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Published by Susan & Rob Cottrell, FreedHearts
Freeing hearts to love and be loved! Love. Inclusion. Affirmation. 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!
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From the feed
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This is a very special episode for Dads of LGBTQ+ kids - or about your Dad, or about the Dad of someone you love. Today, I talk about the core issues unique to being the Father of an LGBTQ+ child. I’ll give some tools you can use to understand your kids, deepen your relationships, expand your faith, and deal with non-affirming friends, family and especially those at church. Dads, it’s just me and you today. Bring your fears, bring your hearts, and let’s talk. Rob Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Okay, let’s talk about SEX. 😏 Because apparently, the Church has had a LOT to say about what happens in our bedrooms. Did you know that the biblical idea of “unnatural sex” has historically been understood in ways that included sex that wasn’t procreative? Yep. Sex just for pleasure could be a problem. WTF?! But once we started pulling on that thread, something much bigger began to unravel. Sex. Patriarchy. Misogyny. Power. Control. And underneath it all, we began to see a disturbing pattern that ultimately helped drive our deconstruction: Protect the institution. Protect the theology. Protect the power. Even when it harms—or destroys—the people inside it. Once you see that pattern, you start seeing it EVERYWHERE. So today, we’re going there: sex, patriarchy, misogyny, the Church—and the damage done when preserving a religious system matters more than protecting human beings. This should be fun. 😉🔥 Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
This episode is for parents of LGBTQ+ children; or LGBTQ+ people with parents; or those allies and friends who know parents. In other words, this is for you! In our work with hundreds of thousands of parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer children, there are 5 questions that almost always come up. Things they are concerned about; things they wonder and worry about. This episode answers those questions, and we thought it was time to share it again! Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
I went to seminary as an evangelical. I had no idea it was going to hold so many surprises. Here are the top 7 shockers that change the entire game of Christianity. Knowing these will help us continue to unravel the hurtful, destructive teachings that, in truth, really have nothing to do with Jesus, God or the Bible. It was the beginning of the deconstruction of my faith, and the beginning of a much deeper, more beautiful, more satisfying spirituality. A special encore presentation. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
So much pain has been inflicted in the name of God. We have been deeply hurt, we get triggered and, understandably, we want nothing to do with any of it - even Jesus. But, let’s be clear, what has been used to hurt us has been absolute lies, false teachings and is not about God or Jesus! One of the worst things that ever happened to Jesus was the religion of Christianity, and non-affirming Christians have largely gotten him totally wrong. Jesus is still one of the best-kept secrets because his truth has been grossly distorted by people who claim to speak for him. There is a religion-free Jesus who belongs to all of us! Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Why do parents struggle with loving their LGBTQ+ children? Why do LGBTQ+ struggle with internalized homophobia, and with loving themselves? Often, it's because of the lies, false teachings and faulty arguments coming from the Christian church. It's time to set the record straight. We share again this important information; and give you a tender, powerful message on how to respond to those who use these false teachings to hurt us. An encore episode to help set your heart free! Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Today, we talk about all the things you hear from radical Christians - anti-gay, and anti-trans hate and lies, Christian nationalism, hypocrisy . It can be maddening and infuriating. We ask if those are real thoughts and questions, real concerns, or are they just repeating what they have been programmed to say?? We even have some fun ask 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. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
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. But the LGBTQ+ community is not declaring themselves above anyone else. Pride Month was born from a necessity to stand against oppression and claim a rightful place in society — not out of a desire to dominate, but a need to exist openly and safely! Let's set the record straight: It’s about love, not arrogance. We talk about what Pride really is and how it’s a powerful expression of love’s triumph over shame. It’s a celebration – not a sin! Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Is this the deadliest teaching in human history? An encore presentation of our most-listened-to episode ever — and maybe our most powerful. And honestly? It feels even more urgent now than when we first released it. In this episode, we unpack one of the most destructive ideas humanity has ever embraced — a belief system at the root of division, oppression, shame, and violence for centuries. It has fueled the mistreatment of ethnic groups, religious minorities, women, LGBTQ people, and so many others. And right now, it’s everywhere again. What is this teaching? How does it still shape our world? And how do we break free from it? This conversation matters. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
We’ve walked through the theology, the scripture, the Greek and Hebrew — but today we’re doing something refreshingly simple: Common sense. We explore the everyday wisdom that makes it absolutely clear: being LGBTQ — and loving who you love — is not sinful. Not even close. No clobber passages. No theological gymnastics. Just real life, real love, and real clarity. We break down: 🌈 Why love that harms no one can never be sin 🌈 Why you can’t “repent” of being who you are 🌈 Why the fruit of LGBTQ lives disproves the fear 🌈 Why God wouldn’t wire people for love and then punish them for it 🌈 Why authenticity always leads toward compassion, not away from it If you need a breath of fresh air… If you want language to counter harmful teachings… If you simply want to hear truth spoken plainly and lovingly… This one’s for you. 💛✨ Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Religion is wrong, you are not broken. You are beloved. A viral meme claimed your smallest sin is “infinitely offensive” to a holy God — but don’t worry, Jesus covers you. We’re calling that what it is: spiritual shame dressed up as devotion. In this episode, we dismantle the idea that you’re a cosmic disappointment and reclaim a deeper truth: You were never vile. You were never a liability. You are already beloved. The truth is, when God looks at you, when God sees you, you are perfect. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
