religious spaces, touching on themes of love, acceptance, and the importance of

safe environments for asking hard questions. They share personal experiences,

discuss the harm of conversion therapy, and examine church dynamics, stressing

the need for the church to evolve into a place of healing and unconditional

love. The conversation underscores the pain caused by rigid structures and the

hope for a more inclusive future in faith communities, along with Paul's personal challenges he faces staying in a denomination with doctrines that conflict with his beliefs.

God.

suffering.

individuals.

difficult.

On this episode of DIVINE & Diverse, my guest is Sean Hayden, actor, attorney, and host of the hit podcast series,  Stage Combat: The Podcast.  Sean and I have a deeply personal conversation about what happened to him on stage while performing, the resulting mental crisis, and how Sean has taken that experience to speak out about the troubling side of the theatre industry  to bring  awareness and support for the mental well being of theatre workers and promoting safe working practices. 

We also discuss the impact of religion on performers, Sean’s own experience growing up as a Southern Baptist as young gay person, and how some roles may trigger past religious trauma or abuse. Find out more about Sean and Stage Combat:  The Podcast at Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com) and on Patreon at Stage Combat The Podcast | Cool stuff for actors/entertainment workers/their fans | Patreon

00:00 Introduction and Overview03:09 Sean's Journey and the Creation of Stage Combat07:09 The Importance of a Safe Work Environment09:07 Changing the Perception of the Performing Arts Industry14:04 Telling Other People's Stories18:00 Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health21:11 Advocating for Change in the Industry25:56 Transition to Personal Stories27:36 Sean's Experience with Religious Control28:55 Growing up in a Strict Baptist Environment32:22 Finding Refuge in Theater34:51 Exploring Faith and Spirituality38:06 The Importance of Community and Inclusivity48:20 Addressing Religious Abuse and Trauma in the Performing Arts51:59 Advocating for Change and Building a Community