Shows
Queerfully MadeWhy Things Feel F*cked with Andrew SloanIn this episode of Queerfully Made Podcast, hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson welcome Andrew Sloan, a Sydney-based psychotherapist, leadership coach, and author whose work blends over a decade of clinical practice with insights on the human mind, behaviour, and nervous system. Known for guiding individuals and teams through disconnection and overwhelm, Andrew draws from his own experiences in Hillsong Church's worship team, where he was sidelined from a major album recording after confiding his same-sex attraction to a pastor. He shares his path through conversion therapy and the relentless efforts to change himself, leading to a full coming...
2025-11-181h 15Queerfully MadeGender Expansive Faith with Steff FentonTrans Christian's aren't detracting from the divine or the church. In fact, they're revealing the true, boundless heart of the divine to the church. In this episode of Queerfully Made, Aaron & Ben sit down with Steff Fenton, a pastor, writer, and speaker who just happens to also be trans. As author of the 2025 book Gender Expansive Faith: How Trans Lives Are Illuminating the Divine, Transforming Feminism and Ending Christian Patriarchy, Steff draws from their journey leaving the Anglican Church after coming out to explore how gender diversity challenges binary norms, integrates trans perspectives into feminist theology, and...
2025-11-041h 01Queerfully MadeFrom Religious Trauma to Redeeming Triumph with Sam SellersIn this episode of Queerfully Made, hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson sit down with Sam Sellers, a queer woman from NSW and ex-Brethren Church member. Sam is the co-founder of the Religious Trauma Collective, owner of Anchored Counselling Services, and host of the Beyond the Surface podcast. This powerful conversation dives into the raw reality of religious trauma, unpacking what it is, how it lingers beyond just “shitty experiences,” and practical ways to navigate the healing journey.Sam shares her story of coming out as queer after falling in love with a woman, a moment that chan...
2025-10-211h 25Queerfully MadeI'm Lesbian, But I Know Jesus with Melody RachelIn this episode of Queerfully Made Podcast, hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson chat with performer and aspiring comedian Melody Rachel just days before her Melbourne Fringe Festival show, "I'm Gay But I Know Jesus". A trailblazing voice in queer theatre, Melody creates semi-autobiographical works exploring identity, anxiety, and human connection, drawing from her Christian upbringing, coming out as a lesbian at 15, losing faith and finding it again after hitting rock bottom.Melody shares her journey of unlearning shame the morning after sleeping with a woman and still feeling like she knew God. Her journey...
2025-10-071h 10Queerfully MadeYou Asked For ItGet ready for a raw and real Q&A in this episode of Queerfully Made Podcast, titled "You Asked For It"! Hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson dive into your questions, sent in by our amazing followers. From navigating the tricky intersection of faith and sexuality to sharing deeply personal moments, Aaron and Ben open up about their journeys as queer Christians with honesty, humour, and heart.This episode goes deeper into their lived experiences. Coming out, facing rejection, and finding affirming spaces, while offering practical tips for those wrestling with similar challenges. Expect candid stories, a...
2025-09-2355 minQueerfully MadeFaith in a Frock away from the Flock with Max Drag QueenIn this Episode of Queerfully Made Podcast, hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson welcome Max Drag Queen, widely remarked as one of the most electrifying performers in the Australian Drag circuit and competed in Drag Race Down Under Season 4. On their season, Max briefly shared their faith, sparking backlash from parts of the queer community who questioned why an LGBTQ+ person would embrace Christianity. This episode dives deeper, offering a heartfelt exploration of Max’s faith journey and their vision for love over division.Max opens up about finding faith at a young age through Christian Beach Mi...
2025-09-0959 minQueerfully MadeBecoming an Affirming Church with Ps. Marcy Paynter & Ps. Beth BolmersIn this episode of the Queerfully Made Podcast, hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson sit down with Ps. Marcy Paynter, Senior Pastor, and Ps. Beth Bolmers, Pastoral Staff, from Gateway Church in Melbourne. This powerful conversation dives into Gateway’s transformative journey to becoming an affirming church, embracing LGBTQ+ inclusion with open hearts.Ps. Marcy shares her personal story, which began long before the church’s shift. She opens up about what sparked her commitment to inclusion, the challenges of leading a congregation through change, and her vision for a future where faith communities fully affirm LGBTQ+ individuals. Ps. Beth...
