Prime Video’s ‘Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War’ is a three-part documentary series that delves deep into the operation of Teen Mania Ministries, which was founded by Ron Luce. Through religious beliefs and Acquire the Fire rallies, he managed to capture the attention of thousands of millennial teenagers. While Teen Mania Ministries presented itself as a faith-based program for youth, some former members claim it allegedly used high-pressure tactics and militaristic training exercises to instill obedience and spiritual fervor. One of the teens who was a former member of Teen Mania was Carrie Saum Dickson. Looking back at her experience, she realized that the religious organization didn’t appeal to her common sense or intellect, but to her emotions and those of thousands of other teens. She features in the docuseries and recounts her experience of being a part of Teen Mania in a detailed manner.
Carrie Saum Dickson is a Certified Wellness Counselor Today
Given her interest in the field of medicine since her earlier days, Carrie Saum pursued a career in it. In the initial phase of her career, she worked with the non-profit medical sector after completing her paramedic medical training. During her decade-long tenure, she not only worked with organizations and programs to help out the people in the nation, but she also extended her service to foreign countries, including Mexico, Kenya, Guatemala, and Zambia. With extensive first-hand medical experience under her belt, Carrie then dipped her toes into the world of Ayurveda, earning her Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor (AWC) certification from the Kerala Ayurveda Academy.
Her passion and knowledge of the field allow her to coach her clients about a multitude of topics surrounding health, such as weight loss, nutrition, and stress management. As a certified AWC, she helps them achieve their health goals through time-honored practices. Besides being a wellness counselor, she is also an author, a development strategist, a foodie, and a recipe creator. Carrie also serves as a storyteller for authors, brands, babes, and entrepreneurs. Through her website, Our Stable Table, she regularly provides her clients with insightful information about health by posting blogs on the website. Some of her recent blogs cover topics like “Essential Nutrition for Runners,” “Coping with FPIES: Family Stories,” “The Role of Exercise in Improving Sleep Quality,” “The Importance of Community Health in Underserved Areas,” and many more.
Carrie Saum Dickson is a Devoted Wife and Doting Mother to Two
On the personal front, Carrie Saum Dickson leads a fulfilling life surrounded by the love and support of her family and friends. She has been married to Lance Dickson, with whom she shares two loving children — Echo Justice and Haven. While the former was born in the summer of 2014, their daughter was welcomed into the world in 2017. The Woodlands High School graduate, Lance Dickson, hails from Houston, Texas, and is one of the most important people in Carrie’s life.
She once expressed how strongly she feels about her husband on a social media post. Describing him as her and their children’s best friend, she stated, “Lance—You were born to play this role as Echo and Haven’s daddy. You shine brightest when you are with them and I’m so glad we chose to do this parenting thing together…Your fathering makes me want to be a better mother.” In February 2025, she was deeply affected by the passing of one of her “early food blogging icons, Elana Amsterdam, (of Elana’s Pantry)…” Residing in Portland, Oregon, the Dickson family also regularly embarks on foreign adventures to places like France, Germany, and more.
Read More: Liz Boltz Ranfeld: Where is the Teen Mania Survivor Now?