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Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction

Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction

Von: Michele Kus M.A. & Dr. Martin Trench
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What if the version of God you were handed… isn’t the whole story?

Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction — a bold, grace-filled, sometimes wild and wacky exploration of what happens when real faith breaks free from fear, performance, burnout, and outdated religious assumptions.

Hosts Michele Kus, M.A. and Dr. Martin Trench aren’t afraid to question what we’ve been taught, rethink common church narratives, and wrestle honestly with scripture, spirituality, emotional health, and what it actually means to become more like Jesus.

If you’re tired of churchy clichés, spiritual jargon, and performative “Church-ianity” that leaves you more anxious instead of more whole… you’re not alone.

Each episode separates what’s authentic from what’s manmade, helping listeners rediscover a faith rooted in freedom, grace, honesty, humanity, and authentic spiritual maturity.

Because the truth really does set you free — and it might be far better than you were told.

New episodes drop (almost) every Friday. Follow the show so you don’t miss any!

Copyright ©️ 2026. All rights reserved. Christentum Spiritualität
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  • The Kindness of God Leads to a Higher Mind | Ep34

    The Kindness of God Leads to a Higher Mind | Ep34
    Jul 24 2026
    If your journey with Jesus began with fear instead of kindness, this conversation may just change the way you experience God forever. Download this episode’s beautiful Companion Study Guide (with key points, scriptures, journal prompts, reflection questions, notable quotes, a guided meditation, small group discussion questions & more). ⎯ READY TO GO DEEPER? ⎯ If this stirred something in you, don’t just watch — take the next step. Join Michele’s online community, New Creation Academy Join Martin’s online community, The Gathering ⎯ SUPPORT THE PODCAST ⎯ Love our free content and want to support the show? Grab some fabulous, custom-designed, snarky Unhinged merch, t-shirts, mugs, and other digital resources from our Fourthwall shop! Your purchase helps keep our podcast free and ad-free for everyone. Thank you! ⎯⎯ ABOUT THIS EPISODE ⎯⎯ Many Christians have been taught that the goal of spiritual growth is to leave the “milk” behind and move on to the “meat” of the Word as quickly as possible. But what if we’ve misunderstood what the pure spiritual milk actually is? In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele and Martin continue their Simply Jesus series by exploring one of the most overlooked themes in the New Testament: spiritual childhood. Together they unpack why Peter tells believers to crave the pure spiritual milk of the Word, why so many Christians were spiritually malnourished from the very beginning, and why the kindness of God — not fear, shame, or performance — is meant to be the foundation of every healthy spiritual life. If you’ve ever wondered why fear-based religion leaves people exhausted, anxious, or constantly striving to earn God’s approval, this conversation offers a radically different vision of the gospel — one rooted in safety, trust, and the goodness of God. ⎯⎯ BINGE THE VIDEOS ⎯⎯ Pt 1: What If You Never Had a Spiritual Childhood? | Ep31 Pt 2: The Spiritual Vaccine Against Toxic Theology | Ep32 Pt 3: Stop Eating Dove’s Dung: Developing Your Spiritual Taste Buds | Ep33 Pt 4: The Kindness of God Leads to a Higher Mind | Ep34 Full Series: Simply Jesus (full playlist on YouTube) ⎯⎯ ABOUT OUR SHOW ⎯⎯ Michele Kus, M.A. is a Chicago-based life coach, spiritual formation teacher, DJ, and music producer who is passionate about helping people rediscover the beauty of God. Blending theology, neuroscience, creativity, and personal growth, she creates spaces where people can let go of fear-based religion and discover the freedom, wholeness, and joy of a grace-filled life with God. Dr. Martin Trench, originally from Scotland, is a spiritual teacher, inspiring speaker, author, coach, and self-described part-time theologian with more than 40 years of ministry experience. He has authored several books and is passionate about helping people break free from toxic religion and discover a life-giving, liberating relationship with God. Together they host Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction — a teaching-forward podcast for spiritual rethinkers who want thoughtful and honest conversations, plenty of laughter, and a fresh look at faith. If you enjoy Unhinged and want to help spread our message, remember to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE the love! Take us along when you’re on-the-go! Follow this podcast on your favorite podcast player! ⎯⎯ FIND OUR STUFF ⎯⎯ Michele’s music (Grace Remixed) on Spotify Michele’s music (Grace Remixed) on Apple Music Martin’s books on Amazon ⎯⎯ CONNECT WITH US ⎯⎯ Michele’s YouTube (New Creation Meditations) Michele’s YouTube (Grace Remixed) Martin’s YouTube Michele’s Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | website Martin’s Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | website Thanks for getting Unhinged with us! We’ll see you again on the next one!
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    37 Min.
  • Ep33 | Stop Eating Dove’s Dung: Developing Your Spiritual Taste Buds

