This is a great show for mead for this podcast.

Well guys, this is a great show for me because I've been a fan of this guy that we're about to meet and forever.

I mean, I have read his stuff over and over again.

What I love about this person is he pastors people while kind of kicking him in the booty,

but somehow you didn't notice he kicked you in the booty because he's so nice about it.

So Gary Thomas, it is an incredible privilege to have you here.

We have been blessed by your work and recommended it so many times.

I'm excited to talk about your new book

and I'm a little bit careful to talk about it

because we're in the middle of a season

about finding people and how important community is.

And you kind of got the episode because your book is about finding freedom from toxic people.

So we can't talk about this without talking about relationships

of community without addressing this because of course we should not be in

relationships with everyone. So why don't you first begin by why did you write this? Why did this feel an important enough topic? Because you have taken on massive topics. You've talked about sex and marriage and all these huge pillars of life. And then you have this talking about toxic people and finding freedom from that.

Why this topic?

Well Jenny I think you know how this works sometimes God chooses the least likely people to write a book.

I've been a people pleaser my whole life and I would have never thought that I would write a book

called When to Walk Away, finding freedom from toxic people. I would like to walk away finding freedom from toxic people I I would like to write the book

love everybody be kind to everybody let's be politeness rules

a book on gentleness all of those things but I've had a few experiences in my life

but and one that really led me to this was a guy I found out just undercutting me

...