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 the Church at twenty-three. Two decades later, that experience became the catalyst for "Bottoming for Jesus" which is his debut solo work. The conversation is an exploration of faith, sexuality, belonging, and the search for purpose. Drawing from his experience converting to Mormonism as a teenager, serving as a missionary, and later embracing his queer identity, Michael reflects on the performances we all give to find acceptance, the ways religion and desire can intertwine, and the lingering impact of religious trauma. Brian and Michael discuss queer hospitality, hookup culture, creative healing, and the surprising ways friendship shaped both of their lives. They also unpack the show's irreverent title, its liturgical structure, the role of Judy Garland as a queer patron saint, and Michael's powerful reimagining of atonement and repentance as practices of self-acceptance rather than shame. Michael invites listeners to consider what holes they're trying to fill, and what it might mean to finally come home to themselves. Resources: Follow Michael on IG: https://instagram.com/speciale.mr, https://instagram.com/familyaffairs.studio, https://instagram.com/bottomingforjesus Learn more about the show "Bottoming for Jesus" at https://bottomingforjesus.com https://familyaffairs.studio/edinburgh/bfj https://tickets.zoofestival.co.uk/event/124:2011/ Learn more and join the Community at https://www.queertheology.com/community/

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 needs through healthy boundaries. AND recognizing that boundaries can be reassessed and reaffirmed over time. Most importantly, Fr. Shannon reminds us that Chosen Family and supportive community are essential lifelines. While this journey is messy, painful, and deeply personal, you don't have to walk it alone.   Resources: Soul Safe on-demand workshop Learn more and join the Community at https://www.queertheology.com/community/ 

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 Evangelical Christian megachurches. After embracing his identity as a gay Christian and stepping away from church work, he co-founded Church Clarity, an organization that helps queer people find affirming faith communities. Born in the Midwest, he now calls New York City home, where he continues his work as a writer, digital strategist, and advocate for queer people of faith. In this conversation, Tim shares how he was drawn into the ex-gay movement, the hidden realities of conversion therapy today, and the challenges of navigating faith, sexuality, and belonging. He talks about the lasting impact of religious shame, the connection between queer identity and recovery, the search for affirming spiritual community, and the ongoing fight against Christian nationalism and anti-LGBTQ theology. Brian and Tim reflect on resilience, chosen family, the transformative power of queer community, and why no one should have to choose between their faith and who they are.   Resources: Order "Conversion Therapy Dropout" at https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889835431/Conversion-Therapy-Dropout Church Clarity Learn more and join the Community at https://www.queertheology.com/community/ 

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 explores how many queer people, after stepping away from faith because of harm, often find themselves missing the sense of ritual, connection, and meaning those practices once provided. Rather than returning to traditions that caused pain, he offers thoughtful and practical ideas for building new, life-giving spiritual practices. Whether you have a religious background or are exploring spirituality for the first time, this guidance is for creating practices that are meaningful, nourishing, and affirming, while also helping to cultivate a spirituality that challenges us in healthy ways while sustaining our well-being. Resources: Learn more and join the Community at https://www.queertheology.com/community/ 

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, the role humor plays in surviving and healing religious trauma, and the long, messy process of discovering who he is beyond the expectations of church and family. We explore queer identity, faith, heartbreak, creativity, community, and the surprising freedom that can come from starting over at any age. From evangelical youth group skits and Rocky Horror screenings to comedy, art, and life after religion, Kevin is funny, tender, and deeply resonant for anyone navigating endings, new beginnings, or the ongoing journey of becoming themselves.   Resources: Learn more about Kevin at https://www.kevinjamesthornton.com/ Order Kevin's book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kevin-james-thornton/big-baby/9780306836763/ Follow Kevin on Social: IG and TikTok @kevinjamesthornton Learn more and join the Community at https://www.queertheology.com/community/ 

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 here on Earth. He also answers a questions about the idea of false prophets and the ways fear-based religion can disconnect us from our own bodies, intuition, and sense of The Divine. Fr. Shannon reflects on the sacred work of learning to trust yourself and recognize that God may speak to different people in different ways, encouraging y'all to lean more deeply into the places where you experience truth, connection, and liberation.  Resources: Learn more and join the Community at https://www.queertheology.com/community/ 

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 and Wonder. They talk about how their gayness transformed and informed their understanding of the sacred. Brian and Jason discuss how important it is to reclaim queer spirituality by paying attention to what actually feels sacred in our lives. Jason is a Creative Partner of Flux Theatre Ensemble Plays developed by Judson Arts, Boise Contemporary Theatre, Playwrights Foundation, Pride Plays / Woolly Mammoth, and Artist at Play. They are also the artist behind the Queer Saints Project, a reclamation of queer spirituality rooted in Judson Memorial Church.    Resources: Jason Tseng Substack: Fear and Wonder See Fear & Wonder https://www.fluxtheatre.org/productions/fear-wonder  Learn more and join the Community at https://www.queertheology.com/community/ 

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 recenters us on what truly matters: not perfection, but practicing justice, mercy, and humility in the everyday moments of our lives. There is so much richness beneath this seemingly simple message that calls to the larger story of liberation and collective memory that shapes the prophet's words.   Resources: Listen to the next episodes in the series and join the Queer Bible Study at https://www.queertheology.com/community

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, and even if you have done the work to heal old wounds, they can still open up again. There is so much institutional rejection in Christian spaces but it's important to remember that no priest, pastor, or church authority can separate queer and trans people from God. And, as always, the importance of a supportive community, spiritual practices that nourish us, and the liberating truth that the kin-dom of God is already alive among queer and trans communities, is something you can wholeheartedly believe. For anyone navigating religious trauma, exclusion, or the ongoing journey of healing and reclaiming faith; you are welcome at God's table. You belong and are loved. Resources: Listen to the next episodes in the series and join the Queer Bible Study at https://www.queertheology.com/community

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 communal care. And this tension is pertinent today as we witness modern anti-immigrant rhetoric often justified by Christianity. arguing that such views contradict the text's clear ethic of inclusion. Salvation need not be seen as a distant, individual reward but as a present, collective practice of building communities rooted in equity, solidarity, and care for the marginalized. A call to live out our faith through tangible acts of justice here and now.   Resources: Listen to the next episodes in the series and join the Queer Bible Study at https://www.queertheology.com/community

In this episode we dig into why leaving harmful churches isn't enough, you also have to unlearn the bad theology you absorbed along the way.  We talk about how lingering fear, shame, reactivity, or discomfort around sex, Scripture, or Christian community can reveal where old beliefs are still running the show, even for folks who've left evangelicalism, Catholicism, or grew up in progressive spaces without learning how to engage the Bible for themselves. We get into what unlearning actually looks like and why arguing on evangelical terms keeps you stuck. You gotta be able to rebuild your faith (or recognize when to walk away from it) with grounding, nuance, and liberation. We also answer listener questions about the 1946 documentary and where to begin when returning to faith after fear. Resources: Join us and be part of Queering Advent! Find more info here.