Stephen Barry: Re-Finding Community, Faith, and Love

Send us a message!My guest today is Stephen Barry.Stephen is a massage therapist living in the Nashville, Tennessee area.Stephen is someone who I have wanted to have on the podcast for years, so it’s truly a delight to finally share this conversation here.Stephen originally connected with me after I was on a podcast called Everyone’s Agnostic.  We had a number of things in common including our upbringing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  And stepping away from that faith community.  Stephen also recognized my last name and asked if I was related to Doug Tilstra.  My father-in-law, Doug Tilstra, had been one of his professors in university and, as you’ll hear in Stephen’s story, has remained a prominent friend and support to him.In our conversation today, Stephen shares pieces of his story of leaving religion, coming out as gay, nearly giving up on life, and re-finding community, faith, and love.  Embedded in this is an amazing story of friendship and making life less difficult for each other.Stephen, thank you so very much for this conversation.  I feel so grateful to be connected.  Thank you for sharing your stories with authenticity, vulnerability, love, and compassion.  You make the world a better place!If you’d like to connect with Stephen, you’ll find links below.https://www.facebook.com/barryorchestra Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~   Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra