Queer Theology Podcast

In this conversation, we discuss the intersection of polyamory, spirituality, and faith. We explore why monogamous individuals should care about polyamory, the importance of integrating spirituality and non-monogamy, and how polyamory can inspire new ways of structuring relationships and the world. We also get into the need for proactive positive messages to counteract shame and negative societal...

In this episode, we discuss the importance of listening to the wisdom of our bodies. Really tuning in and paying attention to what your body is trying to tell you. We explore how societal messages of sex negativity and shame can lead to a disconnection from our bodies, and how reclaiming that connection can be a powerful act of resistance. It is so important to recognize the significance of joy an...

We're answering a listener question on the podcast this week: Have you always been so open minded? And if you haven't, what was it that made you become this way? Not only do we answer this question but we discuss the importance of curiosity and open-mindedness in ALL aspects of life. We share their personal experiences of how we were able to cultivate curiosity and the role it has played in our jo...

In this conversation, Brian and Shannon discuss the theme of unlearning and relearning. They share personal experiences and insights on the process of unlearning harmful beliefs and embracing new perspectives. They touch on topics such as masculinity, the fear of not being accepted by God, and the concept of abundance in Christianity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-reflection a...

Avra Shapiro (they/them) joins us for a fantastic conversation about God this week. Avra is a queer Jewish mystic and freelance Kohenet and discusses their journey to becoming a Kohenet. Avra shares their understanding of God as an ever-flowing source of support and the importance of cultivating a personal relationship with the divine, especially by using different names for God. Avra explains how...

We've known Rev. Jes Kast for a long time now and it was an absolute pleasure to have her on the pod this week talking queer, country, femme ministry! Jes is a minister of word and sacrament in the United Church of Christ and shares her journey of faith and queerness in this conversation. She discusses her upbringing in a conservative Christian environment and her deep connection to her identity a...

Rabbi Andy Kahn is on the podcast this week sharing their journey of self-discovery, faith, and the intersection of queerness and Judaism. They discuss their experience growing up Jewish, their path to becoming a rabbi, and their work in eco-theology. Our conversation delves into the concept of God, relationality, and the interconnectedness of all life forms. Rabbi Kahn discusses the interplay bet...

And the big announcement is- we're writing a book!! We're so excited that we can finally, officially announce our upcoming book, "Reading the Bible Through Queer Eyes." This is a working title, the whole publishing process is full of edits and changes. But we're excited, nervous, scared, ecstatic and we can't wait to share it with our community. This book is going to offer a whole new way to read...

Jennifer Knapp discusses her journey on the pod this week as a singer-songwriter in the contemporary Christian music industry and her subsequent shift to more mainstream music. She talks about the tension she felt between the inspiring messages of Christianity and the restrictive expectations and shame associated with it- particularly in relation to purity culture. Knapp shares her decision to lea...

We have Billie Hoard on the podcast this week for a conversation that explores the intersection of queerness, spirituality, theology, and delving into the impact of disgust and its connections with purity culture and fascism. Billie shares her personal experiences and insights, highlighting the role of disgust in shaping social boundaries and exclusion. The discussion also addresses the concept of...

Jessica Jacobs joins us this week to talk about her new book of poetry, "Unalone." It's a beautiful collection of poems that are inspired by and in conversation with Genesis. As you read through them, you move through Genesis. It's such an incredible concept and moving poetry! Jessica also talks about her life and experiences as a queer woman who came to religion later in life as well as the power...

We are so excited to welcome Cassidy Hall to the podcast for a conversation about her book, 'Queer and Contemplation.' We talk with Cassidy about the importance of queering traditional religious concepts and practices. She shares her personal experiences with faith and queerness, and how they intersected in her upbringing. Hall defines contemplation as a sacred pause and emphasizes the need for bo...

It's officially Pride Month and we're so excited to share how we're going to celebrate it this year! We share personal stories of pride, acceptance and reflect on the power of queer elders and the generations that have come before us to make Pride what it is today. Not to mention, how they have made the world a better place. We also discuss the importance of finding role models and community suppo...

It's no secret that we're really big fans of spiritual practice. Especially one that really makes you feel connected to your queer spirituality! In this episode, we discuss the difference between spiritual practices and habits. We explore how spiritual practices can connect us to ourselves, something bigger than us, and other people. We share personal stories and examples of how spiritual practice...

We discuss the connection between queerness and spirituality in this episode… Yes- that is what we're ALWAYS trying to get at! Here we share our personal experiences of feeling disconnected from queerness and spirituality in the past. Finding ways to integrate them into our everyday lives has been a journey and we've got some ways you can start to feel more connected to your queerness.    Takeaway...

We are so excited to bring you a special interview on the pod this week! Not only did we get to preview the new season of "We're Here," but we got to interview one of the stars of the show, Latrice Royale. Latrice discussed the importance of the show and how it is shedding light on the struggles of the queer community as well as dispelling misinformation about drag. She also shares her journey of...

In this conversation we explore the topic of prayer from our different perspectives as an atheist and an ordained Catholic priest. We discuss what prayer is and why people pray, as well as the need for alternatives to prayer. We also got 13 alternatives to prayer that you can put into your spiritual practice today (hint- you might already be doing some of them!). The important thing here is the in...

Y'all know we love asking questions. So in this episode we're gonna to get into the importance of asking questions to deepen one's faith. That might seem counterintuitive to what we've been taught because so much of conservative religious upbringing is to NOT ask questions. We explain how asking questions is crucial because it helps individuals clarify what is important to them and what they want...

In this episode, we get into our ever evolving relationship with the Bible. We reflect on our early experiences with the Bible as children, including the simplified and often traumatizing stories we were taught. As we grew older, both of us felt pressure to read the Bible regularly and experienced a ton of guilt when we didn't meet those expectations. Brian shares how his discovery of his queernes...

Sometimes, it's really empowering to look back on where we came from. With Fr. Shay's upcoming lecture on the history of Queer theology, we wanted to dive into this a bit for this episode. It is so important for us to know our queer history, and we share our personal experiences with learning about it. How it shaped us then and how it continues to shape us now! We really want to highlight the sign...

If there is one question we get alot it's: where to find an LGBTQ+ Affirming translation of the Bible? Like, we get this question ALOT alot. So we're going to get into it on this week's episode! If you are deconstructing or seeking a more expansive view of God, it can lead you to question the Bible translation you are using. And that is actually really great! What we want to emphasize is that the...

It's Easter Sunday and we're discussing the concept of Easter and how it relates to the struggles and questions faced by those in progressive faith communities. We explore the role of miracles and The Resurrection story in Christianity, and the tension between belief and skepticism. We really want to highlight the power of storytelling and metaphor as a way to convey deeper truths. We also get int...

It's Holy Week for many Christians so we're kicking it off with an episode on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is one of those things that we come back to. Like, alot. The messy and powerful nature of Palm Sunday just lends itself to the parallels we see in the struggles of queer folk during the AIDS crisis and continuing today. On this Palm Sunday, we encourage you to stand up and confront oppressive the...

We got more big news: Fr. Shay is writing another book! In this episode, he talks about his inspiration to write, 'No One Taught Me How to Be a Man: What a Trans Man's Experience Reveals About Masculinity.' We discuss the shifts in masculinity and how it is viewed among different groups, navigating masculinity as a trans man, and the crisis of masculinity. Shay shares how the gift of transness and...