Out Loud: LGBT Stories of Faith
36 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsLGBTQIA+ individuals tell their stories about faith, community, and the divine, hosted by Greg Thompson.
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Episodes
Justin Hiltner and Giving Yourself Grace
December 10, 2020 11:00 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MBJustin Hiltner is a queer banjo player, songwriter, journalist, and activist living here in Nashville. We talk about how his faith has been tested throughout his life so far, from coming out to his conservative evangelical family in rural Ohio to his fight against cancer more recently. His journey toward healing has been one of an evolving worldview starting with accepting those who have not accepted him along the way, and gradually learning how to accept himself. Despite these hardships, J...
Cody Belew and Transcending Religion for Love
November 12, 2020 11:00 - 56 minutes - 77.9 MBCody is a singer/songwriter here in Nashville, living into his identity as a gay man while making country music. You might recognize his name from Season 3 of The Voice, and he is now working on his first full length album. Cody was raised southern baptist and identifies as gay. Together, we talk about growing up and praying to not be gay, and how he eventually came out to his parents. Cody's found his own way to be spiritual outside of going to church, identifying as a, "spiritual being ha...
Rachel Iacovone and Finding God During Such a Time as This
October 08, 2020 10:00 - 51 minutes - 70.3 MBYou may recognize Rachel's voice as one of the reporters on WPLN, Nashville’s NPR station. She's been in Nashville just a little over a year and is originally from Southwest Florida. Rachel was raised Roman Catholic by her parents who are Puerto Rican and Italian, and identifies as bi-sexual. And she currently attends West End United Methodist Church here in Nashville. In our conversation, we took a closer look at her family's history with faith, her own personal exploration of the Bible, a...
Alan Whitley and the God Of Compassion
June 25, 2020 10:00 - 50 minutes - 69.8 MBOur Spring Finale! We’ll return with new episodes this Fall. Raised Catholic and a native to Nashville, TN, Alan now has a home in the United Methodist Church. He works at Cumberland Heights, an alcohol and drug treatment center in Nashville, where he specializes in substance abuse. My conversation with Alan is a journey of finding self-worth that I know so many of us go through. After coming out, Alan struggled with his faith to the point that he turned to drugs and alcohol. He went into ...
Rev. Dawn Bennett and Finding Self-Affirmation
June 11, 2020 10:00 - 43 minutes - 59.7 MBDawn is a queer female Lutheran pastor, recently ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (also known as ELCA). Her family is truly, as she would say, a "rainbow family." Her own siblings as well as her own children have come out to her throughout her life. We delve into a discussion about her coming out later in life, and responding to a call to be a pastor 20 years after she had first heard it. Dawn is a proud queer woman who has come into her own and accepted her entire sel...
Wesley King and Letting the Questions In
May 28, 2020 10:00 - 52 minutes - 72.3 MBWesley was raised Southern Baptist in Alabama, and now finds himself as the Minister of Music at Eastwood Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ church here in Nashville. Wesley has his Bachelors of Education in music from the University of Alabama, and is currently attending Lexington Theological Seminary. He's also the incoming Artistic Director for the local affirming choir, Nashville in Harmony. Wesley identifies as gay, with the gender pronouns he/him/his. Our conversation is a journe...
Kashif Andrew Graham and His Deliverance
May 14, 2020 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBMy conversation with Kashif Andrew Graham ebbs and flows through his experience of coming out to his pentecostal family and friends, as well as institutions here in the south. In what he refers to as his "deliverance years," Kashif has gone from praying that God would change his sexuality to thanking God for being gay. His story is one of moving away from shame and into acceptance, with strong doses of reality that are refreshingly punctuated by laughter. As a librarian for religion and the...
Lindsey Dye and Being the "Right Kind of Christian"
April 30, 2020 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47.7 MBOur Season 3 Premiere! Lindsey Dye is a Case Worker at the Mental Health Cooperative here in Nashville. Growing up Baptist, she struggled to find a church after coming out, eventually finding one in the United Methodist Church. Lindsey is from Mt. Juliet, TN, where it was difficult to find the resources she needed for support in coming out. Today, her focus is on guiding LGBTQIA+ youth through coming out and the journey beyond. She identifies as lesbian or gay, with the gender pronouns she/h...