2025-08-2654 minQueerfully MadeA Life of Legacy with Anthony Venn Brown OAM - Part BContinue the powerful conversation in Part B of our two-part interview on Queerfully Made Podcast, with hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson and our first featured guest, Anthony Venn-Brown OAM. Building on Part A's exploration of his personal journey, Anthony reflects on the legacy he's crafted since coming out. Originally founding Freedom2b, a vital support network for LGBTQ+ people of faith, and since founding and leading Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International (ABBI), both resourcing LGBTQ+ people of faith and educating faith leaders on inclusion.He discusses his bestselling book, A Life of Unlearning (now in its third edition), which...
2025-08-1259 minQueerfully MadeA Life of Unlearning with Anthony Venn Brown OAM - Part ADive into Part A of this two-part interview of Queerfully Made Podcast, where hosts Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson chat with trailblazing advocate Anthony Venn-Brown OAM. Honoured with the Order of Australia Medal for his LGBTIQA+ service, Anthony shares his early sexuality journey, from discovering his homosexuality in an Anglican upbringing to rising as a prominent preacher in Australia's Pentecostal movement, including mega-churches like Hillsong.He recounts the internal conflict of leading while hiding his truth, culminating in his "fall from grace", the painful moment he came out and faced rejection from the church world he knew. Anthony opens...
2025-08-121h 06Queerfully MadeAaron's TestimonyWelcome to the debut episode of Queerfully Made Podcast, where we explore the raw, beautiful intersection of faith and sexuality. Titled "Aaron's Testimony" as a cheeky homage to those classic church testimonies, this episode co-host Aaron Kelly chats with Ben Nicholson about his journey as a gay man raised in evangelical Christianity.Aaron paints a vivid picture of his early years: youth groups, sermons, and family pressures that made his attractions feel like a shameful secret sin. He opens up about conversion practices, the shame they brought, and the fear of rejection when coming out. But hope...
2025-07-161h 05Queerfully MadeBen's "Testimony"In Episode 2 of Queerfully Made Podcast, cheekily titled "Ben's Testimony" as a wink to church-style stories of overcoming, but this one's all about a different kind of freedom. Co-host Ben Nicholson opens up to Aaron Kelly about his hidden journey as a gay man in evangelical Christianity, where purity rules left no room for LGBTQ+ intimacy.Ben shares the exhausting double life: sneaking moments of connection in secret, always under the radar, because anything else felt forbidden. It's a raw look at the isolation and stress of suppressing desires while clinging to faith. Things turn dark as...
2025-07-161h 11
Embracing All of MeFaith After Fear: L.A. based Pastor Xavier on Embracing Queer Identity & God’s True LoveIn this moving episode, Pastor Xavier shares his journey from growing up in 1960s South Central Los Angeles to relocating to Altadena/Pasadena area, where he faced the devastating 2025 Eaton Fires that destroyed over 9,000 structures and claimed at least 18 lives. He discusses how spoken word poetry became a lifeline for processing trauma in the face of mass destruction and loss.Raised in conservative evangelical Christian churches, Pastor Xavier reflects on surviving abuse and the decades long struggle to understand his bisexual identity. He examines how rigid traditions within some Christian institutions can deter critical...
2025-05-2054 min
Modern Anarchy23. God Loves Queers: The Faith Journey of a Lesbian Bishop with Brenda BosOn today's episode, we have the first openly lesbian bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brenda Bos (She/Her), join us for a conversation about how her sexual identity shaped her unique faith journey and prepared her for leadership within the queer community. Together we talk about the nature of God, the internalization of homophobia and the gender binary, and how to rachet up your self-assessment.
If you enjoyed today's podcast, then please subscribe, leave a review, or share this podcast with a friend!
And, join the movement by becoming a part of the conscious obj...
2021-09-151h 28
A Matter of Faith: A Presby PodcastEpisode 14: Queer Questions & Pride 2021!Send us a textA Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast celebrates Pride 2021! Special Guests: Shelley Donaldson (she|her)Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CTShanea Leonard (they|them)Associate for Gender & Racial Justice, Presbyterian Mission Agency Guest Questions: What does it mean to be a queer person in the church? What do I do when a young person comes out to me? How do I respond in a way that’s helpful rather than creating additional problems? How do I...
