Queerology: A Podcast on Belief and Being

Read This to Get Smarter: about Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More

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Blair Imani Wants You to Get Smarter Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Blair Imani is a critically acclaimed historian, author, educator, and influencer living at the intersections of black, bi-sexual, and Muslim identity.

Blair’s viral microlearning series, Smarter In Seconds, demonstrates her signature style of making abstract concepts more concrete in a well-researched, well-presented, and concise manner.

Also, Blair is the author of Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More, Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream, and Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History.

Blair’s work centers women and girls, global black communities, and the LGBTQ community. She is dedicated to making the world a better place and amplifying the voices and work of those fighting the good fight.

Topics Discussed:

Faith and Identity: Too many identity labels and faith-based assumptions
Becoming Muslim: Right path to express self-understanding externally
Islam Education: Beautiful and innovative approach to replace fear, bullying
Puzzle Piece: Perfection eludes people of faith, but being Muslim fit in perfectly
Christian Parents: Not there to tell you what to think, but how to think
Ability vs. Disability: Intelligence is how information is absorbed and duplicated
Individualism: People are not always ordained to have basic human rights
Human Interaction: Set boundaries and treat others with respect to build trust

Links and Resources:

Blair Imani

Blair Imani on Instagram

Blair Imani on YouTube

Blair Imani on Patreon

Smarter In Seconds

Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream

Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Benjamin Rush

Carl Linnaeus

Tila Tequila

Carlos Valieri on Degrassi

Diversity of Sexual Orientation - Kinsey Institute

GLAAD

Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame

You Will Get Through This Night: A Practical Mental Health Guide

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Practical Mental Health with Daniel Howell Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

Daniel Howell is known for his self-deprecating and sarcastic humor, but he has also spoken and written about his struggles with depression and sexuality. This mix of entertainment with the profound and deeply personal has given Daniel a devoted following of fans.

Daniel is one of the world’s most popular and celebrated entertainers. He has written and produced comedy videos on YouTube that have reached more than one-billion views and millions of followers.

Also, Daniel has two #1 New York Times best-selling books, The Amazing Book is Not on Fire and Dan and Phil Go Outside, two stage shows with sellout world tours, and an award-winning BBC Radio 1 show.

Daniel’s new book, You Will Get Through This Night: A Practical Mental Health Guide with consultation from Dr. Heather Bolton, is an affirmation and call to action. Daniel describes lessons learned in spite of failures, depression, and anxiety. Getting well was a completely unplanned journey.

Topics Discussed:

Faith and Identity: Agnostic Atheist - God probably doesn’t exist
Be Happy: Christian or not, define your own meaning and purpose of life
Daniel’s Depression: Understanding mental health and spectacular ignorance
YouTube: Vulnerability led to first example of being treated positively by humanity
Coming Out vs. Being Outed: Some kind of gay and that is okay
Practical Tips: Be present, feel comfortable, practice gratitude, and get help

Links and Resources:

Daniel Howell

Daniel Howell’s YouTube Channel

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire

Dan and Phil Go Outside

Dan and Phil Radio Show

Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame

Jonathan Parks-Ramage’s Website

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Yes, Daddy with Jonathan Parks-Ramage May 18, 2021

Show notes

Jonathan Parks-Ramage is a Los Angeles-based novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. His debut novel, Yes, Daddy, is out today!

Yes, Daddy follows an ambitious young man named Jonah Keller, who is searching for a way to get out from under his religious upbringing. He is lured by an older, successful playwright into a dizzying world of wealth and idyllic Hamptons home where things take a nightmarish turn.

Jonathan’s writing has been published in VICE, Slate, OUT, W, Atlas Obscura, Elle, and Medium. He has lectured on journalism and creative non-fiction at Fordham University. Also, he is an alumnus of the 2018 and 2019 Bread Loaf Writers' Conferences.

Jonathan and his screenwriting partner, Marla Mindelle, recently sold their musical feature film screenplay, The Big Gay Jamboree, to Paramount Pictures. The film is executive produced by Margot Robbie, an Academy Award nominated actress.

Topics Discussed:

Identity and Faith: Jonathan’s journey as a spiritually searching queer man
Parents: Both were preachers, accepted their son, but were afraid to tell anyone
Early Bloomer Being Bullied: Difficult to be yourself at church, home, and school
Spiritual Reawakening: Jonathan’s path toward being queer and a Christian
Truth in Fiction: Jonah experiences similar narrative of sexual, spiritual trauma
#MeToo/Perfect Victim: Everyone enters into relationships for different reasons
Storytelling: Who are you, explore parts of yourself, and make a difference

Links and Resources:

Jonathan Parks-Ramage on Instagram

Yes, Daddy

Amazon Studios

New Abbey Church

Reality Church of Los Angeles

Bryan Singer's Accusers Speak Out

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Queer Youth of Faith Art Contest (Beloved Arise)

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Tara Teng Believes Justice Must Be Embodied May 04, 2021

Show notes

Tara Teng is an embodiment coach who works in the intersections of spirituality and sexuality.

Alongside collaborative work with community stakeholders, lawmakers, and organizations, Tara spent more than 10 years working to advance the socioeconomic status of women to diminish sexual violence and end human trafficking.

Tara’s advocacy has helped to pass new laws in Canada that protect victims of human trafficking, and she established that country’s first municipal action plan to combat human trafficking.

Also, Tara is a TEDx speaker, former Miss Canada, and was named “Canada’s Women of the Year” in 2011. She is one of the Globe and Mail’s “Top 25 Most Transformational Canadians,” received an International Heroes award from the Joy Smith Foundation, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal in recognition of her human rights work.

Topics Discussed:

Faith and Identity: Bisexual, bi-racial Asian-Canadian, Christian-mystic woman
Deconstruction: Evolve and question everything around you and within yourself
Shift in Faith: Jesus and his love for people and his hatred of injustice
Embodiment: Power systems/structures use our bodies for profit and control
Disembodiment and Segregation: Reclaim and reconnect with pieces of self
Intersectionality: Expressing our queerness, makes us a target, but it’s necessary
Polyamory: Connection and commitment to relationship needs and boundaries

Links and Resources:

Tara Teng

Tara Teng on Instagram

Tara Teng - TEDx Speaker

Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame

The Conscious Enneagram: How to Move from Typology to Transformation

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Abi Robins Wants You To Transform Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

Abi Robins returns to to talk about their brand new book, “The Conscious Enneagram: How to Move from Typology to Transformation.”

Abi identifies as a queer, non-binary trans person, parent, fiancée, Enneagram teacher/coach, and Yoga Therapist.

Abi trained at The Narrative Enneagram and International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).

They created the Conscious Enneagram Website and social media platform, host the Conscious Construction Podcast, and founded the Queer Enneagram.

Topics Discussed:

Contemplative Christian: Faith is in flux more than identities
What is the Enneagram, and how to use it for spiritual growth?
Real Magic: Spiritual and religious leanings and language make sense
Lineage: Who are we connected to and can we trace that?
Community: Reinfuses faith with missing mystical aspect, cultural competency
Enneagram: 9-pointed symbol of how energy becomes manifest in the universe
Individuation: Being an individual is important and brings more value
No Direction: Gain insight, get grounded, and grow with a teacher, community
Personality Types/Numbers: Right religion will make you and your life better

Links and Resources:

Conscious Enneagram Website

Conscious Enneagram on Instagram

Conscious Enneagram on Twitter

Conscious Enneagram on Facebook

Conscious Enneagram on YouTube

Conscious Construction Podcast

Queerology Podcast: Abi Robins is Queering the Enneagram

Queerology Podcast: Suzanne Stabile on the Enneagram

We Have All Hit a Wall - The New York Times

Queer Youth of Faith Art Contest (Beloved Arise)

Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame

Rachael Ward’s Website - Queer in Faith

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Living Death with Rachael Ward Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

Rachael Ward (they/them) is a public theologian and LGBTQ activist. Currently, Rachael is pursuing a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Practical Theology - pastoral care at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Rachael is the creator of the Living-Death Doula Model for Pastoral Care and cofounder of Bible Queery, a facilitation collective geared toward queer wellness and reconstruction.

Rachael lives with their wife, Chelsea, and two fur-babies in Atlanta where they focus on talking about and working around death, grief, and death doulas.