Kelsey Davis on Self-Care and Gathering in Uncertain Times
March 27, 2020 01:00 - 47 minutes - 65.5 MBBonus Episode in response to the COVID-19 Health Crisis. Originally broadcasted March 26, 2020 on Instagram Live. Pardon the audio quality as this was not recorded in the studio. How are you taking care of yourself? It's a question I ask most guests toward the end of their interview, and it's especially pertinent now. In this bonus episode, I brought Kelsey Davis back on the show to share her thoughts about gathering and self-care during these uncertain times. Since moving away from Tenne...
Become a Member of the Show Today!
December 03, 2019 06:00 - 2 minutes - 4.07 MBOut Loud is coming back for a third season! Plus, we're looking to offer more in-person gatherings in 2020. For Giving Tuesday, we're looking to double the number of members we have on Patreon! To help make that happen, we have a special offer! For one day only (Dec 3), become a member on Patreon at just $1 and get a free Out Loud sticker, plus our regular member benefits! We also have Out Loud pins, and a limited number of Out Loud mugs available to members at different tiers as well. (If...
Emily Joy and Deconstructing Purity Culture
June 27, 2019 10:00 - 56 minutes - 77.6 MBOur Season 2 Finale! Emily Joy is a poet, writer, and yoga teacher here in Nashville. She identifies as an embodied justice enthusiast which she describes as helping others make peace with their bodies. With an extensive online following, Emily co-founded the #churchtoo hashtag alongside Hannah Paasch, to address sexual abuse in church settings. Emily was raised in the fundamentalist evangelical church and identifies as gay with the gender pronouns she/her/hers. Together, we discuss the flu...
206: Emily Joy and Deconstructing Purity Culture
June 27, 2019 10:00 - 56 minutes - 77.6 MBEmily Joy is a poet, writer, and yoga teacher here in Nashville. She identifies as an embodied justice enthusiast which she describes as helping others make peace with their bodies. With an extensive online following, Emily co-founded the #churchtoo hashtag alongside Hannah Paasch, to address sexual abuse in church settings. Emily was raised in the fundamentalist evangelical church and identifies as gay with the gender pronouns she/her/hers. Together, we discuss the fluidity of understandin...
Damien-Pascal Domenack and Hope Outside Christianity
June 13, 2019 10:00 - 58 minutes - 81 MBDamien is originally from Peru, and grew up in Southern CA raised in the Foursquare evangelical faith tradition. He eventually found himself in Nashville for his Masters of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School concentrating in Latin American Studies, Religion and the Arts, as well as Gender and Sexuality studies. Damien is a founding member of The Audre Lorde Project’s TransJustice in New York City, and collectively organized the first ever Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justi...
205: Damien-Pascal Domenack and Hope Outside Christianity
June 13, 2019 10:00 - 58 minutes - 81 MBDamien-Pascal Domenack is originally from Peru, and grew up in Southern CA raised in the Foursquare evangelical faith tradition. He eventually found himself in Nashville for his Masters of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School concentrating in Latin American Studies, Religion and the Arts, as well as Gender and Sexuality studies. Damien is a founding member of The Audre Lorde Project’s TransJustice in New York City, and collectively organized the first ever Trans Day of Action for Social an...
204: Live at Vanderbilt
May 09, 2019 10:00 - 59 minutes - 81.3 MBRecorded live at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN, just last month, we reconnect with season 1 guests, Zack Eccleston, Maria Michonski, and Lee Catoe, about the importance of storytelling for LGBTQIA+ people of faith. Hearing their voices again was a reminder that our stories are never completely finished. We catch up with where they have been since their episodes from 2018, how telling their story on the show impacted them, and how they view their faith and their communities toda...
Live at Vanderbilt
May 09, 2019 10:00 - 59 minutes - 81.3 MBRecorded live at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, TN, we reconnect with season 1 guests, Zack Eccleston, Maria Michonski, and Lee Catoe, about the importance of storytelling for LGBTQIA+ people of faith. Hearing their voices again was a reminder that our stories are never completely finished. We catch up with where they have been since their episodes from 2018, how telling their story on the show impacted them, and how they view their faith and their communities today. Connect with ...
203: Lina Landström and Committing to the United Methodist Church
April 25, 2019 10:00 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MBLina is currently a Master of Theological Studies student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her gender pronouns are she/her/hers, identifying both as lesbian and queer. She is originally from Sweden where the Swedish Lutheran Church is the state church, and has become a member in the United Methodist Church since moving to the US. Throughout our conversation, Lina demonstrates a resilience in her reaction to the recent General Conference vote by the Methodist Church that affirmed the church's ...
