Best Queer Theology / Brian G. Murphy Podcasts (2025)

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Called to Treason, Matthew Chapters 14-16 44:20

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2h ago44:20

44:20

This episode dives into Matthew Chapters 14-16 and the rich political, communal, and spiritual tensions woven throughout. We unpack the death of John the Baptist, the feeding miracles, Jesus walking on water, debates about purity, the encounter with the Canaanite woman, and Peter’s declaration of Jesus as Messiah. These stories are especially revea…

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Still Scared About Sex and the Bible? 17:12

10d ago17:12

17:12

We’re diving into one of their most asked-about topics: sex, relationships, and faith. Building on years of listener questions like, “Is it okay to masturbate?” “What does the Bible say about premarital sex, polyamory, or kink,” we explore why so many of us seek definitive answers and how that impulse comes from an evangelical mindset that treats t…

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Gender is a Calling with Justin Sabia Tanis 47:18

12d ago47:18

47:18

In this episode, Fr. Shannon talks with the Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis. He is an assistant professor and director of the Social Transformation program at United Theological Seminary. He earned his Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Interdisciplinary Studies in addition to a Master of Divinity degree at Harvard Divinity School and a Docto…

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The First Gospel 37:09

19d ago37:09

37:09

For this episode, we’re diving into the Gospel of Mark. We unpack why Mark was likely the first Gospel written, who it was written for, and what was happening politically under Roman occupation. Drawing on scholarly interpretation, we look into how Mark’s storytelling and its urgency, as well as its focus on common people, challenge the Empire and …

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Angelic Troublemakers: Edafe Okporo 43:10

1M ago43:10

43:10

We had the pleasure of speaking with activist and author, Edafe Okporo. Edafe was born in Warri, Nigeria. He migrated to the United States in 2016 as an asylum seeker and is now a refugee of the United States. He 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…

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Celebrating Jewish Empowerment and Teaching the Masses with Milli Not So Vanilli 42:30

1M ago42:30

42:30

For this interview, we are excited to talk with Millie, more well known as Milli Not So Vanilli on social media. She is a 34-year-old Jewish mother and “accidental” TikTok creator. We learn how her grandmother has inspired her to speak out and how she is her greatest source of inspiration; her grandmother had been a Holocaust survivor and her grand…

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God is a Black Woman with Dr. Christena Cleveland 43:55

2M ago43:55

43:55

We’re revisiting our interview episode with the remarkable Dr. Christena Cleveland. Dr. Cleveland is an author, activist and a founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk. Tune in as Fr. Shay talks with Dr. Cleveland about her journey to find the Black Madonna and the Sacred Feminine, wha…

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Faith and Identity: Miryam Kabakov on Building Inclusive Orthodox Communities 50:46

2M ago50:46

50:46

We welcome Miryam Kabakov to the podcast this week. Miryam is a national leader who has worked for more than three decades on the inclusion of LGTBQ+ individuals in the Orthodox world. She is Executive Director and co-founder of Eshel, @eshelonline, a national organization that supports LGBTQ+ Orthodox individuals and their families. Prior to bein…

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Throwback: The End. Or is it? Matthew 26-28 1:07:17

2M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

In this week’s throwback episode, we return to the final episode of our eight-part series on Matthew. And here is where we come to crucifixion and resurrection.. The End… but really, the Beginning! It’s important for us to call out and recognize in these texts the significant polemic against the Jewish leaders, even if most of Matthew’s audience st…

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The Devil and His Many Names 49:26

2M ago49:26

49:26

What was your upbringing regarding your belief in Satan or the Devil? How were you taught (or scared) growing up about the fallen angel, the demon, the serpent, Beelzebub, and the many other names? In this throwback episode, we will discover where our idea of Demon or Satan comes from and see how your beliefs or ideas about the devil line up with w…

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Queering Isaiah 58: Communal Restoration and Justice 24:58

2M ago24:58

24:58

We are queering the whole chapter of Isaiah 58 in this week’s episode. There is so much in this chapter, especially when we look at themes of justice, community, and personal reflection. It’s especially interesting to look at how this chapter resonated with our younger selves and how we view it today. There is emphasis on the importance of treating…

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Love Beyond Monogamy 28:50

3M ago28:50

28:50

This week we’re celebrating Brian’s new book, “Love Beyond Monogamy,” which comes out this month! In this book, he explores the themes of polyamory, spirituality, and the importance of love in various forms. Brian shares insights on how the book addresses both monogamous and non-monogamous audiences, emphasizing the sacredness of ALL relationships.…

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Strangers & Solidarity – Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 22:46

