I Tried to Be Straight
Welcome to the I Tried to Be Straight Podcast! We both grew up in Christian culture where being gay wasn't acceptable. After years of struggling with our sexualities, we both recently came out of the closet. We're here to unpack those journeys, and learn more about the struggle of accepting your sexuality in a culture where it's not ok to be gay. We're entering into the stories of others, digging into theology, learning more about gay culture, and trying to give you a little insight into just how hard it is to try to be straight.
Episodes
While Jordan was living what many would consider the ideal Christian life, evangelizing and serving at his church, he was quietly struggling with his attraction to men. Everything came to a head when another student outed him in college, costing him school benefits simply for being gay and making him question everything.
After years of working in the church and trying to stay in the closet, Cade - @GayExTrad Justin - @EmptyChairsHome and Nate sit down to talk about what it’s been like to finally live out in the open. From unlearning shame to finding joy in authenticity, this episode dives deep into the emotional, spiritual, and relational journey of coming out after growing up in the church.
Brandan Robertson explains in his new book Queer & Christian, where he challenges traditional interpretations of Scripture that have long excluded LGBTQ+ people. Instead, he uncovers the Bible’s true message of love, justice, and radical inclusion. More than just a reclamation of the Bible, this book is a call to reclaim the rightful place of queer people at God’s table. Whether you're seeking clarity, healing, or a deeper conn...
Some big announcements and big changes for the first episode of season 3 of I Tried to Be Straight!
Lucas Hall shares his story of coming out, his journey of faith, resilience, and self-discovery. His story is a testament to perseverance and the power of staying true to oneself.
You can connect with Lucas on Instagram - @thelucassamuel
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Support us and Join our Monthly Zoom on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ITriedtoBeStraight
Chat with us and others on Discord: https://dis...
In this episode of I Tried to Be Straight, Dr. Julia Sadusky—a Catholic psychologist—shares how her work in sexuality, gender, and trauma led her to question beliefs about being gay. She reveals the insights that reshaped her faith perspective and offers ways for faith communities to foster empathy and acceptance.
We can’t believe it’s been a whole year, whether you’ve been with us from the very beginning or just recently found us, thank you for listening, supporting, and tuning in each week. It truly means the world to us!
In this special episode, we reflect on what the past year has taught us, dive into the highs and lows of dating, and debate the big question: Can you really be friends after dating?
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Susie and Nate touch base on where there faith journeys are at through the coming out process.
Justin from Empty Chairs joins us to share about his efforts to create community for LGBTQ within the Catholic church. After coming out and realizing he didn't believe being gay was wrong, he started speaking out about the issue and realized there were a lot more like him than he imagined!
https://empty-chairs.org/
We're excited to share this episode with fashion influencer Jonathan Kirby. We had the privilege of sitting down with him in New York to hear his powerful coming-out story. Jonathan is a true example of believing in yourself and betting on your authentic self. Through embracing his unique eye for fashion and spreading positivity, he's built a personal brand that inspires thousands. To follow Jonathan's journey, connect with him on...
Nate & Susie tackle your questions in this episode, including some of the toughest questions after coming out: Should you keep your Christian friends who don’t affirm your sexuality, and how do you know when to come out? In this heartfelt Q&A, they share personal experiences and strategies for navigating relationships with love and authenticity. Plus, they explore how to foster understanding in faith communities while stayi...
In this heartfelt conversation, Nate and Susie sit down with Al, a former Jehovah’s Witness who lost everything the moment his family and faith community learned he was gay. Disfellowshipped and cut off, Al shares what it felt like to watch the people he loved most simply vanish from his life. But this isn’t just a story about what he lost—it’s also about what he’s created in the aftermath. Al found healing in the kitchen, channel...
Jane Clementi’s world shattered when she lost her son Tyler to bullying for being gay. She decided she was going on a mission to make sure no other family goes through the same pain, and she started a non-profit to help end bullying. In this episode, Jane shares her journey from grief to activism, why she believes LGBTQ+ kids need to be fully embraced, and how she found her faith again after leaving a church that condemned her son.
...Colby Martin, author of Unclobber, shares his story of deconstruction and reconstruction on this episode. He then teaches on how to rebuild your faith and pick up the pieces after the very common deconstruction process we go through when coming out.
Find Colby at: https://www.colbymartinonline.com/
Support us and Join our Monthly Zoom on Patreon: patreon.com/c/ITriedtoBeStraight Chat with us and others on Discord: https://disco...
The results of this election took many of us in the LGBTQ community by surprise and have hit a lot of us pretty hard. Brit Barron joins us to talk about how we’re feeling in the aftermath and to share a word of hope. Finally, we discuss how to approach the holidays with family members who have different viewpoints and how to navigate those conversations.
Check Out Brit's books at: https://www.britbarron.com/
Support us and Join o...
Growing up Conor knew he was different but tried to convince himself he wasn’t. After battling with mental health for years, he finally had to come to terms with the fact that he was gay. Coming out, he believed celibacy was the right choice for his life and his faith. He shares what that journey is like, and discusses why it was still important for him to come out of the closet, even if he still intends to stay single. Support us...
When Simon heard Alana's story, a devout catholic girl who took her life, he knew it needed to be told. After hearing her journey with conversion therapy, and having a similar journey himself, he decided to see what he could do to get it out there. He pulled together stories from her friend's, family, and journals and made the podcast Dear Alana. Winning several awards and touching thousands of hearts, this story made a huge impact...
Kristyn Komarnicki was working for a Christian magazineabout to publish an article about why being gay is not of God. Rather than running the article, she felt it was her duty to do the research. For her that meant gathering a group of gays and Christians with different opinions to actually hear what their experiences were. Realizing the depth of connection and the need for these conversations, she continues gathering groups to bui...
Retired NFL Offensive Tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, lived in a community where coming out of the closet wasn't an option. After realizing he was gay, he joined sports at a young age to hide his sexuality. Getting to retirement he finally reached a breaking point and made the decision to come out.
Support us and Join our Monthly Zoom on Patreon: patreon.com/c/ITriedtoBeStraight
Chat with us and others on Discord: https://discord.gg/vWXP...
Author, Pastor, and Speaker Brandan Robertson shares why being gay and Christian makes perfect sense. We also chat about how queer people have helped change the church for the better, and the progress we've seen in the church over the last several years.
Support us and join our monthly Zoom at www.patreon.com/ITriedtoBeStraight
Chat with us and other for free at www.discord.gg/7jwmTemc5y
Brandan's Website: brandanrobertson.com
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