It's the week of Thanksgiving! For this solo episode, I'm giving you my best hosting hacks--eight of them, to be specific. After two decades of getting people together, one decade in food service, and a lifetime of inclusive Southern Hospitality, there's a lot I've learned the hard way. This episode gives you eight of them to save you the headache!…

Today, Annie Parsons and I talk about her journey to motherhood while unmarried. You can follow Annie on Instagram @hootenannie Join the Found Family crew on Substack at marybsafrit.substack.com. Support the show

Today, Adam Evers and I talk about the very human world of queer Christian dating, friendship, and community. You can follow Believr on social media @believrapp. Download Believr at believr.app/download. If you have a success story or feedback, shoot Adam an email, adam@believr.app. Join the Found Family crew on Substack. Support the show…

Today, I'm talking to GG Renee Hill about how a creative mindset can help us build the lives we want. You can find GG on Instagram @ggreneewrites. Check out her free resources at allthemanylayers.com/ggreneewrites. She's on Linked In as GG Renee Hill. Get free writing prompts by subscribing to her Substack at thelayers.substack.com. Join the Found …

In light of the imminent election, I decided to gift y'all the extended cut of my interview with Kaitlyn Schiess from back before our rebrand. It's a dynamite conversation about the importance of community and how mutuality in our community can help combat political overwhelm. Kaitlyn Schiess is a writer, speaker, and theologian. She is the author …

Today, Lilly Dancyger and I talk about all the ways our female friendships teach us how to love. Lilly Dancyger is the author of First Love: Essays on Friendship (The Dial Press, 2024), and Negative Space (SFWP, 2021). She lives in New York City, and is a 2023 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in nonfiction from The New York Foundation for the Arts. She tea…

TW: abuse, mention of ex-gay, fatphobia Today, Haley Osier and I talk about how she went from ex-gay fundamentalist evangelical to an out lesbian singer-songwriter and the album she wrote about it. You can listen to Haley's music wherever you stream. Just search for Haley Osier. Follow Haley on social media @haleyosier. Join the Found Family Substa…

Today, Joash Thomas and I talk about liberating faith practices and the systemic barriers that get in the way. Also Chai. We talk about Masala chai quite a bit. Joash Thomas is an international speaker, global human rights leader and justice & liberation theologian. Born and raised in India, Joash ran a political consulting and lobbying firm in the…

TW: homophobia, transphobia, suicidal thoughts Today, April Ajoy tells her story of leaving Christian Nationalism. We also dig into what it's like being part of a queer family in the Southeastern US. April is a content creator and podcast host who uses humor to shine light on harmful, toxic, and sometimes just weird traits of American Evangelicalis…

You're going to be hearing from me today on a topic that's very close to my heart. This episode is for the folks who feel like their church doesn't know what to do with them. Get a FREE sixty-minute coaching session by filling out this interest form! You can follow me on Instagram and TikTok @maryb.safrit. If you enjoyed this episode, I send out a …

Today, you'll hear the story of a theologian who was put on trial for herasy by his denomination for promoting queer affirming theology. Thomas Jay Oord, PhD, is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multidisciplinary studies. He is a best-selling and award-winning author, having written or edited 30+ books. Academic Influence ranks him among t…

Nina Badzin and I are answering one of the most pressing questions she gets about friendship... plus how to make friends outside your church community, why communication matters so freaking much, and more! Nina Badzin (she/her) is the host of the podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. She’s been writing about friendship since 2014, co-l…

Today's episode is a practical, delightful discussion of identity, exploration, confidence, and clothing with a color expert who wants to help you love yourself as you are, no matter who you are. Lindsey Myers (she/her) founded Created Colorful in 2020 while navigating being a new mom. Pouring any energy she had into her kids, Lindsey slowly realiz…

This episode is about why found family matters when the world is on fire. If you're feeling fatigued and prone to isolation when the ish hits the fan, this episode is for you! If you like this episode, you should sign up for my Substack and get a free message like this one delivered to your inbox on the last Tuesday of every month. It's totally fre…

Today, we're getting super practical for folks who are looking for new pals who might become found family but aren't part of a church community and don't have a million dollars. If you like this episode, you should sign up for my Substack and get a free message like this one delivered to your inbox on the last Tuesday of every month. It's totally f…

We're taking a break from interviews for the month of July. But don't worry, we have some solo episodes lined up for you! The first is the story of the Sunday I left my former church for the last time and attended Pride for the first time. If you like this episode, you should sign up for my Substack and get a free message like this one delivered to…

Today's episode is the complex and very personal story of navigating and leaving non-affirming spaces after coming out. Moriah Conant (they/she) is a psychologist-in-training who specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, young adults, and healing from trauma. They utilize a relational psychodynamic approach to therapy, along with feminist p…

Today's episode is the story of an autistic Black and Indigenous femme creative powerhouse who wants to help us center rest, pleasure, and abundance in our actual lives. Sara Elise (she/her) is a multidisciplinary creative, splitting her time between Brooklyn and The Catskills, New York. She works primarily in the hospitality, well-being, and food …

Today's episode is the story of a woman who moved beyond ethnic loneliness by embracing her ethnic identity and finding belonging. Prasanta Verma (MBA, MPH) (she/her) was born under an Asian sun, raised in the Appalachian foothills in the South, and now resides in the Upper Midwest. Her essays and poetry have been published in Sojourners, Propel Wo…

Today's episode is the story of how to find your people and create safety when building community online. Jenna DeWitt (she/her) is a sapphic aromantic asexual writer, editor, and resource curator. She is also an advocate, community builder, and Californian. In this episode, you'll hear Jenna and I discuss Finding resources that work for you, and s…

This episode is the story of everything we've misunderstood about anarchy (and how it gels with Christianity) from the most delightful anarchist theologian. Terry J. Stokes (he/they) is a director of a youth development nonprofit organization on Lenape land now known as Trenton, NJ. He is also an anarchist theologian who seeks to support folks’ pol…

Today's episode is the story of an author and advocate working to uproot systemic racism so we can create commmunities that are better for everyone. Latasha Morrison (she/her) is a distinguished author and nonprofit founder widely known for her transformative work in fostering racial reconciliation and unity. As a New York Times best-selling author…

Today's episode is the story of a guncle finding family and finding himself through the imagination-expanding power of relationships. Jonathan Merritt (he/him) is an award-winning columnist and commentator on politics, spirituality, and culture. He is a contributing editor for The Week and has been featured on prominent national outlets including T…

Today's episode is the story of an expert in all things story who is obsessed with helping you unearth your inner wisdom and connect with your people by teaching you to write your story. Allison Fallon (she/her) is an author, speaker, and founder of Find Your Voice, a community that supports anyone who wants to write anything. In addition to her bo…

Today's episode is the story of a woman who survived and escaped the Christian Patriarchy movement and created a new life of agency, advocacy, and unconditional love. Cait West is a writer and editor based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work has been published in The Revealer, Religion Dispatches, Fourth Genre and Hawai`i Pacific Review, among othe…