Ep. 24 Your Church or Your Child: FreedHearts with Susan Cottrell

Welcome to Have a Blessed Gay, your weekly spiritual-comedy podcast! Join holy host, Tyler Martin, as he critically discusses social norms, current events, mental health, religion, and spirituality from an outcast's perspective. In this touching episode, Tyler talks with Susan Cottrell, an international speaker, who you might know from her amazing TEDx Talk that went viral in 2019. Named “Our favorite affirming matriarch” by the Advocate, she is a prominent voice for the LGBTQ+ community. She has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, Nightline, and Good Morning America. She is a public theologian, and through her nonprofit organization, FreedHearts, Susan champions the LGBTQ+ community and families with her authentic love; and she challenges Christians to love as the foundation of faith. She spent 20+ years in the non affirming Evangelical church, has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and served as the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin. But she didn’t stop there -- she has written several books, and her newest endeavor is a wonderful podcast called FreedHearts, which is available on all podcast platforms. It is about changing the human conversation on love and inclusion, so if you enjoy her on here, definitely check out her and her hubby Rob on their new podcast.
This episode also features an excerpt from the new extremely special article for The B Word read by the incredible author herself, actor, professor, and writer Dr. Paige Martin Reynolds. The article, called “Our Sensory Sanctuary,” revolves around the importance of having a space for everyone, including people with certain sensory needs. Paige tells the journey of creating a space for her child who has autism at their church (a sensory room). A very poignant, much needed conversation surrounding inclusion. The entire article is also now available on the Have a Blessed Gay website haveablessedgay.com/thebword. Read it and subscribe to the newsletter to know when new articles drop!
Guest: Susan Cottrell
FreedHearts: www.freedhearts.org
IG/Facebook: @freedhearts
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/stcottrell
TEDx Talk (Why I chose my LGBTQ daughter over the Evangelical Church): www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP01bH9Ljf4
FreedHearts Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freedhearts/id1533444664
The B Word:
www.haveablessedgay.com/thebword
Our Sensory Sanctuary by Dr. Paige Martin Reynolds
Website: www.paigemartinreynolds.com/
Sponsored by BetterHelp! Get 10% Off BetterHelp therapy by using my code!
www.betterhelp.com/blessedgay
Your Host: Tyler Martin
Instagram: @tylerisaacmartin
Follow Have a Blessed Gay and Reach Out!
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @haveablessedgay
www.haveablessedgay.com
Email: hello@haveablessedgay.com
U.S. Helplines
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Trevor Project Helpline (LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386
Trans Helpline: 877-565-8860