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 discusses 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 finding her purpose through drag and how it has allowed her to impact others’ lives. Our...

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 intentionality. And sometimes experimentation in finding a prayer practice that works for each...

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 to achieve. We also talk about one of our favorite practices (journaling!) and we have 7...

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 queerness led him to search for inclusion in the Bible, while Shannon explores his journey of reading the...

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 significance of understanding the legacy and movements that queer people have been a part of...

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 problem lies not in the Bible itself, but in the lens through which it is read. We encourage...

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 into the distinction between history and myth, and the importance of grappling with the complexities...

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, a lot. 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 theologies and injustices, even in the face of fear! We also want to encourage you to lean into...

In this episode, we discuss the difference between affirming theology and queer theology. We talk about the origin of queertheology.com and explore the ineffectiveness of arguing for affirmation and the need for a more proactive approach. We also delve into the rich history of queer theology and its ability to save and transform faith. It’s important to emphasize the distinction between individual experiences and organizational priorities, along with recognizing that feeling of dissonance. We...

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 the importance of intentionality has shaped his own masculinity. Cis folks can learn alot from a...

We got some big news here: Brian is writing a book! He shares his big and exciting news of signing a book deal to write about polyamory and spirituality. A topic we have been keen to talk about for years now, even if it got us some pretty good push-back! Brian discusses his journey to polyamory and the lack of resources from a Christian and queer male perspective. We explore the challenges and stigma of polyamory in Christian spaces and the anxiety surrounding sexuality. Brian explains the...

Fr. Shay talks with Angela J Herrington and discusses her new book, “Deconstructing Your Faith Without Losing Yourself.” Angela shares her personal journey of faith and the experiences that led her to write the book. She talks about her definition of deconstruction as the process of examining and questioning beliefs to determine what is worth keeping. She also addresses common misconceptions about deconstruction and explains why it has become a popular topic of discussion. We touch on the...

We’re gonna queer Lent in this episode, y’all! We discuss how to make Lenten practices more inclusive and meaningful for queer and trans individuals and talk about our own personal Lenten practices. We got some ideas for you on how to connect your queerness with spirituality during this season. We also get into the importance of community care, the value of queer organizations, and the significance of reading queer and trans theology. One of our biggest themes is how important it is to take...

We’ve got our first crossover episode this week! Fr. Shay is introducing his new podcast, ‘In the Margins,’ and talks about how this podcast is set up like a weekly sermon, mixed with some storytelling, mixed with reading these familiar texts from the margins. For his first episode, “In Christ and in Colossae,” he is diving into Colossians 1:1-2 and confronting the harms these texts have caused. Follow Fr. Shay’s podcast for a new episode each week!    Resources: In The Margins with Shannon...

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of all bodies and embodiment and in this episode we discuss the intersection of bodies and spirituality. We both have had personal experiences with shame and disconnection from our bodies, particularly in relation to  gender identity. Fr. Shay talks about how transitioning helped him become more aware of and connected to his body and also helped him explore the concept of ‘embodied spirituality’ in Catholicism where there is emphasis on taking care of the...

We’re coming to you this Thursday with a special episode and a special announcement! Registration for our new course, Soulful Sexuality, opens today! In it we’re gonna explore the intersections of sexuality, spirituality, and faith from a queer perspective. We invite you to join us as we reconnect to our bodies and challenge the negative teachings around sex and sexuality. This is a course that will be a sex-positive and inclusive space for open dialogue. You can learn more and register at...

This episode explores the difference between rules and ethics in the context of faith and spirituality. We share our personal experiences with rule-based perspectives and the anxiety and fear that can come with them. We discuss the presence of rules in both conservative and progressive spaces, highlighting the moral purity often found in the latter. This conversation emphasizes the importance of shifting from a rule-based perspective to one rooted in values and ethics. And we’re here to help...

In this episode, we explore the genealogy of Jesus and the inclusion of “scandalous” women in the biblical narrative. Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Tamar, and Mary. We dive extra into Rahab’s story, emphasizing her transformation from a sex worker to a great-(great…great…)grandmother of Jesus. The impact of Jesus’ family tree on his worldview and his encounters with scandalous women are discussed. The conversation also delves into the sanitization of biblical stories and the harm it can cause. We...

For this episode, we have a special guest! Brian interviews Kevin Garcia (they/them) about their new book “What Makes You Bloom?” They discuss Kevin’s background, their concept of God, and the importance of finding wonder in nature. They also explore Kevin’s Christian upbringing and their journey to freedom through deconstruction. Kevin shares the challenges of leaving the church and why they ultimately stopped believing in “staying to create change.” They discuss the heartbreak of leaving...

In this episode, we’re exploring the topic of desire and going beyond sexual desire to encompass desire in all its various forms. We discuss the negative messages and fear surrounding desire, in both conservative and progressive religious circles and how that also reverberates into other areas of our lives. We emphasize the importance of reconnecting with and honoring one’s desires, as well as the role of intuition in guiding desires. We also explore the intersection of spirituality and...

We’re sharing our favorite aspects of queer and trans faith and spiritual practices. We talk about how we’ve developed our own spiritual practices over the years, really leaning into what feels best for us and how they align with our values. The important part of creating spiritual practices is that they must be in line with your values! And sometimes finding spiritual practices means going beyond the traditional notions of what those ought to look like. We also discuss the significance of...

We’re queering Christmas for this episode of the podcast! First, we’re gonna explore the queer and political aspects of Christmas by examining the gospel of Luke and Matthew from the Bible. Then we discuss the meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus, emphasizing the radical and political nature of the story. Finally, we really dive into the birth narratives in both of these books of Luke and Matthew, highlighting the differences and the theological and political messages conveyed in each....

In this episode, we discuss the challenges and stress that can come with the holiday season, particularly for queer and trans individuals. We share personal stories of past stressful holidays and how we’ve learned to navigate and set boundaries with our families. We emphasize the importance of having a plan and a support system in place, as well as the need to do the inner work to recognize one’s worthiness and the right to set boundaries. We share the outline of the four steps of Soul Safe,...

We both are huge believers in being life-long learners and not just for the benefit of expanding knowledge. We’ve found continued learning, curiosity, and asking questions has had a positive impact on our spiritual lives as well. One thing that really supports learning is being in community with others who are wrestling with and asking similar questions. So we invite you to join us! We’ve got a new and exciting way to connect with community and resources. And as you think about what role...