FreedHearts

FreedHearts

"Deconstructing religious baggage with laughter and love! Changing the conversation on love and inclusion." Susan Cottrell is the Mom of two LGBTQ children; the founder of FreedHearts; an international speaker with a viral TEDx talk; a pastor and theologian; an acclaimed author; and a fierce advocate and ally. In her unique tender, relatable style, Susan is a prominent voice of unconditional love and lavish inclusion. Powerful, authentic, and relevant in today’s society, Susan has a lot to say. The Advocate calls her their “Favorite Affirming Matriarch.” OutSmart magazine calls her "The Mother of all MamaBears!" Reverend Ashley Harness from Auburn Seminary says, “Susan has this fierce, loving, don’t mess with me, Mom vibe.” If you have been excluded, or if someone close to you has been excluded because of who they are or who they love - or maybe you have been the one doing the excluding - the FreedHearts podcast is for you. Join Susan, along with her husband Rob, on the journey. You are not alone. Welcome home!

Episodes

March 13, 2024 28 mins

Sometimes, when people attack deconstruction, they talk about it like it’s an attack on Christianity. Actually, it’s just the opposite. Deconstruction is tearing down false religious teaching that goes against the message and life of Jesus. That message has been perverted by much of the Christian religion.

Beloved, there is one thing that scares this non-affirming, fundamentalist, legalistic, rules-based, conditional love...

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Have you been called a Prodigal, and told that if you just repent all will be forgiven?

Perhaps you’ve been told that, “Sure, you’re saying you’re gay or transgender—or that you are affirming your LGBTQ+ child--or whatever it is—but one day you’ll repent and then we will “graciously” let you back in the fold!”

Uh yeah, no thank you. 

Few stories are as misused and misunderstood as the Prodigal.

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The story of the prodigal has been misunderstood and abused to harm and shame people.

In this very special, powerful episode, we give you a profound, eye-opening retelling of this classic Biblical story about the prodigal – but this time as a transgender woman

And she is certainly not the one who repents.

This will forever change how you view this story!

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February 14, 2024 31 mins

When you begin to deconstruct everything you have believed, you begin to wonder who you are.
 
You’re left wondering: how do I view the world now?
 
It’s like someone healing from ongoing abuse, and they don’t really know who they are without it—if they’re not an abuse-survivor, who are they?
 
If you’re not a “Christian,” who are you?
 
It’s a big question for so many. 

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We hear from Christian parents every single day

Many give reasons why they just will not support, accept, affirm their LGBTQ+ child. Usually because of their interpretation of the Bible and what their pastors have told them to do.

Today we share an email and our answer to a Mom about why parents absolutely MUST support, accept and affirm their LGBTQ+ child.
 
It is indeed the Christian thing to do. 

...
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January 31, 2024 26 mins

We have an amazing capacity to normalize things that can be unbearably painful.
 
It’s a great survival skill. It really does help us survive unimaginable circumstances. But it’s NOT a great thriving skill. Once you’re past the danger, once you survive, you need a new pattern to thrive.
 
And you need to know that trauma, those unbearable, dysfunctional family issues – especially those surrounding you living your a...

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We are not huge fans of New Year’s resolutions.  Kind of feels like setting yourself up to fail. I understand the power of motivation and commitment, setting a goal, pushing yourself – but somehow this feels different.
 
So, instead of New Year’s resolutions – we are doing New Year’s revolutions! 
 
We give you 7 things to stop and 7 things to start that can be life-changing, revolutionary for your life.

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The anti-gay church has done a lot of damage as it is a system that was built on exclusion.

So, if we find ourselves excluded for whatever reason, we take a lot of baggage with us – false teachings, shame, guilt, cult-like programming.

One huge piece of baggage is doubt – wondering if we really are right about all of this. About LGBTQ+. About deconstruction.

This is an important episode for our hearts, ...

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I have tiny babies in my life now – my grandchildren. I love them – as they are, for who they are. Unconditionally. They don’t have to do anything to earn that.  And they never, ever will.

