Episode 328: The Billy Graham Rule and What It Does to Men Too

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What if the “Billy Graham rule” (or the evangelical distortion of it) says more about fear than integrity? In this episode, Danielle Strickland helps us unpack the assumptions behind the idea that men and women can’t be alone together—and ask whether it protects integrity or quietly reinforces suspicion, segregation, and control. Drawing on Scripture, leadership research, and real-world church experiences, our conversation explores how transparency—not isolation—is a stronger safeguard against abuse and moral failure. We also dig into how purity culture, pornography narratives, and fear-based systems shape the way we interpret opposite-sex friendships, mentoring, and authority. If you’re ready to rethink gender, leadership, and trust through a more Jesus-centered lens, this one will give you plenty to chew on.

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LINKS MENTIONED: 

• Danielle’s Book, “Better Together”
• Danielle’s Website
• Danielle’s Substack
• “The Billy Graham Rule” aka The Modesto Manifesto
• Podcast Episode 192: How Every Young Man's Battle Makes Everything Worse: 
• "Recovering From Purity Culture" by Dr. Camden Morgante 
• The Whole Story courses

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