    Ep33 | Stop Eating Dove’s Dung: Developing Your Spiritual Taste Buds
    Jul 10 2026
    What if bad theology isn’t something you have to debate on social media … but something you naturally learn to recognize the taste of? And what if the pure spiritual milk of the gospel develops spiritual taste buds that recognize fear, shame, and manipulation before they ever take root in you? In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele Kus and Martin Trench continue their Simply Jesus series by exploring what happens when you’re firmly established in the goodness of God. They unpack why a healthy spiritual foundation changes everything. When you’re deeply rooted in God’s unconditional love, forgiveness, union, kindness, and acceptance, unhealthy teaching simply doesn’t fit anymore. It doesn’t sound like Jesus… and it doesn’t taste right. Through stories, humor, colorful analogies, and honest conversation, Michele and Martin explore discernment, union with Christ, the Father’s heart toward us, trusting your God-given discernment, and why people established in grace become much harder to manipulate. If you’ve ever questioned teachings that left you feeling anxious, ashamed, exhausted, or afraid of God — or if you’re rebuilding your faith after leaving unhealthy religious systems — this episode offers hope that you can learn the difference between true spiritual nourishment and spiritual junk food. Let’s become so deeply rooted in the love and kindness of God that anything inconsistent with the character of Jesus simply doesn’t taste right. If you enjoyed this third part of our Simply Jesus series, FOLLOW the show and SHARE this episode with a friend! Hey! Jump into Martin’s July challenge called “Simply Jesus” here inside his online community! Purchase Martin’s books on Amazon. Don’t miss the FULL VISUAL EXPERIENCE with scripture references, definitions, funny pics, random small animals, and of course our beautiful faces! Watch this episode or binge the entire series on our awesome Unhinged YouTube channel. And remember to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE while you’re there! -- READY TO GO DEEPER? -- If this stirred something in you, don’t just listen — take the next step. Join Michele’s online community, New Creation Academy Join Martin’s online community, The Gathering -- SUPPORT THE PODCAST -- Love our free content and want to support the show? Grab some fabulous, custom-designed snarky Unhinged merch or send us a donation (thank you!) -- ABOUT OUR SHOW -- Unhinged is the podcast that helps you break free from toxic religion, rediscover the beauty of God, faith, and yourself — and laugh along the way. Let’s get Unhinged! -- RESOURCES -- Michele’s music (Grace Remixed) on Spotify Michele’s music (Grace Remixed) on Apple Music Martin’s books on Amazon -- CONNECT WITH US! -- Michele’s YouTube (meditations), YouTube (grace-based dance music), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Linktree, & website Martin’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Linktree, & website CHAPTERS 00:00 Best Intro Ever :) 01:42 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction! 02:10 Listener Comments: The Spiritual Milk We Never Received 05:23 Union Changes Everything 08:32 One Spirit with God: No Distance and No Separation 12:32 You Are Loved, Safe, Valuable, & Lovable 17:37 When Bad Theology Doesn’t Fit 21:40 Stop Eating Dove’s Dung 23:32 Trusting Your God-Given Discernment 27:44 Developing Your Spiritual Taste Buds
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    30 Min.
  • Ep32 | The Spiritual Vaccine Against Toxic Theology

    Ep32 | The Spiritual Vaccine Against Toxic Theology
    Jun 26 2026
    What if the best protection against bad theology isn’t learning more ... but returning to the pure spiritual milk of the gospel? And what if that pure spiritual milk permanently inoculates you against fear, manipulation, and toxic preaching? In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele Kus and Martin Trench continue their Simply Jesus series by exploring what they call the spiritual vaccine against bad theology. They unpack why true spiritual maturity is built on a healthy foundation. They explain why the simple truths of God’s unconditional love, forgiveness, kindness, union, and acceptance are the pure spiritual milk that establishes us so deeply in Christ that unhealthy or toxic theology naturally tastes “off.” Through stories, humor, and honest conversation, Michele and Martin explore why one-size-fits-all discipleship often falls short, the importance of understanding progressive revelation, how Jesus continually reshapes our picture of God, the problem with biblical “inerrancy,” and why returning to the simplicity of Christ can inoculate us against fear-based religion, performance, legalism, and manipulation. If you’ve ever wondered why some teachings leave you anxious while others bring peace and freedom, or if you’re trying to rebuild a healthier faith after unlearning toxic beliefs, this episode offers a hopeful invitation to become deeply rooted in the goodness of God. Because the healthiest Christians aren’t the ones who know the most — they’re the ones who have been nourished by the right kind of spiritual milk. If you enjoyed this second part of our Simply Jesus series, FOLLOW the show and SHARE this episode with a friend! Hey! Jump into Martin’s July challenge called “Simply Jesus” here inside his online community! Purchase Martin’s books on Amazon (3 of them were mentioned on today’s episode!) Don’t miss the FULL VISUAL EXPERIENCE with scripture references, definitions, funny pics, random small animals, and of course our beautiful faces! Watch this episode or binge the entire series on our awesome Unhinged YouTube channel. And remember to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE while you’re there! -- READY TO GO DEEPER? -- If this stirred something in you, don’t just listen — take the next step. Join Michele’s online community, New Creation Academy Join Martin’s online community, The Gathering -- SUPPORT THE PODCAST -- Love our free content and want to support the show? Grab some fabulous, custom-designed snarky Unhinged merch or send us a donation (thank you!) -- ABOUT OUR SHOW -- Unhinged is the podcast that helps you break free from toxic religion, rediscover the beauty of God, faith, and yourself — and laugh along the way. Let’s get Unhinged! -- RESOURCES -- Michele’s music (Grace Remixed) on Spotify Michele’s music (Grace Remixed) on Apple Music Martin’s books on Amazon -- CONNECT WITH US! -- Michele’s YouTube (meditations), YouTube (grace-based dance music), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Linktree, & website Martin’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Linktree, & website CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction! 04:13 Why Martin Doesn’t Teach a One-Size-Fits-All Curriculum 09:02 The Atonement: Milk vs. Meat 10:16 Your Theology Shapes Your View of God 11:27 Pure Spiritual Milk Protects You from Toxic Theology & Bad Preaching 17:00 What is Progressive Revelation and Why Does It Matter? 18:30 The Problem with the Doctrine of Inerrancy of Scripture 22:02 The Spiritual Vaccine Against Bad Theology 25:23 This Week’s Reflection Question (Leave Us a Comment!)
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    27 Min.
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