Matthias is joined by Kevin Garcia to discuss the release of Matthias' new book, Holy Runaways, Rediscovering Faith After Being Burned by Religion. In this conversation, they explore expressing trauma online and the importance of self-care in activism. They also emphasize the need for deep friendships, self-compassion, and letting go of guilt.

Holy Runaways is available now wherever you buy books. If you order a copy before October 6, be sure to email your receipt to [email protected] to get free access to the Healing from Spiritual Abuse seminar. All details can be found at holyrunaways.com.

Queerology is back for a couple of special episodes about Matthias' new book Holy Runaways: Rediscovering Faith After Being Burned by Religion. In this episode, Matthias shares about where he's been the last year, introduces the book, and reads you a sneak peak.

If you preorder Holy Runaways before October 3, you'll get free access to the Healing From Spiritual Abuse seminar Matthias co-taught earlier this year. Just email your receipt to [email protected]. Details can be found at www.holyrunaways.com.

For Maddie Zahm, there's nothing more powerful than writing songs that scare her. On her debut EP You Might Not Like Her, the Boise-bred singer/songwriter intimately documents the massive upheaval she's experienced over the last year: a life-changing journey that includes leaving the stifling church community where she long served as a worship leader, moving to Los Angeles and coming out as queer.

With equal parts raw vulnerability and undeniable strength -- first glimpsed on her viral hit single "Fat Funny Friend" which has achieved over 30 million streams -- Maddie opens up about her personal trauma, her sexuality, and her relationship with her body, embracing the kind of unapologetic yet compassionate truth-telling that's transformative for artist and audience alike.

Shannon TL Kearns is a transgender man who believes in the transformative power of story. As an ordained priest, a playwright, a theologian, and a writer all of his work revolves around making meaning through story. He's the co-founder of QueerTheology.com and the podcast Queer Theology and his new book “In The Margins: A Transgender Man’s Journey with Scripture” released last week

Shannon is a recipient of the Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellowship in 20/21 and he was a Lambda Literary Fellow for 2019 and a Finnovation Fellow for 2019/2020. He is a sought-after speaker on transgender issues and religion as well as a skilled facilitator of a variety of workshops. His work with Brian G. Murphy at QueerTheology.com has reached more than a million people all over the world through videos, articles, online courses, and community

Links + Resources:

• Fr. Shannon's Website
• Queer Theology
• In the Margins Book

Mace Mooney is a psychotherapist in training and a leader with Affirming Youth Ministries (AYM), a nonprofit dedicated to ministering to LGBTQIA+ youth and those that love them in the name of radical inclusion, authenticity, and God’s expansive love. They’re the cohost of the podcast, No Small Thing which invites folks to live less certain and more curious lives. Today, we're chatting about their work with AYM and what we can learn about living a more curious, less certain life.

Links + Resources

• Affirming Youth Ministries
• No Small Thing Podcast
• The Artist's Way

Dianna Anderson is a nonbinary, queer writer based in Minneapolis, MN. They are the author of several books, including Damaged Goods: New Perspectives on Christian Purity and Problematic: How Toxic Callout Culture is Destroying Feminism.

Dianna’s newest book, In Transit: Being Non-Binary In A World of Dichotomies, is out today! It’s an exploration of what it means to be non-binary in a world that genders everything, down to the very words we use. They start off exploring the long history of non-binary people, and then they tease out where non-binary identities fit within the idea of transgender identity, exploring what they all mean in a cisnormative society.

They hold a Master's in English from Baylor University and a Master's in Women’s Studies from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. When not working on books, Dianna is a grant writer and non-profit development professional. They live with two cats, Minerva and Tonks.

Links + Resources

• Dianna's Website
• In Transit on Bookshop.org

Lucy Dacus is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and author from Richmond, VA. She has released three studio albums including 2021’s highly lauded Home Video, which earned rave reviews from global outlets such as Variety,The Guardian, NPR, Rolling Stone and many more. In 2018, Dacus created the collaborative supergroup boygenius with close friends Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers. Their debut EP was one of the most talked about releases of 2018, landing on nearly every notable “Best Music of the Year” list. Today, she talks about growing up in church and how she doesn't have things figured out yet.

Links + Resources

• Lucy's Website
• Lucy on Instagram

Edafe Okporo is a global gay rights activist, the founder of Refuge America, and one of the country’s most visible voices on the issue of displacement, leading an organization with a vision to “strengthen the US as a place of welcome for LGBTQ displaced people.” He was born in Warri, Nigeria, and migrated to the United States in 2016 as an asylum seeker and is now a refugee of the United States. Edafe is among the inaugural winners of the David Prize, which honors individuals with bold visions for creating a better and brighter New York City. He is also a Logo 30 Honoree. 

His new book, Asylum: A Memoir & Manifesto is a poignant, moving memoir and urgent call to action for immigration justice. The book imagines a future where immigrants and asylees are treated with fairness, transparency, and compassion.

Links + Resources

• Edafe's Website
• Asylum: A Memoir & Manifesto
• Refuge America
• Detain and Punish by Carl Lindskoog

Rachel Kurtz is a Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter who has been touring and singing for almost 20 years. Her powerhouse voice and heartfelt performances have been electrifying crowds in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, New Orleans’ Superdome, Texas’ Alamo Dome, and hundreds of other concert venues from coast to coast. Recently, she came out as queer and released her new single “Gay Kids” a love song to every queer kid out there, from a queer mom. 

Links + Resources

• Rachel's Website
• Gay Kids Music Video
• Donate to Rachel's Work

Matthew Paul Turner is a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books, including his Children’s books — When God Made You and When I Pray For You. His newest children’s book, I Am God’s Dream released last week.

Matthew’s writing career started nearly 20 years ago, and he has published a book every year. Called “one of Christianity’s fresh voices” by Publisher’s Weekly, Matthew’s other notable works include Our Great Big American God, Churched, Coffeehouse Gospel and The Christian Culture Survival Guide.

But, when he came out nearly two years ago and announced an impending divorce with his wife, his entire career was threatened. Today we’re chatting about his experience coming out and what he has learned along the way. 

Links + Resources

• I Am God's Dream
• Matthew Paul Turner's Website
• Matthew on Twitter
• Matthew on Instagram

Join Matthias and Dr. Robyn Henderson Espinoza on May 12 at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology as they engage in conversation around Dr. Robyn's new book Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation. This event has both in-person and online attendance options. All the details can be found at https://theseattleschool.edu/event/body-becoming-a-path-to-our-liberation/

Bridget Eileen Rivera is a sociologist completing her Ph.D. at the City University of New York Graduate Center. She’s the author of “Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ+ Christians Experience Harm in the Church.”

Today she chats with Matthias about the ways LGBTQ+ people are harmed in the church, especially in regards to forced celibacy. She explains how she uses her choice to be celibate to undermine traditional arguments and carve a path for all LGBTQ+ people.

Links + Resources

• Bridget's Website
• Bridget's Blog
• Heavy Burdens Book
• Bridget on Instagram
• Bridget on Twitter

Join Matthias and Dr. Robyn Henderson Espinoza on May 12 at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology as they engage in conversation around Dr. Robyn's new book Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation. This event has both in-person and online attendance options. All the details can be found at https://theseattleschool.edu/event/body-becoming-a-path-to-our-liberation/