As we grow up, sometimes parents do and say hurtful things and withhold the love and acceptance you deserve. You don’t, and never did deserve that.

So, today I want to give you a gift, just from me, and talk to that tiny child...

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After you have deconstructed, Christmas becomes an interesting season doesn’t it? Our view of God has expanded, our faith has expanded.

In this beautiful, very special holiday episode, we share three stories - one from Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple; one from Sandra Cisneros; and a unique retelling of the Biblical story for us outliers, the rest of us.

I hope these unwrap the way we see and celebrate th...

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Have you been uninvited to a holiday or family gathering?  Yeah, us too.

And honestly, is that kind of event the last place you would want to be because of things that are said or just because of how you are made to feel? 

We are right in the middle of the holiday season, and all the family issues and triggers that can bring.

So, let’s talk about how to navigate difficult family situations, and also ab...

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This time of year, and being around family so much can be full of triggers and difficult situations. Especially with all the division and anger out there.

So, how do we deal with infuriating family fanatics? 

When we are afraid, angry, and even hurt, how do we love people we don’t even like that much? What does that mean, and what does it not mean?

A very helpful episode as we go into this holiday seaso...

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Today, we talk about all the things you hear from anti-LGBTQ Christians, and we ask if those are real thoughts and questions, real concerns, or are they just repeating what they have been programmed to say??
 
We have some fun discussing if they are real people or are they just bots??   ;-)
 
And, most importantly, we talk about how to respond, especially when they just so happen to be family members. 

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November 15, 2023 33 mins

How we define family changes. Relationships change. So, our expectations of family should change.
 
We get triggered, we get hurt, especially at this time of year.
 
Beloved, you deserve to find your people. You deserve to love and be loved as you are for who you are.

 
As Richard Bach said, "The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life."<...

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November 8, 2023 27 mins

We get a lot of emails from beloved souls who have been absolutely terrified by their church and Christian friends.

Cause, you know, that’s so Christlike. (sigh)

They are told that they’re not enough, that their parents are right, their pastors are right, and they’re just awful if they can’t change their fundamental core. That they are doomed.

No Beloved, you’re NOT doomed!
 
Today we talk ab...

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November 1, 2023 16 mins

The church will call people a heretic for years before they finally recognize them as a saint.
 
If we need the church’s approval, to be validated, to be seen, a lot of the world will sit unrecognized.

People whom God sees as perfect and loves unconditionally will often be sitting in the dark in tears, waiting for approval.
 
You don’t need to wait for approval! Why? Because, you’ve already got approval!...

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You know that debating people who are committed to misunderstanding you can be toxic.

We fall down the rabbit hole and it usually does not go well – especially for our hearts and peace. You deserve better!

Let me be clear: YOU are not the one who need to defend ANYTHING. And at times it’s best to just speak the truth, share a resource, and sashay away in all your fabulousness! 

Today, we share a very i...

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Have you ever been told you’re cherry-picking scripture? This is when you don’t buy someone else’s interpretation of the bible, they tell you you’re cherry-picking. We’ve been told this many times, and I’m pretty sure you have been too.

It’s when we won’t lay down our verses and replace them with their verses—the ones they’ve cherry-picked and thrown at us!

It’s when we don’t buy into the church’s interpretation-d...

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October 11, 2023 24 mins

We hear it all the time, we know you do too: “Jesus said to go and sin no more!” Well, honestly beloved, enough is enough!

Remember that Bible story: “Jesus Scatters Self-Righteous Men in the Name of Mercy and Justice!” No? Hmmm… How about this one: “The Woman Caught in Adultery.” Yeah, that’s more familiar. It’s the same story, but a completely different interpretation.
 
The commonly taught interpretation misses...

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October 4, 2023 22 mins

For those of us who have a religious background – it was likely ingrained in us that we are broken, fallen sinners – in need of being saved.
 
And how convenient – a church within walking distance who can help with that – as long as we follow, and do and believe what we are told.
 
But what if they are completely wrong?

What if you knew that you knew that you knew that there was absolutely nothing wrong w...

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