Uncovered: Life Beyond
Join the conversations of Rebecca and Naomi, two ex-Amish Mennonite women who jumped the proverbial fence in their younger years and later experienced college as first-gen, non-traditional students. They discuss pursuing formal education while raising a family, navigating the hidden curriculum of academia, and other dimensions of reimagining a life beyond high-demand religion. Send your questions to uncoveredlifebeyond@gmail.com.
Episodes
56 episodes
56. Homeschool Roots, Global Vision: Patricia Lewis on Building a Life of Learning
Tricia joins Rebecca and Naomi to share her journey from homeschooled student to college graduate and beyond, offering valuable insights for first-generation students navigating higher education without traditional guidance.• Following ...
•
Episode 56
•
1:20:25
55. From Financial Struggle to Stability: How One Family Flipped the Script (with special guest Patricia Lewis)
Patricia Lewis shares her remarkable journey from financial struggle to stability by challenging traditional gender roles and overcoming the shame of accepting public assistance. After marrying her husband who she met while teaching in Japan, t...
•
Episode 55
•
1:32:21
54. Deconstructing "Nice Guys": When He's Progressive in Public but Patriarchal at Home
Rebecca and Naomi explore how men in progressive spaces often default to patriarchal behaviors when challenged, despite claiming to be allies and feminists.• Deconstruction requires ongoing work rather than simply changing labels or ter...
•
Episode 54
•
51:44
53. Facing Down a Stonewall: Standing up for Financial Fairness
Financial autonomy is crucial to everyone's wellbeing, but what happens when one partner refuses to engage in conversations about money? We explore the dynamics of financial stonewalling and share practical strategies for taking ownership of yo...
•
Episode 53
•
45:45
52. Who Supports Whom? Breadwinner vs. Stay-at-Home Parent
Financial autonomy for stay-at-home parents means having options and being able to exercise them without justification or permission, even when you're not collecting a paycheck. We examine how historical patterns like the law of coverture have ...
•
Episode 52
•
58:29
51. Break Free from Money Myths and Take Charge of Your Future
Rebecca and Naomi tackle the often-taboo subject of financial freedom for women breaking away from restrictive traditions and relationships where money is used as a form of control. They explore the intentional ways financial dependence is crea...
•
Episode 51
•
56:17
50. Mentorship Over Status: Credentials Aren’t the Prize— Uplifting Others Is (with special guest Rebekah Mui)
We're proud to introduce our friend, Rebekah Mui, who has traveled around the world in pursuit of education and more authentic faith expressions. Using her recent Facebook post as a point of departure, we discuss the role of mentorship in acade...
•
Episode 50
•
1:50:03
49. Cheesy Potatoes and Collaboration: Turning Religious Roots into Real-World Impact
This episode is a call to reframe our past experiences in high-demand religious communities (especially those of Anabaptist origin) as preparation for meaningful action in our world today. Hosts Naomi and Rebecca explore the significance ...
•
Episode 49
•
1:01:52
48. From the Martyr's Mirror to Manifest Destiny: Have Anabaptists Kept the Headship Order but Lost the Two Kingdoms?
In today’s episode, we explore the shifting beliefs within Anabaptism against the backdrop of growing Christian nationalism. We reflect on our own journeys, the influence of childhood literature, and the need for active compassion towards margi...
•
Episode 48
•
38:51
47. When Passive-Aggressive is Your First Language: Moving on from Manipulation
Join us as we share recent personal wins and take on a listener question about dealing with passive-aggressive communication. We discuss reasons why direct communication can feel so difficult for some of us and how we can learn to do it anyway....
•
Episode 47
•
1:35:25
46. Unpacking Baggage: 6 Truths for Healing Religious Harm
What advice would we give our younger, deconstructing selves if we could go back in time a decade or two? Join us, Rebecca and Naomi, as we reflect on the process of discovering ourselves beyond the confines of a prescribed religious identity. ...
•
Episode 46
•
57:16
45. Christmas Dreams vs. Reality: Embracing the Holiday We Actually Got
We, Rebecca and Naomi, sit down to recap our holidays and reflect on the ways traditions and expectations have evolved over the years. Somewhere between the low-frills Christmas traditions of our background and the extravagant expectations of P...
