Shows / Flying Free
Flying Free
Flying Free is a support resource for women of faith who need hope and healing from hidden emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, and narcissistic abuse. Because of misogynistic theology taught in controlling and spiritually abusive churches, many Christian women find themselves in destructive marriages where there is an uneven power dynamic. Male partners use their status as a husband to gain power and control over a woman’s mind, emotions, body, social life, finances, and more. When she tries to…
Episodes
Flying FreeLeaving an Abusive Christian Marriage: Why the Church Blames You [396]
For years I tried to get my religious community to see what was happening in my home. It didn’t work. They joked about it in the church parking lot, then…
Flying FreeHow Do I Help My Kids Cope with Emotional Abuse? [395]
In this episode, a mom asks how to guide her children through abuse in the family. She said she used to coach her kids to comply and placate so their dad…
Flying FreeHow the Church Restricts and Oppresses Women Without Solid Biblical Reason [394]
In Episode 394 of the Flying Free Podcast, Natalie Hoffman talks with Lydia Grace Kaiser, author of Bible Truth About Women: What They Don't Tell You. Lydia…
Flying FreeIs Emotional Abuse Really Abuse? [393]
My pastors told me that what I was experiencing for over two decades wasn’t serious enough to be called “abuse.” They said I had to be physically hurt for it…
Flying FreeDon’t Get Divorced Without Reading This Book First: Legally Ending Love [392]
Today we welcome back Arizona family law attorney Wendy Hernandez to celebrate the release of her brand new book, Legally Ending Love, and to walk us through…
Flying FreeWhy Do Christians Get So Mad When I Talk About God’s Love? [391]
Today I’m going to tell you about the last of the three books I picked as the most life-changing for me so far. I was nervous to write this episode because the…
Flying FreeHow to Deal with Triggers that Make You Spiral Out [390]
This is the second in a 3-part series where I’m sharing the top three books that have changed my life. Last week I talked about the book A Failure of Nerve by…
Flying FreeWhy Do People Get Mad When You Change? [389]
A lot of people got mad at me when I started to change over ten years ago. They got so mad, they booted me out of my church and my family. In this episode, I’m…
Flying Free"What if I'm the Abuser?" Is There Such a Thing as "Reactive Abuse?" [388]
This is a replay of one of the most listened to episodes in the Flying Free Podcast archives, and it’s such a good one, I thought I’d reshare it for our new…
Flying FreeAre You Estranged From a Parent or Adult Child? The Complicated Reasons and Layers of Pain in Parent/Adult-Child Estrangement [387]
Family estrangement. It’s kind of big on social media right now, but not always in a healthy kind of way. Gretchen Baskerville, author of The Life Saving…
Flying Free4 Types of Trauma Bond Withdrawal Symptoms You Need to Know [386]
If you are stepping away from an emotionally or spiritually destructive marriage and suddenly feel hit by severe anxiety, physical illness, obsessive thoughts…
Flying FreeWhat Is the "Tradwife" Trend Really Selling Christian Women? [385]
In this episode, we’re doing something a little different. I’m opening up my private monthly book club discussion (usually just for Flying Higher members) and…
Flying FreeIs Emotional Neglect Abusive? [384]
Let’s talk about emotional neglect. Can we really categorize this as “abuse?” I say we can, and in today’s episode, I’m going to tell you why. In this episode…
Flying FreeWhat's Gaslighting? Part Two: Four More Narcissistic Gaslighting Tactics and How to Unhook
This is part two of our series on the subtle gaslighting tactics emotional abusers and narcissists use in Christian marriage. You'll hear four more specific…
Flying FreeWhat's Gaslighting? How to Spot the Subtle Signs You're Being Manipulated Part One [382]
Today we’ll talk about one of the most disorienting experiences Christian women in emotionally abusive marriages face: gaslighting. But we aren’t going to just…
Flying FreeHealing From Religious Trauma: A Survivor's Roadmap with Tia Levings [381]
Tia Levings is the New York Times bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife and her newest book, I Belong to Me. She survived a Christian patriarchy cult…
Flying FreeWhat if “Biblical Womanhood” is Actually a Trauma Response? [380]
Let’s talk about something called “the subjugation schema.” It's a clinical pattern that secular psychologists are actively trying to help women heal from, and…
Flying FreeIs Your Church Actually Safe for Abuse Survivors? Here's How to Find Out [379]
In this episode I’m answering a pressing question Christian women in difficult marriages ask: how do you find a church that will actually support you instead…
Flying FreeThe Pastor's Wife Nobody Saw: Jessica's Story [378]
In this episode, I sit down with my real-life friend Jessica, a pastor's wife whose story intersects with mine: her husband was a pastor at the very church…
Flying FreeFinding Your Freedom, Autonomy, and Independence - High Functioning Women Series Part Four [377]
