Learn with Natalie Archives

Is Complementarianism Damaging the Mental Health of Christian Women? [Episode 334]

July 1, 2025

Have you ever sat in a women’s Bible study, nodding politely while someone says “your husband is your spiritual covering,” and inside you’re thinking, I think I’m dying a little bit every time I say “yes, dear”?
In this episode, I get real about complementarianism, the nice-sounding theology that quietly hijacked our self-worth, autonomy, and sanity. I share how I was the poster child for it once (hello, Created to Be His Help Meet), and how that life script nearly destroyed my soul.
I’m unpacking the research, the psychology, the theology, and yes, the “are you kidding me right now?” stories from real women who’ve lived this. It’s systemic. And it’s deeply damaging.

Money, Bills, and the Panic Button

June 27, 2025

Let’s talk about the thing nobody wants to talk about—but literally everyone has to deal with: money. In this episode, I invited three powerhouse women—Grace (our spreadsheet whisperer), Wendy (the multi-hustle artist), and Maile (budgeting through the fire)—to talk about what it’s really like to face finances after divorce.
We got honest about what it feels like to hit the panic button when bills roll in, how to build a budget from scratch (or not), and what it means to pay your way into peace. (Hey, freedom is expensive, but worth it.) Whether you’re feeling financially paralyzed or just want some solidarity, this episode is for you.

Legal Separation Vs. Divorce [Episode 333]

June 24, 2025

In this episode, I’m diving into a question I get all the time: Is legal separation the better option for Christian women in emotionally and spiritually abusive marriages? Or is divorce actually the path to healing and wholeness?
I know how hard it is to navigate these decisions, especially when your faith, your safety, and your identity are all tangled together. I’ve lived it. I’ve wrestled with it. And I’ve coached hundreds of women through it.
So I’m walking you through the differences between legal separation and divorce from a biblical, emotional, financial, and psychological perspective without shame, fear tactics, or pressure. Just clarity, truth, and love.

Spiritual Abuse, Scapegoating, and the Mask of Virtue [Episode 330]

June 3, 2025

In this episode of The Flying Free Podcast, we’re talking about a book that forever changed my understanding of evil—M. Scott Peck’s People of the Lie.

This isn’t about cartoon villains or obvious monsters. I’m talking about the kind of evil that sits in church pews, leads Bible studies, and goes home to emotionally destroy their families while maintaining a pristine public image.

Have you ever felt crazy for questioning someone’s “godly” behavior when it leaves you feeling diminished and confused? You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining things. In this episode, I break down the subtle patterns of evil that hide behind masks of righteousness, especially in Christian contexts.

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

May 20, 2025

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.

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

May 6, 2025

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.

Category: Learn with Natalie