•
Episode 45
•
1:03:08
44. Beyond the Block: Overcoming Creative Barriers
Last week we teased a book review for this episode, but--plot twist! We decided Julia Cameron's classic book, The Artist's Way deserves much more time than one episode. Instead, today we're discussing external and internal reasons we m...
•
Episode 44
•
58:02
43. Professors & Propaganda: Debunking the Drama in God’s Not Dead
If you've had any exposure at all to evangelical cinema over the past decade, it's almost certain that you're familiar with the film God's Not Dead and maybe even the sequels it has spawned. Recently we (Naomi and Rebecca) watche...
•
Episode 43
•
1:11:39
42. Daring to Seek Safety for Our Daughters
In this episode we discuss the recently release documentary, For Our Daughters, based on a chapter of Kristin Kobes Du Mez' bestselling book, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Ev...
•
Episode 42
•
49:23
41. Forgive, Fight, or Flee: Unpacking Women Talking
What happens when women in a tightly-knit religious community decide they've had enough? It's a scenario rarely considered. Join us as we reflect on the gut-wrenching film directed by Sarah Polley and based on the novel by Miriam Toews.
•
Episode 41
•
1:00:06
40. Beyond the Brochure: What First-Gens Need to Know about Grad School
How did Naomi stumble into one of the most defining experiences of her life? In this episode Rebecca gets the scoop on Naomi's (scenic) route to grad school as well as the good, the bad, and the unexpected that happened along the way. They disc...
•
Episode 40
•
1:05:08
39. Caregiving and College: How one Midlife Mom Manages
Ever wonder how midlife moms juggle college, caregiving, and running a business? Today Rebecca walks us through the ways that she has combined her college career with all her other responsibilities. She gives us a glimpse into typical features ...
•
Episode 39
•
52:14
38. Book Review: Tia Levings' A Well-Trained Wife...or Widget? (Part 2)
Ever wondered what it's like to break free from a high-control environment? Join us as we celebrate Tia Leving's incredible achievement—her book "A Well-Trained Wife" has skyrocketed to the New York Times bestseller list. We share stori...
•
Episode 38
•
1:06:01
37. Book Review: Tia Levings' A Well-Trained Wife...or Widget? (Part 1)
What if the very teachings that promise to bring you love and belong are the same ones that will put you in the greatest dangers? Join us as we explore Tia Leving's phenomenal book, "Well-Trained Wife," and the many parts that resonate with us....
•
Episode 37
•
54:08
36. Set up to Fail: Patriarchy's Femininity Trap
Are women guilty of manipulation and passive-aggressive tendencies? Sure! However, we are here to point out that these tactics are used across the board by women AND men. Moreover, we can't ignore the unfortunate reality that many of us were tr...
•
Episode 36
•
56:56
35. 15 Summer Hacks to Rock the School Year Before it Starts
What if the best way to get ready for fall is to rest this summer? In this episode we challenge common expectations about productivity and laziness, making the case that rest is not a luxury but is foundational for being the happy, relaxed pare...
•
Episode 35
•
1:03:08
34. From Judgement to Joy: Navigating Divorce in Conservative Communities (Part 2)
This is a continuation of the previous episode where we pull back the curtain on Naomi's divorce journey and her perspective six years later. We address systemic issues that often leave ...
•
Episode 34
•
1:02:47
33. From Judgment to Joy: Navigating Divorce in Conservative Communities (Part 1)
In this episode we pull back the curtain on Naomi's divorce journey and her perspective six years later. We address systemic issues that often leave women feeling trapped--issues such as financial dependency, lack of education, and inadequate s...
•
Episode 33
•
46:14
32. 10 Things Saving our Summer: Finding Joy in the Chaos
In the mood for a deep, serious discussion? Then keep right on scrolling because this is NOT the episode for you. We're here to talk about the overwhelm that comes with summer's chaos--the kind of overwhelm that makes even picking out a waterme...
•
Episode 32
•
40:47