This is part four of the High Functioning Christian Women in Destructive Marriages series, and today we talk about a concept that ties the whole series…
Flying FreeTrusting What You Know is True When Others Gaslight You - High Functioning Women Series Part Three [376]
This is Part Three of our series on high-functioning Christian women in destructive marriages. You are the woman people call when something complicated needs…
Flying FreeWhy Your Empathy is a Superpower (and a TARGET!) - High Functioning Women Series Part Two [375]
This is Part Two of my series on high-functioning Christian women in destructive marriages. In Part One, we explored how the very qualities that make these…
Flying FreeThe Loneliness of the "Perfect" High Functioning Woman - High Functioning Women Series Part One [374]
So many capable, gifted Christian women are living a double life that is impressive in public, but diminished in private, and they don't even have words for…
Flying FreeFrom Deconstructing to Reconstructing: Finding Wonder Again [373]
This is one of my favorite interviews! Today I’m talking with my friend, Dr. Tiffany Yecke Brooks, author of Gaslighted by God, Holy Ghosted, and her brand-new…
Flying FreeWhy Do Your Friends Believe the Person Who Abused You? [372]
What happens when seeing your ex derails all your progress? And why do your friends think he's such a great guy when you know the truth? 🔑 Key Takeaways: Why…
Flying FreeNavigating Discard, Revenge, and Unsupportive Friends [371]
In this episode we tackle three questions: What happens when the abuser is the one who leaves? How do you live with the fear of post-separation or post-divorce…
Flying FreeHow My Word for 2026 is Playing Out So Far (personal message) [370]
This isn't my typical podcast episode. Today I get personal, sharing why I’ve decided to pursue graduate studies in theology after experiencing profound…
Flying FreeIf It’s Not "Narcissism," What Is It? (The Answer) - The Narcissism Trap Series Part Four [369]
In Episode 369 of the Flying Free Podcast, you’ll learn a term that's more accurate than "narcissistic abuse,” and it's actually being recognized in courts of…
Flying FreeWhy Your Lawyer Cringes When You Say “Narcissist” - The Narcissism Trap Series Part Three [368]
In this third episode of The Narcissism Trap series, we shift from personal validation to legal strategy, exploring why the very word that brought you clarity…
Flying FreeNarcissist? Or Just Plain Evil? (Know the Difference!) - The Narcissism Trap Series Part Two [367]
In this second episode of The Narcissism Trap series, we open up the DSM-5 and walk through the actual clinical criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder…
Flying FreeStop Calling Him a “Narcissist” (Use This Word Instead) - The Narcissism Trap Series Part One [366]
In this kickoff to a powerful new series, The Narcissism Trap, Natalie Hoffman challenges a popular narrative in abuse recovery: labeling an emotionally…
Flying FreeShe Stopped Asking for Permission: Jillian's Story [365]
What happens when you stop asking for permission in an abusive marriage? Today, Jillian shares her story of waking up to covert abuse in her Christian marriage…
Flying FreeCan AI Help Christian Women in Emotionally Abusive Marriages? [364]
What if an AI could help you organize your abuse evidence, understand your trauma, and save you thousands in legal fees? Aimee Says isn't just another AI…
Flying FreeBreaking the Cycle of Emotional Abuse in a Christian Home - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 8 [363]
How do you actually break free from emotional and spiritual abuse in your Christian home? Most Christian women stay stuck because nobody tells them the truth…
Flying FreeHow Children are Impacted by Emotional Abuse - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 7 [362]
If you've been told that staying married "for the kids" is the most loving choice you can make, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew…
Flying FreeThe Christian Abuser's Favorite Emotional Abuse Weapon (And How to Neutralize It!) - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 6 [361]
What is the weapon Christian abusers most commonly use? In this sixth installment of the Emotional Abuse 101 series, Natalie Hoffman talks about a subtle…
Flying FreeHow Emotional Abuse in Your Christian Marriage Impacts Your Spiritual Health - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 5 [360]
Emotional abuse in a Christian marriage doesn't just damage your mental health. It corrodes your spiritual foundation until you can't tell the difference…
Flying FreeWhy You Keep Second-Guessing Yourself in Your Christian Marriage (And How to Stop) Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 4 [359]
What happens when you're the only one trying in your marriage? When your partner seems indifferent, and you're the one praying, planning, reading, learning…
Flying FreeEmotional Abuse vs. Healthy Conflict in a Christian Marriage: How to Tell the Difference - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 3 [358]
