You’ve been told to “bloom where you’re planted”. . .

. . . which sounds great, but what if that advice is actually keeping you stuck?

In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, we unpack why spiritual growth doesn’t happen in environments where you can’t be your authentic self — and how Christians are often trained to distrust their own thoughts, feelings, discernment, and instincts.

We explore the difference between real transformation vs. just accumulating more knowledge, and why external alignment matters just as much as what’s happening in your inner world.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, restless, or like you’ve outgrown your environment — but felt unsure about trying new spaces, then this one’s for you.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

If you’ve ever…

• felt like you should be growing spiritually… but aren’t
• been told to stay somewhere that doesn’t feel right
• struggled to trust your own thoughts, feelings, intuition, or instincts

… then this will help you:

• understand why spiritual growth is more than just gaining knowledge
• recognize how environment impacts your ability to grow
• rebuild self-trust and move out of performance-based faith
• identify when it might be time to find “better soil”

Purchase Martin’s excellent book on spiritual growth here.

READY TO GO DEEPER?

If you want the full visual teaching with slides & diagrams, watch this episode on our Unhinged YouTube channel. (Or watch the entire Align With Your Design series here. And remember to SUBSCRIBE while you’re there!)

If this stirred something in you, don’t just watch — take the next step.

Join Michele’s online community, New Creation Academy

Join Martin’s 30-Day Spiritual Growth Challenge inside his online community, The Gathering

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL

Love our free content and want to keep it ad-free?

Grab some snarky Unhinged merch or send us a donation (thank you!)

ABOUT OUR SHOW

Unhinged helps you unlearn toxic religious thinking and rediscover a freer, healthier way of understanding God, faith, and yourself.

RESOURCES

Michele’s music (Grace Remixed)

Martin’s books

CONNECT WITH US!

Michele’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

Martin’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction!

00:29 Why More Knowledge ≠ Spiritual Growth

06:34 “Bloom Where You’re Planted” … Really?

12:33 Feeling Safe to Be Your Authentic Self

18:22 The Role of Environment in Spiritual Growth

22:09 The Beautiful Messiness of Being Human

25:53 Not All Soil is Good Soil

27:22 “Bloom Where You’re Planted” Promotes Self-Blame

29:21 “Bloom Where You’re Planted” Reinforces Spiritual Passivity

30:06 “Bloom Where You’re Planted” Confuses “Endurance” with True Calling

30:43 “Bloom Where You’re Planted” Disconnects You From Your Design

31:35 Neuroscience Teaches Us: Your Environment Shapes Your Identity

33:23 A Helpful Reframe: Bloom Where You’re Nourished

34:21 Final Thoughts & A Few More Unhinged Moments

You’ve been taught there are 9 spiritual gifts… but that’s not actually the whole picture.

This is Part 4 of the Align With Your Design series, where we explore how you’re uniquely designed — and how your gifts, personality, and wiring all work together to shape your purpose.

In this teaching, we break down the three lists of spiritual gifts found in Scripture — and why most Christians have only been taught one of them (or none at all).

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

If you’ve ever…

• felt confused about what your spiritual gifts actually are
• assumed spiritual gifts only show up in church settings
• assumed spiritual gifts only show up after you become a Christian

… then this will help you:

• understand the three types of spiritual gifts listed in the Bible
• discover how different gifts are given by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• recognize that your design is way bigger than one category of gifting

Purchase C. Peter Wagner’s excellent book on spiritual gifts here.

READY TO GO DEEPER?

If you want the full visual teaching with slides & diagrams, watch this episode on our Unhinged YouTube channel. (Or watch the entire Align With Your Design playlist here. And remember to SUBSCRIBE while you’re there!)

If this stirred something in you, don’t just watch — take the next step.

Join Michele’s online community, New Creation Academy

Join Martin’s online community, The Gathering

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL

Love our free content and want to keep it ad-free?

Grab some snarky Unhinged merch or send us a donation (thank you!)

