So What? Exploring Big Ideas and Why They Matter

Welcome to Episode 4 of So What as Michael Brennan joins Michael and Trevor as they explore the big idea of inclusive love as a queer ally.

Michael is an author, educator, and podcaster passionate about amplifying voices, fostering meaningful conversations, and inspiring growth through storytelling and education. For over 20 years, he has taught high school English, helping students find their voice and cultivate their creativity. His work explores the intersections of faith, identity, and resilience, drawing from lived experiences and a deep commitment to open and relational theology

Michael writes: “I know conversations about LGBTQIA+ affirmation, faith, and theology sometimes feel heavy—especially when we’ve been told there are only two sides to the story. My hope is not to tell you what to think, but to invite you into deeper reflection about love, harm, and what faithfulness really looks like.”

You can find more of HIS writing at michaeljosephbrennan.com, or subscribe to HIS Substack, Theodivergent, where he post essays, reflections, and audiobook chapters from my book Flourish: An Open and Relational Queer Theology. The book is his attempt to share how the God of love I’ve come to know is inclusive, liberating, and actively working toward the well-being of all creation—including LGBTQIA+ people.

Resources for Your Own Reflection

If you’re wrestling with how to think well about LGBTQIA+ affirmation, here are some resources Michael would recommend—starting with those that have helped him the most:

Affirming and Life-Giving Resources:

• Matthew Vines, God and the Gay Christian– A careful, biblical engagement on sexual orientation and affirmation.
• James Brownson, Bible, Gender, Sexuality– Rigorous theological work on what Scripture actually says (and doesn’t say).
• Austen Hartke, Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians– Beautiful, practical, and full of compassion.
• Keegan Osinski, Queering Wesley, Queering the Church– A fantastic exploration of how queer theology and Wesleyan theology intersect.
• Richard O. Prum, Performance All the Way Down. An interdisciplinary exploration of how biology and queer feminist theory intersect to challenge the traditional binary understanding of sex and gender.

If you enjoy this episode, please like it, subscribe, consider rating it, and sharing it with family and friends. This podcast can also be found on podbean, Spotify, Apple, and other platforms.

Thanks to Jim for production and Rebekah for the voice behind the scenes.

This podcast is produced by McKillop; Living Sacred Relationships.