3M ago22:46

22:46

We’re going back to our roots and queering scripture for this week’s episode! We look at Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 where we explore themes of faith, community, and the importance of engaging with marginalized groups, particularly those who are incarcerated. We reflect on the radical message of this passage, and how it emphasizes the call to hospitality…

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Come & See: Radical Devotional 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

Fr. Shannon has a new book coming out soon, “Come and See: An Invitation to a Radical Encounter with Jesus,” which is a devotional aimed at youth and young adults. We talk about the role of traditional devotionals in shaping young people’s faith, especially how our experiences with devotionals have impacted us. We get into the limitations of these …

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Exploring Interfaith with Reverend Mark E. Fowler 39:40

3M ago39:40

39:40

Rev. Mark E. Fowler from the @tanenbaumcenter joins us this week and discusses his journey from a Presbyterian upbringing to becoming an interfaith minister. Rev. Fowler guides Tanenbaum to the fulfillment of its mission to promote justice and build respect for religious difference by transforming individuals and institutions to reduce prejudice, h…

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Throwback: The First Gospel – Mark 37:29

4M ago37:29

37:29

We’re showcasing another throwback episode for this week and this one is the beginning of a series we did on the Gospel of Mark. Mark is one of our favorite books of the Bible. There is so much richness to the history in Mark and for this first episode in the series, we look at the context and time in which this gospel was written. We had such a go…

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Rural God, City God 25:31

4M ago25:31

25:31

We have both found ourselves living in really different communities – Brian in New York City, and Shay in rural Kansas. That got us to thinking about the contrasting religious experiences of living in urban and rural settings and reflecting on how these environments shape understandings of community, spirituality, and the presence of the Divine. Th…

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The Journey of a Queer Disabled Advocate with Andrew Gurza 43:12

4M ago43:12

43:12

Andrew Gurza (@andrewgurza) joins Brian this week on the podcast to talk about sex, disability, and his new book, “Notes From a Queer Cripple.” Andrew is an award winning Disability Awareness Consultant and the Chief Disability Officer and Co-founder of Bump’n, a sex toy company for and by disabled people. Andrew uses they/he pronouns and identifie…

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What We Learned From Reading The Bible Every Week for 600 Weeks 27:42

4M ago27:42

27:42

We’ve hit another milestone on the podcast – 600 episodes!! That’s 600 weeks of looking at the Bible, faith, God (and a lot of other things!) through the lens of queer theology. We’ve grown. The community has grown. The world has changed. And all that will continue. But what will still remain, is that there is so much richness to be discovered in s…

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Finding God Outside the Walls of Church with Troy Weekes from Alphabet Soup 41:05

5M ago41:05

41:05

We’re joined this week by Troy Weekes (@troyweekesmusic) from “Alphabet Soup” to talk about the show, his music, and faith. From Harlem New York, Troy has been singing since the age of three and performing since the age of fourteen. He is also a songwriter, actor, dancer, and MC/Event Host. He is currently working on his first EP project, under the…

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Throwback: Scary Things 29:32

5M ago29:32

29:32

We get a lot of questions about hell, the rapture, and end times. So awhile back, we did a series on Scary Things. For this week, we have another throw back episode from this series. For this one, we’ll focus on the Rapture and the End of the World. We’re talking all about end times, the rapture, and other “scary” things from the Bible. We are cert…

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Post Shame & Sacred Intimacy with Adam MacLean 57:51

5M ago57:51

57:51

We’re joined on the podcast this week by Adam MacLean (@adammacattack) who is the founder of PostShame.org and #PostShame, online tools designed to help people examine their past for things they worry might leak on the internet, and then proactively share those stories themselves. By doing so, they transform these stories into narratives of strengt…

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Throwback: Queerness Is A Cornerstone 20:45

5M ago20:45

20:45

We’re doing something that we haven’t done in awhile here which is to have a throwback episode for this week. We’re coming up on a huge milestone- 600 episodes!- and there’s probably a lot of episodes that some of y’all have not heard and we think that revisiting the Bible has power because you learn new things. So for this episode, we’ll revisit Q…

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Tips for Churches at Pride 23:14

6M ago23:14

23:14

Pride brings out many people trying to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community and an interesting conversation about how churches show up at Pride inspired this week’s episode. In this conversation, we explore the role of churches supporting and engaging with the LGBTQ community during Pride Month. We have some practical insight on how churches…

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Complicated Communities 26:27

6M ago26:27

26:27

Communities can be complex. We delve into the complexities of relationships, the nature of goodness, and the challenges of community dynamics. We explore the idea of labeling people as “good” or “bad,” and emphasize the importance of understanding inherent goodness and the health of individuals. We also touch on the necessity of boundaries within c…

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Celebration & Resistance: Let’s Talk About Pride Month! 19:52

6M ago19:52

19:52

It’s Pride month and we’re sharing some of our thoughts about it in this week’s episode. There are a lot of complexities with Pride Month and we especially want to explore the dual nature of celebration and resistance within the LGBTQ community. With recent funding cuts to arts organizations, the challenges of sustaining movements without corporate…

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Queering Prayer 30:19

6M ago30:19

30:19

We’re exploring the multifaceted nature of prayer by reflecting on our personal journeys and our evolving understanding of spirituality. There are so many emotional complexities tied to prayer. It can be powerful and so connective to community when we really look at it. And when you are able to queer prayer, this can help break down boundaries and …

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We Need a Nap 24:56

6M ago24:56

24:56

Besides just being BUSY at the moment, we’re both feeling the anxiety of the daily current news. And it is exhausting, y’all. So, yes, while we do need a good nap, we also get into the themes of rest, self-care, and community engagement amidst the challenges of modern life in this episode. There is a tension between the need for personal rest and t…

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Grief, Demons, Agnostics at Church: Listener Q&A 38:33

7M ago38:33

38:33

We tackle a series of questions from listeners on this week’s episode! The questions focus on the intersection of faith, identity, and community for LGBTQ+ individuals. We discuss the challenges faced by transgender individuals in church settings, the misconceptions surrounding sin and sexuality, the experiences of agnostics in religious spaces, an…

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Maybe Doubting Thomas Was The Only Reasonable One 17:08

7M ago17:08

17:08

Fr. Shannon shares a sermon exploring the story of Doubting Thomas from the Gospel of John for this episode. He delves into themes of fear, doubt, and faith, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging doubt as a natural part of faith, particularly in the face of suffering and uncertainty. May we be a little more like Thomas in the sense that it fe…

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Putting Women Back In The Story with Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney 48:43

7M ago48:43

48:43

We’re honored to have religious scholar, preacher, teacher, and activist, Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney on the pod this week. Rev. Dr. Gafney is a biblical scholar whose work focuses on translation of the scriptures for congregations and lay readers, womanist and feminist biblical interpretation and women who prophesied in ancient Israel and the ancient Afro…

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The Revolution Starts Here 18:50

7M ago18:50

18:50

For this episode of the podcast, Fr. Shannon has a sermon for Easter to share with y’all as our sort of virtual community and congregation of sorts! And there isn’t a coffee hour after, but if you would like to join in discussions, come on into our community at Sanctuary Collective. In this sermon, Fr. Shannon explores the significance of the resur…

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Exclusive First Look at “No One Taught Me How To Be A Man” 26:07

8M ago26:07

26:07

Fr. Shannon’s book, “No One Taught Me How to Be a Man,” is out April 15th and he can’t wait to share it with y’all! In this episode, we delve into the complexities of masculinity, particularly from a trans perspective, and discuss the societal expectations and pressures that men face. Shannon emphasizes the need for a new understanding of masculini…

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Cry it Out with Rev. Ben Perry 59:49

8M ago59:49

59:49

This week we are joined by Rev. Benjamin Perry on the podcast. Benjamin is author of “Cry, Baby: Why Our Tears Matter,” and an award-winning writer. His work focuses on the intersection of religion and politics. They hold a degree in psychology from SUNY Geneseo and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary. He is married to Erin Mayer,…

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Failing At Gender 33:50

8M ago33:50

33:50

We delve into the complex interplay between church teachings, gender identity, and masculinity. As we explore the subtle (or not so subtle!) messages received in church environments regarding gender roles, we look at the impact of gender segregation and the challenges of navigating masculinity in a world filled with conflicting expectations. Shanno…

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The Power to Change Our Story with Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew 52:30

8M ago52:30

52:30

We’re joined by author Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew (@elizabethjarrettandrew) on the podcast this week. Elizabeth is the author of “Swinging on the Garden Gate: A Memoir of Bisexuality & Spirit” and the chapbook, “A Map to Mercy,” due out in 2025. She is also the author of three books on writing. She is a founding member of The Eye of the Heart Center …

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The Politics of Jesus 24:13

9M ago24:13

24:13

We’re getting into the hot topic of faith, politics, and the intersection of both in this episode! There has always been an intricate relationship between politics and faith. We discuss how our upbringing shaped some of our views on patriotism, activism, and the current political landscape, especially in relation to Christian nationalism. We also t…

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Turning Pain Into Glitter with Jamie Kushner Blicher 39:09

