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FreedHearts — Religion & Spirituality
FreedHearts

Freeing hearts to love and be loved! Love. Inclusion. Affirmation. Susan Cottrell is the Mom of two LGBTQ+ children; the founder of FreedHearts; an international speaker with a viral TEDx talk; a pastor and theologian; an acclaimed author; and a fierce advocate and ally. In her unique tender, relatable style, Susan is a prominent voice of unconditional love and lavish inclusion. Powerful, authentic, and relevant in today’s society, Susan has a lot to say. The Advocate calls her their “Favorite Affirming Matriarch.” OutSmart magazine calls her “The Mother of all MamaBears!” Reverend Ashley Harness from Auburn Seminary says, “Susan has this fierce, loving, don’t mess with me, Mom vibe.” If you have been excluded, or if someone close to you has been excluded because of who they are or who they love – or maybe you have been the one doing the excluding – the FreedHearts podcast is for you. Join Susan, along with her husband Rob, on the journey. You are not alone. Welcome home!

Copyright: ℗ & © 2020 FreedHearts

Latest Episodes:

Being the Dad of LGBTQ+ Kids Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

This is a very special episode for Dads of LGBTQ+ kids - or about your Dad, or about the Dad of someone you love.
Today, I talk about the core issues unique to being the Father of an LGBTQ+ child.
I’ll give some tools you can use to understand your kids, deepen your relationships, expand your faith, and deal with non-affirming friends, family and especially those at church.
Dads, it’s just me and you today. Bring your fears, bring your hearts, and let’s talk.

Rob

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Sex, Patriarchy, Misogyny & the Church. This should be fun! Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

Okay, let’s talk about SEX. 😏
Because apparently, the Church has had a LOT to say about what happens in our bedrooms.
Did you know that the biblical idea of “unnatural sex” has historically been understood in ways that included sex that wasn’t procreative? Yep. Sex just for pleasure could be a problem. WTF?!
But once we started pulling on that thread, something much bigger began to unravel.

Sex. Patriarchy. Misogyny. Power. Control.
And underneath it all, we began to see a disturbing pattern that ultimately helped drive our deconstruction:
Protect the institution. Protect the theology. Protect the power. Even when it harms—or destroys—the people inside it.
Once you see that pattern, you start seeing it EVERYWHERE.
So today, we’re going there: sex, patriarchy, misogyny, the Church—and the damage done when preserving a religious system matters more than protecting human beings.
This should be fun. 😉🔥

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The Top 5 Questions from Parents of LGBTQ+ Children Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

This episode is for parents of LGBTQ+ children; or LGBTQ+ people with parents; or those allies and friends who know parents. In other words, this is for you!
In our work with hundreds of thousands of parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer children, there are 5 questions that almost always come up. Things they are concerned about; things they wonder and worry about.
This episode answers those questions, and we thought it was time to share it again!

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Christian Myth Busters: The 7 Biggest Shockers! Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

I went to seminary as an evangelical. I had no idea it was going to hold so many surprises.

Here are the top 7 shockers that change the entire game of Christianity.
Knowing these will help us continue to unravel the hurtful, destructive teachings that, in truth, really have nothing to do with Jesus, God or the Bible.
It was the beginning of the deconstruction of my faith, and the beginning of a much deeper, more beautiful, more satisfying spirituality.

A special encore presentation.

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Is Jesus Different than Christianity? Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

So much pain has been inflicted in the name of God. We have been deeply hurt, we get triggered and, understandably, we want nothing to do with any of it - even Jesus.

But, let’s be clear, what has been used to hurt us has been absolute lies, false teachings and is not about God or Jesus!
One of the worst things that ever happened to Jesus was the religion of Christianity, and non-affirming Christians have largely gotten him totally wrong.
Jesus is still one of the best-kept secrets because his truth has been grossly distorted by people who claim to speak for him.
There is a religion-free Jesus who belongs to all of us!

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False Teachings & Lies That Cause Us to Reject Our Kids and Ourselves Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Why do parents struggle with loving their LGBTQ+ children?

Why do LGBTQ+ struggle with internalized homophobia, and with loving themselves?

Often, it's because of the lies, false teachings and faulty arguments coming from the Christian church.
It's time to set the record straight. We share again this important information; and give you a tender, powerful message on how to respond to those who use these false teachings to hurt us.
An encore episode to help set your heart free!

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Infuriating fanatics who just so happen to be family! Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Today, we talk about all the things you hear from radical Christians - anti-gay, and anti-trans hate and lies, Christian nationalism, hypocrisy. It can be maddening and infuriating.

We ask if those are real thoughts and questions, real concerns, or are they just repeating what they have been programmed to say??

We even have some fun ask if they are real people or are they just bots??

And, most importantly, we talk about how to respond, especially when they just so happen to be family members.

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PRIDE! It's a celebration, not a sin! Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

June is Pride Month — a time dedicated not just to parades and rainbow flags but to profound affirmation and resistance against discrimination.

The skewed Christian view of pride involves a self-centered attitude, placing oneself above others. But the LGBTQ+ community is not declaring themselves above anyone else.

Pride Month was born from a necessity to stand against oppression and claim a rightful place in society — not out of a desire to dominate, but a need to exist openly and safely!

Let's set the record straight: It’s about love, not arrogance.

We talk about what Pride really is and how it’s a powerful expression of love’s triumph over shame.

It’s a celebration – not a sin!

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Is this the deadliest teaching in human history? Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Is this the deadliest teaching in human history?
An encore presentation of our most-listened-to episode ever — and maybe our most powerful. And honestly? It feels even more urgent now than when we first released it.
In this episode, we unpack one of the most destructive ideas humanity has ever embraced — a belief system at the root of division, oppression, shame, and violence for centuries.
It has fueled the mistreatment of ethnic groups, religious minorities, women, LGBTQ people, and so many others. And right now, it’s everywhere again.
What is this teaching? How does it still shape our world? And how do we break free from it?
This conversation matters.

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The Common-Sense Truth About LGBTQ Love: Why It's Not Sinful - And Never Was May 27, 2026

Show notes

We’ve walked through the theology, the scripture, the Greek and Hebrew — but today we’re doing something refreshingly simple: Common sense.

We explore the everyday wisdom that makes it absolutely clear: being LGBTQ — and loving who you love — is not sinful. Not even close.

No clobber passages. No theological gymnastics. Just real life, real love, and real clarity.

We break down:

🌈 Why love that harms no one can never be sin
🌈 Why you can’t “repent” of being who you are
🌈 Why the fruit of LGBTQ lives disproves the fear
🌈 Why God wouldn’t wire people for love and then punish them for it
🌈 Why authenticity always leads toward compassion, not away from it

If you need a breath of fresh air…
If you want language to counter harmful teachings…
If you simply want to hear truth spoken plainly and lovingly…

This one’s for you. 💛✨

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