FreedHearts

Today, we continue to focus on the transgender community with an encore broadcast of a very popular FreedHearts Podcast episode from January 2022. Our trans children, family members and friends are beautiful. And beloved. Living their authentic lives.Oh my goodness, that is an amazing truth. Amazing stories. Amazing beauty. False teachings, binary thinking, denial can cause us to miss it all – and cause great harm to those we love.With all that has been going on, it is the perfect time for this episode. “Don’t Deny the Beauty of Being Transgender!”Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

4/23/25 • 34:17

Christians mistakenly suggest that if you take the Bible seriously, you must stand against the existence – as well as the health and even humanity of transgender people.Actually, the OPPOSITE is true!In this episode, we talk about how the Bible AFFIRMS transgender and gender non-conforming people. And, how misinterpretations and binary thinking cause people to follow false teachings that are causing so much harm, especially today! A special encore presentation of one of our most popular episodes ever about the transgender community. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

4/16/25 • 45:49

These past few months have resulted in some deep wounds – often from people that are, or used to be very close to us. We have been told that we should not hold a grudge, that we should let go of everything. But I think we are missing a bigger truth. Could it be that it’s good to hold a grudge?We don’t want to walk around with resentment, or unforgiveness, because that only hurts us, as we know. So, how could holding a grudge be a positive thing?Maybe it’s about remembering what someone did to you, or did to someone you love—versus pretending nothing happened. For the purpose of protecting yourself in the future. The idea is that you don’t just forget harmful things people do. Beloved, there’s deep wisdom in that. There is a real balance in all of this and in today’s powerful episode, we talk all about it.   Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

4/9/25 • 27:29

Jesus and Christianity and Church.  We link those three together but the truth is that to do so has no basis in history, no basis in theology, certainly no basis in today’s non-affirming, rules-based, behavior-focused, hyper-political religion.Jesus is a great mascot. But Beloved, it’s a bait and switch!Jesus would be considered unChristian by the Christian church. And the church would be considered unChristlike by Jesus.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

4/2/25 • 25:45

We get caught up in social media. Doomscrolling, fear scrolling, just scrolling to find a glimmer of hope and good news.  We all know the feeling: you see something infuriating and, before you can stop yourself, you’re pounding the keys, firing off a post that will change the world, or at least change someone’s mind.  Anyone else do that? But, honestly, here’s the thing: posting on social media probably won’t change things as much as we hope. So, why doesn’t it work, and what can we do instead?Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

3/26/25 • 22:07

On this deconstruction journey, we have unclobbered the Scripture that is falsely taught to condemn LGBTQ+ and same-sex relationships. We have exposed false teachings that are used for religious manipulation. And we recently addressed the big one: the myth and false teaching of hell!It’s a lot, and it rattles the core of our theology – but in the most wonderful way. We opened the box we had God in and all heaven broke loose! Beloved, have you ever wondered… Are we sure?? Can we be certain about our beliefs?Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

3/19/25 • 28:09

Has the world gone crazy? Has this country gone crazy? Feels like it for sure. Do you feel like maybe you’re crazy busy, stressed and overwhelmed? Yeah, me too. We talked about everything that is happening – the news and developments we are being bombarded with.  Coming at us so fast it’s hard to process it all. Which we pointed out is by design.And all the gaslighting when we confront things out and fight back. Maddening.  Let’s talk about how to handle so much happening so fast -- how to process it and how to best deal with it as much as possible, so we can be more effective in our resistance and our response, while not losing our hope and joy. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

3/12/25 • 35:59

Beloved, hear me: You are not imagining things!When you see executive orders, policies, rollbacks, hate-filled rhetoric, & you feel that gut-punch of fear — it’s real. When your heart aches because you see rights stripped away, protections dismantled, & lives put at risk — it’s not in your head.And yet, when we speak up, we are dismissed, laughed at, and told that we are overreacting. It’s a deliberate attempt to make you doubt what you know to be true, to keep you silent, to stop you from resisting. It’s gaslighting. Pure and simple. We are recognizing it and naming it – and we will not be discouraged or impacted by it!Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

3/5/25 • 19:44

We wake up to news, breaking stories happen throughout the day, the barrage of executive orders and developments seem never-ending. It can easily be overwhelming. Anybody feel that way?Beloved, that actually may be their goal.Today, we talk about what is happening in our country right now, how it’s making us feel, and what we can do about all of this to not lose hope, to care for ourselves and to care for those we love. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

2/26/25 • 28:02

We recently came through the holidays. Has anyone ever been uninvited to a family gathering? We have. Well, Spring is coming, maybe you have a wedding on the calendar?So, today, we flip the script and talk about YOUR special events… a birthday celebration, wedding, family reunion, graduation. And we ask the questions: Are there people we HAVE to invite?  How do we handle that and how do we balance it all with selfcare?Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

