Clemenz With a ”Z” Podcast

EP 160 This Was Supposed To Be The Place #4: Faith, Fear, and the God I Was Taught to Obey Unpacking obedience, manipulation, and the slow work of healing.

In this episode of Clemenz With a Z, I open up about the fear-based faith I was raised in—specifically within the International Churches of Christ (ICOC)—and how it shaped my view of God, love, obedience, and myself. From childhood memories of fearing hell, to moments of spiritual panic, guilt, and manipulation, this episode is a raw unpacking of what happens when fear becomes the foundation of belief.
But this isn’t just about the ICOC. I’m seeing the same fear-based messaging alive and well in churches today—from pulpits to podcasts, just dressed up in nicer language and cooler branding.
I talk about the day everything shifted—the moment I realized it wasn’t God I was afraid of, but people’s version of God. This is an episode about unlearning, about healing, and about daring to believe in a love that doesn’t punish.
Whether you’ve been part of the ICOC, another high-control church, or are just trying to untangle fear from faith, this one is for you.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Clemenz With a Z. This one was personal. It was heavy. And it was necessary.
If you’ve ever been made to feel like fear was love… Like obedience was the only way to be seen by God… I just want to say—you’re not alone.
This episode came out of my own story, but I know so many of you have lived through versions of this too. And if you’ve got something to say, if you’ve got a story of fear, faith, and figuring it out— I’d love to hear it.
If you’re a member, former member, or know someone connected to the ICOC or ICC, and you want to share what life was like inside—or outside— please reach out.
Together, we’re still asking the question: “Were we in a cult?” But more than that… we’re doing the work to heal from it.
You can email me at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.
And hey—if this episode moved you, if it helped you name something, or even made you feel less alone… please rate and review the show. It really does help these conversations reach the people who need them most.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time, take care of yourself, stay grateful, and keep growing. Peace!
 

EP 159 We Were In a Cult? Sachiko's Story

In this episode of Clemenz With a "Z," I sit down with Sachiko to hear her story of life inside—and eventually, outside—the International Churches of Christ. With honesty, warmth, and depth, Sachiko shares what it was like to grow up in a high-control religious environment, the internal battles she faced, and how she began reclaiming her voice after years of being told who she was supposed to be.
This conversation is part of our “We Were in a Cult” series—an ongoing exploration of faith, fear, healing, and the long, complicated process of finding yourself again. Whether you're deconstructing, questioning, or just curious, Sachiko's story is one you won’t want to miss.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Clemenz With a Z. Your support means the world to me and helps keep these important conversations going.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or ICC and would like to share your story about life in and out of the church, I’d love to hear from you. Together, we can continue exploring the question, “We were in a cult?”—and perhaps find some healing along the way. You can reach me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com, or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.
As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review—it helps more people find these stories. And don’t forget: I’m just a channel, I ain’t the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time, take care of yourself, stay grateful, and keep growing. Peace!

EP 158: A Skeptic's Heart: Faith, Healing, and the Courage to Keep Searching

What happens when everything you once believed starts to fall apart?
In this episode of Clemenz With a Z, I dive into the difference between cynicism and skepticism—and why one keeps you stuck while the other helps you move forward. I share my personal journey through faith deconstruction, religious trauma, and healing, drawing from Richard Rohr’s Wisdom Pattern (Order → Disorder → Reorder) to explore how faith and life aren’t meant to be static. Along the way, I reflect on how my lifelong struggle with ear infections and surgeries became a metaphor for my evolving faith, the risks I took to stay open, and why a growth mindset is essential for healing.
Whether you’ve left a faith system, are questioning what you’ve been taught, or are just trying to figure out what’s next, this episode is about keeping the door open to growth. Because faith isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about having the courage to keep moving.
If this episode resonated with you, or if you’ve been wrestling with your own faith, healing, or the journey from Disorder to Reorder, I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can reach me at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.
And if you’ve ever felt like you had to stay in something just because that’s what you were taught—whether it’s faith, a belief system, or a way of thinking—I hope you walk away from this episode knowing that you are free to ask, to search, and to knock on new doors.
As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review—it helps more people find these stories. And remember: I’m just a channel, I ain’t the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time—stay open, keep asking, and keep walking. Peace!

EP 157 Why Empathy, and Why compassion? Is Empathy Really Toxic Or Do you Just need an Excuse to Be a Jerk?

Empathy and compassion should be the foundation of faith, right? So why are they suddenly treated like liabilities? In this episode, I break down the growing fear around "toxic empathy" and ask the bigger questions: Why are so many people—especially in religious spaces—acting like caring too much is dangerous? Why does faith seem to be turning into a fortress instead of a bridge? And if following Jesus is supposed to make us more compassionate, more willing to see the humanity in others, why is so much of modern faith rooted in fear and control instead?
We’ll dive into the parable of the Good Samaritan, unpack why Jesus made the most hated person the hero of the story, and ask—if he told this parable today, who would be the Samaritan? Immigrants? The LGBTQIA+ community? People from different faiths? And most importantly, if your faith is making you less willing to love, less willing to connect, and more focused on protecting yourself from the ‘wrong people’—then is it even faith at all? Buckle up for a deep, unfiltered conversation on what it really means to love your neighbor.
If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about faith, about empathy, about what it really means to follow Jesus—I see you. These conversations aren’t always easy, but they matter. And if this episode made you think, challenged you, or maybe even unsettled you a bit, I encourage you to sit with that. Wrestle with it. Ask yourself, Who is the Samaritan today? And what does that mean for me?
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or ICC and would like to share your story about life in and out of the church, I’d love to hear from you. Together, we can continue exploring the question, “We were in a cult?”—and perhaps find some healing along the way. You can reach me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com, or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.
As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review—it helps more people find these stories. And don’t forget: I’m just a channel, I ain’t the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time, take care of yourself, stay open, stay connected, and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Peace!

EP 156 This Was Supposed To Be The Place #3: The Devil’s Doorstep, How Purity Culture Controlled Our Thoughts, Bodies, and Relationships

Purity culture wasn’t just a set of rules—it was a full-blown system of fear, shame, and control that dictated everything from dating to what we wore to whether or not we could even think about smashing without disappointing God. In this episode, I take a deep dive into how purity culture shaped my childhood, warped my understanding of relationships, and made me legitimately believe I was going to hell for shucking the corn at 13. From forced confession sessions to the bizarre ways we were taught to see each other as “brothers and sisters in Christ,” this episode unpacks the weird, uncomfortable, and straight-up damaging ways the church tried to keep us "pure."
But this isn't just about the past—purity culture’s grip doesn’t just disappear overnight. Even today, I catch myself fighting against the messages drilled into me as a kid, and I know I’m not the only one. Whether you grew up in this world or you’re just here for the wild ride, this episode breaks down how purity culture ultimately benefits men, how it oversexualizes women, and how we can start to unlearn the shame we were never meant to carry. Buckle up—this one’s a doozy.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Clemenz With a Z. Your support means everything to me and helps keep these conversations going.
Purity culture left so many of us with shame, guilt, and confusion—but talking about it? That’s how we take our power back.
If you were a part of the ICOC, ICC, or any high-control religious group and purity culture shaped your experience in ways you’re still unpacking, I’d love to hear from you. You’re not alone in this, and together, we can continue exploring the question, ‘We were in a cult?’—and maybe even start to heal from it.
You can reach me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com, or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.
And if this episode resonated with you, please rate and review—it helps more people find these stories.
And remember: I’m just a channel, I ain’t the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time, take care of yourself, trust your gut, and unlearn the shame you were never meant to carry.  Peace!"

