Queer Theology Podcast

Brian is joined by his longtime friend, Michael R. Speciàle (@ speciale.mr ) on this pod this week for an interview that is funny, provocative, and moving. Michael is a writer, performer, and cultural strategist based in Los Angeles. He grew up between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, converted himself to the Mormon Church at fifteen, faithfully served a mission in Paraguay, and left th...

In this episode, Fr. Shannon reflects on the grief and complexity of navigating a strained relationship with family after coming out. After a recent trip home, he shares the painful realization that no amount of patience or perfectly crafted theological arguments can change people who are unwilling to change. It's ok to grieve the family relationships we hoped for while still honoring our own need...

Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez (@timothy.s.rodriguez) joins Brian on pod this week to discuss his debut memoir, "Conversion Therapy Dropout,"  and his journey through eight years of conversion therapy, evangelical megachurch culture, sobriety, and spiritual reconstruction. Tim spent almost a decade in gay conversion therapy- all while working behind the scenes at some of the most influential Evangeli...

June 14, 2026 Libsyn:  Timestamp:    Reclaiming Ritual   In this episode, Fr. Shannon reflects on how we can reconnect with spiritual practices after being hurt by faith communities or religious experiences. Following a personal experience that left him with hurt feelings (see episode 642!), he realized the importance of intentionally creating space for meaningful spiritual rituals. Fr. Shannon ex...

We're so excited to welcome comedian, author, and internet storyteller Kevin James Thornton (@kevinjamesthornton) to the Podcast this week to talk about his new memoir, Big Gay Baby: On Beginnings, Endings, and Being Unapologetically Yourself. Kevin reflects on the accidental TikTok videos that connected thousands of people through shared experiences of growing up in fundamentalist Christianity, t...

On this week's episode, Fr. Shannon responds to listener questions that touch on some of the core themes of his (and Brian's!) work and ministry. He explores what Jesus meant by the "narrow path," reframing it not as a difficult and exclusionary road toward a distant heavenly reward, but as the daily work of building community, loving our neighbors, and helping bring about the kingdom of Heaven he...

Brian is joined by long-time friend, Jason Tseng (they/them), @queeriously on the pod this week for a joyful and inspiring conversation about queer spirituality, storytelling, and moving through the world as a queer Christian. Jason, a queer, non-binary Chinese-American playwright based in New York City, talks about the different stories from their life that led to writing plays, including Fear an...

This week we queer one of our favorite passages, Micah 6:1–8, and explore one of the Bible's clearest calls to justice: "do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God." It often feels like messages of the prophets continue to resonate so deeply today, especially in a world where faith is often reduced to rule-following and anxiety-inducing checklists. We unpack how this passage...

In this episode, Father Shannon shares a deeply personal and recent story about being denied Communion by a Catholic priest despite identifying as Catholic himself and serving as an ordained priest in the Old Catholic tradition. Reflecting on the pain and rejection that surfaced in this encounter, Fr. Shannon explores how bad theology hurts people. He also reflects on how healing is never linear,...

We queer two chapters in this week's episode and explore God's expansive vision of belonging and justice that is the throughline between them. Both passages challenge insider/outsider binaries and emphasize that God's covenant community is open to all. Especially, in these passages, immigrants and those historically excluded. They also call people into active participation in justice, mercy, and c...

In this episode, we explore the idea that everyone needs a village or that everyone wants to build community. The thing is, when it comes to actually being the Villager.. no one wants to put in the effort. Or they think it needs to be a big effort. Or cost alot. Or look perfect. But that is not the case! Building meaningful community in a world that often prioritizes convenience and individuality...

In this week's episode we queer Mark 10:17–31 and look at some of Jesus' most challenging teachings. The ones that really make you think about how difficult it would be to let go of wealth, privilege, and certainty in order to follow a more expansive, justice-centered vision of love. There is often a tendency to explain away hard passages about money while taking other scriptures literally. But is...

