Prodigal The Podcast
🎙️ Prodigal: The Podcast — Religion, Faith Deconstruction & Spiritual Freedom
Prodigal: The Podcast explores the intersection of religion, faith, politics, culture, and spiritual reconstruction in modern society.
Hosted by Don Jackson and Big Sean, the show features honest conversations about faith deconstruction, belief systems, religious institutions, and the search for meaning beyond traditional church structures.
Inspired by Don Jackson’s upcoming book Prodigal: Leaving Church and Finding God, the podcast creates space for people questioning inherited beliefs while exploring deeper spirituality, identity, and truth.
Each episode brings together diverse voices — including theologians, psychologists, philosophers, scientists, former pastors, and spiritual seekers — to examine how faith evolves in a changing world.
What You'll Hear on Prodigal
Faith Deconstruction & Spiritual Reconstruction
Exploring what happens when people question religious systems and rebuild belief in new ways.
Religion, Culture & Institutional Power
Examining how religious narratives shape politics, identity, and public life.
Healing Religious Trauma
Conversations about recovering from toxic theology and reclaiming personal agency.
Philosophy, Psychology & Consciousness
Exploring deeper questions about meaning, identity, and the nature of belief.
Real Stories of Transformation
Personal journeys from faith crisis to spiritual clarity.
Who This Podcast Is For
Prodigal is for listeners who are:
• Questioning their faith
• Deconstructing religious beliefs
• Exploring spirituality outside traditional institutions
• Studying religion’s role in politics and culture
• Searching for deeper meaning beyond dogma
Whether you're navigating a faith transition, exploring new ideas, or simply curious about the intersection of belief and power, Prodigal offers thoughtful conversations that challenge assumptions and open new perspectives.
About the Hosts
Don Jackson is the founder of the Prodigal Movement, a platform examining spirituality, psychology, social justice, and cultural transformation. His work explores how belief systems shape identity, institutions, and collective consciousness.
Big Sean joins the conversation as co-host, bringing sharp insight, humor, and grounded perspective to discussions about faith, life, and navigating truth in a complex world.
Join the Conversation
Subscribe to Prodigal: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your favorite podcast platform.
For deeper analysis and essays exploring religion, politics, and power, visit:
prodigalthepodcast.substack.com
Prodigal The Podcast
"Breaking the Silence on Adoption Trauma | Dr. Liz DeBetta on Healing Through Storytelling | Prodigal Podcast" EP8
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"Breaking the Silence on Adoption Trauma | Dr. Liz DeBetta on Healing Through Storytelling | Prodigal Podcast"
In this powerful episode of Prodigal, hosts Don Jackson and Big Sean sit down with Dr. Liz DeBetta—award-winning performer, adoptee rights advocate, and creator of the solo show "Unmothered"—to explore the raw, transformative power of embodied storytelling.
Dr. DeBetta opens up about:
🔥 Her personal journey through adoption trauma and the lifelong impact of separation
🎭 How she turned pain into art with her solo show "Unmothered"
💡 The "Migrating Toward Wholeness" framework for healing
✊ Why breaking adoptee silence is revolutionary
🎙️ Her workshops & coaching to help others reclaim their voice
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Power of Embodied Storytelling
01:05 - Welcome to Prodigal Podcast
01:50 - Meet the Hosts
02:41 - Introducing Dr. Liz DeBetta
03:39 - "Unmothered": A Journey of Healing
08:07 - Writing & Performance as Therapy
11:53 - Taking "Unmothered" to the Stage
13:45 - Workshops for Collective Healing
18:08 - Dr. Deta’s Acting Career & Reflections
25:23 - Final Thoughts
🔗 Follow Dr. Liz DeBetta:
Dr. Liz DeBetta
Founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness© - Trauma-informed Healing
Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Research on Women and Gender (University of Michigan)
Diversity Scholars Network, National Center for Institutional Diversity (University of Michigan)
https://www.lizdebetta.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071093076051
📌 Subscribe for more raw conversations on trauma, healing, and storytelling: @Prodigalthepodcast
#AdoptionTrauma #AdopteeVoices #HealingThroughArt #EmbodiedStorytelling #ProdigalPodcast #MentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #Unmothered