Proudly on Record

Dan Shenk (he/him) grew up the son of Mennonite missionaries in Tanzania, East Africa, spent his teenage years boarding at a mission school, and later found himself ordained as a chaplain working inside Rikers Island and the Virginia State Penitentiary. But it's what happened next that defines his legacy: as a gay man coming into his own identity in 1980s New York City, Dan became one of the co-fo...

Proudly On Record sits down with Spencer, who is a non-binary lesbian, YouTuber, and community builder who grew up in a conservative Eastern European country where queerness wasn't visible or discussed. In this episode, they take us through the slow, nonlinear process of understanding their gender identity after immigrating to Canada as a teenager, encountering queer community for the first time,...

Religious trauma is real abuse and it's time we stop letting it get minimized. In this episode, Elise and Kari sit down for a candid conversation about the deep and lasting impact of religious trauma, why it maps almost perfectly onto CPTSD, and how the church runs the same narcissistic abuse cycle that keeps survivors stuck, confused, and doubting themselves for years. They get into: Why religiou...

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we sit down with Angela (she,they), a 36-year-old from Houston, Texas, who shares their remarkable journey from charismatic Christian missionary to openly queer woman in recovery. Angela talks about growing up in a non-denominational church where "God loves you no matter what" was the message, even as subtle signals told her being gay was something to hide. Sh...

Pastor, educator, and queer theologian Stephen Lowe (he/they) joins us for a conversation about reclaiming Christianity from evangelical toxicity and finding liberation as a queer Anabaptist Christian. Stephen grew up in a tight-knit Mennonite community in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, where his family had been rooted since the 1600s. As a queer, gender non-conforming pastor now serving in Appalac...

Writer and podcaster DL Mayfield (they/them) joins us to unpack the deep harms of religious authoritarian parenting and the legacy of evangelical culture in America. DL grew up as a homeschooled pastor's kid, deeply immersed in end-times theology and evangelical purity culture. As a late-diagnosed autistic, non-binary parent, they share how reading, parenthood, and listening to their own kids ulti...

Vivian (she/her) is a Nigerian writer, singer, web designer, and queer activist working as a paralegal and first responder for STAG Initiative, a trans-focused NGO. Raised Catholic in an orphanage, she found her way to queer community through literature, social media, and underground gatherings, all while navigating a country where being LGBTQ+ is criminalized. In this episode, Vivian pulls back t...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tanya Johnson (she/her), licensed mental health counselor, clinical supervisor, and counseling professor, for a deep dive into the psychology of religious trauma and high-control groups. Dr. Johnson breaks down exactly how high-control religions use behavioral, emotional, thought, and information control to keep members compliant and disconnected from their ow...

Dr. Lulu (Coach Udaku) is a queer Nigerian immigrant pediatrician, certified life coach, bestselling author, and advocate whose life defies every box society tries to put her in. In this conversation, she opens up about her own decades-long journey to understanding her identity and how navigating faith, culture, immigration, and medicine shaped every step of the way. Dr. Lulu shares the raw, unfil...

Biconic breaks down what it means to be an AFAB (assigned female at birth) drag queen in a space historically dominated by AMAB (assigned male at birth) performers, how she built her drag persona inspired by Ursula, and why she chose drag queen over drag king. We talk about Texas's SB12 "drag ban", what it actually says, why it's deliberately vague, and how it's creating a climate of fear for perf...

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we talk with Haley (she/her), a witchy, neurodivergent, queer single parent from Dallas, Texas, about religious trauma, evangelical deconstruction, purity culture, therapy, and reclaiming personal power. Haley shares what it was like growing up in charismatic church spaces, being shaped by perfectionism and rigid Christian expectations, and learning how church...

A. Elise Joy joins Proudly on Record to talk about growing up queer in Alabama, surviving Mormon purity culture, and finding a lesbian awakening through The L Word . The conversation also dives into Mormon purity culture, religious trauma, and deconstruction. Elise opens up about converting to Mormonism as a teenager, the shame and depression that followed church discipline around premarital sex,...

