Best Susan Cottrell Podcasts (2026)

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Do Christians know it's Christmastime at all? 10:11

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20d ago10:11

10:11

This Christmas, we ask a haunting question: Do Christians know it’s Christmas time at all? When the loudest voices in Christianity celebrate the birth of Jesus while ignoring everything he taught — feeding the hungry, welcoming the immigrant, loving without condition — something’s gone terribly wrong. In this episode, we take an honest, sometimes s…

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Christmas Lemon Trees & Blackberries 20:11

27d ago20:11

20:11

Today, since Christmas is coming up, we will talk about lemons and blackberries. I know, I know – what does THAT have to do with Christmas? I want to tell you a couple of stories from my life that involved lemons and blackberries, and what I learned about abundance. At this time of year, when we all make our lists of things we want, and of things t…

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Jesus, the Stand-Up Comedian! 23:22

1M ago23:22

23:22

Was Jesus kind of a stand-up comedian? I mean think about it... A priest, a rabbi, and Jesus walked into a bar. Only Jesus recognized the setup for a joke. I never really thought about Jesus being funny or not. I mean, we’ve heard the stories 1000 times and... I usually smile at the funnier parts, but I never exactly said, Jesus is really funny! Th…

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Transgender Day of Remembrance 10:37

2M ago10:37

10:37

This episode is different. It’s sacred. The Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day to honor and remember the transgender people whose lives were stolen by violence, hatred, and neglect. We wish we didn’t need a day like this. We wish the world were already safe and affirming for our trans family and friends. But the reality is, many lives are lost…

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What the Bible Does & Does Not Say About Transgender People 21:15

2M ago21:15

21:15

You are talking about this and then it happens: someone pulls out a Bible verse and declares that God is against transgender people. You’ve heard it from pulpits, from politicians, maybe from your own family. But, Beloved, here’s the truth: the Bible does NOT say what these people claim it does. In fact, what the Bible does say about this is actual…

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How Anti-Transgender Rhetoric Harms Everyone 23:44

2M ago23:44

23:44

Politicians and pundits have made trans rights one of their top wedge issues. They stir up outrage, and push legislation designed to divide, distract, and control. We’ve all seen it: bills banning gender-affirming care, bathroom access, policing pronouns, especially in state legislations. Leaders pushing them claim it’s about “protecting children” …

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Is God Really Alfred Hitchcock?? 27:14

2M ago27:14

27:14

Let’s talk about God! Our favorite subject… Or is it?? It would be—or could be—if we hadn’t been lied to about God. Well, our job at FreedHearts is to make you feel better about God — or have no feelings about God, that’s fine. But what we DON’T want is for you to have bad feelings about God because they’re usually connected to bad feelings about y…

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Are Christians Following Paul Instead of Jesus? 24:29

3M ago24:29

24:29

Jesus’ message was clear: the kingdom of God is here and now. His anger burned toward those in power who oppressed the vulnerable. His focus was justice, compassion, and service — NOT personal salvation formulas. Yet so much of today’s theology on LGBTQ issues, sin, salvation, and authority doesn’t come from Jesus at all — it comes from Paul. So we…

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Why Christians Don't Have to Be Afraid to Support LGBTQ 18:43

3M ago18:43

18:43

Today’s episode is a heartfelt message to non-affirming Christians — or one you can share with them. It’s a message of hope and courage: you do NOT need to be afraid to support LGBTQ+ people and same-sex relationships. Yes, the climate feels hostile. Yes, fear is loud. But truth is louder. Prejudice is crumbling. Walls are falling. Pastors are reth…

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Is National Coming Out Day Different This Year? 23:54

3M ago23:54

23:54

Today’s episode is both deeply personal and powerfully relevant to the moment we’re living in. We’re talking about coming out — as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer — in a time when hostility and attacks are escalating. This isn’t just theory — it’s raw, real, and urgent. All of this in honor of National Coming Out Day on October 11th! Plu…

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Fortifying Ourselves in Challenging Times 28:10

3M ago28:10

28:10

Last week, we talked about healing—the kind that doesn’t just change us, but changes the world. The healing that makes us more kind, more loving, more empathetic. But here’s the truth: while we’re doing this sacred work, there is a battle raging around us. A relentless stream of fear, attacks, and psychological warfare designed to wear us down, to …

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If We Can’t Save the World, What Can We Do? 25:08

3M ago25:08

25:08

How are you doing? Many of us are wondering, with the barrage of news and developments, what do we do? Beloved, our job is really not to save the world because we can't do that, not in the way we think. So, what CAN we do? We can help save the world in a different way. We can do our own work and move ourselves into more spiritual openness and matur…

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Our 200th Episode! Fears of the Next Generation. A Special Visit with our Asher! 47:08

4M ago47:08

47:08

It's our 200th episode, and we have something very special for you! We visit with our Asher - the one who started it all for us, the one Susan talked about in her viral TED talk. Now a transgender man, with a transgender wife, and a child... what a journey it has been! We talk about that today, and especially about the fears of this generation. Fro…

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Affirmations. Do They Really Work? 30:30

4M ago30:30

30:30

Have you tried affirmations where you look in the mirror and say the things that you want in your life, or say the things you want to believe about yourself - and maybe gotten mixed results? You probably heard about the power of affirmations but in practice find the results not what you’d hoped. Why? We talk all about that today. If affirmations ar…

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Simply Put: The Bible Does NOT Condemn Homosexuality! 40:21

5M ago40:21

40:21

Actually, it is NOT complicated, or confusing, or nuanced. It is really simple. The Bible IS clear: There is NO condemnation against people who are LGBTQ+ or against same-sex relationships. You are NOT the ones who need to defend your beliefs. The non-affirming church is. They ignore the truth of Scripture, and they ignore the devastating, deadly i…

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Changing the Minds of NonAffirming Christians 40:40

5M ago40:40

40:40

What does and does not work when talking to evangelical Christians about LGBTQ issues? It can certainly be tough and frustrating. We are dealing with patriarchal, moral-majority driven false teaching. All taught with God’s name attached to it – and grave consequences if you don’t just fall in line. But we, like a growing number of people, were surp…

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"Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin??" We're Calling Bullsh*t! 33:16

5M ago33:16

33:16

Love the sinner, hate the sin?? Wait, what?? It sure doesn't feel like love to those on the receiving end. You know why? It’s not! It’s homophobia disguised as love. Is it from the Bible or any religious text? Nope. In this encore presentation, we dive into this and set the record straight. Because "love the sinner, hate the sin" is total bullsh*t!…

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One of the deadliest teachings in all of humanity! 31:50

5M ago31:50

31:50

An encore presentation of our most popular episode ever, and maybe our most powerful! And wow, it’s more needed and timely than ever. We talk about one of the two deadliest teachings in all of humanity. It is at the heart of our division. It is responsible for some of history’s most brutal treatment of ethnic groups, religious groups, women, LGBTQ;…

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Take Your Power Back! 34:51

6M ago34:51

34:51

Do you feel a bit powerless? Overwhelmed? Exhausted? There are lots of ways this disempowerment can show up. It’s important to practice finding your power, because the truth is, we STILL have our power. It’s beautiful and it’s limitless. Beloved, today, I have three stories for you about taking your power back! It’s time! Send us a private message.…

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How to Spot Fake News & Misinformation 32:19

6M ago32:19

32:19

We know you see it. We know you feel it. Social media is being used more and more as a tool for radicalization. Extremists exploit platforms to spew propaganda and recruit followers. Beloved, it is easy for individuals to fall prey to manipulation. Fake news has become a real threat, affecting everything from our health to our relationships to our …

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Hypnotherapy: The Gift of a New Narrative 33:31

6M ago33:31

33:31

I recently had a session of hypnotherapy and I want to share with you because it was so empowering for me and I think it can empower you too. In fact, I asked the Universe, Spirit for a message JUST for you (because I’m always thinking of you!) and you know what? I got one! You’re gonna love this. I’m eager to share it all with you. Let’s do this. …

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Selfcare. Staying Positive In Times Like These 27:44

7M ago27:44

27:44

We’ve been through a lot of deconstruction, many of us, and have been finding a lot of freedom. It’s so easy to look outside ourselves, and point at what needs to change in the world — and no doubt it does! I would bet that virtually every person listening is wanting to help rebuild the world into better shape than it is right now. But how can we d…

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How Do We Save America? 32:36

7M ago32:36

32:36

We hear this question a lot lately: How do we Save America? Whispered in grief and shouted in frustration. From parents afraid for their trans kids, from exhausted teachers, from faith leaders trying to hold shattered communities together. We hear it from the hearts of people who love this country—not so much for what it has been, but for what it c…

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For Dads of LGBTQ+ Children – A Special Episode 17:32

7M ago17:32

17:32

Just Rob today - in time for Father’s Day - with a very special episode talking to Dads. But this is good for all parents, for LGBTQ+ kids, for allies. It helps us better understand and support. So, Dads, your child is gay or bisexual or transgender. Your love for your child seems to somehow conflict with your faith - at least according to what you…

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PRIDE! It's a Celebration, Not a Sin 23:32

7M ago23:32

23:32

June is Pride Month—a time dedicated not just to parades and rainbow flags but to profound affirmation and resistance against discrimination. The skewed Christian view of pride involves a self-centered attitude, placing oneself above others and, most critically, above God. But the LGBTQ+ community is not declaring themselves above anyone else. Prid…

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Should I Stay or Should I Go? Evaluating Safety 23:08

7M ago23:08

23:08

I know you feel it. So much fear. So much worry. We see it everywhere, we see it in our own family. Many are considering whether to stay in their state, or even stay in the country. Or whether it is time to go. We asked several people we respect in this community about the topic and their answers could not be more varied. Beloved, what is the right…

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To Christian Parents of LGBTQ+ Children 26:18

8M ago26:18

26:18

Your child says, “Mom, I’m Gay!” You want to shove those words back in and put the lid on. But you can't. Your child is gay or bisexual or transgender. This goes against everything you've been taught. It was not what you had in mind, and you instantly wonder where you went wrong. When you become a parent, you know to expect the unexpected. But for …

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What Is This Mom Supposed To Do? 16:04

8M ago16:04

16:04

We heard from a Mom who loves her daughter but does not accept her being gay, understanding but not really understanding, embracing but letting her daughter know she does not approve. And this Mom could not understand why that was wrong, and why her heart need to be set free. She represents many on this journey of deconstruction who are in limbo – …

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Moms, You Are Not a Disappointment! 12:17

8M ago12:17

12:17

Today, a beautiful episode focused on Moms. Mother’s Day will come and go. Maybe you’ll do brunch with family, get a call from the kids, maybe open a card or a present. Or not. If you get a card, it is quite likely that reading those words of appreciation will bring simultaneous joy and guilt! Seems to be the nature of motherhood. Sit with me… I wo…

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My Transgender Child: A Mother's Tender Story 22:35

8M ago22:35

22:35

With all that has been going on to attack, condemn, and erase our precious transgender community, we thought it was the perfect time for this. In this very special, intimate episode, we share something that came from a mom of transgender daughter. She wrote it for her pastor, for anyone, who is trying to sort out transgender, gender nonconforming, …

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Don’t You Dare Deny the Beauty of Being Transgender! 34:17

9M ago34:17

34:17

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…

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How the Bible AFFIRMS Transgender & Nonbinary People! 45:49

9M ago45:49

45:49

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 c…

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It's Okay to Hold a Grudge! 27:29

9M ago27:29

27:29

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 unforg…

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The UnChristian Jesus & The UnChristlike Church! 25:45

9M ago25:45

25:45

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…

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Why Posting on Social Media Might Not Change Things 22:07

10M ago22:07

22:07

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, honest…

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Can We Be Certain About Our Beliefs? 28:09

10M ago28:09

28:09

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 …

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Triage the Chaos So We Can Be Prepared & Effective 35:59

10M ago35:59

35:59

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. An…

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Responding to All This Gaslighting 19:44

10M ago19:44

19:44

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…

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How Not to be Overwhelmed! 28:02

10M ago28:02

28:02

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 …

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Can You Uninvite People to Your Wedding & Special Event? 31:49

11M ago31:49

31:49

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 i…

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The Myth & Dangers of Christian "Accountability" 24:46

11M ago24:46

24:46

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…

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Freedom From Self-Judgment 16:03

11M ago16:03

16:03

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 OURSELVE…

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Hell: The Deadliest Teaching in History! 42:47

11M ago42:47

42:47

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 forw…

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The Gift of Fear! 30:20

12M ago30:20

30:20

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 …

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You Deserve to Be Believed About Who You Are 22:13

12M ago22:13

22:13

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 disbelieve…

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Why We Are Not Wrong About Transgender People! 31:07

12M ago31:07

31:07

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 lin…

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Why Are My Kids So Mad at Me? 38:22

1y ago38:22

38:22

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 chi…

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Well Beloved, Now What?? 29:32

1y ago29:32

29:32

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 f…

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In Times Like These... Caring for Ourselves and Those We Love 21:59

1+ y ago21:59

21:59

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 d…

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Queer Wisdom: What Queer Culture Teaches That Straight Culture Doesn't 21:25

1+ y ago21:25

21:25

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 constru…