Lina Landström and Committing to the United Methodist Church
April 25, 2019 10:00 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MBLina is currently a Master of Theological Studies student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her gender pronouns are she/her/hers, identifying both as lesbian and queer. She is originally from Sweden where the Swedish Lutheran Church is the state church, and has become a member in the United Methodist Church since moving to the US. Throughout our conversation, Lina demonstrates a resilience in her reaction to the recent General Conference vote by the Methodist Church that affirmed the church's ...
Amber Cantorna and Coming Out Well into Christianity
April 11, 2019 10:00 - 56 minutes - 78 MBAmber Cantorna is a national speaker and author dedicated to supporting LGBTQ people throughout their coming-out process. In her new book Unashamed: A Coming Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians, Amber tackles topics like finding an affirming faith community, deciding when and how to come out, and how to re-establish a relationship with God. She uses her platform to inspire others and works to dissolve shame, foster self-acceptance, and generate a message of love and inclusion for all. Our conver...
202: Amber Cantorna and Coming Out Well into Christianity
April 11, 2019 10:00 - 56 minutes - 78 MBAmber Cantorna is a national speaker and author dedicated to supporting LGBTQ people throughout their coming-out process. In her new book Unashamed: A Coming Out Guide for LGBTQ Christians, Amber tackles topics like finding an affirming faith community, deciding when and how to come out, and how to re-establish a relationship with God. She uses her platform to inspire others and works to dissolve shame, foster self-acceptance, and generate a message of love and inclusion for all. Our conve...
Rj Robles and Searching for a Home Church
March 28, 2019 10:00 - 57 minutes - 79 MBRj discuss their journey finding an affirming home church. Communities that seem to be inclusive and loving, sometimes do not live up to those statements. But Rj demonstrates for us a resilience, and an ongoing curiosity about how to honor trans lives in our churches. They identify as queer and transgender with the gender pronouns they/them/theirs. Find Rj on Facebook. International Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31. Learn more. Terms: Queer - A term people often use to express fl...
201: Rj Robles and Searching for a Home Church
March 28, 2019 10:00 - 57 minutes - 79 MBRj discusses their journey finding an affirming home church. Communities that seem to be inclusive and loving, sometimes do not live up to those statements. But Rj demonstrate for us a resilience, and an ongoing curiosity about how to honor trans lives in our churches. They identify as queer and transgender with the gender pronouns they/them/theirs. International Transgender Day of Visibility is March 31. Learn more. Join me for my Storytelling Mini-Tour in April: April 5-6 in Fulton, MO a...
Help Make Season 2 Happen
March 14, 2019 10:00 - 2 minutes - 2.82 MBOut Loud is on its way back for a second season in 2019, but we need your help to make it happen. If you've been a fan of the show so far, I'd love to have your support on Patreon, a website dedicated to funding the lives of creators and artists. Learn more and become a patron at patreon.com/outloudstories Join our mailing list to be the first to know when new episodes drop for season two. And be sure to follow @outloudstories on Facebook and Instagram.
Greg Thompson on Listening and Understanding
October 25, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 105 MBOur Season 1 Finale! Greg talks with his sister Meg McEllen, about coming out to himself, to his family, and to the Catholic Church. The issue of identity arises, and whether faith or sexuality can fully define us. We also discuss the prospect of talking to people of other faiths, and forging conversation past differences to commonalities. Greg Thompson is a student at Vanderbilt Divinity School pursuing his Masters in Theological Studies with a focus on Religion and the Arts. He studies LG...
106: Greg Thompson on Listening and Understanding
October 25, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 105 MBOn our Season 1 Finale, Greg Thompson talks with his sister Meg McEllen, about coming out to himself, to his family, and to the Catholic Church. The issue of identity arises, and whether faith or sexuality can fully define us. We also discuss the prospect of talking to people of other faiths, and forging conversation past differences to commonalities. Greg Thompson is a student at Vanderbilt Divinity School pursuing his Masters in Theological Studies with a focus on Religion and the Arts. H...
Lee Catoe Gets Real About Body Image
October 11, 2018 10:00 - 50 minutes - 69.1 MBLee Catoe offers his reflections on the role body image plays in the LGBTQI community, and how we can begin to seek out the divine in one another. While studying Pre-Med at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, Lee began to realize that his call to helping others had less to do with medicine, and more to do with ordained ministry. As a gay man now seeking ordination in the Presbyterian Church USA, Lee currently serves as a supply pastor for local congregations in Middle TN. He's also in his f...
