When We Were on Fire

Teaser Trailer

Growing up in the evangelical Christian subculture of the 1990s, Addie Zierman was “on fire” for God and passionate about reaching the world for Jesus. That is, until her fire burned out, and everything she thought she knew got turned upside down.
Coming September 24, this full-cast, four-part audio drama is based on the book “When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over” by Addie Zierman. Created by Lizzie Goldsmith, it is being released in collaboration with Addie.
This trailer features the voice talents of Jacob Bellotti, Ashleigh Carter, Will DeVito, Michael DiGiorgio, Tina Perkins, and Shakari Williams, and introduces Aria Sivick as Addie. Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield.
Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, who was mentioned in this trailer, popularized the term "thought-terminating cliché."
This production was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith.
Podcast cover art by Skylar White.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.

Full Trailer

Addie Zierman was the 1990s evangelical poster child, who, in high school, once stood at the flagpole at See You at the Pole all alone in the pouring rain, and, another time, anointed a school cafeteria table with oil, all the while dreaming of doing big things for the Lord. But that all changed when her fire for God burned out, and the things that had once sustained her now left her feeling disconnected and alone. Can her faith survive all her questions, her anger, and her depression? Does she even want it to?
Coming September 24: A full-cast, four-part audio drama based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman. Created by Lizzie Goldsmith, it is being released in collaboration with Addie.
This trailer features the voice talents of Will DeVito, Mikell DiGiorgio, Ed Gorham, Josh Pitta, Grace Shaw, Shakari Williams, and Aria Sivick as Addie. Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield.
This production was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith.
Podcast cover art by Skylar White.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.

Part One: Obsession

Addie Zierman grew up “on fire” for God in the ‘90s, in the era of WWJD bracelets, Acquire the Fire youth conferences, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and the early days of the See You at the Pole movement. Addie embraces this us-versus-them evangelical Christian faith she’s inherited, not realizing that this obsession has a dark side.
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman. Created by Lizzie Goldsmith, it is being released in collaboration with Addie.
Addie recently wrote about her Teen Mania experience and the latest season of the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People. This documentary from 1989 is also mentioned in this episode.
Cast (in order of appearance):
Jillian Menees…YOUNG ADDIE
Leigh Townes…ADDIE’S MOM
Aria Sivick…ADDIE
Kayla Burton…NEWSCASTER 1
Isis Young…NEWSCASTER 2
Tamar Turner…NEWSCASTER 3
Grace Shaw…KIM
Joseph Davison-O’Gorman…ALISSA
Ed Gorham…TEEN MANIA LEADER
Will DeVito…CHRIS
Liliana Scano…MISSION TRIP GIRL 1
Katie Russell…MISSION TRIP GIRL 2
Lauren Rivera…TRANSLATOR
Jonathan Schaefer…MISSION TRIP GUY
David Perkins…YOUTH GROUP BOY
Tina Perkins…YOUTH LEADER
Kate Weyant…DANCE TEACHER
Patrick MacDougall…ADDIE’S DAD
Melissa Chessher…DANCER
 
This production was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield, with additional music from Skylee Shea, APM Music, Gateway Worship Español, and Public Domain Audio Bible.
Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Individual episode art and poetry by Jamie Bonilla. See the full text of the poem inspired by this episode.
Full credits for this podcast can be found here.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
CONTENT WARNING: Depictions of emotional abuse

Bonus: 'Shiny Happy People,' See You At The Pole, and When Someone Else Tells Your Story

How did When We Were on Fire become an audio drama, and what was it really like for Addie Zierman to have her story adapted? Audio drama creator Lizzie Goldsmith is joined by Addie and voice actor Aria Sivick (who voices Addie in the production) to talk about what this project means to them and how it all started. They also talk about toxic relationships, religious trauma, the legacy of the book, and other themes and key moments from the first episode.
Lizzie talked about her soundscape “What It Sounds Like To ______ Your Faith.” We mentioned Pete Enns, who is one of the hosts of the podcast The Bible For Normal People. This is the Spanish worship song that’s featured in episode 1. Addie recently wrote about Teen Mania and the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People, as well as more about what it was like to have her story turned into an audio drama. We also discussed See You At The Pole.
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman, and was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield. Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Full credits for this podcast are here.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Part Two: Disillusion

