The Liberated Porch Podcast

Finding Freedom from Shame in Being a Man Who's Attracted to Other Men with Tom Bruett, LMFT, CST

Podcast Episode Summary Introduction Speakers: * Kit Morgan: Trans and queer licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and educator specializing in religious trauma work with the queer population. * Tom Bruett: Licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and founder of the Queer Relationship Institute. You can find his work @queerrelationshipinstitute on Instagram or Youtube, The Gay Relationship Podcast, or queerelationshipinstitute.com Episode Theme: * Exploring the intersection of religion, spirituality, and sexuality, focusing on how these elements can oppress individuals based on gender and sexuality. Timestamps and Subtopics: 0:00 - Introduction to the Episode * Overview of the podcast's focus on the impact of religion and spirituality on gender and sexuality. 0:25 - Guest Introduction * Introduction of Tom Bruett and his work with the queer community. 1:56 - Main Discussion: Sexuality and Trauma * 2:18 - Gay Cisgender Men's Sexuality: Exploration of sexuality among gay cisgender men. * 2:31 - Therapy for Non-Heterosexual Men: Challenges faced by non-heterosexual men in therapy. * 3:33 - Microaggressions in Therapy: Common issues and microaggressions experienced by non-heterosexual men. 6:00 - Understanding Sexuality Spectrum * Discussion on demisexuality, fray sexuality, and misconceptions about sex addiction. 9:39 - Principles of Sexual Health * Explanation of the six principles of sexual health and their importance in therapy. 14:01 - Patriarchal Narratives and Therapy * Impact of patriarchal narratives on non-heterosexual men and the role of therapy in addressing these issues. 27:04 - DL Behavior and Religious Trauma * Exploration of DL behavior, its complexities, and its relation to religious trauma. 34:02 - Trauma and Sexuality * How trauma influences sexual behavior and identity, and understanding trauma arousal responses. 39:38 - Addressing Sexuality in Therapy * Guidance for clients on discussing sexuality with therapists and the importance of this dialogue. 41:57 - Conclusion * Closing remarks and appreciation for the conversation.

Making Your Own Kind of Music After the Indoctrination of Biblical Womanhood with Christine Parker

In this episode, queer religious trauma therapists, Kit and Christine Parker, delve into their personal journeys with musical training, religious upbringing, and recognizing their authentic identities. They discuss how religious and cultural norms influence perceptions of gender, sexuality, and self-expression, especially within Christian and evangelical contexts. Their heartfelt dialogue offers insights into healing, self-trust, and embracing one’s true self in the face of societal pressures. Main Topics: * The influence of classical music training and the Suzuki Method on discipline and perfectionism * Contrasts between biblical womanhood and embodied womanhood within patriarchal structures * How purity culture shapes perceptions of sexuality and gender, particularly for queer women * The mental and emotional toll of religious trauma and the importance of slow, marathon-like healing * Practical ways for LGBTQ+ individuals to find affirming therapeutic support * The process of discovering and accepting one’s sexuality later in life Timestamps: 00:00 - Personal stories of musical beginnings and family influences 02:44 - Childhood experiences with classical music and discipline 05:49 - Religious upbringing and its impact on views of womanhood 11:10 - Differentiating biblical womanhood from embodied womanhood 15:16 - Navigating emotional closeness and purity culture among women 20:22 - Sexual education in religious contexts versus scientific understanding 27:31 - Recognizing attraction and coming out stories later in life 33:37 - The myth of instant trauma recovery and compassionate healing journey 39:00 - The power of slow, mindful trauma recovery and therapy insights 43:40 - How religious training influences behavior versus identity in women 47:28 - Questions to ask therapists to ensure LGBTQ+ affirming care 51:14 - Closing thoughts and gratitude for authentic conversations

On Becoming a Pro-Choice, Affirming Mom After 21 Siblings with Heather McG

Host Introduction: * 0:00 - Kit Morgan welcomes listeners to the Liberated Porch podcast, introducing themselves as a trans and queer licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and educator. Kit specializes in working with the queer population from families and faith backgrounds where love was conditional. Guest Introduction: * 0:26 - Kit introduces Heather McG, discussing her work on unlearning Christian fundamentalism about parenthood and breaking generational religious trauma through affirming parenting. Heather is recognized as a strong ally for the queer community, advocating from a place of passion for human rights. Guest Background: * 1:49 - Heather is described as a highly accomplished writer, producer, and storyteller, with accolades including Emmy and Cannes Lion Awards. Raised in a quiverful family in rural Texas, Heather is working on a memoir about her experiences in fundamentalist Christianity. Main Discussion: * 2:18 - The conversation begins with Heather sharing her excitement to be on the podcast. * 3:19 - Heather and Kit discuss the cultural and religious environment of the Bible Belt, including the impact of non-affirming religious teachings. * 4:21 - Heather shares her upbringing in a fundamentalist Christian church and the quiverful movement, highlighting the challenges and beliefs associated with it. * 6:40 - The discussion touches on the lack of support for families within these religious systems and the misconceptions about birth control and abortion. * 9:38 - Heather talks about the appropriation of Judaic practices within fundamentalist Christianity and her family's unique experiences. * 11:12 - The conversation explores the dynamics of large families and the challenges of parenting within such environments. * 14:21 - Heather reflects on the impact of religious teachings on identity and the journey of self-discovery outside of those frameworks. * 18:28 - Kit and Heather discuss the complexities of unlearning maladaptive parenting skills and the importance of emotional support. * 21:28 - Heather shares her healing journey post-divorce and the importance of shedding shame from fundamentalist teachings. * 25:52 - The conversation emphasizes the significance of emotional presence and self-exploration in parenting. * 29:18 - Kit and Heather discuss the importance of re-education and community in healing from religious trauma. * 34:11 - Heather offers advice to religious trauma survivors on building confidence and breaking generational cycles. Closing Remarks: * 39:27 - Kit concludes the podcast, expressing gratitude for Heather's insights and experiences shared during the conversation.