105: Lee Catoe Gets Real About Body Image
October 11, 2018 10:00 - 50 minutes - 69.1 MBLee Catoe offers his reflections on the role body image plays in the LGBTQI community, and how we can begin to seek out the divine in one another. While studying Pre-Med at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, Lee began to realize that his call to helping others had less to do with medicine, and more to do with ordained ministry. As a gay man now seeking ordination in the Presbyterian Church USA, Lee currently serves as a supply pastor for local congregations in Middle TN. He's also in his f...
Luther Young and Sexuality as a Spiritual Gift
September 27, 2018 10:00 - 59 minutes - 55.4 MBLuther and I discuss black liberation theology and reimagining scripture, as well as the difficulties in coming out to his family, and being seen as a fully participating member of his church. Luther grew up in South Carolina with a love of music that brought him to Nashville, to study Audio Engineering at Belmont University. While he has continued to perform, sing, and play, he is also a recent graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School with his Masters in Divinity. Luther was raised Pentecost...
104: Luther Young and Sexuality as a Spiritual Gift
September 27, 2018 10:00 - 59 minutes - 82.3 MBLuther and I discuss black liberation theology and reimagining scripture, as well as the difficulties in coming out to his family, and being seen as a fully participating member of his church. Luther grew up in South Carolina with a love of music that brought him to Nashville, to study Audio Engineering at Belmont University. While he has continued to perform, sing, and play, he is also a recent graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School with his Masters in Divinity. Luther was raised Pentecost...
Kelsey Davis and Showing Up to our Community
June 21, 2018 10:00 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBKelsey shares her perspective as being both queer and Episcopalian. Fresh off of graduating from Vanderbilt Divinity School with her Masters in Divinity, she's about to begin a new role as "Curator for Emerging Communities" for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real in CA. She shares with us her journey of coming out into Christianity which came only shortly after coming out to herself and beginning to date girls. After a career in pro soccer, her values of teamwork continue to inform how s...
103: Kelsey Davis and Showing Up to our Community
June 21, 2018 10:00 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBKelsey shares her perspective as being both queer and Episcopalian. Fresh off of graduating from Vanderbilt Divinity School with her Masters in Divinity, she's about to begin a new role as "Curator for Emerging Communities" for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real in CA. She shares with us her journey of coming out into Christianity which came only shortly after coming out to herself and beginning to date girls. After a career in pro soccer, her values of teamwork continue to inform how s...
Maria Michonski and How Catholicism Won't Let Go of Her
June 07, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 84.8 MBMaria identifies as pansexual and has grown up Roman Catholic. She shares with us her experiences coming out within her campus ministry in undergraduate and seeking out a new community of worship with her husband. Maria now studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, pursuing her Masters in Divinity. During our conversation a few terms came up that some listeners may want a second look at: Cisgender (or Cis) - "used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associat...
102: Maria Michonski and How Catholicism Won't Let Go of Her
June 07, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 84.8 MBMaria identifies as queer and pansexual, and has grown up Roman Catholic. She shares with us her experiences coming out within her campus ministry in undergraduate and seeking out a new community of worship with her husband. Maria now studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, pursuing her Masters in Divinity. During our conversation a few terms came up that some listeners may want a second look at: Cisgender (or Cis) - "used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typical...
Zack Eccleston and Reconciliation Through Empathy
May 24, 2018 11:03 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBZack speaks with us about coming out and his understanding of masculinity early on in life, while also developing his understanding of the Bible as a student of theology. After finding a spiritual home in the Church of Christ, Zack aims to help others who struggle to reconcile faith with sexuality. A musician at heart, he also shares with us about how he expresses himself on this journey of self-discovery. A Note for Children and Parents of Children: We discuss some adult situations in this...
101: Zack Eccleston and Reconciliation Through Empathy
May 24, 2018 11:03 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBZack talks about coming out and his understanding of masculinity early on in life, while also developing his understanding of the Bible as a student of theology. After finding a spiritual home in the Church of Christ, Zack aims to help others who struggle to reconcile faith with sexuality. A musician at heart, he also shares with us about how he expresses himself on this journey of self-discovery. A Note for Children and Parents of Children: We discuss some adult situations in this episode,...
Coming Out May 24
May 16, 2018 14:21 - 1 minute - 2.63 MBSubscribe now on your favorite podcast app to join us for our first season starting May 24. Learn more at our website, outloudstories.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Music: Acoustic Meditation 2 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Artist: http://audionautix.com/