Episodes
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Matthias is joined by Kevin Garcia to discuss the release of Matthias' new book, Holy Runaways, Rediscovering Faith After Being Burned by Religion. In this conversation, they explore expressing trauma online and the importance of self-care in activism. They also emphasize the need for deep friendships, self-compassion, and letting go of guilt.
Holy Runaways is available now wherever you buy books. If you order a copy before October 6, be sure to email your receipt to [email protected] to get free access to the Healing from Spiritual Abuse seminar. All details can be found at holyrunaways.com.
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Queerology is back for a couple of special episodes about Matthias' new book Holy Runaways: Rediscovering Faith After Being Burned by Religion. In this episode, Matthias shares about where he's been the last year, introduces the book, and reads you a sneak peak.
If you preorder Holy Runaways before October 3, you'll get free access to the Healing From Spiritual Abuse seminar Matthias co-taught earlier this year. Just email your receipt to [email protected]. Details can be found at www.holyrunaways.com.
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For Maddie Zahm, there's nothing more powerful than writing songs that scare her. On her debut EP You Might Not Like Her, the Boise-bred singer/songwriter intimately documents the massive upheaval she's experienced over the last year: a life-changing journey that includes leaving the stifling church community where she long served as a worship leader, moving to Los Angeles and coming out as queer.
With equal parts raw vulnerability and undeniable strength -- first glimpsed on her viral hit single "Fat Funny Friend" which has achieved over 30 million streams -- Maddie opens up about her personal trauma, her sexuality, and her relationship with her body, embracing the kind of unapologetic yet compassionate truth-telling that's transformative for artist and audience alike.
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Shannon TL Kearns is a transgender man who believes in the transformative power of story. As an ordained priest, a playwright, a theologian, and a writer all of his work revolves around making meaning through story. He's the co-founder of QueerTheology.com and the podcast Queer Theology and his new book “In The Margins: A Transgender Man’s Journey with Scripture” released last week
Shannon is a recipient of the Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellowship in 20/21 and he was a Lambda Literary Fellow for 2019 and a Finnovation Fellow for 2019/2020. He is a sought-after speaker on transgender issues and religion as well as a skilled facilitator of a variety of workshops. His work with Brian G. Murphy at QueerTheology.com has reached more than a million people all over the world through videos, articles, online courses, and community
Links + Resources:
Fr. Shannon's WebsiteQueer TheologyIn the Margins Book
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Mace Mooney is a psychotherapist in training and a leader with Affirming Youth Ministries (AYM), a nonprofit dedicated to ministering to LGBTQIA+ youth and those that love them in the name of radical inclusion, authenticity, and God’s expansive love. They’re the cohost of the podcast, No Small Thing which invites folks to live less certain and more curious lives. Today, we're chatting about their work with AYM and what we can learn about living a more curious, less certain life.
Links + Resources
Affirming Youth MinistriesNo Small Thing PodcastThe Artist's Way
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Dianna Anderson is a nonbinary, queer writer based in Minneapolis, MN. They are the author of several books, including Damaged Goods: New Perspectives on Christian Purity and Problematic: How Toxic Callout Culture is Destroying Feminism.
Dianna’s newest book, In Transit: Being Non-Binary In A World of Dichotomies, is out today! It’s an exploration of what it means to be non-binary in a world that genders everything, down to the very words we use. They start off exploring the long history of non-binary people, and then they tease out where non-binary identities fit within the idea of transgender identity, exploring what they all mean in a cisnormative society.
They hold a Master's in English from Baylor University and a Master's in Women’s Studies from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. When not working on books, Dianna is a grant writer and non-profit development professional. They live with two cats, Minerva and Tonks.
Links + Resources
Dianna's WebsiteIn Transit on Bookshop.org
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Lucy Dacus is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and author from Richmond, VA. She has released three studio albums including 2021’s highly lauded Home Video, which earned rave reviews from global outlets such as Variety,The Guardian, NPR, Rolling Stone and many more. In 2018, Dacus created the collaborative supergroup boygenius with close friends Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers. Their debut EP was one of the most talked about releases of 2018, landing on nearly every notable “Best Music of the Year” list. Today, she talks about growing up in church and how she doesn't have things figured out yet.
