On this episode of Faith Rehab Podcast we get to hear from Truls Neal, a career Probation Officer, manager, and Director. He is an accomplished leader, a husband, a father, and a friend. He is the son of a white Norwegian mother and an African American Military father. He has a twin, a wife, and two daughters. When people hear his name and hear that his mother is Norwegian, they expect him to be a blond-haired, blue-eyed man. Truls is more melanated than that and describes himself as “coffee with a little bit of cream” in his complexion. He also reminds us that “None of us are what people expect people to be.” So true!

We follow how his ethnic and racial makeup have affected him from the restrictions of where he could live as a child, through his poor treatment in churches. Through his journey he will remind us of God’s intent in dealing with those that are different from us: “I don't want to be about race relations. I want to be about grace relations because I think that's what Jesus calls me to.”

In his grace, he teaches all of us what it means to be a child of God.

He also tells us about his life mission, “Build community.”

We think we can all learn something more about that; and wouldn’t we all be better off if we were building community.

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.

Before you listen: This episode touches on abuse. If anything you hear today resonates with you, resources are available. Two we recommend — Flying Free Now ( www.flyingfreenow.com ), a resource built specifically for Christian women, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline . For the hotline please call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788, free and confidential, 24/7.

What happens when the church sends a family to the mission field — and the real danger is inside the home?

In this episode, we sit down with Grace (not her real name) — a Christian woman, a missionary, and domestic abuse survivor — to hear her story of surviving abuse within a Christian marriage, and what healing has actually looked like on the other side.

We talk about the moments nobody warned her about — the isolation, the spiritual manipulation, the way faith was used as a tool for control. We talk about what the church got right, what it got terribly wrong, and what she wishes someone had said to her sooner.

We break down the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation — because they are not the same thing — and why the church’s tendency to conflate the two has kept so many survivors stuck, silent, and unsafe.

If you’ve ever experienced religious abuse, spiritual manipulation, toxic marriage dynamics, or felt like the church chose the abuser over you — please listen and share this episode to anyone in mind.

Grace also drops some unexpectedly solid parenting advice. Be blessed everyone!

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.

Emma Lenz is a dynamic communications professional — she knows better than most how organizations craft a message. So when the Christian youth organization she'd spent years believing in started getting called out for the gap between what they said and what they did, Emma couldn't look away.

Emma came to faith with no church background. What followed was years of real questions, a Christian college, working at a church, and eventually a staff role at a well known national youth organization she deeply believed in.

Then the stories started coming out — queer students who'd been welcomed in, until they wanted to lead.

In this episode, Emma shares what it cost her to say I can't put my name on this — and what it looks like to still hold onto faith after the institution lets you down.

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.

You've felt it. Someone in the church said or did something that hurt you — and instead of being seen, you got a Bible verse and a "I'll pray for you."

In this episode, CJ, Steve, and Heidi walk through Dr. Allison Cook's 4 steps to healing from church hurt (Click here for the article)— and get real about what those steps actually look like in their own lives. They talk about spiritual bypassing, prayer request gossip, the weird power dynamics that happen when church people "speak for God," and why sometimes the most healing thing you can do is step away.

Plus: CJ opens up about his walk through addiction and recovery. Steve shares a hospital room story you won't forget. And someone left a casket behind in a tornado warning. You'll have to hear it.

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.

Not all church hurt comes from scandals, abuse, or headline-worthy moments. Sometimes it’s subtle. Quiet. Hard to name.

In this episode of Faith Rehab, we move beyond our personal stories and start unpacking what church hurt actually looks like in real life.

We talk about:

• The hidden symptoms of church hurt most people miss
• Why you might feel anxious, guarded, or disconnected in church
• How judgment, lack of grace, and “Christian answers” can push people away
• The difference between guilt and shame—and why that matters
• Why vulnerability feels safer outside the church sometimes
• The role of therapy, safe people, and real conversations in healing

This one gets real. From divorce and affairs to small group struggles and trust issues, we dive into the messy middle of faith and pain.

If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable, unseen, or judged in church… this episode might help you finally put words to it.

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.

In this episode of Faith Rehab, we sit down with Steve McNitt to hear his personal story of church hurt—what happened, how it impacted him, and what helped him move forward.

Steve shares the painful experience of being pushed out of a church he loved, navigating betrayal, leadership conflict, and the emotional weight of losing something that once meant everything to him. At the same time, his family faced an even deeper challenge—his son’s battle with leukemia—which reshaped his perspective on faith, pain, and what truly matters.

Through it all, Steve opens up about anger, grief, and healing—and why he never let people’s actions redefine who God is.

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.

In this episode of Faith Rehab, we sit down with our producer CJ Mateo as he shares his story of growing up as a third-generation pastor’s kid—and how that shaped his view of church, leadership, and faith.

From church planting and busy ministry life to seeing behind the scenes of how church really works, CJ opens up about how the “magic” of church slowly faded and was replaced with frustration, unrealistic expectations, and subtle church hurt.

But this isn’t just a story about disappointment—it’s about perspective.

If you’ve ever wrestled with church hurt, disappointment, or questions about leadership—this one’s for you.

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.

Welcome to Faith Rehab — real talk about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

In this first episode, we share who we are and why this podcast exists. We come from different backgrounds and experiences, but we share a common thread: we’ve seen both the beauty of faith and the pain that can come from the church.

Faith Rehab was created to be a safe place—a space where people can be honest about spiritual disappointment, church hurt, doubt, and the process of rebuilding trust. This isn’t about tearing faith down. It’s about restoring it.

In this episode, you’ll hear a mix of lighthearted moments and real stories as we introduce ourselves and begin to unpack the heart behind this podcast. You’ll also hear part of Heidi’s story—glimpses into her upbringing, personality, and the experiences that have shaped her perspective on faith and life. It’s a mix of humor, honesty, and the kind of real-life moments that remind you we’re all just figuring this out as we go.

We’re laying the foundation for honest conversations that acknowledge the hard parts of church experiences while still holding onto hope for healing and growth.

We believe:

• Faith can survive questions
• Healing takes time
• Honesty is healthier than pretending

If you’ve ever felt hurt by the church, spiritually confused, burned out, or unsure where you belong—this space is for you.

We’re here to talk about what hurt, what’s helped, and where we’re headed.

Welcome to the conversation.

Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.

We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.

Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo
Produced by: CJ Mateo

Contact us at Faithrehabpodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to hear your story.