Burning Butterflies

Christmas Chaos: Traditions, Expectations & Baby Jesus

In this final episode of Chapter 2, the ladies take a reflective journey through their experiences with Christmas Eve services at "Come As You Are."
 
Melissa shares the immense pressure she felt to constantly outdo herself, striving for perfection under Pastor Tom's watchful eye. Meanwhile, Brandi opens up about the challenges of making sure the children are seen but never heard in these "family" services. In a rare act of boundary setting, Amanda shares that she never attended a single Christmas Eve service—an action that shocks her friends and challenges the church community's norms.
 
Join Melissa, Amanda, and Brandi as they unpack the complexities of holiday traditions, faith, and expectations.
 
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!
 
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Forced & Fractured Friendships: Tales From the Fall Campaign

Join Melissa, Amanda, and Brandi as they dive deep into the complexities of the 401 class at "Come As You Are." The fall campaign had everyone buzzing with anticipation, but what ensued was a tangled web of manipulation, misplaced priorities, and unexpected challenges.
 
Brandi opens up about her experience, recounting how she found herself in a group where camaraderie revolved more around drinking than delving into the course material. Meanwhile, Amanda shares her struggle with being pushed out of the group with her friends and being forced into taking on a group in her home. And Melissa's story takes a poignant turn as she describes her reluctant role in supporting Froggy, all while wearing a forced smile.
 
Join the trio as they unpack the intricacies of how churches use small groups and large church campaigns to breed control.
 
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!
 
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Marriage Nightmare: Melissa Breaks the Silence

In this gripping episode of Burning Butterflies, Melissa shares her story of domestic abuse, revealing the hidden layers of pain and manipulation she endured within her marriage.
 
But the story doesn't end there. Melissa shares how the toxic environment of "Come As You Are" exacerbated the abuse. Despite the signs of distress, she was convinced that God would perform a miracle, mending the fractures in her relationship.
 
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!
 
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Searching for Connection: The Reality of Mom's Group

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!
 
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Brandi Drinks the Kool-Aid: The Aftermath of VBS

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!
 
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Agency D3: Discover, Decide, Defend!

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!
 
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Brandi's Origin Story: Part 2

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!
 
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Brandi's Origin Story: Part 1

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!
 
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Reality Check

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"

Unwrapping Tradition: Breaking Free from the Christmas Tea

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!
 
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