2/19/25 • 31:49

How much do you have to listen to someone who wants to tell you how to live and what you’re doing wrong, and if you’d just follow their advice you’d be good? Not much! Have you heard the phrase “iron sharpens iron” as a justification for someone telling you everything that is wrong with you?Or have you ever been part of a religious “accountability” group? Same thing -- someone who feels that they have the duty to tell you what you should be doing. Social media bickering, trolling, bullying — the freedom strangers feel to reply in all caps to someone they don’t know — on an issue they don’t know — is all part of this narrative.You deserve the truth. Your heart deserves to be freed from the myth and dangers of "Christian accountability." Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

2/12/25 • 24:46

Beloved, last week we talked about the myth and false teaching of hell and how we have been so terrorized by it. That and other false teachings cause us to think and believe the most awful things about ourselves. Things that are just not true!Today, we tell you some true things… about you. Jesus said for us to love our neighbor AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. The most important freedom is freedom from your own self-judgment – so we can love and accept ourselves unconditionally and fully and lavishly – so we can love our neighbor the same way.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

2/5/25 • 16:03

According to religion, there are certain beliefs, certain parts of theology, that are not even debatable. Why?? Maybe because they pose the greatest threat to the power system of the church. That’s why when you even question it – you are immediately called a heretic. Or worse. We have addressed many of these and will continue to do that moving forward. Today, we want to get into hell… wait, let me rephrase that… we want to talk about the myth of hell. Yes beloved, it’s a myth!The idea of a hell is absolutely vital to the teaching of contempt, the fear used by religion to manipulate us, and people are terrorized!! We deconstruct this false teaching to free our hearts to love and be loved. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

1/29/25 • 42:47

We have talked about reclaiming our power, our hope, and not surrendering to doomscrolling or fearscrolling narratives. Today, we go deeper and press the conversation around fear - to bring us freedom. We don’t want to live our lives afraid. There’s no life in that. Fear is not the place to make our best choices. We know that. Fear IS helpful when we really are under threat. But we can’t live from there. The constant stress, the cortisol your body shoots through us to deal with fear, will wreck us. In a time of so much fear, what do we do?  Could fear actually be a gift??Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

1/22/25 • 30:20

No one knows you better than you.No one knows who you are and the journey you have been on better than you. So, why do so many people not believe you when you tell them?  Why do they think they know you better than you know yourself, telling you that you are confused, or just plain wrong?Let’s talk about how to move forward when you are disbelieved, gaslighted, and treated with contempt.Beloved, you deserve to be believed about who you are!Period. End of story. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

1/15/25 • 22:13

Today, we cover some basic faith-related questions: Why are churches so against transgender people? Are we wrong to support them? Does God ask us to support trans people in our community?Are we just listening to false doctrine? You know what false doctrine is? It’s manmade religion parading as requirements from God. It’s traditions of men that line the pockets of the leaders but leave everyone else, especially the vulnerable out to dry!Our transgender friends, family and loved ones are hurting right now and we need to speak up, stand up, come alongside them, and sometimes step in front to take some of the arrows coming their way. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

1/8/25 • 31:07

The election is over. One person was elected President and one was not. Half the country is elated and half is distraught. We knew that whatever the outcome, some would be thrilled and some would be devastated. We’ve heard from LGBTQ+ people who are in deep despair, in existential fear. And we’ve heard from parents who are confused, saying, “My child is so angry with me. They will no longer even speak to me.” They are bewildered as to why this would be true. We have always known about the deep divide in families, and this election, far from solving anything, only seems to have deepened the fracture.Many are overwhelmingly afraid and unspeakably angry at those who voted a certain way. And family members are bewildered.Let’s talk about this today. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

12/18/24 • 38:22

This is our first episode since the election, and we know many of you are reeling right now, wondering what’s ahead. We have heard from so many of you. You may feel afraid, terrified, dazed, confused - not even sure where to start to make sense of life right now, and how to move forward.So, let’s talk about that today.We are going to talk about fear, grief, what’s next… and never, ever losing hope. And always remembering that we are loved, beloved, and that we are not alone. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

12/11/24 • 29:32

This is a very special episode that I think we all need.Certainly, we are aware of what has been happening in the world, overwhelmed with media, social media, mixed feelings of hope, followed by dread, doom and fear, then replaced with excitement -- wild emotional swings. And we expect that to continue and even heighten in the coming weeks.What do we do in times like these?Today, we give you specific things you can do to care for yourself and those you love.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

10/2/24 • 21:59

Today we are going to share some queer wisdom. What is that? It is wisdom that accepts people for who they are, inclusive, affirming, celebrates diversity, and loves above all else.That is what Jesus modeled and taught – and it’s so different from what the non-affirming, rules-based church teaches.We talk about the validity of church as a construct. And we share with you 15 things queer culture teaches that straight culture doesn’t!This is going to be so much fun!Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

9/25/24 • 21:25

What is happening in your life? Are people telling you to go out there and hustle in an economic system that doesn’t work except for the elite?Are people saying it’s okay to be gay, but you can’t act on it – that you can only have this kind of partner or else you have to be alone?Do people tell you to believe what they believe or you’ll go to hell?That’s real life for many of you – that’s the race you are being asked to run.The summer has brought us some great sporting events with amazing champions, and I don’t mean just the people who came in first place. I mean those who showed courage, were bold, dedicated to something they loved, lived true to the calling in the hearts.Huh… sounds a lot like  you. This is YOUR life, YOUR race – So let’s talk today about how you can unleash your inner champion. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