In this episode, I walk you through five crucial differences between a healthy Christian marriage and an emotionally abusive one. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Healthy…
- Flying Free
BONUS: An episode from my PRIVATE podcast about what it takes to change your life
In this end-of-the-year BONUS episode, I want to share one of my recent PRIVATE podcast episodes exclusively for members of the Flying Free Kaleidoscope only…
Flying FreeThe Art of Saying No: Setting Boundaries When You've Been Trained to Say Yes - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 2 [357]
Have you ever been told that saying "no" makes you selfish? That good Christian women never rock the boat, always serve with a smile, and definitely do not…
Flying FreeThe 10 Most Subtle Signs of Emotional Abuse in a Christian Marriage - Emotional Abuse 101 | Part 1 [356]
Welcome to part one of a brand-new series I’m calling “Emotional Abuse 101: Everything You Need to Know,” because, let’s face it, the church didn’t exactly…
Flying FreeDo You Need Someone to Rescue You? [355]
In this episode, I get down and dirty with a topic that triggers all the rule-followers and religious gatekeepers: salvation. Not the flannelgraph-Jesus kind…
Flying FreeBreaking the Cycle of Fear, Obligation, and Guilt: Gwendoline’s Story [354]
Ever wonder why you keep getting stuck in the same soul-sucking relational merry-go-round and can’t get off? Why you feel like you're starring in a…
Flying FreeWhy Some People Change and Others Don't [353]
It’s time to talk about the two kinds of people in this world: the seekers and the stuck. In this episode, I dive deep into the real reasons why some lives…
Flying FreeThe Subtle, Insidious Nature of Spiritual Abuse [352]
What if the very place you went for safety, love, and divine wisdom turned out to be the scene of the crime? Today we’re diving headfirst into the world of…
Flying FreeResponding to Abusive Word Salad (the master game player strategy) [351]
Has your inbox turned into a dumpster fire of accusatory texts from your abuser? In this episode, I hand you a step-by-step strategy to shut down the inner…
Flying FreeUnderstanding Coercive Control and the Harms Inflicted on to Adult and Child Victims [350]
“He doesn’t hit you, so it must not be abuse.” Yeah, no. That tired old line needs to die. This week, I sat down with Dr. Christine Cocchiola, a powerhouse…
Flying FreeToxic Beliefs That Keep Christian Women From Their True Identity (A Story about a Runner) [349]
Have you ever felt like life has you wearing a 200-pound emotional backpack labeled “Christian womanhood”? In this episode, I unpack (literally) the toxic…
Flying FreeBeautiful Prisons and Golden Lies [348]
What if that golden cage you're sitting in was never locked? What if all that “God’s will” rhetoric was just fear cosplaying as holiness? In this episode, I…
Flying FreeNine Tricks Emotional Abusers Use to Pull Us Back Into the Cycle (and six clever ways to respond!) [347]
In this episode, we're taking a look at the classic emotional abuse push-pull cycle that makes us feel like we’re starring in a soap opera we never auditioned…
Flying FreeGaslighting and Guilt: Why Christian Women Stay Stuck in Toxic Relationships [346]
If you’ve ever second-guessed your sanity, asked Google “Is my husband a narcissist or just an annoying human?” or thought you might be sinning by not…
Flying FreeBreaking Free from Narcissistic Moms and Spouses Without the Guilt Bound by Blood or Vows [345]
Is it ever okay to walk away from your own mother… or your husband? (Cue the gasps from the peanut gallery clutching their pearls.) If you grew up in church…
Flying FreeTwo Hotel Rooms: One Rescue Mission [344]
You know how sometimes life gives you lemons and then instead of sugar for lemonade, the church hands you a moldy marriage book and says, “Submit harder”? That…
Flying FreeOut of the Poisoned Pond: Jennie’s Story [343]
What happens when you grow up in hyper-conservative church culture, marry your Bible camp sweetheart at 20, and then spend decades swimming in a poisoned pond…
Flying FreeHow to Find Peace When Your Marriage Feels Toxic [342]
Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in guilt, shame, and Christian “shoulds” while trying to survive a toxic marriage, a brutal divorce, or the aftermath of…
Flying FreeYour Marriage Abuse Cycle Exercise [341]
Have you ever felt like you're starring in a rerun of your own life? Same arguments. Same heartbreak. Same fake flowers and empty promises. It’s called the…
Flying FreeHe Looked Perfect on Paper: Maile's Story [340]
Ever fallen for someone who looked flawless on paper, but in real life turned out to be your personal nightmare with a Christian smile slapped on top? In…
Flying FreeHelp! I’ve Been Rejected by People I Thought I Could Trust! [339]
Have you ever crawled your way out of an emotionally abusive relationship, finally free, only to be met with cold shoulders, Christian cliques, and confused…
Flying FreeCould You Be FRAMED in Family Court? [338]
So you’re getting out of your emotionally and spiritually abusive marriage (congratulations, by the way, you’re a hero), and you think the hard part is over?…