ABOUT OUR SHOW

Unhinged helps you unlearn toxic religious thinking and rediscover a freer, healthier way of understanding God, faith, and yourself.

RESOURCES

Michele’s music (Grace Remixed)

Martin’s books

CONNECT WITH US!

Michele’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

Martin’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction!

02:14 The 3 Categories of Spiritual Gifts

04:15 Motivational Gifts or Gifts of the Father (Romans 12)

09:08 The Overlap Between Personality and Spiritual Gifts

10:25 Manifestation Gifts or Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)

14:23 Speaking in Tongues… But It Was a Known Human Language!

19:12 Ministry Leadership Gifts or Gifts of the Son (Ephesians 4)

24:18 Why These Gifts Exist: To Help Christians Mature

26:26 Different Gifts, Different Expressions

32:48 Gifts Grow When You Use Them

34:14 The Uses and Limits of Spiritual Gifts Assessments

35:28 One Body, Many Parts and Every Part Matters

40:00 How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

46:03 Final Thoughts & A Few Unhinged Moments!

You’re not weird. You’re wired this way.

This is Part 3 of the Align With Your Design series, where we take a closer look at personality — and how understanding the way you’re wired can unlock deeper self-awareness and clarity around your purpose.

In this teaching on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, we explore the four core dichotomies and how they shape the way you take in information, make decisions, and relate to the world around you.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

If you’ve ever…

• wondered why you think so differently from other people
• felt misunderstood or out of place in certain environments
• struggled to make sense of your personality

… then this will help you:

• understand how your mind naturally processes the world
• recognize your unique personality patterns
• see how your wiring connects to your design and purpose

READY TO GO DEEPER?

If you want the full visual teaching with slides & diagrams, watch this episode on our Unhinged YouTube channel. (Or watch the entire Align With Your Design playlist here. And remember to SUBSCRIBE while you’re there!)

If this stirred something in you, don’t just watch — take the next step.

Join Michele’s online community, New Creation Academy

Join Martin’s online community, The Gathering

Take a FREE personality assessment online here

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL

Love this content and want to keep it ad-free?

Grab some snarky Unhinged merch

ABOUT OUR SHOW

Unhinged helps you unlearn toxic religious thinking and rediscover a freer, healthier way of understanding God, faith, and yourself.

RESOURCES

Michele’s music (Grace Remixed)

Martin’s books

CONNECT WITH US!

Michele’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

Martin’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why You’re Wired the Way You Are

01:49 What Is the Myers-Briggs?

03:00 How Romans 12 Inspired the Title “Gifts Differing”

05:24 The Four Dichotomies Explained

07:21 How You’re Energized: Extraversion (E) & Introversion (I)

12:22 How You Take in Information: Sensing (S) & Intuition (N)

14:37 How You Make Decisions: Thinking (T) & Feeling (F)

16:43 How You Approach Life: Judging (J) & Perceiving (P)

22:15 Walking Through the Type Table

27:31 How You Grow: Self-Awareness & Personal Development

29:11 How Your Mind Drives the Car: The 8 Cognitive Functions

33:09 Final Thoughts & A Few Unhinged Moments!

What if your purpose isn’t something you have to find… but something already built into you?

This is Part 2 of the Align With Your Design series, where we explore how God has uniquely wired you — and how your design holds clues to your purpose.

In this teaching on the S.H.A.P.E. framework (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences), we look at how Ephesians 2:10 reveals that you are God’s masterpiece — intentionally designed to live a life of meaning and contribution.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

If you’ve ever…

• wondered why certain things energize you while others drain you
• felt like you don’t quite “fit” in certain roles or environments
• questioned how your personality connects to your purpose

… then this will help you:

• recognize the patterns that reveal your design
• understand how your personality, gifts, and strengths work together
• see how God has already wired you for purpose

READY TO GO DEEPER?

If you want the full visual teaching with diagrams, watch this episode on our Unhinged YouTube channel.