9M ago39:09

39:09

We’re joined this week by Brian’s longtime friend, inspirational artist, and glitter enthusiast, Jamie Kushner Blicher. Jamie started creating mixed-media pieces in high school and continued to do so throughout her college years at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology. She creates abstract pieces by filling the same tool that brings many…

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Roundup: Reading, Watching, Writing, Listening 31:07

9M ago31:07

31:07

This week, we’re catching up on our personal lives and discussing some pretty significant milestones we’ve achieved. We also talk about our mental health journeys, and the importance of finding joy amidst the chaos of the world. Which can be really, really hard right now – we know! We’ve got an update on our upcoming book releases (exciting!) and h…

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It Comes Back to Community: An Interview with R. Scott Okamoto 50:44

9M ago50:44

50:44

We’re joined this week by R Scott Okamoto who is a writer and musician from Los Angeles. He is passionate about AAPI identity and politics, fly fishing, sex and sexuality, cooking, and religious deconstruction. Scott is the creator and host of the Chapel Probation Podcast and the author of Asian American Apostate: Losing Religion and Finding Myself…

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From Shame To Pride 36:02

9M ago36:02

36:02

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of sex positivity within a spiritual context. We explore the damaging messages received from religious institutions regarding sexuality, the impact of purity culture, and the ongoing journey of self-discovery and healing. Our conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s own desires, n…

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Taking The Sting Out Of Paul (Colossians 3:1-17) 27:26

10M ago27:26

27:26

We’re going back to the Gospel of Paul and exploring Colossians 3:1-17 through a queer lens, discussing the implications of Paul’s teachings on identity, sexuality, and community. It is so important to understand the context of Paul’s letters and how they can be applied to contemporary issues of queer identity and spirituality. There is such a need…

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The Sex and Spirit Connection 28:01

10M ago28:01

28:01

We’re back to explore the intricate relationship between spirituality and sexuality! We share our personal journeys, societal challenges, and the importance of integrating these aspects of identity to reframe how to view sexuality. We also delve into the complexities of desire, agency, and the political implications of sexual oppression. Shame and …

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The Danger of Shallow Forgiveness an interview with Kaya Oakes 38:13

10M ago38:13

38:13

We’re happy to welcome return guest Kaya Oakes back to the podcast for this episode to talk about her new book, “Not So Sorry: Abusers, False Apologies, and the Limits of Forgiveness.” Kaya Oakes is a journalist and author of six books. Her essays and journalism have appeared in many publications. She is also a faculty member in the College Writing…

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Shame-Sex Attraction with Lucas Wilson 50:29

10M ago50:29

50:29

We are joined by author Lucas Wilson for this podcast episode to talk about his journey from being a former evangelical to a queer academic. Dr. Lucas Wilson is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Toronto Mississauga, formerly the Justice, Equity, and Transformation Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Calgary. He is the editor of Shame-Se…

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Taking Another Look at Paul: An Interview with John Dominic Crossan 57:45

11M ago57:45

57:45

We’re excited to have return guest, John Dominic Crossan, on the pod this week to talk about his new book, “Paul the Pharisee: A Vision Beyond the Violence of Civilization.” We discuss the importance of matrix as a tool for understanding the context and background of texts and why that is so important when we look at Paul. Crossan emphasizes the ro…

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Heading to the UnYeshiva with Judaism UnBound 59:23

11M ago59:23

59:23

A while back, we sat down with the hosts of the podcast, Judaism Unbound. So for this episode, we’re sharing that interview with y’all! In this interview, we talk about how to queer theology, share some of our favorite bible stories and discuss how to do this work well. We also touch on how other theologies, religions, and faith practices can enric…

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Exploring Spirituality Through Storytelling with Marques Hollie 1:02:02

11M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

Brian interviews Marques Hollie for this episode of the podcast. Marques Hollie (they/he), is an operatically-trained vocalist, ritual leader, and theatre-maker, who has been telling and singing stories for as long he can remember. Following a course of study in homiletics, liturgy, Torah exegesis, and the canon of Jewish stories, Marques received …

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Imagining New Worlds an interview with Eliot Schrefer 29:03

11M ago29:03

29:03

In this conversation, we speak with author, Eliot Schrefer, about his journey as a writer. We discuss his identity, influences, and the importance of queer representation in literature. He delves into his latest book, ‘The Brightness Between Us,’ and reflects on the creative process of adapting stories for film. Eliot emphasizes the significance of…

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Queer Affirming Therapy an interview with Ann Russo 43:42

12M ago43:42

43:42

We’re joined by Ann Russo, a queer therapist, who shares her journey of growing up in a queer household and navigating the complexities of identity, religion, and acceptance. She discusses the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in religious spaces, the importance of support systems, and the impact of religious trauma. Ann emphasizes the need for…