In this episode of Proudly On Record, the mic turns inward as host Elise is interviewed by cohost Kari about their own story. Elise discusses growing up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist church, being homeschooled, and living in an environment shaped by extreme religious control, isolation, and fear-based messaging. They share what it was like to be raised in a world where women wore long skir...

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we sit down with Jess Grace Garcia, a queer Christian, polyamorous community builder, and co-host of Queer Consciousness, to talk about what its like being a trans-queer-poly pastor. Jess shares their journey growing up in an evangelical, cult-like church environment and what it took to deconstruct those beliefs while still holding onto spirituality. We dive i...

In this episode, we sit down with Arden Coutts (they/them), a queer trans author based in rural Nebraska who writes emotionally driven fiction centered on grief, resilience, found family, and queer identity. Arden shares their journey growing up in a small town, discovering their identity over time, and navigating life as a trans man in a rural community where LGBTQ+ resources and community spaces...

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we continue our conversation with disability advocate, nurse, and creator Ryann “Ry” Mason (Chronically_Ry). Ry shares what it is like living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects collagen throughout the body and can cause joint dislocations, chronic pain, fatigue, and mobility challenges. Ry talks about growing u...

In this episode of Proudly On Record, we sit down with Ryann “Ry” Mason to talk about what it was like growing up near Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Raised Methodist in the foothills of Appalachia, Ryann shares how she experienced church culture differently than many of her peers, while still feeling the powerful influence of evangelical politics and Liberty University’s presence in h...

Remmy (he/him) joins Proudly on Record to share a powerful story of leaving Evangelical/Southern Baptist Christianity, coming out as trans, and finding freedom through secular witchcraft and atheism. Remmy explains what it means to be a secular witch working with energy and intention rather than deities while unpacking the fear-based teachings of the church which includes anti-LGBTQ sermons, purit...

In this episode, we sit down with Heather Hester, an ally, host of 'More Human. More Kind.' and author of 'Parenting with Pride', to talk about what it really means to choose your child over fear. Heather shares the story of her son coming out in a crisis moment that cracked open her faith, challenged her evangelical upbringing, and launched her into full deconstruction. We talk about unlearning f...

Joy (she/her) joins us to talk about growing up as a Jehovah’s Witnesses in Appalachia and what happens when a high-control religion isolates you from community, culture, and even your own instincts. We dig into disfellowshipping, apostacy, and other dirty little Jehovah's Witness secrets. We also talk about bisexuality, religious stigma, family rupture, and what it looks like to stop performing a...

Zoe (she/her), an Episcopalian, theater/music kid, and editor of a college lit journal, shares what it actually felt like to realize she’s asexual and aromantic. It wasn't a dramatic “aha,” moment, but it was noticing the absence of what everyone else seemed to describe. From thinking attraction was a movie trope to realizing her “crushes” were really about deep conversation and shared interests,...

This episode is for anyone learning safety after survival. In Part 3 of our relationship mini-series, we talk honestly about something people don’t warn you about enough: healthy relationships can be deeply triggering, not because they’re wrong, but because they’re safe. When your nervous system has been wired for chaos, peace can feel unsettling. In this conversation, we unpack what it actually l...

Kit Sargent (they/them) is the host and creator of the Queer Consciousness podcast, a show built around one deceptively complex question: “ What does being queer mean to you? ” Kit shares what it was like growing up in evangelical Christianity (“fundy-light”), being homeschooled, and later walking away from the faith they were raised in. What followed was a full-scale deconstruction. Kit also spea...

We sit down with Shelly Ayers who is a high school counselor, Appalachian writer, and “true mountain child” from Stinking Creek, Tennessee (yes, it’s real). Shelly talks about the deep pull of Appalachia: the clan-like ties to land and kin, the pressure to protect your people, and what it means to tell your truth. Together, we unpack growing up Pentecostal and all the shouting, speaking in tongues...

Rachel (she/her) joins Holy Homo Healing Hour to talk about leaving Mormonism. A lifelong LDS member, Rachel breaks down the everyday realities of Mormon culture: the pressure to perform obedience, the gendered power structure of the priesthood, missions, and the way purity culture shapes adults long after they’re married. She also unpacks the moment everything shifted in 2015 with the LDS baptism...