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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:

The absolute truth about how God sees you: Religion is wrong, you are NOT broken. May 06, 2026

Show notes

Religion is wrong, you are not broken. You are beloved.
A viral meme claimed your smallest sin is “infinitely offensive” to a holy God — but don’t worry, Jesus covers you.
We’re calling that what it is: spiritual shame dressed up as devotion.
In this episode, we dismantle the idea that you’re a cosmic disappointment and reclaim a deeper truth:
You were never vile.
You were never a liability.
You are already beloved.
The truth is, when God looks at you, when God sees you, you are perfect.

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5 Things You Can Do to Help LGBTQ+ People Right Now Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

So many people are asking the same question right now:
What can I actually do that makes a difference?
In this episode, we slow things down and get practical.
Not perfect. Not performative. Not someday. Now.
We share five real, tangible ways you can show up for LGBTQ+ people —
as an ally, a parent, a friend, a neighbor, and a human being. From advocacy and
voting, to supporting queer creators and businesses, to getting involved locally,
listening deeply, and sharing affirming resources that change lives.
You don’t have to do everything. You just have to do something.
And the best time to start—or to ramp it up—is now.

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We are NOT the Resistance. We are the River! Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

We’ve been told for years: be the resistance.
But what if that’s why so many people fighting for love and inclusion feel exhausted?

Inspired by a talk from Glennon Doyle, this episode flips the whole idea:
We are not the resistance. We are the river.
The current of belonging has always been moving — widening across history no matter who tried to stop it. Our role isn’t just to argue or brace against the world… it’s to step into that flow, find our place in it, and live the kind of life that invites others into the water too.
Joy isn’t a distraction from advocacy. It’s one of its most powerful tools.
Because fear can demand compliance — but only love creates movement.

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Breaking Free from the Approval of Others Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

People can't give what they don't have, and many people simply don't have approval to give. But remember, this has nothing to do with you. 
When faced with the rejection and disapproval of others, it’s important to separate your well-being from someone else’s approval. It's just their opinion, and it doesn’t have to mean anything to you. 
It's not about your worth in any way whatsoever, it is about but their lack of approval, and the fears and false teachings that fuel that.
How can we break free from the approval of others?

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Loving Queer Kids in a Hostile World Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Loving queer kids today requires honesty: they are growing up in a world that actively questions their right to exist, to be safe, and to belong. In this episode, we speak plainly to parents, caregivers, and allies about what LGBTQ+ kids need — not someday, but right now — in a cultural and political climate that is increasingly hostile.

We confront the real harm caused by silence and “good intentions,” challenge adults to move beyond private support into public protection, and name advocacy as a non-negotiable part of love.

This episode is a call to action for anyone who claims to care about queer kids.

Because love that doesn’t protect is not love — it’s abandonment.

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When “Just Disagreeing” Becomes Dangerous Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

“We can disagree and still love each other” is often framed as maturity or respect — but what happens when that disagreement puts real people at risk? In this episode, we confront how “just disagreeing” about LGBTQ+ lives, identities, and inclusion stops being neutral and starts becoming dangerous.

We examine the real-world consequences of polite harm, the myth of neutrality, and the cost of silence when injustice is dressed up as belief or civility.

This is a call to move beyond comfort and into responsibility — for families, allies, and anyone who claims to love LGBTQ+ people.

Because love that refuses to protect is not love at all.

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Valentine’s Day Isn’t for Everyone — And That’s Okay Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Valentine’s Day can be beautiful for some — and deeply complicated for others. In this episode, we make space for those who feel unseen, pressured, or left out by traditional narratives of love.

We explore why romantic love is often treated as the ultimate measure of worth, how that harms LGBTQ+ people and their families, and what it means to reclaim a broader, more honest definition of love.

This is an invitation to opt out of shame, redefine belonging, and remember that your life, your timing, and your way of loving are already enough.

Because love was never meant to be narrow — it was meant to make room.

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The Myth of "Traditional Marriage" and The "Perfect" Family Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

You’ve heard the false teachings. You’ve read the posts. You’ve seen the statements of faith declaring, “Marriage is between one man and one woman.”
This episode is for every LGBTQ+ person harmed by those words — and for every Christian parent who affirms their child, yet still hears that sentence reverberating through their church, their family, and their faith.
Let’s be clear: no one should believe the Bible condemns them — or their child — because of that claim.
Because it isn’t biblical. It isn’t historical. And it isn’t truth.
In today’s episode, we expose the lie and shatter the myth of “traditional marriage” and the fantasy of the "perfect" family — replacing it with what Scripture actually reveals: love, covenant, justice, and grace.
Beloved, this truth belongs to you!

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The Myth of “Traditional” Values Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

You’ve heard it repeated by nonaffirming Christians and right-wing politicians: “traditional values.”

But listen closely — and notice what’s missing.

Honesty. Fidelity. Compassion. Justice. Kindness.
So what are “traditional values,” really? Whose tradition are we talking about? From which era? From which culture? From which Bible — and whose Christianity?
In this episode, we expose the myth of “traditional values,”how the phrase became a political weapon instead of a moral compass, and what real, Jesus-shaped values actually demand of us.

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The State of LGBTQ Lives: Where We Are, What’s Coming, and How We Love Forward in 2026 Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

As we step into a new year, we name the truth of this moment for LGBTQ+ lives and rights — without panic, without denial, and without losing hope.

We talk about what’s happening now, what 2026 may bring, and how we respond with courage, clarity, and love.
This episode is for LGBTQ+ people, parents, allies, and anyone who refuses to let fear dictate the future.
We unpack the political landscape, the shifts happening inside faith communities, the fierce resilience of LGBTQ+ youth, and the real, practical ways each of us can show up — for ourselves, for our families, and for the generations coming next.
This is not a warning. It’s a roadmap.

A reminder that you are not powerless — and an invitation to love boldly in 2026.

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