9/18/24 • 22:51

You don’t owe non-supportive people answers when they can’t just let you be who you are. You don’t owe them your time, you don’t owe them your peace, you don’t owe them your soul. But that can be a challenge, for sure, because you don’t want to end the relationship. Or, you may have the thought that if you back off, things could still mend somehow in the future. Beloved, this can be toxic for you. And you don’t deserve that.Let’s talk about this today and how the most powerful thing you can do for you, for those around you, is to just Be You!Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

9/11/24 • 17:44

After diving in – no pun intended – to the recent Olympics, we really want to entice you to look at the spark in yourself, that may have been there from the very beginning. And to let it resurface. You may have been taught or encouraged to hide it – but we hope you are in a safer place to listen to and follow your heart, and not feel crushed that certain things may not be for you.That spark of desire can be easily overlooked. Yes, we’re reasoned out of it—by parents, church, kids in school—who tell us that it will never be. But there’s something inside us from when we’re small, like a guiding star. It is part of what it means to just be you. Today we help light your inner spark, and let it shine. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

9/4/24 • 22:29

With all this talk about the teaching of contempt and religion, we thought it was time for a little relief: a little ART relief!When I had cancer five years ago, part of the available treatment was a studio program where we created art. They kept saying, “It’s about the process, not the product.” I can hardly even express the joy this has opened up in me.I was amazed to learn that people who participate in the arts – art, music, dance, whatever it is for you – lower their chance of dying early by 31%! Remarkable.Alice Walker said, “If art doesn’t make us better, what on earth is it for?”Today, on a very special FreedHearts Podcast episode, we talk about healing with the arts.Love, SusanSend us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

8/28/24 • 35:03

When we talk so much about all the hate and contempt coming from the non-affirming, rules-based church; the hypocrisy, the division out there; it can leave us feeling pretty down.When we go so deep in our journey coming out of religion, we can miss the beauty along the way.Today, we want to remind us all of the joy we have found on our journey of deconstruction, and talk about 30 freeing things we have done!Beloved, your heart really deserves this!Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

8/21/24 • 37:48

Today, we continue with Part II of our series asking the question: "What do we do with the Bible?"People take it literally – ignoring it’s history, as well as all the additions, edits and translations that have been done.People claim its authority – despite not really knowing who it was written by and why.And Christians use it to justify great harm to so many groups of people: LGBTQ, people of color, the poor, women. Yet, those same Christians just ignore and set aside the life of teachings of Jesus.For those of you who are coming out of religion, in particular the rules-based, non-affirming church, it is critical that we deconstruct this to free ourselves from all the baggage that comes from living under this kind of false hypocritical teaching.Let’s wrap up this series today. Beloved, it’s time for our hearts to be free.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

8/14/24 • 32:36

This is part one of an important two-part series where we ask the question: “What do we do with the Bible?”We need to deconstruct it because it is abused and used as a weapon. And then they accuse you of heresy when you even slightly question it. It is used to justify great harm to people - racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny etc.I know you have heard it: “The church doesn't get to choose what the Bible teaches!”  Our response? “Well, the church literally selected, edited, and compiled what’s known as the Bible.”Beloved, it’s time to deconstruct it, disarm it and put it in the proper place in life.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

8/7/24 • 34:00

We have talked about how the church actually teaches us to hate ourselves, to hate God and the natural next step... to hate others.  Of course, they don’t say that it is hate… they even go so far as to call it love, or tough love. It's all part of their gaslighting! But to those on the receiving end, it IS indeed hate.When there is such a deep foundation of contempt, this underlying hate, what kind of vibe does this give us?  How strong is our foundation? It makes us full of fear and easy to manipulate. And the church is very effective at doing that.They make it easy to justify rejection, condemnation, oppression, and marginalization.So, what do we do?  What do we do with all this contempt and hate??Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

7/31/24 • 32:27

Today, we talk about the Teaching of Contempt for God – and how the church actually teaches us to hate God!!We may not realize that, amidst the singing of praises, and saying, “Oh God is so good!” but all of it is over a trapdoor of seething contempt for a God who we are taught is capable of some horrible stuff.That’s our understanding from religion, and it's by design! Why??So, they can keep you in the pews and add the conditions that if  we just do the right things, believe the right things, we will be okay. We will avoid this horrible God.It’s absolute false teaching! Beloved, you deserve to be free from all of it.Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

7/24/24 • 22:07

You only can define God or even think about God in relation to us and the relationship with us.So, it’s important to know who are we.Today, we talk about the church’s teaching of contempt for YOU. How the church actually teaches us to hate ourselves!We talk about who we are, and how God, the Universe, Spirit, really truly feels about us. In the midst of all the hate and attack out there, wow – we really need this.We need to find that peace, the kingdom of heaven Jesus said is right now, that childlike wonder and joy!Let’s find it, reclaim it, and enjoy it!Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show

7/17/24 • 26:31