Fr. Shannon brings us this week's episode and it is the first in a series on the books of Colossians. In this first episode on book 1 of Colossians, he invites us into the deeply human world of letter writing and explores how this ancient text started as a letter to a real community navigating complex questions of identity, faith, and belonging. What does it mean to be "in Christ" while also roote...

It's Easter Sunday so we dive into the messy, complicated, and deeply meaningful questions surrounding resurrection, belief, and what it all means in the world today. We explore the literal vs. metaphorical resurrection of Jesus and broader questions about God, suffering, and the reconciliation of all things. There is an element in the Easter resurrection story that rather than offering neat answe...

Brian shares part of his interview with Jonah Wheeler on the podcast this week. Together they explore the complex intersections of sex, spirituality, and personal history, unpacking how formative experiences, particularly around desire, power, and validation, shape the ways we show up in intimate encounters. Jonah shares  an experience from his early 20s that becomes a lens for examining "daddy is...

This week, Fr. Shannon sits down with Samantha Boucher, (@sceboucher) a trans activist and political organizer with deep roots in Appalachia, to explore how growing up in a rural, conservative community shaped her approach to justice, belonging, and advocacy. Samantha shares her journey from disaster response and intelligence work into national politics, becoming the first openly trans federal cam...

In this episode, Brian explores a provocative idea: what if your orgasms were a form of activism? In a world that often tries to make people (especially queer folks, women, and non-monogamous people!) feel small, ashamed, or powerless, reclaiming pleasure can be a radical act of resistance. Brian looks at how shame around sex has historically been used as a tool of control and why separating love...

For this episode, Fr. Shannon talks with author Steven C. Law to explore the life and legacy of Rev. Robert W. Wood, a WWII veteran, United Church of Christ pastor, and author of the groundbreaking 1960 book, "Christ and the Homosexual." Steven is a writer whose work bridges faith and cultural engagement. His commitment to compassionate storytelling enriches "The Story of Bob" with insight and emp...

In this episode, we answer a listener question and then queer Matthew 17:1–9 for the second Sunday in Lent. The Transfiguration as a powerful coming out story and when we reflect on Jesus taking his closest friends up the mountain, revealing something radiant and vulnerable about his identity, and asking them to hold that truth tenderly for a time, it's an experience that resonates deeply with que...

In this solo episode, Fr. Shannon is sharing his curated list of favorite books about theology, prayer, memoir, the Bible, and in-depth study- which is perfect for anyone looking to deepen their faith with a queer and justice-centered lens. He reflects on the texts that have shaped his theology and imagination and highlights transformative prayer resources. He also offers his go-to Bible study too...

A guided audio experience for this time of reflection and renewal as we work toward collective liberation. Signup at queertheology.com/lent

In an inspiring episode, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@rabbidanyaruttenberg) returns to the podcast to explore what it means to treat our lives, and our world, as sacred texts in a time of rising fascism, burnout, and moral confusion. Shaped by decades of organizing, she challenges the false divide between "religious" and "moral" behavior, reminding us that any authentic spiritual life must be rooted i...

We're going back to the beginning for this episode as we dive into Genesis 1–3 to unpack how dominant Christian narratives of "the fall" and "original sin" have shaped theology, politics, and our sense of human worth. Reflecting on our evangelical upbringings, we explore how starting the story with human failure robs us of agency and fuels passivity which can be religious or political! But what if...

In this episode, we return to our roots and queer the passage, Matthew 4:12–23 by exploring Jesus's turn toward public ministry in the wake of John the Baptist's arrest and what that moment of political repression reveals about courage, solidarity, and collective action. In light of the state violence and community resistance and ongoing organizing and protests in Minneapolis, we reflect on Jesus...

In this episode, Brian is joined by the inimitable Reverend Sex @reverand_sex (Alba Onofrio), executive director of Soulforce (@souforceorg), for a conversation about queer faith, spiritual violence, and the liberative possibilities of sex-positive theology. Rev. Alba Onofrio is a theologian and spiritual activist rooted in the U.S. South, engaged in human rights work for over two decades througho...