Belonging: Gender, Sex & Spirituality

This week, we are honoured to welcome Musimbi Kanyoro—a globally respected Kenyan feminist theologian, human rights advocate, and philanthropic leader whose life's work has centred on justice, dignity, and creating spaces where all people can belong.

Having travelled to more than 150 countries, Musimbi brings a truly global perspective to this conversation. Her experiences across cultures, communities, and faith traditions have shaped a powerful understanding of what belonging really means. For her, belonging isn't defined by borders or geography—it is found in the people we connect with and the relationships we build.

In this rich and thought-provoking episode, Musimbi explores the intersections of gender, sex, spirituality, justice, and philanthropy, inviting us to reflect on how faith can be a force for inclusion rather than exclusion. She speaks about seeing justice through God's eyes, the importance of recognising the inherent dignity of every person, and the responsibility we all share to build more compassionate and equitable communities.

The conversation also addresses one of today's most important questions at the intersection of faith and identity. Musimbi shares her perspective that if God is the creator of all people, then LGBTQ+ people are also part of God's creation—an invitation to reflect on how love, faith, and belonging can embrace the full diversity of humanity.

Whether you're navigating questions of faith, identity, justice, or simply seeking deeper conversations about what it means to belong, this episode offers wisdom, challenge, and hope in equal measure.

🎧 Episode 12 is available now. Listen from your choice of platform and join us for a conversation that reminds us that belonging begins with recognising the humanity in one another.

#BelongingPodcast #MusimbiKanyoro #Belonging #Theology #Justice #Spirituality #Gender #LGBTQ+ #Philanthropy #Inclusion

Belonging Episode 11 features special guest Dr Beverly Ditsie — renowned human rights activist, filmmaker and one of Africa's most influential voices for LGBTQIA+ rights, gender justice, and social transformation.

In this episode, Dr Beverly Ditsie joins us in exploring the intersections of gender, sex, and spirituality, examining how these deeply personal aspects of identity shape our experiences of belonging, inclusion, and human dignity. 

Through honest conversation and lived experience, we unpack the ways these themes are interconnected, challenging assumptions while creating space for dialogue, understanding, and authentic connection.

Belonging Episode 11 invites listeners to reflect on what it truly means to belong—to ourselves, to our communities and within our spiritual and social landscapes.

Join us TODAY & find your sense of Belonging.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Belonging Episode 11 features special guest Dr Beverly Ditsie — renowned human rights activist, filmmaker and one of Africa's most influential voices for LGBTQIA+ rights, gender justice, and social transformation.

In this episode, Dr Beverly Ditsie joins us in exploring the intersections of gender, sex, and spirituality, examining how these deeply personal aspects of identity shape our experiences of belonging, inclusion, and human dignity. 

Through honest conversation and lived experience, we unpack the ways these themes are interconnected, challenging assumptions while creating space for dialogue, understanding, and authentic connection.

Belonging Episode 11 invites listeners to reflect on what it truly means to belong—to ourselves, to our communities and within our spiritual and social landscapes.

Join us TODAY & find your sense of Belonging.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Belonging: Gender, Sex & Spirituality

For our tenth and final episode, we are honored to welcome Rabbi Marianne Van Praag, a respected spiritual leader, teacher, and advocate for meaningful dialogue at the intersection of faith, identity, and human connection.

In this powerful conversation, Rabbi Marianne explores how Jewish tradition, sacred texts, and religious practice engage with questions of gender, sexuality, belonging, and spiritual expression. Drawing on her experience as a rabbi, she reflects on the evolving relationship between ancient wisdom and contemporary understandings of identity, and how faith communities can create spaces of inclusion, dignity, and compassion.

Together, we discuss the role religion plays in shaping our understanding of ourselves and one another, the tensions and possibilities that emerge when tradition meets social change, and how spirituality can serve as a pathway to deeper belonging.

Join us for a thoughtful and inspiring finale as we explore what it means to honor both tradition and transformation in the pursuit of a more connected and compassionate world.

🎧 Episode 10 featuring Rabbi Marianne Van Praag is available now.

Belonging: Gender, Sex & Spirituality

For our tenth episode, we are honored to welcome Rabbi Marianne Van Praag, a respected spiritual leader, teacher, and advocate for meaningful dialogue at the intersection of faith, identity, and human connection.

In this powerful conversation, Rabbi Marianne explores how Jewish tradition, sacred texts, and religious practice engage with questions of gender, sexuality, belonging, and spiritual expression. Drawing on her experience as a rabbi, she reflects on the evolving relationship between ancient wisdom and contemporary understandings of identity, and how faith communities can create spaces of inclusion, dignity, and compassion.

Together, we discuss the role religion plays in shaping our understanding of ourselves and one another, the tensions and possibilities that emerge when tradition meets social change, and how spirituality can serve as a pathway to deeper belonging.

Join us for a thoughtful and inspiring finale as we explore what it means to honor both tradition and transformation in the pursuit of a more connected and compassionate world.

🎧 Episode 10 featuring Rabbi Marianne Van Praag is available now.

Episode 9 of Belonging: Gender, Sex & Spirituality is now live. 🎙️✨

This week, we’re joined by Puneet K. Bindlish — researcher, educator, and scholar of spirituality, leadership, and lived religion — whose work bridges ancient wisdom traditions with modern conversations around identity, humanity, and belonging.

