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Laughing to Keep from Crying: Faith Reconstruction with Andi Marie Tillman
If you grew up in a church where 'speaking in tongues' was a Tuesday night occurrence, you know that sometimes, you have to laugh to survive. In this episode, Andi Marie Tillman brings her viral character 'Aunt Pam' to the studio to roast our religious trauma before we sit down for a raw, honest conversation about what it means to heal through the dogma, not just run from it.
About The Guest: Andi Marie Tillman is a viral comedian, actor, and writer known for bringing the "Appalachian Gothic" aesthetic to the masses. Best known as the creator of Aunt Pam—the gum-smacking, tongue-speaking Southern auntie who has amassed millions of views on TikTok and Instagram—Andi uses satire to explore complex themes of religious trauma, regional identity, and mental health.
A self-described "recovering Pentecostal" and native of East Tennessee, Andi’s work walks the tightrope between hilarity and heartbreak. Whether she is channeling "Papaw," the vampire "Nashveratu," or her own "Sickly Victorian Woman" persona, she offers a masterclass in using humor as a survival mechanism. Beyond the sketches, Andi is an advocate for sobriety and "faith reconstruction," helping others find safety and laughter after leaving high-control religious environments.
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Forced Out: The Day Avalon Came to My House - Michael Passons (part 2)
"They showed up at my house and told me I was no longer in the group." In Part 2, Michael Passons reveals the failed "cure" that cost him his career and the 17-year battle to reclaim his life. For nearly two decades, the official story was that Michael Passons left the multi-platinum group Avalon to "pursue other interests." Today, the silence ends.
In this conclusion to our interview, Michael takes us inside the room on June 30, 2003, detailing the unannounced "intervention" at his home that erased him from the band he helped build. He opens up about the industry ultimatum - "get cured or get out" - and the reality of the "reparative therapy" sessions that failed to change who he was, but succeeded in breaking his spirit.
But the trauma is only half the story. This episode is a masterclass in survival and healing. Michael shares how he navigated the "dark night of the soul" after being muzzled by NDAs and management , how he deconstructed the narrative that he was "broken," and how he finally made peace with the "boy in the mirror."
The truth was brutal, but the healing is beautiful.
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🤝 Sponsor Spotlight – Bright Horse Counseling
We’d like to thank our episode sponsor Bright Horse Counseling, one of Nashville’s most respected therapy practices. Their clinicians specialize in trauma, PTSD, personality disorders, anxiety, addiction, maternal mental health, couples work and more. Bright Horse blends embodiment, insight and research‑backed modalities like DBT, EMDR and trauma‑informed yoga. They offer secure telehealth anywhere in Tennessee and have a no‑nonsense relational style.
Website: https://talktobrighthorse.com/
Phone: 615‑637‑7000
Instagram: @bright_horse_counseling
Are you ready to heal and grow? Start your journey with me by signing up here for exclusive updates, resources and behind‑the‑scenes insights from each episode. It’s your invitation to experience “entertainment that heals,” where vulnerability becomes strength and hope is contagious.
Michael Passons Breaks Silence: His Truth About Avalon, Christian Music & 20‑Year Return (Part 1)
Part 1 of 2: Discover the untold story behind one of Christian music’s biggest voices. In his most in‑depth interview ever, Michael Passons, founding member of the GRAMMY‑nominated group Avalon, sits down with Patrick Custer to share the highs, lows and hidden battles that shaped his journey. From singing hymns as a toddler in Yazoo City, Mississippi, to being discovered by Sparrow Records and launching Avalon in 1995, Michael takes you behind the scenes of the group’s meteoric rise. Hear how hits like “Testify to Love,” now considered a gospel classic, nearly didn’t make the cut, and why the band’s ABBA‑inspired sound stood out in the CCM world.
