Category: Flying Free Podcast

Winning Child Custody & Divorce Battles: Pro Strategies from a Top Attorney

Winning Child Custody & Divorce Battles: Pro Strategies from a Top Attorney [Episode 329]

Strap in, ladies. This episode is basically law school meets your best girlfriend telling you how to survive divorce court with a toxic ex who thinks the law is optional and reality is negotiable. I’m joined by Arizona attorney Wendy Hernandez (aka courtroom gladiator and truth-spewer), who unpacks what you really need to know when facing custody battles, financial warfare, and the endless parade of legal shenanigans from an abusive ex.

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How Christian Women Resist Oppression in Their Marriages

How Christian Women Resist Oppression in Their Marriages [Episode 328]

So many of you come to me and say things like, “Natalie, I was such a doormat. I just stood there and let it all happen.”
Listen up, beautiful butterfly: You didn’t “just stand there.” You were resisting the entire time, and no one told you that’s what it was. Until now.
In this episode, I shine a flashlight on the small but powerful acts of resistance Christian women pull off daily in emotionally and spiritually abusive marriages. We’re talking journal-hiding, secret-crying, sanity-preserving, Jesus-whispering defiance that deserves a standing ovation—but probably got met with church lady side-eye instead.

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The Best Worst Decision: Erin’s Story

The Best Worst Decision: Erin’s Story [Episode 327]

Ever feel like you’re losing your mind but everyone around you says you’re just too sensitive? Welcome to the club you never asked to join. In this episode, I sit down with Erin, a long-time member of the Flying Free Kaleidoscope community, who opens up about her raw and redemptive journey out of emotional and spiritual abuse.
From marrying a man who knew his way around a Bible and a manipulation tactic (convenient, right?) to raising six kids in eight years while being told she was a “terrible housekeeper,” Erin did what so many Christian women are taught to do—sacrifice, submit, and smile. But eventually, she realized something crucial. God wasn’t calling her to be a martyr in her own marriage.

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Why You Can’t Stop Thinking About Your Abuser—and When That Changes

Why You Can’t Stop Thinking About Your Abuser—and When That Changes [Episode 326]

Remember those late-night Google searches trying to figure out what’s going on in his head to cause him to treat you the way he does? That obsession with understanding his behavior?

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down something we ALL experience on this healing journey – how our focus shifts as we recover from abuse.

We’ll walk through the 5 stages of recovery – from being completely focused on HIM to finally reclaiming YOUR power and becoming the mentor you never had. This journey isn’t linear, and wherever you are in the process, I want you to know you’re exactly where you need to be.

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What Does a Safe Church Really Look Like?

What Does a Safe Church Really Look Like? [Episode 324]

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with someone who’s not here to play nice with toxic church culture—Dr. Andrew Bauman. He’s a licensed mental health counselor, a truth-teller, and the author of Safe Church: How to Guard Against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities.
If you’ve ever sat in a church pew feeling invisible… silenced… or like it was your job to hold everything together, this conversation was made for you.
Dr. Bauman gets it. He grew up as a pastor’s kid tangled in trauma, became a pastor himself while battling hidden struggles, and eventually found his way to becoming an outspoken advocate for women in faith spaces.

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