In this powerful episode, we explore:
• India’s understanding of the third gender and gender fluidity
• The spiritual concept of Tritiya Prakriti
• Ancient wisdom traditions and their relevance today
• Spirituality beyond binaries
• What it truly means to belong on a collective and human scale

This conversation invites us to rethink identity not as something rigid, but as something deeply human, expansive, and interconnected.

Now streaming on all platforms. 🌍

#BelongingPodcast #GenderAndSpirituality #TritiyaPrakriti #ThirdGender #GenderFluidity #Spirituality #AncientWisdom #PodcastLaunch #Belonging

Episode 9 of Belonging: Gender, Sex & Spirituality is now live. 🎙️✨

This week, we’re joined by Puneet K. Bindlish — researcher, educator, and scholar of spirituality, leadership, and lived religion — whose work bridges ancient wisdom traditions with modern conversations around identity, humanity, and belonging.

In this powerful episode, we explore:
• India’s understanding of the third gender and gender fluidity
• The spiritual concept of Tritiya Prakriti
• Ancient wisdom traditions and their relevance today
• Spirituality beyond binaries
• What it truly means to belong on a collective and human scale

This conversation invites us to rethink identity not as something rigid, but as something deeply human, expansive, and interconnected.

Now streaming on all platforms. 🌍

#BelongingPodcast #GenderAndSpirituality #TritiyaPrakriti #ThirdGender #GenderFluidity #Spirituality #AncientWisdom #PodcastLaunch #Belonging

In Episode 8 of Belonging: Gender, Sex & Spirituality, hosts Mpho Tutu van Furth and Marceline Tutu van Furthwelcome Thupten Jinpa — Buddhist philosopher, compassion researcher, and the longtime English translator to Dalai Lama.

From a small Tibetan community to becoming one of the world’s leading voices on compassion and contemplative wisdom, Jinpa’s journey is one of identity, displacement, purpose, and profound spiritual transformation. Navigating life between cultures, languages, and belief systems, he reflects on what it means to remain rooted in humanity while embracing change, difference, and deeper understanding.

In this deeply moving conversation, Jinpa shares how spirituality can become a bridge rather than a barrier — inviting us into greater empathy, self-awareness, and connection with one another. Together, the conversation explores how gender, sexuality, and spirituality intersect with our universal longing to be seen, accepted, and to belong.

This episode is a powerful reminder that belonging is not about fitting into a single identity — it is about compassion, authenticity, and learning how to hold space for ourselves and others with grace. 🎙️✨

In Episode 8 of Belonging: Gender, Sex & Spirituality, hosts Mpho Tutu van Furth and Marceline Tutu van Furthwelcome Thupten Jinpa — Buddhist philosopher, compassion researcher, and the longtime English translator to Dalai Lama.

From a small Tibetan community to becoming one of the world’s leading voices on compassion and contemplative wisdom, Jinpa’s journey is one of identity, displacement, purpose, and profound spiritual transformation. Navigating life between cultures, languages, and belief systems, he reflects on what it means to remain rooted in humanity while embracing change, difference, and deeper understanding.

In this deeply moving conversation, Jinpa shares how spirituality can become a bridge rather than a barrier — inviting us into greater empathy, self-awareness, and connection with one another. Together, the conversation explores how gender, sexuality, and spirituality intersect with our universal longing to be seen, accepted, and to belong.

This episode is a powerful reminder that belonging is not about fitting into a single identity — it is about compassion, authenticity, and learning how to hold space for ourselves and others with grace. 🎙️✨

When Law Erases Culture: What Ghana’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Threatens

In this week's episode of Belonging: Gender, Sex and Spirituality, we had the privilege of speaking with a Ghanaian traditional priestess and healer whose story has stayed with me.

Her words challenge one of the most persistent—and harmful—claims shaping current

debates in Ghana: that queerness is “un-African.”

It is not.

Within many indigenous spiritual traditions, gender and sexuality have long been

understood as fluid, relational, and deeply connected to the spiritual world. As she explained, spiritual embodiment can include same-sex intimacy, gender variance and roles shaped by one’s relationship with a deity.

In her words:

“It has been like that before Christianity came, before colonization came.”

This matters.

Because the proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Ghana is not only about regulating identity—it risks criminalizing indigenous knowledge systems and spiritual practices thatpredate colonial influence.

It is important to name this clearly: much of the stigma now directed at LGBTQ+ communities is itself a legacy of colonial-era Christianity, which labeled traditional practices as “evil” and reshaped cultural norms accordingly.

Today, that history is being codified into law.

And the consequences are real.

The communities most at risk include traditional practitioners—many of them women—who already face marginalization, limited access to formal education, and vulnerability to exploitation. As fear grows around the pending bill, so too does the risk of violence, surveillance, and silencing.

“If this bill should be passed, we don’t know what will happen… a lot of bad things will be happening to us.” Naa Busuafi told us.

At stake is more than policy.

At stake is whether a society remembers its own cultural and spiritual complexity—or allows it to be erased.

At stake is whether belonging is defined narrowly through law, or more expansively

through history, humanity, and relationship.

For those of us working in fields like leadership, human rights, healthcare, education, and faith communities - this moment calls for thoughtful engagement.

It calls for: Listening to indigenous voices, recognizing the layered impacts of colonial history.

Supporting those working on the ground to educate and protect vulnerable communities and perhaps most importantly, it calls for humility.

Because sometimes the most important thing we can do is not to speak for others—but to ensure that their voices are heard.

#Belonging #HumanRights #Leadership #Inclusion #Africa #LGBTQ #CulturalHeritage