Links + Resources
Lucy's WebsiteLucy on Instagram
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Edafe Okporo is a global gay rights activist, the founder of Refuge America, and one of the country’s most visible voices on the issue of displacement, leading an organization with a vision to “strengthen the US as a place of welcome for LGBTQ displaced people.” He was born in Warri, Nigeria, and migrated to the United States in 2016 as an asylum seeker and is now a refugee of the United States. Edafe is among the inaugural winners of the David Prize, which honors individuals with bold visions for creating a better and brighter New York City. He is also a Logo 30 Honoree.
His new book, Asylum: A Memoir & Manifesto is a poignant, moving memoir and urgent call to action for immigration justice. The book imagines a future where immigrants and asylees are treated with fairness, transparency, and compassion.
Links + Resources
Edafe's WebsiteAsylum: A Memoir & ManifestoRefuge AmericaDetain and Punish by Carl Lindskoog
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Rachel Kurtz is a Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter who has been touring and singing for almost 20 years. Her powerhouse voice and heartfelt performances have been electrifying crowds in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, New Orleans’ Superdome, Texas’ Alamo Dome, and hundreds of other concert venues from coast to coast. Recently, she came out as queer and released her new single “Gay Kids” a love song to every queer kid out there, from a queer mom.
Links + Resources
Rachel's WebsiteGay Kids Music VideoDonate to Rachel's Work
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Matthew Paul Turner is a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books, including his Children’s books — When God Made You and When I Pray For You. His newest children’s book, I Am God’s Dream released last week.
Matthew’s writing career started nearly 20 years ago, and he has published a book every year. Called “one of Christianity’s fresh voices” by Publisher’s Weekly, Matthew’s other notable works include Our Great Big American God, Churched, Coffeehouse Gospel and The Christian Culture Survival Guide.
But, when he came out nearly two years ago and announced an impending divorce with his wife, his entire career was threatened. Today we’re chatting about his experience coming out and what he has learned along the way.
Links + Resources
I Am God's DreamMatthew Paul Turner's WebsiteMatthew on TwitterMatthew on InstagramJoin Matthias and Dr. Robyn Henderson Espinoza on May 12 at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology as they engage in conversation around Dr. Robyn's new book Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation. This event has both in-person and online attendance options. All the details can be found at https://theseattleschool.edu/event/body-becoming-a-path-to-our-liberation/
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Bridget Eileen Rivera is a sociologist completing her Ph.D. at the City University of New York Graduate Center. She’s the author of “Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ+ Christians Experience Harm in the Church.”
Today she chats with Matthias about the ways LGBTQ+ people are harmed in the church, especially in regards to forced celibacy. She explains how she uses her choice to be celibate to undermine traditional arguments and carve a path for all LGBTQ+ people.
Links + Resources
Bridget's WebsiteBridget's BlogHeavy Burdens BookBridget on InstagramBridget on TwitterJoin Matthias and Dr. Robyn Henderson Espinoza on May 12 at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology as they engage in conversation around Dr. Robyn's new book Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation. This event has both in-person and online attendance options. All the details can be found at https://theseattleschool.edu/event/body-becoming-a-path-to-our-liberation/
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Jo Luehmann is a Colombian-born and raised pastor who moved to the US to get her master's degree in ministry and theology. After 10 years working inside churches, she found in personal and systemic ways how harmful and abusive the evangelical church can be. Jo quit her job and committed to finding a faith that wasn’t abusive.
Alongside her partner, she started the Living Room a non-profit reclaiming faith and Christianity as spiritual expressions that can lead us toward wholeness and healing. In the summer of 2020 alongside a group of victims and survivors of church abuse, Jo started @doBetterChurch an online space where people abused in churches can be seen, heard, believed, and connected to others who can offer tools in their journey toward healing, as well as an initiative to invite churches to do better. Jo speaks and teaches about decolonizing faith and theology, as well as the importance of dismantling white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism both individually and collectively.
Links + Resources
Jo Luehmann on PatreonThe Living Room PodcastJo on InstagramJo on TwitterJoin Matthias and Dr. Robyn Henderson Espinoza on May 12 at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology as they engage in conversation around Dr. Robyn's new book Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation. This event has both in-person and online attendance options. All the details can be found at https://theseattleschool.edu/event/body-becoming-a-path-to-our-liberation/
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Brenda Marie Davies is an author, podcaster and YouTuber. Her channel God Is Grey—a guide to becoming an inquisitive, fearless, SEX POSITIVE, free thinking Christian in the modern world —has over 135,000 subscribers.
