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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:

Hypnotherapy: The Gift of a New Narrative Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

I recently had a session of hypnotherapy and I want to share with you because it was so empowering for me and I think it can empower you too.

In fact, I asked the Universe, Spirit for a message JUST for you (because I’m always thinking of you!) and you know what? I got one!

You’re gonna love this. I’m eager to share it all with you.

Let’s do this.

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Selfcare. Staying Positive In Times Like These Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

We’ve been through a lot of deconstruction, many of us, and have been finding a lot of freedom.
It’s so easy to look outside ourselves, and point at what needs to change in the world — and no doubt it does! I would bet that virtually every person listening is wanting to help rebuild the world into better shape than it is right now.
But how can we do selfcare in all of this? How can we stay positive?
This may look different because the problems may seem so big, insurmountable, but that’s even MORE reason to make our own changes, not less.
There is a way to shift US that can shift the whole. A way to regain our power to create something more than we thought was possible.

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How Do We Save America? Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

We hear this question a lot lately: How do we Save America?
Whispered in grief and shouted in frustration.
From parents afraid for their trans kids, from exhausted teachers, from faith leaders trying to hold shattered communities together.
We hear it from the hearts of people who love this country—not so much for what it has been, but for what it could be.
Saving America is not about taking it back. It’s about bringing it forward. Into love. Into justice. Into healing.
Where do we begin?

Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-)

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For Dads of LGBTQ+ Children – A Special Episode Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Just Rob today - in time for Father’s Day - with a very special episode talking to Dads. But this is good for all parents, for LGBTQ+ kids, for allies. It helps us better understand and support.
So, Dads, your child is gay or bisexual or transgender. Your love for your child seems to somehow conflict with your faith - at least according to what you may hear from Christian friends.
Like it or not, you are on this journey. What do you do? What kind of Dad will you be?
This is NOT a choice for your child. YOU are the one who has the choice - to unconditionally love, accept and affirm your child, or not.

I am the father of five children, two of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community. In this encore episode, I share three real responses from other Dads. And I ask you to think about which one is the most like you?

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PRIDE! It's a Celebration, Not a Sin Jun 04, 2025

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 and, most critically, above God. 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. It’s about love, not arrogance.
Today, we share an encore presentation 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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Should I Stay or Should I Go? Evaluating Safety May 28, 2025

Show notes

I know you feel it. So much fear. So much worry. We see it everywhere, we see it in our own family.
Many are considering whether to stay in their state, or even stay in the country. Or whether it is time to go.
We asked several people we respect in this community about the topic and their answers could not be more varied.
Beloved, what is the right thing to do for your own safety, for those you love, for the communities you care about?

Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-)

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To Christian Parents of LGBTQ+ Children May 21, 2025

Show notes

Your child says, “Mom, I’m Gay!”
You want to shove those words back in and put the lid on. But you can't. Your child is gay or bisexual or transgender. This goes against everything you've been taught. It was not what you had in mind, and you instantly wonder where you went wrong.
When you become a parent, you know to expect the unexpected. But for many Christian parents, nothing can prepare them to hear this from their child.
I invite you to sit down, relax, maybe get a cup of tea, and soak in what we talk about today. My hope is to guide you as we walk for a bit through this maze of confusion, to help you find your way to wholeness.
Whether you have been on this journey for days or decades, this is a wonderful episode for you.

Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-)

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What Is This Mom Supposed To Do? May 14, 2025

Show notes

We heard from a Mom who loves her daughter but does not accept her being gay, understanding but not really understanding, embracing but letting her daughter know she does not approve.
And this Mom could not understand why that was wrong, and why her heart need to be set free.
She represents many on this journey of deconstruction who are in limbo – so overwhelmed by the voices coming from the church, Christian friends, old false teachings, that they cannot hear the still small voice of Spirit.
What is this Mom supposed to do?

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Moms, You Are Not a Disappointment! May 07, 2025

Show notes

Today, a beautiful episode focused on Moms.
Mother’s Day will come and go. Maybe you’ll do brunch with family, get a call from the kids, maybe open a card or a present. Or not.
If you get a card, it is quite likely that reading those words of appreciation will bring simultaneous joy and guilt!
Seems to be the nature of motherhood.
Sit with me… I would like to talk with you today as a Mom.

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My Transgender Child: A Mother's Tender Story Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

With all that has been going on to attack, condemn, and erase our precious transgender community, we thought it was the perfect time for this.

In this very special, intimate episode, we share something that came from a mom of transgender daughter.

She wrote it for her pastor, for anyone, who is trying to sort out transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary—trying to understand what transgender people and their families go through.

This is an incredibly powerful story. It is beautifully written and conveys so well the heart of what it is to parent a transgender child.

An encore presentation, perfect for all that is happening today.

Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-)

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