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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:

Do Christians know it's Christmastime at all? Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

This Christmas, we ask a haunting question: Do Christians know it’s Christmas time at all?

When the loudest voices in Christianity celebrate the birth of Jesus while ignoring everything he taught — feeding the hungry, welcoming the immigrant, loving without condition — something’s gone terribly wrong.

In this episode, we take an honest, sometimes snarky, always heartfelt look at how Christian nationalism and ultra-right beliefs miss the very heart of Christmas. We’ll talk about the hypocrisy, the fruit of those beliefs, and what it really means to live out the radical love of Jesus in our world today.

Because Christmas isn’t about power, control, or culture wars. It’s about love. Real, Jesus-shaped love.

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Christmas Lemon Trees & Blackberries Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Today, since Christmas is coming up, we will talk about lemons and blackberries.
I know, I know – what does THAT have to do with Christmas?
I want to tell you a couple of stories from my life that involved lemons and blackberries, and what I learned about abundance.
At this time of year, when we all make our lists of things we want, and of things to give, maybe it is the perfect time to really understand abundance.
This is going to be fun and sweet... cause, you know, blackberries! Yum.

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Jesus, the Stand-Up Comedian! Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Was Jesus kind of a stand-up comedian?
I mean think about it... A priest, a rabbi, and Jesus walked into a bar. Only Jesus recognized the setup for a joke.
I never really thought about Jesus being funny or not. I mean, we’ve heard the stories 1000 times and... I usually smile at the funnier parts, but I never exactly said, Jesus is really funny!
Then I found a little book that really opened my eyes.
I will share that with you today as we talk about how funny, profoundly funny, Jesus was.
We sure could use a few laughs right now.

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Transgender Day of Remembrance Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

This episode is different. It’s sacred.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to honor and remember the transgender people whose lives were stolen by violence, hatred, and neglect.
We wish we didn’t need a day like this. We wish the world were already safe and affirming for our trans family and friends. But the reality is, many lives are lost each year—and too often, those lives are ignored, erased, or dismissed.
So today, we stop. We pause. We remember. We honor.

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What the Bible Does & Does Not Say About Transgender People Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

You are talking about this and then it happens: someone pulls out a Bible verse and declares that God is against transgender people.
You’ve heard it from pulpits, from politicians, maybe from your own family.
But, Beloved, here’s the truth: the Bible does NOT say what these people claim it does. In fact, what the Bible does say about this is actually fully affirming!
So today, we dig in and set the record straight about what the Bible doesn’t say, what it does say, and why this matters so much right now!

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How Anti-Transgender Rhetoric Harms Everyone Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Politicians and pundits have made trans rights one of their top wedge issues. They stir up outrage, and push legislation designed to divide, distract, and control.
We’ve all seen it: bills banning gender-affirming care, bathroom access, policing pronouns, especially in state legislations. Leaders pushing them claim it’s about “protecting children” or “upholding values.”

But, it’s not! This is about consolidating power through fear.
And while trans people feel the sting of this, the harm doesn’t stop with them. It ripples outward, touching every one of us.
Because when anti-trans rhetoric spreads, it erodes compassion, truth, and freedom—for everyone.

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Is God Really Alfred Hitchcock?? Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

Let’s talk about God! Our favorite subject… Or is it?? It would be—or could be—if we hadn’t been lied to about God.
Well, our job at FreedHearts is to make you feel better about God — or have no feelings about God, that’s fine. But what we DON’T want is for you to have bad feelings about God because they’re usually connected to bad feelings about yourself – and none of that is true!
Today we tell you a story as a contrast to God—about Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock is known as the Master of Suspense. Just in time for Halloween!
This is going to be fun!

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Are Christians Following Paul Instead of Jesus? Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Jesus’ message was clear: the kingdom of God is here and now. His anger burned toward those in power who oppressed the vulnerable. His focus was justice, compassion, and service — NOT personal salvation formulas.
Yet so much of today’s theology on LGBTQ issues, sin, salvation, and authority doesn’t come from Jesus at all — it comes from Paul.
So we ask: are Christians really following Paul instead of Jesus?

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Why Christians Don't Have to Be Afraid to Support LGBTQ Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

Today’s episode is a heartfelt message to non-affirming Christians — or one you can share with them.
It’s a message of hope and courage: you do NOT need to be afraid to support LGBTQ+ people and same-sex relationships.
Yes, the climate feels hostile. Yes, fear is loud. But truth is louder. Prejudice is crumbling. Walls are falling. Pastors are rethinking long-held beliefs. Parents are choosing their child over false doctrine.
This is what faith is meant to be. Not about fear. Not about control. But about love — radical, unstoppable love.

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Is National Coming Out Day Different This Year? Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

Today’s episode is both deeply personal and powerfully relevant to the moment we’re living in.
We’re talking about coming out — as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer — in a time when hostility and attacks are escalating. This isn’t just theory — it’s raw, real, and urgent.
All of this in honor of National Coming Out Day on October 11th!

Plus, we’re sharing a major announcement about a bold new chapter for FreedHearts — one we can’t wait for you to hear.
This conversation is about courage, truth, and love in the face of fear. You don’t want to miss it.

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