Her debut book, On Her Knees: Memoir of a Prayerful Jezebel, chronicles Brenda’s spiritual journey over the course of a decade in LA, through marriage, divorce, unlikely friendship, and sexual exploration. Told with raw honesty, sans obligatory shame, this is a story for anyone who wonders if it’s possible to love God without fearing sex, in all its shades of grey.
Recorded live from the GooseCast podcast stage at Wild Goose Festival.
This episode is brought to you by the 2022 Q Christian Fellowship Conference. Use code QUEEROLOGY to save 10% off your registration at qcfconf.org.
Links and Resources:
Q Christian Fellowship Conference
Brenda Marie Davies
God Is Grey on Youtube
Brenda on Instagram
On Her Knees: Memoir of a Prayerful Jezebel
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
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This episode first aired Sep 10, 2019. Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder (she, her), a San Francisco native, has served her call through prophetic action and ministry for justice for over thirty years. This call to “blend proclamation, worship, service and advocacy on behalf of those most marginalized in church and in society” led to the founding of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in 1991. In 2003, Rev. Dr. Flunder was consecrated Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a multi-denominational coalition of over 100 primarily African American Christian leaders and laity.
Rev. Dr. Flunder is on the Board of Starr King School for the Ministry and DEMOS and has taught at many theological schools. She is a graduate of the Certificate of Ministry and Master of Arts programs at PSR, and received her Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is also an award-winning gospel music artist and author of Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Homiletic and Radical Inclusion.
This episode is brought to you by the 2022 Q Christian Fellowship Conference. Use code QUEEROLOGY to save 10% off your registration at qcfconf.org.
Links and Resources:
2022 Q Christian Fellowship Conference
Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Homiletic and Radical Inclusion
City of Refuge United Church of Christ
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
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Jamie Lee Finch is a sexuality and embodiment coach, speaker, poet, and author of "You Are Your Own: A Reckoning with the Religious Trauma of Evangelical Christianity".
She's coached over 400 people in the past 5 years and sees her role in her work as that of a conflict mediator between human beings and their bodies.
She's just released her very first online course called "Your Body is a Person" that walks you through her entire methodology and practice of Personified Embodiment
Links and Resources:
Jamie Lee Finch Website
Your Body is a Person Course
Jamie's free 10-day Course
You Are Your Own Book
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
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Samson Turinawe is the Executive Director of Universal Love Alliance (ULA), a Ugandan humanitarian, educator and human rights defender. He believes that "every human being should be respected simply for being who they are, a part of Life's creation." Tolerance, inclusiveness, love, compassion, dialogue and reconciliation are all central themes in his work.
Through his teaching and activism, Samson is working for a new generation -- one that is open-minded, open-hearted, diversity-embracing, and committed to serving all of humanity.
Links and Resources:
Universal Love Alliance
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
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Emily Regenstreif has supportive parents. The best thing that they could do and ever did was to listen and then wanting to learn and know more by asking questions.
Emily grew up queer in Portland, Oregon, in a Jewish faith community. She had a lovely and lucky experience — very different from the traumatic backgrounds of others who grew up queer in faith communities. That’s not Emily’s story.
Emily is a 31-year-old receptionist who spends most of her free time playing Dungeons and Dragons as well as writing her first novel, which she has been working on since she was 18 years old.
Topics Discussed:
Faith Forms Identity: Emily’s supportive journey with queerness being JewishJonas Brothers to Julia Stiles: Emily’s evolution of queerness started with a girlComing out to friends, family, and faith community was easy for EmilyAttraction vs. Asexuality: There’s far more to being a person than sexExploration: Be comfortable with who and what you are to feel free, not shamefulReligious Trauma: Luckily, Emily’s challenges weren’t related to queerness, faithChoosing My Religion: Converting to Judaism was Emily’s choice over churchProud Every Day: Emily never felt need to project or celebrate Pride MonthLinks and Resources:
Emily Regenstreif on Twitter
Queer Youth Faith (QYF) Day
Queerology - QYF Day: Don’t Give Up Everything You Believe In and Everyone You Love (rerelease)
Boy Erased
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
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Julie Rodgers is a writer, speaker, and leader in the movement working for full inclusion for LGBTQ people in Christian communities. She played a significant role in shutting down Exodus International, the largest conversion therapy organization in the world, and she was also the first openly gay person to be hired by an evangelical Christian college. She is featured in Pray Away (2020), a documentary about the movement to pray the gay away. Her writing has been featured in Sojourners, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time. She lives with her wife in Washington, DC.