2021-06-0342 min
Queerology: A Podcast on Belief and BeingLeigh Finke is Queerfully and Wonderfully MadeLeigh Finke is a writer, producer, and editor from St. Paul, Minnesota. Her work focuses on religion and culture and how both intersect with the lives of queer people.She has two new books releasing August 25 titled, Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens and Welcoming and Affirming: A Guide to Supporting and Working with LGBTQ+ Christian Youth.These books are some of the best and most comprehensive resources I've ever seen for LGBTQ+ teens and people of all ages.Topics Discussed:Christianity as a negative closeting toolGender conceptsLeigh's...
2020-08-1136 min
Queerfully PodcastMovie Club Sungay: DisobedienceWell folks, we finally got around to watching Disobedience, and it wasn't at all what we were expecting! Join us as we walk through this movie, what we thought this movie was about, and what the movie actually ended up being.
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
2019-11-2500 minQueerfully PodcastMovie Club Sungay: The Haunting (1963)SPOILER ALERT: The Haunting of Hill House book + Netflix series
We're back from our wedding hiatus! And of course, since it's our favourite holiday, today we are releasing this month's #moviesungay episode, even though it really is a Movie Thursgay (there may or may not also be some thirsting over Theo so this works in multiple ways). Join us as we breakdown this movie and the gay character(s) within. Mickie also realizes partway through the episode that maybe the male gaze is what makes her have certain feelings against Nel.
As always, don't forget...
2019-10-3100 minQueerfully PodcastMovie Club Sungay: Imagine Me & You & Not CoopWelcome to the first episode of Movie Club Sungay #movieclubsungay! For September, you voted to have us talk about Imagine Me & You... and we're so glad we did. We break down the good and the bad of this movie, talk about heteronormativity and queer representation in queer movies. Don't forget to read Jess' piece on Imagine Me & You on her blog https://alesbianandherlaptop.com/2019/09/29/movie-club-sungays-imagine-me-you/ as we open up discussion for YOUR thoughts on the movie.
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
2019-09-2900 minQueerfully PodcastBend it Like Jess-hamContinuing with the sports theme, we now move on to Bend It Like Beckham! We talk about the queer under (and over) tones of this film as well as its feminist impact in the early 2000s, and how Jess' love for soccer can also be a metaphor for coming out.
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
2019-09-1500 minQueerfully PodcastAn (Inclusive) League of Our OwnWe discuss inclusion in this movie, in sport, and in our own podcast, with reading submissions from three listeners as well as talking about the reality of women of colour in sport, queer folk in sport, and trans folk in sport.
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
2019-09-0900 minQueerfully PodcastThere's No Crying in BaseballAfter three months of giving all of our love (and voice) to Gentleman Jack, it's time to move along to other media that is important in queer culture, such as A League of Their Own. Join us during the first inning of this series where we talk about the movie, the queer coding of the characters, and for a delightful story of how Mickie was kicked out of a softball tournament a couple of years ago.
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
Find out more at https://queerfully.pinecast.co
2019-08-3100 minQueerfully PodcastThe Secret DiariesThe final Gentleman Jack episode with talks of the movie The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister and quotes from Female Fortune by Jill Liddington. We end on a really sad note, so get your tissues ready.
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
Find out more at https://queerfully.pinecast.co
2019-08-2000 minQueerfully PodcastGentleman Jack: Anne or Ann?We lied about this being the last episode because we've made this a two-parter! Join us for some quizzes and fun.
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
Find out more at https://queerfully.pinecast.co
2019-08-1700 minQueerfully PodcastGentleman Jack: Of Teeth & Hair LocketsPost Gentleman Jack season one blues! We talk season recap, pubic hair, teeth, and the BBC mini-doc on Anne Lister's life.
Join us for this wild ride of strange topics and to find out what Waterloo Teeth are!
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
Find out more at https://queerfully.pinecast.co
2019-08-1000 minQueerfully PodcastAre You Still Talking? (GJ 1.08)It's the season finale! A longer than normal episode, but how could we not when there's so much going on?
We hope you enjoyed re-watching the first season of Gentleman Jack with us, we will be back for another 2 episodes where we will talk about our favourite moments, the books, and dental hygiene in the 1800s!
Song: Nos Veremos by Y La Bamba
Find out more at https://queerfully.pinecast.co
2019-08-0300 min