Britt Hartley from No Nonsense Spirituality and Bill Reel from the Almost Awakened Podcast are teaming up again for a brand-new series built around honest, wide-open conversations on spirituality, atheism, psychology, consciousness, and whatever else grabs our curiosity in the moment. In this first episode, we jump from one fascinating question to the next. What is the nature of reality? Are we living in a simulation? What does an AI revolution mean for human meaning and purpose? And would you pull your kids out of a religion you know is false… even if staying in it meant they’d live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life? No scripts, no guardrails, just two friends following the most interesting threads wherever they lead. If you enjoy deep questions, sharp insights, and conversations that blend intellect with real-life stakes, this new series is for you. Support Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 Spiritual Trauma Support: If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/ Britt Hartley&#8217;s work can be found * https://nononsensespirituality.com/ * https://www.audible.com/pd/No-Nonsense-Spirituality-Audiobook/B0F25P5DV2 * https://www.youtube.com/@nononsensespirituality RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: DMT and the Mapping of Other Dimensions * https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2016.00211/full * https://newrepublic.com/article/169525/psychonauts-training-psychedelics-dmt-extended-state * https://www.dmtx.org/resources-1 * https://psychedelicspotlight.com/researchers-are-mapping-out-new-dimensions-through-dmtx-technology/ Donald Hoffman and What is Reality * https://sites.socsci.uci.edu/~ddhoff/ * https://www.mindscienceacademy.org/en/do-we-see-reality-as-it-is-donald-hoffman/ * https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-evolutionary-argument-against-reality-20160421 * https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/consciousness-self-organization-and-neuroscience/201912/what-is-reality-interview-donald * https://tim.blog/2022/04/13/donald-hoffman The Argument That We Are Living In A Simulation * https://simulation-argument.com/simulation.pdf * https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-we-living-in-a-computer-simulation/

<description>Britt Hartley from No Nonsense Spirituality and Bill Reel from the Almost Awakened Podcast are teaming up again for a brand-new series built around honest, [&amp;#8230;]</description>

Britt Hartley from No Nonsense Spirituality and Bill Reel from the Almost Awakened Podcast are teaming up again for a brand-new series built around honest, […]

Exploring The Edges with Bill Reel & Britt Hartley

Purity culture didn’t begin with religion, it began with control. In this episode, Teresa and Bill explore how ancient systems of ownership and inheritance evolved into moral laws that still shape our relationship to the body, desire, and worth today. Even after leaving high-control faiths, the conditioning remains embodied, showing up as shame, numbness, fear of pleasure, self-policing, and confusion about intimacy. From a trauma-informed and nervous-system lens, Teresa unpacks how sexual shame becomes a learned state of dysregulation, where the body equates arousal with danger. Together, they trace the historical roots of purity codes, examine how they persist in secular culture through double standards and body judgment, and invite listeners to begin reclaiming trust in their own desire and sensual aliveness. This episode explores: The anthropological origins of purity culture and why it once served social survival. How shame becomes wired into the nervous system. The psychological and somatic effects of sexual repression. How purity messages impact women, men, and queer people differently. The process of deconstructing purity conditioning and rebuilding embodied safety, curiosity, and pleasure. Healing isn’t rebellion, it’s integration and remembering who you were before shame told you your body was the problem. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f4ac.png" alt="💬" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join the conversation. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2764.png" alt="❤" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f49b.png" alt="💛" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f465.png" alt="👥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join our Support Group &#8211; https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f91d.png" alt="🤝" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org Referenced Resources: Pleasure Activism – Adrienne Maree Brown Come As You Are – Emily Nagoski Pure – Linda Kay Klein Shameless – Nadia Bolz-Weber Beyond Shame – Matthias Roberts

<description>Purity culture didn’t begin with religion, it began with control. In this episode, Teresa and Bill explore how ancient systems of ownership and inheritance evolved [&amp;#8230;]</description>

Purity culture didn’t begin with religion, it began with control. In this episode, Teresa and Bill explore how ancient systems of ownership and inheritance evolved […]

Purity Culture & Sexual Shame

In this episode of Almost Awakened, we dig into the emotional weapon that too many of us have been shaped by—shame. Bill and Teresa break down how unhealthy systems—religious, familial, and relational—use shame to keep people small, obedient, and disconnected from their true selves. We explore the difference between guilt and shame, unpack the mechanics of control, and call out the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways shame is embedded in Mormonism and beyond. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f50d.png" alt="🔍" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Topics covered: How shame hijacks our sense of worth and belonging Lesser-known examples of shame-based control in high-demand religions The psychological damage caused by chronic shame Why not all shame is bad (and how it can serve society) A quick overview of Brené Brown’s Shame Resilience Method How to build awareness, speak shame, and reclaim your inner authority Whether you’re fresh out of Mormonism or years into your healing journey, this episode offers insights to help you recognize shame for what it is—and reclaim your right to live free from it. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f449.png" alt="👉" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join us for a conversation that’s raw, real, and liberating. You’re not bad. You’re awakening. Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: @almostawakenedpodcast3619 <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f4ac.png" alt="💬" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join the conversation. 



