EPISODE · Feb 19, 2026 · 37 MIN
Episode 156: Radical Empathy in Space: Faith, Identity & Finding Yourself with Christian Hurst
from Everything & Anything...and a bit gay Podcast · host Zach Randes-Friedman
In This Episode:Christian’s journey from growing up in the Mormon church to embracing humanismThe danger of absolutism — and why “I don’t know” is powerfulStorytelling as survival and self-interrogationHow sci-fi (and yes, Star Trek!) shapes empathyWhy his protagonist Lily Starling wakes up without her memoryWriting queer characters without making queerness the “issue”Radical agency in female protagonistsLoneliness, outsider identity, and reaching younger readersWriting in a linear, Shakespeare-inspired processCreativity vs. day jobs — and practical advice for artists afraid to leapLeadership, compassion, and why being a good boss mattersWhat to expect from Book 3 (hint: darker themes, institutional tension)Realistic optimism and the small ways we impact the worldAbout Christian’s Books:Voyage of the Salamander – Book OneStorm Riders – Book TwoBook Three currently in progressA sweeping sci-fi series centered on Lily Starling, a queer young woman navigating identity, agency, institutions, and connection in a vast and evolving universe. Follow Christian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churstpublishing/Christian's Website: https://www.churstpublishing.com/Buy Christian's Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0aCOLl8l Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
What happens when you grow up inside a rigid belief system… and choose curiosity instead of certainty? In this episode, Zach sits down with author Christian Hurst to explore the intersection of sci-fi, identity, faith, and humanism. From growing up in the Mormon church to embracing a humanist philosophy rooted in empathy and shared humanity, Christian shares how storytelling became both survival and self-discovery. They dive into his space epic series — featuring queer protagonist Lily Starling — and why representation doesn’t have to be the plot to still be powerful. This is a conversation about loneliness, creative courage, institutions, leadership, optimism, and why admitting “I don’t know” might be the most freeing thing you can say. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider… this one’s for you.
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Episode 156: Radical Empathy in Space: Faith, Identity & Finding Yourself with Christian Hurst
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