Olivia talks about her neurodivergent experience of feeling separate and about addiction, trauma, and finding healing through the Twelve Steps of Al Anon. 

She remains just Olivia to honour Twelve Step anonymity.  

Content/Trigger warning for a brief discussion of sexual assault. 

Rachel Sparks is a dancer, dance teacher, and heart-centered embodiment educator. https://www.rachelsparksdance.co.uk

In this gentle and intimate conversation with Rachel, she talks about love and loss, and about moving away from Evangelical Christianity towards a more holistic and embodied spirituality grounded in nature.

In this episode, I chat with Mary Louder, who is an Osteopathic Physician and Integrative Medicine Practitioner living in Michigan USA. Mary talks about her FOUR (4!) baptisms, and how involvement with one faith group at university nearly cost her her medical career. 

I had a wonderful conversation with Oskar Marchock (he/they) whose gentle modesty had me just introduce them as 'Oskar'. 

In this, our third FKD UP BY FAITH for #pride month, Oskar talks about growing up Catholic in a multiracial Caribbean family, about Christianity, Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, about being queer and trans, and about the pleasures and meaning of Trinidadian food. 

Jude shared this from the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk,  Thich Nhat Hanh

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is a wonderful moment.”

Kaj Jensen (they/them) is a genderqueer storyteller who calls the Pacific Northwest home. 

When not collecting stories, they spend time camping with their cat and spying on birds.

In this our longest episode so far, Kaj shares their fascinating story of growing up as an Evangelical Christian, on a farm in the 'middle of nowhere' in the American midwest, where they asked their parents and pastor 'difficult questions'  - like what happened to the dinosaurs?  Kaj talks about queerness, community, and an authentic spirituality rooted in their love of nature.

Kaj's website is kajjensen.com

The Poem shared on the podcast is

The Way is difficult and very intricate - by Lalla

At the beginning of Pride month, I am delighted to talk to Chris Brown (she/her) who is a UK-based trainer and consultant specialising in suicide prevention, mental health, and equalities issues, especially LGBTQ+ inclusion. 

Chris tells her story of childhood and adolescence in an Evangelical CofE church, and the pain, separation and trauma caused by the imposed ideas of sin/redemption. Ultimately, given the church's rejection of her sexual identity and expression, Chrs chose 'life' rather than the church. She talks about healing in relationship, community and awareness of what inclusion actually means.  

As with all episodes of FKD UP BY FAITH - content warnings for difficult and potentially triggering topics apply.

You can find out about Chris's work at www.chrisbrown.uk.com

Affected by any of the issues? 

UK based LGBTQ+ Christians seeking inclusive church might want to look at One Body One Faith and Diverse Church

MindOut Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Mental Health Service - UK

LGBTQ- Inclusive Organisations listed on Stonewall UK

Resources for LGBTQ People of Faith listed on Stonewall UK

Dawn Lister is a Yoga and Mindfulness teacher and co-owner of Anahata Yoga Centre in Leigh on Sea. She is a Mum, and a writer who is currently working on a memoir about her experiences of growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, which - like many ex-members of the JW organisation - she considers to be a cult.  Dawn tells her fascinating - and sometimes difficult -  story of childhood and adolescence in a Jehovah's Witness family, about the process of leaving the church, and her long path to healing, wholeness, and forgiveness.   https://anahatayogacentre.com Dawn and her business partner Daniel Groom also have a wonderful podcast called 'From the Heart'  which you can find via their website or on all the usual channels.  As with many stories of being FKD UP BY FAITH, some people might find aspects of Dawn's story upsetting. 

Jax Bull is an interfaith minister, coach, counsellor and 'iheart' facilitator who lives in East London.

In this lively conversation, Jax shares about being mixed race, her deep connection to the 'Readybrek Glow' of God, her intimate relationship with Jesus, and her eventual break from a church where the Gospel wasn't always preached as Love. 

Jax's website https://theserenitypractice.com/about

iheart – Innate Health Education and Resilience Training – is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping young people uncover their innate resilience and mental wellbeing. https://www.iheartprinciples.com

Revd Sheila Zeitsman is an ordained OneSpirit Interfaith Minister and faculty member for OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation.

In this fascinating conversation, Sheila shares her story of growing up as a white African in Zimbabwe, her uneasy path to faith, her ordination as a Church of Ireland priest and her later ordination as an Interfaith minister. 

Sheila's bio on the OneSpirit Website - https://www.interfaithfoundation.org/faculty

The Loving Kindness Song mentioned by Jude - sung by Jess Huetteman on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZwSMpjEb-M

Sheila's Blessing was by John O'Donohue

May all that is unforgiven in you

Be released.

May your fears yield

Their deepest tranquillities.

May all that is unlived in you

Blossom into a future

Graced with love.

--John O'Donohue ("To Come Home To Yourself"; Benedictus/To Bless the Space Between Us)