<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2764.png" alt="❤" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f49b.png" alt="💛" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f465.png" alt="👥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join our Support Group &#8211; https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f91d.png" alt="🤝" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org

<description>In this episode of Almost Awakened, we dig into the emotional weapon that too many of us have been shaped by—shame. Bill and Teresa break [&amp;#8230;]</description>

In this episode of Almost Awakened, we dig into the emotional weapon that too many of us have been shaped by—shame. Bill and Teresa break […]

Shame as Control Unmasking the Manipulation

What happens when trauma awareness turns into over-protection, and healing gets stuck in the identity of what harmed us? In this episode of Almost Awakened, Teresa Hobbs and Bill Reel unpack the concept of fragilization; the process by which individuals and cultures become organized around avoiding discomfort in the name of safety. Drawing from their work supporting people through religious trauma, deconstruction, and nervous system healing, Teresa and Bill explore how the instinct to protect ourselves can sometimes keep us trapped in patterns of helplessness. They discuss how to honor pain without becoming fused with it, how validation can restore dignity without reinforcing dependency, and why resilience requires learning to tolerate life’s inevitable discomforts. They also explore: How “trauma bonding” can become a comfort zone The difference between co-regulation and dependence Why denial breeds fragility How true strength comes from integration, not suppression The cultural consequences of fragilization: polarization and loss of resilience This conversation invites nuance, compassion, and empowerment, recognizing that honoring the wound is essential, but staying in it can keep us small. For those healing from high-demand religions or systems of control, it’s a reminder that real freedom isn’t the absence of pain, it’s the ability to hold both safety and strength as we grow.



Join us at our NEW CHANNEL: <a href="https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCLO6kue9W36TePDRLKCIE5w">&nbsp;@almostawakenedpodcast3619&nbsp;</a> <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f4ac.png" alt="💬" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join the conversation. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2764.png" alt="❤" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Like, share, and subscribe to support this work. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f49b.png" alt="💛" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2 <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f465.png" alt="👥" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join our Support Group &#8211; https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f91d.png" alt="🤝" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org



Books Mentioned: &#8220;The Expectation Effect&#8221; by David Robson &#8211; https://a.co/d/aRCk3wy &#8220;The Coddling of the American Mind&#8221; by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt &#8211; https://www.thecoddling.com/buy

<description>What happens when trauma awareness turns into over-protection, and healing gets stuck in the identity of what harmed us? In this episode of Almost Awakened, [&amp;#8230;]</description>

What happens when trauma awareness turns into over-protection, and healing gets stuck in the identity of what harmed us? In this episode of Almost Awakened, […]

Fragilization: What Happens When We Over-Identify with Our Wounds

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of emotional health, boundaries. We unpack what safe and unsafe boundaries look like, how trauma and conditioning shape the ways we draw our lines, and why some “boundaries” are really just walls disguised as self-protection. You’ll learn how to identify when a boundary is rooted in fear versus self-respect, and how to create space for connection without sacrificing your safety or authenticity. If you’ve ever felt guilty for setting boundaries, or confused when someone else’s “boundary” felt more like a punishment, this conversation will help you untangle what’s actually going on beneath the surface.



<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f4ac.png" alt="💬" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join the conversation. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2764.png" alt="❤" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Like, share, and subscribe to support this work.



<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f310.png" alt="🌐" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Join our Support Group &#8211; https://www.monarchintegrativecoaching.com/circle



<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f310.png" alt="🌐" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Learn more about coaching at https://awakenandthrive.org/



<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f49b.png" alt="💛" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Donate to Almost Awakened: https://donorbox.org/almost-awakened-2

<description>In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of emotional health, boundaries. We unpack what safe and [&amp;#8230;]</description>

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of emotional health, boundaries. We unpack what safe and […]

Holy Boundaries or Holy Control? Learning What Safety Really Feels Like

Awake Enough To Question, Grounded Enough To Grow

Almost Awakened

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