Being “on fire for God” all the time is starting to take its toll on Addie Zierman as she starts college in Minnesota, meets a boy named Andrew, and heads overseas for a year that will change her life.
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman. Created by Lizzie Goldsmith, it is being released in collaboration with Addie.
Cast (in order of appearance):
Aria Sivick…ADDIE
Taylor Duenas…CHRISTY
Grace Shaw…KIM
Will DeVito…CHRIS
Frank Sheffield…NICK / MARK
Josh Pitta…ANDREW
Joseph Davison-O’Gorman…ALISSA
Wenyang Xie…RICKSHAW DRIVER
Yang Yang…PASTOR
Ashleigh Carter…WORSHIP LEADER / MINDY
Jenny Jian…MERCHANT 1
Mengjiao Li…MERCHANT 2
Yubin Shi…POST OFFICE CLERK
Caitlyn Cooke…TEACHER
Michael DiGiorgio…PASTOR CARL
Kate Weyant…WOMAN AT CHURCH
Ed Gorham…BILL
Tina Perkins…SHEILA
Shakari Williams…JENN
 
This production was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield, with additional music from Josh Woodward, Zeno, APM Music, and Public Domain Audio Bible. The hymn sung in this episode was “It Is Well,” written by Horatio Spafford. Rickshaw sound effect is from xserra.
Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Individual episode art and poetry by Jamie Bonilla. See the full text of the poem inspired by this episode.
Full credits for this podcast can be found here.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
CONTENT WARNING: Strong language

Bonus: It Is Not Well With My Soul, Deconstruction Origin Stories, and Life Imitating Art

For audio drama creator Lizzie Goldsmith, her faith deconstruction experience started on the floor of a church in England during her Youth with a Mission trip. For When We Were on Fire author Addie Zierman, it came from a deep feeling of never belonging. Lizzie and Addie are joined by voice actor Aria Sivick to talk about community, their fraught relationships with church, and the riskiest creative choice Lizzie made in episode two.
We mentioned the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People (particularly its season 1 focus on Bill Gothard and the IBLP), as well as the hymn “It Is Well” and previous episodes of this podcast.
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman, and was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield. Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Full credits for this podcast are here.
Episode 2 clips feature Aria Sivick, Josh Pitta, Jenny Jian, and others. Levingston Lewis, Tamar Turner, Aria Sivick, Ashleigh Carter, Tina Perkins, and Jonathan Schaefer can be heard in the episode 3 sneak peek. Episode 3 comes out on Oct. 22!
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Part Three: Rebellion

Addie Zierman is depressed, angry at the Church People, and feeling lost in her life, her faith, and her marriage. What will it take for her to find her way back? Is going back even possible?
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman. Created by Lizzie Goldsmith, it is being released in collaboration with Addie.
This movie from 2007 was mentioned.
Mental health and substance abuse resources:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Substance Abuse and Addition Hotline
Alcoholics Anonymous
Cast (in order of appearance):
Aria Sivick…ADDIE
Matt Farrelly…LIQUOR STORE CLERK
Levingston Lewis…BARISTA 1
Tamar Turner…NEWSCASTER 3
Ashleigh Carter…MINDY
Tina Perkins…SHEILA
Jonathan Schaefer…BARISTA 2 / TODD
Josh Pitta…ANDREW
Shakari Williams…Jenn
Michael DiGiorgio…SERVER 1
Brendan Weaver…MILES
Matt Sampere…BRAD
Kayla Burton…KAYLA
Melissa Chessher…MARRIAGE COUNSELOR
Grace Shaw…KIM
Joseph Davison-O’Gorman…ALISSA
Mikell DiGiorgio…THERAPIST
 