EP 155 Everyone Wants the Lollipop: Faith, Certainty, and the Sweet, Sweet Taste of Belonging

"Everyone Wants the Lollipop" isn’t just about church—it’s about the deep human need for certainty, belonging, and reward. We all want to believe we’re on the right path. We want to feel like we’re doing life the right way. And when faith gives us a system, a structure, and a sweet little reward at the end? It’s hard to walk away. In this episode, I dive into the church boom, the business of belief, and why we keep showing up—even when things don’t feel quite right. So, does anyone even care? Or are we all just here for the lollipop?
This episode wasn’t about tearing down—it was about asking the hard questions. About looking at what we’ve believed, what we’ve built our lives around, and wondering: Does anyone even care? Maybe they do. Maybe they don’t. But I know I do. And if you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing you do, too.
If you’re someone who’s been in these churches, who has wrestled with these same questions, or just has a story to share, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.
And as always, if you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review—it helps more people find these stories. And don’t forget: I’m just a channel, I ain’t the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time, take care, stay grateful, and keep growing. Peace!

EP 154 We Were In a Cult? Ruthanna and Davis' Story

For the first time in the We Were In a Cult? series, I’m sitting down with a married couple who both experienced the pressures of purity culture, mission work, and the relentless push toward marriage inside the International Churches of Christ. In this episode, they share how dating was never about personal connection—it was about proving your spirituality and being deemed "worthy" to move forward. We dive into the concept of "weasel dates," the expectation to fast-track relationships toward marriage, and the exhaustion that came with constantly trying to meet the church’s demands. From mission team burnout to the cult-like language of being "souled out," this conversation is a raw, unfiltered look at what happens when a church controls every aspect of your personal life—including who you love and when. Listen now to hear their powerful story.
If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a member of the ICOC or the ICC and would like to share your story of your life in and out of the church and help us maybe get closer to answering the question "we were in a cult?", and maybe find some healing please contact me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or you can DM via Instagram at the "Clemenz With a "Z" podcast" Instagram page. 
As always, thank you for your continued support and if you like what you hear please rate and review!  If you don't remember, I'm just a channel, I ain't the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time, take care, stay grateful, and keep growing. Peace!

EP 153 Love Ain’t Gonna Say Itself: The Power of Words in Parenting and Why It’s Worth It

For generations, fathers were expected to provide, protect, and keep their emotions in check. Love was often shown, but rarely spoken. But does it have to be that way? In this episode of Clemenz With a Z, we dive into the generational expectations of fatherhood, the unspoken rules around masculinity, and why words—especially words like "I love you"—carry more weight than we realize.
I share personal stories, explore the impact of silence, and unpack how simple words can change everything. We’ll talk about why dads often find it easier to express love to their daughters than their sons, and how cultural norms have shaped the way men navigate emotional connection.
But this isn’t just about reflection—it’s about action. I’ll offer practical ways for dads to start breaking the cycle, to show up differently, and to create a new legacy where love isn’t just assumed, but heard.
Because love ain’t gonna say itself.
🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Clemenz With a Z. Your support means the world to me and helps keep these important conversations going.
If you’re a dad, if you had a dad, or if you’re thinking about what fatherhood really means—I’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s about breaking cycles, figuring out how to show up for your kids, or just sharing your experience, this space is open. Let’s talk about what it means to raise the next generation, to challenge old patterns, and to redefine what being a father looks like. You can reach me via email at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com, or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.
If you would like to read or purchase "Raising Cain", you can purchase it here:  https://a.co/d/giLLqpX
Here is the link to the Raising Cain documentary:  https://youtu.be/y9k0vKL5jJI?si=7inlpkFLzGtZLNhn
As always, if you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review—it helps more people find these stories. And don’t forget: I’m just a channel, I ain’t the source.
If you would like to support the podcast financially please follow this link: https://gofund.me/7ebb0524
Until next time, take care of yourself, tell your kids you love them, and keep growing. Peace