Her new book, Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story, is a memoir of her experience growing up evangelical, while knowing she was gay. It’s about love and losses, political and religious power-plays, and the cost to those who sought to stay in a faith community that wouldn’t accept them.
For more queer reflections on faith, public life, and chosen family, join Julie’s substack, Reimagining Belonging.
Topics Discussed:Faith & Identity: Lesbian, queer, Christian, cat mom with conflicting, complex faithComing Out, Conversion, Coping: Julie didn’t want to change, but initially gave inDon’t be a part of something that makes you hate and harm yourself or othersWho to trust? Choose to question or follow religious leaders or your own truthBreaking Point: Reality behind closed doors vs. belief that things are changingPray the Gay Away: Story that is still present reality in today’s worldReasons for Disconnect: Lack of nuance and understanding in liberal spacesSave Yourself, Not Everyone: Don’t stay rooted in trauma; live and thriveLinks and Resources:Julie Rodgers
Outlove
Pray Away
Reimagining Belonging
The Faith and Justice Network
The Trevor Project
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
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How are you celebrating national Queer Youth of Faith (QYF) Day on June 30, 2021?
On this episode of Queerology, a panel celebrates the life, creativity, and gifts of queer youth of faith.
The panel includes Ameera, a trans-Svengolie American Muslim; Taline, a bisexual Armenian Christian; Daniel, a gay Jew; and Sebastian, a trans-Christian.
Happy QYF Day!
Topics Discussed:
QYF Panel: How each identifies and how faith formed their identityHonor, Celebrate, Center: Importance and meaning of QYF Day to each panelistAffirming Theology: Spread awareness that God doesn’t hate youQueer Realization: Born this way and the continual struggle to find hope and supportAdvice: Nobody’s perfect, don’t change, you’re not alone, find your peopleLinks and Resources:
QYF Day
Beloved Arise
Rebel Youth Group
Kevin Garcia on YouTube
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
Queerology Podcast on Twitter
Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts
Matthias Roberts on Patreon
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Melissa Weisz and Pelayo Alvarez are hosts of the Forbidden Apple Podcast, which creates space for LGBTQ+ people to reclaim their spirituality—whatever that means to them.
Melissa is a former Orthodox Jew. Although she came out as queer, Melissa adores her family and the Hasidic Jewish community in which she was raised. As an actor, producer, and writer, Melissa aims to uplift the voices of marginalized people and communities.
Pelayo is originally from Spain and was raised catholic. He now lives in New York City and works for The United Nations in the field of international relations and global affairs.
Pelayo is passionate about discovering how different people around the world live their spirituality and appreciates what makes each story powerful. He asks for practical advice and takeaways from different life perspectives and uses them for personal development and growth. Also, Pelayo has a YouTube channel where he curates life-changing ideas with a fun twist.
As hosts of the Forbidden Apple Podcast, Pelayo wants to prove that although people celebrate religion and spirituality in so many ways, at the same time, they share so much in common; Melissa wants the podcast to become a platform that gives people a voice, creates a community, and celebrates queerness.
Topics Discussed:
Faith and Identity: Observe other faiths to learn, love, and understand themSpiritual Toolbox: Difference between appropriation versus appreciationPodcast Purpose: Deep conversations about religion, spirituality, and queernessDeconstruction: What’s religion? Faith? Spirituality? Different but same elementsMeaningful Blessings: What works and what doesn’t when reclaiming wordsSpiritual vs. Religious: What’s the separation? Good and right, or bad and wrongDivine Virtue: 81% of queer people in U.S. grow up in some organized religionDiscover Why: Do you follow traditional values/morals or free to make your own?Links and Resources:
Melissa Weisz
Pelayo Alvarez
Pelayo Alvarez’s YouTube Channel
The Forbidden Apple Podcast
Your Spiritual Toolbox
Queer Virtue by Elizabeth Edman
Ross Murray from GLAAD
Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Ministry by Ross Murray
Find Your Why by Simon Sinek
Rev. Elizabeth Edman on the Inherent Queerness of Christianity
Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame
Queerology Podcast on Instagram
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