Episodes

Thursday May 30, 2024
Searching for Connection: The Reality of Mom's Group
Thursday May 30, 2024
Thursday May 30, 2024
In this eye-opening episode, the ladies of the Burning Butterflies Podcast sit down to discuss the unique challenges faced by wives and mothers at "Come As You Are"
With an expectation for women to be stay at home mothers, many find themselves depressed and overwhelmed. The proposed solution? Mom's group. But what happens in an environment where friendships are forced, mental health is off-limits, and the only common thread is sharing birth stories?
Tune in as we explore the impact on relationships, the struggle for genuine connection, and the quest for real support in a setting where superficiality reigns. Don't miss this candid conversation!
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday May 23, 2024
Brandi Drinks the Kool-Aid: The Aftermath of VBS
Thursday May 23, 2024
Thursday May 23, 2024
In this episode, the ladies sit down to discuss the aftermath of Agency D3 VBS and how Brandi was sucked in to "Come As You Are" so quickly.
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday May 16, 2024
Agency D3: Discover, Decide, Defend!
Thursday May 16, 2024
Thursday May 16, 2024
Join Melissa, Amanda, and Brandi as they revisit the chaos of their first VBS together, just 2 short weeks after Brandi first walked in the doors! In this episode, the ladies reminisce about the unforgettable experience with "Agency D3," the most engaging curriculum the church had ever used.
Despite the excitement, the event quickly spiraled into comedic disarray. From the pastor's grand illusions of saving the entire community, to the overwhelming unpreparedness for over 300 energetic kids, every mishap became a catalyst for uproarious chaos.
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride in this revealing episode about the VBS that became the stuff of legend at Come as You Are!
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday May 09, 2024
Brandi's Origin Story: Part 2
Thursday May 09, 2024
Thursday May 09, 2024
Brandi shared the first half of her origin story with us last week and man alive! In this episode, Amanda sits down with Brandi to get the second half of her story. From moving to Oregon and starting a business, to nearly losing everything, to starting over in Colorado, to finally arriving at "Come As You Are."
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday May 02, 2024
Brandi's Origin Story: Part 1
Thursday May 02, 2024
Thursday May 02, 2024
The long awaited addition to the podcast - Brandi has entered the chat! With Melissa on vacation, Amanda sits down with Brandi as she shares her origin story. From being a private school kid in Orange County, to traveling with the grateful dead, to becoming a "trad wife" in a high control group, this first half of Brandi's origin story will leave you on the edge of your seat!
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Reality Check
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
In this episode, Melissa and Amanda take a step out of the timeline to check in on where they are right now in real time.
When the podcast was started, the ladies expected people to contact them. They expected chatter from the "Come to The Table" crowd. They expected it to change them personally. Join them as they discuss all of this in their "Reality Check"

Thursday Apr 18, 2024
Unwrapping Tradition: Breaking Free from the Christmas Tea
Thursday Apr 18, 2024
Thursday Apr 18, 2024
In the holiday season of 2013, Melissa dares to break away from the suffocating grip of tradition surrounding the annual Christmas tea. Against the backdrop of familial expectations and societal norms, Melissa courageously ventures into uncharted territory, eager to infuse the holiday season with a breath of fresh air.
But as Melissa charts her own course, tensions rise, and alliances are tested. Amanda finds herself sidelined from the festivities, forbidden from participating by Melissa's own mother-in-law, the formidable head of the Women's Ministry. Charolette emerges as a powerful manipulator, pulling strings behind the scenes to enforce conformity.
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday Apr 11, 2024
The Flood of Generosity: Giving Beyond the Tithe
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Join hosts Melissa and Amanda in a candid conversation on the intricacies of giving within the community of "Come As You Are". In this episode, they delve beyond the conventional expectations of tithing, exploring the murky waters of shady accounting practices and the pressure to give not just financially, but also emotionally and physically.
From the unspoken rules of sacrificial giving to the uncomfortable truths behind the scenes, Melissa and Amanda shed light on the multifaceted nature of generosity within their community. They confront the daunting expectations placed upon individuals to give their entire selves, often at the expense of personal well-being.
Amidst the discussion, they unveil the startling events surrounding the community give away during the year of the massive flood, unraveling the complexities and controversies surrounding this monumental act of charity.
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday Apr 04, 2024
The Summer of Insanity: Exhaustion in the Name of Evangelism
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
In this episode, Melissa and Amanda dive into the whirlwind of events that took place over just two weeks, leaving everyone involved feeling utterly exhausted.
First up was the church's they tackle the mammoth summer event in the park, which in itself was a non-stop marathon that left even the most seasoned volunteers drained.
Two days later was the inaugural Vacation Bible School (VBS), a venture that promised wholesome fun but ended up being a complete mess for those tasked with serving.
But just when they thought it couldn't get any crazier, along came the guitar camp, orchestrated by none other than Tom.
You won't want to miss this episode as the ladies reminisce about the chaotic summer that seemed to never end.
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Thursday Mar 28, 2024
Controlling Belonging: Inside Church Membership
Thursday Mar 28, 2024
Thursday Mar 28, 2024
What happens when the concept of belonging turns into a tool for control and manipulation?
Join Melissa and Amanda as they confront the uncomfortable truths lurking behind the facade of inclusivity at "Come As You Are" Church.
Whether you're an evangelical churchgoer wrestling with questions of loyalty or an outsider seeking to understand the dynamics of evangelical church culture, this episode offers valuable insights into the complexities of belonging and allegiance in contemporary American Christianity.
Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!
Please help us share our story with others! Follow us on FB, Insta or TikTok. Subscribe so you won't miss new episodes and don't forget to leave us a rating!

Faith can feel like hearts and butterflies...
Until someone lights a match and burns it all to the ground!
Far too often as Christian women we are put into a pretty little box. We are to be sweet, meek and, above all else, submissive! But what happens when the system that you have tried so hard to conform to is toxic? What if it is less about spiritual transformation than it is about spiritual abuse? What happens when everything you have worked so hard to become goes up in flames? This is our story of escaping a toxic church, questioning everything, healing from abuse and rebuilding our faith. We know by telling our story, we are lighting a match. We aren't here to tear down one pastor or one church - we're here to burn the whole system to the ground!