If this stirred something in you, don’t just watch — take the next step.

Join the Discover Your Life Purpose Challenge

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL

Love this content and want to keep it ad-free?

Grab some snarky Unhinged merch

ABOUT OUR SHOW

Unhinged helps you unlearn toxic religious thinking and rediscover a freer, healthier way of understanding God, faith, and yourself.

RESOURCES

Michele’s music (Grace Remixed)

Martin’s books

CONNECT WITH US!

Michele’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

Martin’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Linktree

CHAPTERS

00:00 God Designed You on Purpose for a Purpose

01:04 Patterns Are Clues

02:00 You Are God’s Masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)

06:27 What Is Your S.H.A.P.E.?

09:45 Personality Type and How You’re Wired

14:12 Assessments Just Give Us Language

16:12 Align With Your Design

19:31 Reflection Questions

20:37 Prayer and Meditation

22:11 Wrap-up and Final Thoughts

What if self-awareness isn’t selfish… but spiritual?

This is Part 1 of the Align With Your Design series, where we explore how understanding who you truly are is a key part of spiritual growth.

In this teaching on the false self vs true self, we look at how Psalm 139 reveals your God-given design and life purpose — including your personality, strengths, passions, and the unique way you were created to live.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

If you’ve ever:

• felt like you’re performing instead of actually living
• struggled to understand who you really are
• wondered what your purpose is

then this will help you:

• reconnect with your true self
• understand how God actually designed you
• recognize clues pointing to your life purpose

READY TO GO DEEPER?

Watch this episode on our brand new Unhinged YouTube channel!

If this stirred something in you, don’t just watch — take the next step.

Join the Discover Your Life Purpose Challenge

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL

Love this content and want to keep it ad-free?

Grab some snarky Unhinged merch

RESOURCES

Michele’s music (Grace Remixed)

Martin’s books

CONNECT WITH US

Michele

Martin

ABOUT UNHINGED

Unhinged helps you unlearn toxic religious thinking and rediscover a freer, healthier way of understanding God, faith, and yourself.

CHAPTERS

00:00 You’re Not Selfish — You’re Misunderstood

02:11 Self-Awareness vs Learning to Adapt to Expectations

04:29 What Is the False Self?

06:16 How We Learn to Perform

08:41 Psalm 139 Explained

10:44 Clues To Your Divine Design

15:45 Neuroplasticity and Self-Awareness

20:54 Cognitive Dissonance and Inner Misalignment

24:42 Coming Home to Your True Self

27:09 When Do You Feel Most Alive?

30:19 Prayer and Final Reflections

What if discovering your life purpose isn’t about decoding some hidden blueprint… but about alignment? In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele Kus and Dr. Martin Trench begin a two-part series on discovering your life purpose, looking through the lens of Romans 12.

Romans 12 describes God’s will as good, pleasing, and perfect. But what does that actually mean?

In Part One, Michele and Martin explore:

• what it means to dedicate your body as a living sacrifice
• why renewing your mind matters more than chasing prophecy
• how to honestly assess your spiritual gifts without exaggerating or minimizing them
• why copying the world’s definition of success distorts purpose
• the danger of “American Idol” style ministry culture

This conversation challenges hustle-driven Christianity and the idea that God’s will must involve suffering. Instead, it reframes purpose as something discovered through surrender, integrity, self-awareness, and divine design.

God does not force you into someone else’s calling like a square peg into a round hole. He has handcrafted plans that are the perfect fit for you!

Ready to go deeper?

Throughout the month of March, Martin is leading his interactive Discover Your Life Purpose Challenge — a 30-day guided journey to help you:

• discover your authentic self
• identify your gifts, talents, and personality type
• discern the right path for your life
• clarify next steps toward your divine purpose
• move toward a life of real fulfillment

If this episode stirred something in you, this challenge is the natural next step.

👉 Join us here!

Part Two continues next week. Follow the show so you don’t miss it!

Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction is an audio and video podcast that helps you unlearn toxic religious dogma and rediscover a freer, healthier, life-giving way of understanding God, Scripture, faith, and yourself.

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel and FOLLOW Unhinged on your favorite podcast player. Fresh, new episodes drop every Friday!

Watch this episode on our brand new Unhinged YouTube channel!

Check out our new Unhinged merch shop for some epic snarky shirts! Your purchases help support the show and keep it ad-free.

Check out Martin’s community called The Gathering.

Check out Michele’s community called New Creation Academy.

Check out Martin’s books: Victorious Eschatology, Eyes Wide Open, and Secrets of Spiritual Growth.

Follow Michele and Martin on Facebook

Follow Michele and Martin on Instagram

Follow Michele and Martin on TikTok

Michele Kus, M.A. on Linktree

Dr. Martin Trench on Linktree

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction!

02:17 Romans 12 Explained: What Is God’s Will?

02:55 What Does “Living Sacrifice” Really Mean?

05:58 How to Learn to Know God’s Will for Your Life

09:05 Living in Alignment with Your Divine Design

14:29 Honest Self-Assessment (Without Ego or Shame)

21:07 Natural Talents and Developed Skills

28:29 Your Life Purpose Is Tailored to You

35:01 Dedicate Your Body, Renew Your Mind, Discover Your Gifts

41:04 Discover Your Life Purpose Challenge (this March!)

What is the Evangelical Industrial Complex — and why does it feel like people are suddenly waking up to it across the entire Church?

In this episode of Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction, Michele Kus and Dr. Martin Trench slow down to finally define a phrase they’ve referenced in prior episodes but never formally explained: the Evangelical Industrial Complex (EIC).

This episode isn’t about debating doctrine or offering next steps. It’s about naming and defining the system that has shaped much of modern evangelicalism — often quietly, often invisibly — and understanding why so many people feel anger, grief, relief, or clarity once they begin to see it.

And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

In this episode, Michele and Martin:

• define what the Evangelical Industrial Complex is and why it’s so toxic
• explore how Christianity can become an industry
• name common system-level patterns rather than individual failures
• clarify that not all churches operate this way (and why it often exists on a spectrum)
• reflect on why the EIC appears to be “melting down” in real time

This is NOT an anti-Christian or anti-church episode. It is pro-awareness, pro-honesty, and pro-naming what has been operating in the background for decades so you can better spot it when you encounter it.

If you’ve deconstructed your faith but still feel like something hasn’t fully clicked yet, this episode helps you see The EIC Machine.

Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction is an audio and video podcast with Michele Kus and Dr. Martin Trench, helping listeners unlearn toxic religious dogma and rediscover a freer, healthier, life-giving way of understanding God, Scripture, faith, and themselves.

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel and FOLLOW Unhinged on your favorite podcast player. Fresh, new episodes drop every Friday!

Watch this episode on our brand new Unhinged YouTube channel!

Here is Michele’s Facebook post about the EIC.

Check out Martin’s Skool community called The Gathering.

Check out Michele’s Skool community called New Creation Academy.

Check out Martin’s books: Victorious Eschatology, Eyes Wide Open, and Secrets of Spiritual Growth.

Follow Michele and Martin on Facebook

Follow Michele and Martin on Instagram

Follow Michele and Martin on TikTok

Michele Kus, M.A. on Linktree

Dr. Martin Trench on Linktree

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Unhinged: Separating Faith from Fiction!

02:07 What Is the Evangelical Industrial Complex?

07:09 How the EIC Discourages Independent Thinking

07:55 How the Evangelical Industrial Complex Actually Works

09:07 What Happens When Someone Wakes Up from the EIC Machine

11:34 Signs a Church May Be Operating Inside the Evangelical Industrial Complex

14:08 Signs of a Healthy Church (What to Look For)

16:47 Why Naming the Evangelical Industrial Complex Matters