Look For)

16:47 Why Naming the Evangelical Industrial Complex Matters