This production was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield, with additional music from APM Music. Pet store sound effects from barcelonetasonora, Quintus, ryanlouis, n_audioman, 18hiltc, and 170084.
Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Individual episode art and poetry by Jamie Bonilla. See the full text of the poem inspired by this episode.
Full credits for this podcast can be found here.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
CONTENT WARNING: Strong language, substance abuse, depression, and near-infidelity

Bonus: The Importance of Swear Words, Vulnerability, and Learning To Say What You Need

It took an incredible amount of vulnerability for Addie Zierman to write about her hardest year — and to revisit it now. Addie is joined by Lizzie Goldsmith and voice actor Aria Sivick to talk about how she got to that place … and how she made it through. Plus, the role of swearing in this story, being a pick-me girl, and what it’s like portraying someone who’s in a dark place.
Come to the Listening Party at Stella’s Coffee Haus in Denver on Nov. 5! Find out more and RSVP here.
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman, and was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield. Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Full credits for this podcast are here.
Episode 3 clips feature Aria Sivick, who can also be heard in the episode 4 sneak peek alongside R. Lawson Cade. Episode 4 comes out on Nov. 5!
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Part Four: Redemption

On the other side of her darkest year, Addie Zierman faces the demons from her past and decides what to hold on to and what to let go of as she moves into a new stage of her life.
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman. Created by Lizzie Goldsmith, it is being released in collaboration with Addie.
Cast (in order of appearance):
Joseph Davison-O’Gorman…ALISSA
Grace Shaw…KIM
Aria Sivick…ADDIE
Dusean Williams…NIGHT MANAGER
Lawson Cade…COFFEE SHOP GUY
Levingston Lewis…SERVER 2
Shakari Williams…JENN
Mikell DiGiorgio…THERAPIST
Will DeVito…CHRIS
Josh Pitta…ANDREW
Ellen Noel…DOCTOR
Jacob Bellotti…NICODEMUS
Tina Perkins…SHEILA
Ashleigh Carter…MINDY
Michael DiGiorgio…PASTOR CARL
Urban…DANE
 
Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, who was mentioned in this episode, popularized the term "thought-terminating cliché."
This production was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield, with additional music from APM Music, as well as “Silent Night” by Kevin MacLeod, which is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Bible pages sound effect from vdm.r.
Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Individual episode art and poetry by Jamie Bonilla. See the full text of the poem inspired by this episode.
Full credits for this podcast can be found here.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com.
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
CONTENT WARNING: Pregnancy, childbirth, strong language, and religious trauma.
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Bonus: What We Believe Now, That Childbirth Scene, and Remembering Rachel Held Evans

Author Addie Zierman talks about her complicated relationship with Christianity now and why she stepped back from writing publicly for several years. Audio drama creator Lizzie Goldsmith and voiceover artist Aria Sivick join her to reminisce about one of the most memorable scenes from episode 4, and our favorite memories from the audio drama Listening Party in 2019. Join us for one more trip down memory lane as we talk about the past, present, and future of our spiritual and creative journeys.
Learn more about Rachel Held Evans and her legacy. We also mentioned the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
This full-cast audio drama is based on the book When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman, and was dramatized, directed, produced, and sound designed by Lizzie Goldsmith. You can reach Lizzie at lizziegoldsmithproductions@gmail.com
Original music was composed by Frank Sheffield. Podcast cover art by Skylar White. Full credits for this podcast are here.
You can find out more about this production and the cast and crew at whenwewereonfirepodcast.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Follow Addie’s work at addiezierman.com and addiezierman.substack.com, and stay in touch with Aria at ariasvoice.com
Special thanks to Addie Zierman, Aria Sivick, Miranda Gardner, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
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