Summary
In this heartfelt episode of Contemplating Resonance, host Matt Stine welcomes Kandi Zeller, a queer, witchy, disabled, and ex-evangelical writer and editor. Kandi shares their journey navigating the intersections of spirituality, creativity, and justice while healing from religious trauma. As an editor for Microcosm Publishing and writer of the Substack newsletter All the Threads, Kandi discusses how their experiences have shaped their work and driven their passion for helping others reclaim their identities after leaving high-control religious environments.
The conversation dives deeply into the themes of resistance, identity, and autonomy. Kandi reflects on the role of online communities in validating their experiences and providing the courage to confront harmful systems. They share personal stories of breaking free from fundamentalist doctrines, the stigma of religious authoritarian parenting, and the pervasive fear of judgment that shaped their early life. Together, Matt and Kandi explore how survivors are not only speaking their truths but embracing creativity and individuality as acts of resistance and healing.
Listeners will be inspired by Kandi’s resilience and advocacy for building a better world, one where people feel empowered to live authentically. Whether discussing the ex-evangelical to witchcraft pipeline or dismantling harmful ideologies, this episode invites reflection on the beauty of self-expression and the power of community in creating meaningful change.
Takeaways
• Embracing creativity and individuality can be powerful acts of resistance against systems that suppress authentic self-expression.
• Online communities provide validation and courage for survivors of religious trauma to share their truths and heal collectively.
• Survivors often find healing through exploring alternative spiritualities, fostering autonomy, and reclaiming their identities.
• Confronting and dismantling harmful systems requires understanding their impact while focusing on building healthier communities.
• Living authentically not only fosters personal healing but also inspires others to embrace their true selves.
Quotables
There’s a collective mischief to it almost, as people step into the art of becoming themselves and express in ways their old communities never allowed. – Kandi Zeller
We can dream of a better world, and if the structures we’ve built aren’t serving us, we have the power to remake them. – Kandi Zeller
Resistance is being your authentic self in all the whimsical, weird ways humans can be—it shines a light, and that light is powerful. – Kandi Zeller
The people who told me who I was, what my purpose was, and where I belonged weren’t wrong—they were just as shaped by their environments as I was. – Matt Stine
Living authentically isn’t just healing for yourself—it’s a way of helping others coming up behind you know they’re not alone. – Kandi Zeller
Notes
Kandi’s Substack Newsletter: All the Threads
Kandi’s Book: Disabled Witchcraft: 90 Rituals for Limited-Spoon Practitioners
Chapters
• 00:00 - Introduction
Matt Stine introduces the episode and sets the theme of exploring religious trauma and healing.
• 00:27 - Meet Kandi Zeller
Kandi shares their background as a queer, witchy, disabled, ex-evangelical writer and editor, and discusses their work in spirituality, creativity, and justice.
• 03:00 - Healing Through Community
Discussion on how online spaces and survivor networks create safety and validation for those healing from religious trauma.
• 06:05 - Resistance as Self-Expression
Exploration of how creative self-expression and living authentically become acts of resistance against high-control religious systems.
• 12:00 - Stories of Religious Trauma
Matt and Kandi dive into personal experiences with purity culture, authoritarian parenting, and fear-based doctrines.
• 18:30 - Questioning Systems of Control
Kandi reflects on identifying and confronting harmful religious systems and the role of cognitive dissonance in their journey.
• 25:10 - From Evangelicalism to Whimsy Goth
A lighthearted look at the “ex-evangelical to witchcraft pipeline” and the importance of embracing individuality.
• 30:00 - Living Authentically as Resistance
The episode concludes with reflections on reclaiming autonomy, breaking generational patterns, and inspiring others to live their truth.
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