This rare conversation explores themes of mental health, faith and resilience without shying away from the pressure of fame, imposter syndrome and the weight of carrying a secret. Michael reflects on his connection to his mother, the power of music as therapy, and what it felt like to juggle creative success with personal turmoil. If you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, wondered what happens backstage, or simply need encouragement on your own healing journey, this episode is for you.
And the story isn’t over - Part 1 ends just before a life‑changing revelation that will forever alter Michael’s path. In Part 2 we’ll dive into that revelation, the fallout that forced him out of Avalon, and how he rebuilt his life and faith while preparing to return to music after nearly twenty years away from the spotlight. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.
Follow me on
Instagram: @thepatrickcuster
TikTok: @thepatrickcuster
Facebook: @patrickcarlcuster
Follow Michael
Instagram: @michaelpassons
Follow The Patrick Custer Show:
Instagram: @thepatrickcustershow
TikTok: @thepatrickcustershow
Facebook: The Patrick Custer Show
🤝 Sponsor Spotlight – Bright Horse Counseling
We’d like to thank our episode sponsor Bright Horse Counseling, one of Nashville’s most respected therapy practices. Their clinicians specialize in trauma, PTSD, personality disorders, anxiety, addiction, maternal mental health, couples work and more. Bright Horse blends embodiment, insight and research‑backed modalities like DBT, EMDR and trauma‑informed yoga. They offer secure telehealth anywhere in Tennessee and have a no‑nonsense relational style.
Website: https://talktobrighthorse.com/
Phone: 615‑637‑7000
Instagram: @bright_horse_counseling
Are you ready to heal and grow? Start your journey with me by signing up here for exclusive updates, resources and behind‑the‑scenes insights from each episode. It’s your invitation to experience “entertainment that heals,” where vulnerability becomes strength and hope is contagious.
Series Premiere:
Country Music's Annie Bosko Reveals Mental Health Struggles & Nashville Industry Realities
Ever been told you’ll never get better? In this powerful debut episode, Patrick Custer and California Cowgirl Annie Bosko unpack her journey; from singing at her great‑grandmother’s funeral at five to fighting for her physical voice again after a devastating vocal injury and her inner voice for the power to fight back when business betrayal in the music industry machine tried to take her power and agency from her. You’ll hear how she hid her California roots in Nashville, fought perfectionism and depression, and learned to ask for help when everything fell apart.
They dive into therapy, faith, and the gritty reality of being a woman in country music—and why Annie believes every “no” is just a “not yet.” If you’re struggling with anxiety, procrastination, rejection or feeling stuck, this episode will give you hope and practical tools!
Show Highlights:
- Early performing roots: turning household surfaces into stages; singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at her great‑grandmother’s funeral at five.
- Breakthrough moments: landing The Little Mermaid II soundtrack at 13; singing jingles and studio work; moving from California to Nashville.
- Country‑music identity: hiding her California background to fit in; eventually embracing her “California Cowgirl” roots.
- Voice loss & recovery: discovering a vascular lesion during a Broadway gig; enduring surgery, rehab and the pandemic.
- Therapy & mental health: learning to ask for help, dealing with perfectionism, and letting go of people‑pleasing.
- Rejection, patience & persistence: every “no” becomes a “not yet”—including later collaborations with Dwight Yoakam, Darius Rucker, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton.
- Boundaries & relationships: applying her grandmother’s “80% rule,” standing firm on family and faith values, and learning not to compromise her core beliefs.
Are you ready to heal and grow? Start your journey with me by signing up here for exclusive updates, resources and behind‑the‑scenes insights from each episode. It’s your invitation to experience “entertainment that heals,” where vulnerability becomes strength and hope is contagious.
I appreciate every single one of you for joining this community.
Whether you’re here for your own growth or because someone you love shared this conversation, I’m grateful you’re listening and want to welcome you to The Patrick Custer Show family. Please pass this episode along to friends, family and anyone who might need a lift. When we open up about our struggles and triumphs, we remind each other that we’re not broken, we’re becoming.