Topics Discussed:

Upbringing: Faith did not help form identity, but kept Rachael from their identity
What if I am gay? Shameful hiding and living a double life
Life and Death Matters: Birth is beautiful burst of life, death is dark and terrible
Living-Death Narratives: Grief keeps disembodied beings stuck
What is available pastorally? Affirming theology (a.k.a. the Biblical case)
Persistent Queer Themes: Disassociation, minimizing, and spiritual rationing
Living-Death Directives: Start with zero expectations and consent conversations
Steps to a Better Life: Facilitation, accessible writing, and meaningful help

Links and Resources:

Living-Death Doula

Bible Queery

American Academy of Religion (AAR)

Mosaic Grief by Melissa Kelley

Peter Levine from the Ergos Institute, Inc.

Howard Thurman

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Pure by Linda Kay Klein

Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame

Grace Semler Baldridge on Twitter

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Grace Semler Baldridge is a Preacher's Kid Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Grace Semler Baldridge, who professionally goes by the artist’s name, ‘Semler,’ is a self-identified sad, queer, folk artist.

Semler created the docuseries, State of Grace on Refinery29, where she explores what it means to identify as a Christian and a member of the LGBTQ community. The docuseries was nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism.

Also, you may know Selmer from her two TV shows, Murder With Friends and Pop Trigger.

Just a few weeks ago, Selmer made history by being the first-ever out queer person to top the Christian music charts with her new album, Preacher’s Kid.

Topics Discussed:

Faith and Identity: Queer who rediscovered clear sense of self via deconstruction
Great Movements: Starts with something small that peaks interest and curiosity
Leading Example: Dad, an Episcopal priest, was loving, affirming, and accepting
Wider Church Culture: Not spared from questioning mixed messages, rules
Preacher’s Kid: Compilation of honest, raw, explicit, processed Christian music
Inch of Peace: Reflecting on church camps, but not moved by the spirit
Painful to Pray: Pro Christians who abuse others by acting in the name of God
Jesus From Texas: Learn that blessings are sins; own both the blessing and pain
Different Worship Experience: Make space for complex relationships with creator

Links and Resources:

Grace Selmer Baldridge on Instagram

Grace Selmer Baldridge on TikTok

Under Our Roof Podcast

State of Grace on Refinery29

Preacher’s Kid

Jesus From Texas on SoundCloud

Murder With Friends

Pop Trigger

Jennifer Knapp

Pure by Linda Kay Klein

Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame

The Deconstructionists Playbook by Our Bible App — Kickstarter

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On Deconstruction and Reconstruction with Crystal Cheatham Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

Crystal Cheatham is an LGBTQ rights activist, host of Lord Have Mercy, and founder of two projects—Our Bible App and the IDentity Kit, which help people ditch toxic theology to find spiritual wellness.

Our Bible App’s The Deconstructionists Playbook takes writers and readers from deconstruction to reconstruction to liberation theology.

Since 2011, Crystal has worked as a ghostwriter and queer rights activist with Soulforce and The Attic Youth Center.

As an outspoken activist, Crystal has written about the intersections of faith and sexual identity for the Huffington Post; a faith and spirituality column for the Philadelphia Gay News; served on the steering committee of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as the Faith and Spirituality chair; and partnered with Equality PA to influence clergy to support non-discrimination legislation. Crystal received her MFA from Antioch University.

Topics Discussed:

Faith, Identity: Crystal is a very out and proud black lesbian progressive Christian
Faith Community: Where no piece or part of Crystal feels unloved or unsupported
Passionate People: No need to apply pressure, protests for positive outcomes
My People: Didn’t have to fight to be included; create your own new spaces
Visionary, not Verbal Leader: Publish uplifting, not problematic language
The Deconstructionists Playbook: Deconstruct, reconstruct, and liberate theology
God-in-a-Box Mentality: Epic churning and reckoning of faith in nation’s history
Evolve Organically: Faith and religion are more personal than allowed to be

Links and Resources:

Crystal Cheatham

Our Bible App

Bemba Press

Lord Have Mercy Podcast

Soulforce

The Attic Youth Center

Equality PA

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Vanderbilt University Divinity School

The Black Trans Prayer Book

Bad Theology Kills by Kevin Garcia