Episode
When the Shelf Breaks: Reflections on Breaking With Faith Tradition and What Lies Beyond
- Published
- Feb 6, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2782
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://annemariezanzal.com/coming-out-stories-beyond-podcast/
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Summary
It's the first Friday of the month, and that means we welcome back Anna Empey to the show! In this episode, Anne-Marie and Anna delve deep into their personal journeys of deconstructing their Catholic and Mormon faith, particularly in the context of their LGBTQIA+ identities. Each paints a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up in a home with conservative faith traditions, noting the moments when their "shelf broke" (a metaphor for losing faith), the emotional toll of leaving behind their faith communities and ingrained beliefs, and the impacts it had on their interpersonal relationships. Anne-Marie and Anna also share which pieces of their beliefs they retained, noting how they found freedom and peace as they moved forward in life guided by their values. ❓ What to Expect in This Episode: ✨Exploration of how church policies can be devastating for LGBTQIA+ individuals. ✨Thoughts on how personal relationships with a higher power can evolve over time. ✨Why anger is a valid part of the deconstruction process. ✨Encouragement to ask questions and seek your own beliefs. Authentically Us is a support community for later-in-life LGBTQ women at all stages of the coming out and beyond process. Coming out later in life is often accompanied by suffering. Whether you're looking to deconstruct messages from a conservative faith tradition, experience divorce-related guilt, or struggle with feelings of shame around your coming out or sexual identity, Authentically Us has the right kind of support for you. Monthly subscription to Authentically Us on Mighty Networks is $35/month, but you can try your first week for free. Find Authentically Us at https://bit.ly/Authentically-Us 💬 Join the Conversation: Are you someone who is deconstructing the lessons of your life prior to coming ou…