From Church Basement Trauma to Collective Recovery with Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez

Episode Summary:  0:00 - Introduction * Host Kit Morgan introduces the podcast which focuses on the intersections of religion, spirituality, and LGBTQ+ issues. 0:26 - Guest Introduction * Introduction of Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, a conversion therapy survivor and former architect of evangelical Christianity's digital empire. 0:44 - Conversion Therapy Experience * Tim shares his personal journey through conversion therapy and its impact on his faith and identity. 1:22 - New Path and Book Discussion * Discussion on Tim's new book, "Conversion Therapy Dropout," and his journey to finding a community that embraces his true self. 2:08 - Sobriety and Empowerment * Kit and Tim discuss sobriety as conversion therapy survivors and reclaiming spaces once avoided. 3:04 - Shared Experiences * Tim talks about the shared experiences among conversion therapy survivors and the importance of storytelling. 5:36 - Sobriety Journey * Tim shares his journey to sobriety and how it helped him redefine his faith and identity. 14:43 - Celebrate Recovery Discussion * A conversation about Celebrate Recovery and its covert conversion therapy aspects. 20:41 - Connection and Recovery * The importance of connection in recovery and how it contrasts with addiction. 26:46 - Community and Recovery Meetings * Tim reflects on the community found in recovery meetings and the reclamation of church spaces. 35:07 - Book Release and Hopes * Tim shares his hopes for his book's impact on conversion therapy awareness and church leaders. 36:40 - Closing Remarks * Kit and Tim conclude the episode with reflections on the power of storytelling and knowledge sharing. Meet Your Host (Kit Morgan) and Guest (Timothy Schaeder Rodriguez): Kit Morgan is a trans and queer licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and educator. Specializing in working with the queer population, Kit focuses on individuals from families and faith backgrounds where love was conditional on being cisgender and heterosexual. Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez is a former architect of evangelical Christianity's digital empire, having worked with influential mega churches like Hillsong, Willow Creek, and Elevation Church. After spending years in conversion therapy, Tim now shares his journey of finding a vibrant faith through liberation-oriented theology. He is the author of "Conversion Therapy Dropout," which explores the hidden harm of non-affirming Christian spaces and religious trauma recovery. Get the book, Conversion Therapy Dropout here: https://www.conversiontherapydropoutbook.com/ [https://www.conversiontherapydropoutbook.com/]

10 Reasons Why Evangelical Lesbians Are Invisible Within Purity Culture

Join Kit Morgan, a queer and trans licensed therapist, as they explore the often invisible and overlooked experiences of lesbians shaped by purity culture. This episode highlights ten critical reasons why lesbian voices have been marginalized within religious trauma educational contexts, emphasizing the importance of understanding gender and sexuality through a religious trauma-informed lens. Main topics: * The impact of purity culture on female submissiveness and passivity * Queer erasures within biblical stories like Ruth and Naomi * Emotional intimacy and physical exploration in women’s Bible studies * The suppression of female sexuality and gender expression * The dangers of early marriage and issues around marital rape * The complex realities of lesbian women in abusive marriages with cisgender men and fears around child custody * The spiritualization of desire and feelings of being ‘different’ after leaving purity culture * The importance of supporting lesbian resilience and visibility Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to how religion and purity culture oppress queer identities 00:28 - Personal reflection on Lesbian Visibility Day and LGBTQ+ spaces in religious contexts 0:54 - How purity culture instills submissiveness and passivity in women 2:07 - The role of biblical stories and their possible queer interpretations 3:41 - Female companionship in biblical and church settings as potentially lesbian in nature 5:02 - How women are taught to deny their sexuality and desire 6:00 - Gender expression exploration and fears within religious communities 7:14 - Early marriage pressures and misinformation about sex 8:29 - The dangerous normalization of marital rape under religious teachings 10:11 - Fear of losing custody and the impact of religiously connected social services 14:47 - The sacredness of sexuality outside purity culture norms 15:20 - Feelings of being ‘different’ and spiritual bypassing 16:22 - How supporters can better uplift lesbians in their communities