Ep. 1 – Farewell Evangelicalism | Setting the Table feat. Marla Taviano and Mason Mennenga

“Find the Stories to Leave For Good.”

Welcome to the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast! There’s space for you at the table. Receive this invitation to listen and learn, bemoan and curse, celebrate and liberate, around ideas towards deconstructing and decolonizing the Christian faith. This is Episode 1 in a serial series called: Farewell Evangelicalism. In this series we will interrogate the main pillars of formation in the evangelical tradition to answer the question: is evangelicalism still a legitimate expression of the Christian faith? And if not, what would it take to see more people leave the tradition? We give the insight and the tools to interrogate the movement and identify its malformed formation.

It’s the first quarter of 2025, which is important to name, because depending on which side of the political spectrum you’re on, and which country you’re from, you’re either in shock of the political upheaval dumped on your country, or you everything is trending your way. Amidst waves of confusion is a simple truth: the current state wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the unwavering support from white evangelicals. We ask the question: would society be better off if more people left evangelicalism? If you’re on the fence about that, this series will help, as we offer tools and pathways for more folks to say, Farewell Evangelicalism!

Episode 1 – Show Notes

(00:00) – Introduction (01:00) – Setting the Table (01:50) – Saying Farewell to Evangelicalism (02:40) – Who is this podcast for? (04:45) – Introducing your host, Rohadi! (07:20) – Why did we choose evangelicalism/conservative Christianity? (12:40) – Right Rev. Dr. Mariann Budde (15:00) – Evangelical violence (19:00) – Introducing Marla Taviano (20:45) – Marla’s introduction and story (26:15) – What catalyzed Marla’s deconstruction and exit from evangelicalism? (31:50) – Marla wrap, Mason’s introduction (33:00) – Mason Mennenga’s intro and growing up in evangelicalism. (36:47) – Mason’s deconstruction journey from purity culture and weirdness. (40:30) – Mason talks about the toxicity spewed by theobros. (42:25) – Talking about Exvangelicals and whiteness in deconstruction. (46:00) – Wrapping up with a glimpse of hope. (52:14) – Outro and wrap.

Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com). Special guests in Episode 1:

Writer/Poet – Marla Taviano Marla Taviano (she/her/) is into: books, love, justice, globes, anti-racism, blue, gray, rainbows, poems (and a hundred other things). Reads and writes for a living (and a life). Wears her heart on her t-shirts. On a mission/quest/journey to live wholefarted (not a typo). (Big fan of parentheses—and em dashes.) She is mom to some freaking awesome kids and two cats and lives in South Carolina. Find more about Marla, including her trilogy of poetry on deconstruction, on her website.

Social Media Influencer – Mason Mennenga Mason Mennenga (he/him/his) is an aspiring theologian, podcaster, YouTuber, and the Internet’s youth pastor. He received his Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in 2020 and a Master of Arts in Theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in 2022. Find all of his links including his podcasts on his website.

Intro Music by Jesse Peters. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.