S3E5: The Well-Trained Wife with Tia Levings

Tia Levings is talking to The Happily Never After about her escape from Christian fundamentalism, domestic abuse, and her journey to healing. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Well-Trained Wife. Her new book I Belong to Me offers a first-hand account of overcoming deep indoctrination, psychological abuse, and building a new, authentic life.

Tia talks about the links between her experiences and Christian nationalism, political power, and the fight to strip away women’s rights, all rooted in a strategic effort to uphold particular visions of control and dominance.You'll hear key insights on:

• The spiritual practices and pressure tactics that keep women obedient and unheard
• The high-control religious practices that silence questions about health, safety, and bodily autonomy
• How the “Quiverfull” movement aims to swell the ranks of white Christian supremacy
• The not-so-subtle ways legal and societal restrictions are aligned with religious agendas, threatening women’s freedom
• The healing journey from religious trauma to sovereignty, empowering survivors to break free and rebuild their lives

Tia's work sheds light on the intersection of faith, trauma, and political power, sharing her journey in an effort to empower others.

ABOUT TIA LEVINGS
Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy. She writes about the realities of religious trauma, evangelical patriarchy, and the trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, Newsweek, and The Huffington Post. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Find her on social media @TiaLevingsWriter. Her second book, I Belong to Me, releases May 5, 2026.

ABOUT THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
The Happily Never After is a podcast that features stories of big endings that led to personal breakthroughs. While endings can hurt, they also provide opportunities to heal and grow, and sometimes, they even set us free. Endings can offer an opportunity to begin anew, in a better way, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

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