So many people are asking the same question right now: What can I actually do that makes a difference? In this episode, we slow things down and get practical. Not perfect. Not performative. Not someday. Now. We share f ive real, tangible ways you can show up for LGBTQ+ people — as an ally, a parent, a friend, a neighbor, and a human being. From advocacy and voting, to supporting queer creators and businesses, to getting involved locally, listening deeply, and sharing affirming resources that change lives. You don’t have to do everything. You just have to do something. And the best time to start—or to ramp it up—is now. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
We’ve been told for years: be the resistance . But what if that’s why so many people fighting for love and inclusion feel exhausted? Inspired by a talk from Glennon Doyle, this episode flips the whole idea: We are not the resistance. We are the river. The current of belonging has always been moving — widening across history no matter who tried to stop it. Our role isn’t just to argue or brace against the world… it’s to step into that flow, find our place in it, and live the kind of life that invites others into the water too. Joy isn’t a distraction from advocacy. It’s one of its most powerful tools. Because fear can demand compliance — but only love creates movement. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
People can't give what they don't have, and many people simply don't have approval to give. But remember, this has nothing to do with you. When faced with the rejection and disapproval of others, it’s important to separate your well-being from someone else’s approval. It's just their opinion, and it doesn’t have to mean anything to you. It's not about your worth in any way whatsoever, it is about but their lack of approval, and the fears and false teachings that fuel that. How can we break free from the approval of others? Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Loving queer kids today requires honesty: they are growing up in a world that actively questions their right to exist, to be safe, and to belong. In this episode, we speak plainly to parents, caregivers, and allies about what LGBTQ+ kids need — not someday, but right now — in a cultural and political climate that is increasingly hostile. We confront the real harm caused by silence and “good intentions,” challenge adults to move beyond private support into public protection, and name advocacy as a non-negotiable part of love. This episode is a call to action for anyone who claims to care about queer kids. Because love that doesn’t protect is not love — it’s abandonment. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
“We can disagree and still love each other” is often framed as maturity or respect — but what happens when that disagreement puts real people at risk? In this episode, we confront how “just disagreeing” about LGBTQ+ lives, identities, and inclusion stops being neutral and starts becoming dangerous. We examine the real-world consequences of polite harm, the myth of neutrality, and the cost of silence when injustice is dressed up as belief or civility. This is a call to move beyond comfort and into responsibility — for families, allies, and anyone who claims to love LGBTQ+ people. Because love that refuses to protect is not love at all. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
Valentine’s Day can be beautiful for some — and deeply complicated for others. In this episode, we make space for those who feel unseen, pressured, or left out by traditional narratives of love. We explore why romantic love is often treated as the ultimate measure of worth, how that harms LGBTQ+ people and their families, and what it means to reclaim a broader, more honest definition of love. This is an invitation to opt out of shame, redefine belonging, and remember that your life, your timing, and your way of loving are already enough. Because love was never meant to be narrow — it was meant to make room. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
You’ve heard the false teachings. You’ve read the posts. You’ve seen the statements of faith declaring, “Marriage is between one man and one woman.” This episode is for every LGBTQ+ person harmed by those words — and for every Christian parent who affirms their child, yet still hears that sentence reverberating through their church, their family, and their faith. Let’s be clear: no one should believe the Bible condemns them — or their child — because of that claim. Because it isn’t biblical. It isn’t historical. And it isn’t truth. In today’s episode, we expose the lie and shatter the myth of “traditional marriage” and the fantasy of the "perfect" family — replacing it with what Scripture actually reveals: love, covenant, justice, and grace. Beloved, this truth belongs to you! Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
You’ve heard it repeated by nonaffirming Christians and right-wing politicians: “traditional values.” But listen closely — and notice what’s missing . Honesty. Fidelity. Compassion. Justice. Kindness. So what are “traditional values,” really? Whose tradition are we talking about? From which era? From which culture? From which Bible — and whose Christianity? In this episode, we expose the myth of “traditional values,” how the phrase became a political weapon instead of a moral compass, and what real, Jesus-shaped values actually demand of us. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
As we step into a new year, we name the truth of this moment for LGBTQ+ lives and rights — without panic, without denial, and without losing hope. We talk about what’s happening now, what 2026 may bring, and how we respond with courage, clarity, and love. This episode is for LGBTQ+ people, parents, allies, and anyone who refuses to let fear dictate the future. We unpack the political landscape, the shifts happening inside faith communities, the fierce resilience of LGBTQ+ youth, and the real, practical ways each of us can show up — for ourselves, for our families, and for the generations coming next. This is not a warning. It’s a roadmap. A reminder that you are not powerless — and an invitation to love boldly in 2026. Send us a private message. *Note: INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you'd like us to answer. :-) Support the show
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Observed November 4, 2026.
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