Found Family with MaryB. Safrit

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!

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Today, Annie Parsons and I talk about her journey to motherhood while unmarried.

You can follow Annie on Instagram @hootenannie

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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, [email protected].

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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.

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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 of The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor and is a regular cohost on the Holy Post podcast and hosts Curiously, Kaitlyn. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Christ and Pop Culture, Relevant, and Sojourners. She has a Masters of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student in political theology at Duke Divinity School. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.

You can follow Kaitlyn on Instagram and Twitter @kaitlynschiess. Snag your copy of The Ballot and The Bible, wherever you buy books--and make sure to rate and review! 

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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 teaches creative nonfiction in MFA programs at Columbia University and Randolph College.

Find Lilly on Instagram at @lillydancyger and Substack at The Word Cave.

Join the Found Family crew over on Substack for a free monthly message from MaryB. 

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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 Substack crew at marybsafrit.substack.com 

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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 United States before joining the human rights advocacy space. Joash has a master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University and is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in Christian Leadership & Systematic Theology. An Oblate in the Diocese of St. Anthony, Joash is also the author of ‘A Just Gospel’, a forthcoming book in partnership with Brazos Press to be published in Fall 2025. Based in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area, Joash can also be found on social media (@JoashPThomas) and Substack (Jesus, Justice & Joash).

You can follow Joash on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X @joashpthomas. Join Joash's Substack community, Jesus, Justice, and Joash at joashpthomas.substack.com

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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 Evangelicalism. After growing up an evangelist’s kid entrenched in Christian Nationalism and working in conservative Christian media, she saw the harm caused firsthand. Still a Christian, she uses her platform to expose the dangers of Christian Nationalism while promoting a more inclusive faith. April has been featured on Buzzfeed, CNN, Newsweek and more. She’s been married to Beecher for 10 years and they have two daughters together.

Please take care while listening, as there is discussion of homophobia, transphobia, and suicidal thoughts. If you're experiencing feelings of hopelessness or depression, please reach out to a trusted counselor or a hotline such as Trans Lifeline, which is 877-565-8860. 

You can get your copy of Star Spangled Jesus wherever books are sold. Follow April on all social media platforms @aprilajoy. You can hear April on The New Evangelicals podcast every Friday wherever you are listening. 

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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 free monthly message just like this one over on Substack. Join the crew at marybsafrit.substack.com. 

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