Intrinsically Ordered

I sit down with Catholic YouTuber  @evan_raugust after a wild weekend where we went to seven churches in one weekend: Messianic Jewish, Catholic, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Anglican, non-denominational megachurch, and a Presbyterian church plant.

Evan's full main channel video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHejO1GGbwU&t=651s

We unpack how each community tells a different story about God, heaven, and everyday life—Latin Mass vs fog machines, house-church Orthodoxy vs televised sermons, “I felt the Holy Spirit” vs “this still doesn’t make me a believer.” We talk conversion, deconstruction, the pull of beauty and liturgy, and why some churches felt genuinely soulful while others felt like spiritual factories.

If you’re curious how an ex-Catholic atheist and a convinced Catholic convert experience the same services in totally different ways, this conversation is for you.

00:00 Weekend Adventure: Visiting Different Churches
01:20 Evan's Religious Background
03:48 Cade's Religious Background
04:49 Collaboration and Video Concept
11:46 Messianic Jewish Church Experience
14:59 Catholic Church Experience
19:00 Pentecostal Prayer Service Experience
20:46 Catholic vs Evangelical Views on End Times
23:18 Orthodox Church Experience
27:17 Non-Denominational Church Visit
31:16 Anglican Evensong Service
33:33 Nova Church: A Presbyterian Experience
38:00 Reflections on Visiting Multiple Churches
42:13 Concluding Thoughts on Religion and Atheism

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

Christian youtube video essays keep claiming that “LGBT ideology” ruined male friendship, but I have no clue what they're on about.

As a gay ex-Catholic, I use my old theological training to look at the “and they were just roommates” discourse, the panic over male affection, and the erasure of queer couples from history. I also share my own story of trying to be a devout, rule-following Catholic while secretly gay—and what I discovered about friendship once I left that homophobic bubble.

Creators featured in this video:
 @theLOOPcast
 @TheCounselofTrent
 @amenalex
 @AscensionPresents
 @jasonevert  

00:00 Gay People Stole Your Frogs and Toads
06:48 And History Will Call Them Roommates
23:11 Keep The Socks On
36:38 The Real Victims

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

After debating together on the Ellen Fisher Podcast, Elijah Lamb (Gen-Z Christian preacher and well-known TikToker) and I (ex-Catholic, now atheist debater) sat down to unpack Gen-Z Catholicism, Protestant/Catholic/Atheist debate culture, and why certainty theater replaces discipleship. We talk caricatures (“read church history, become Catholic”), denominational hopping, Mary/Eucharist misunderstandings, street-apologetics gotchas, humility vs. victory, and how online arguments are getting more technical—and more honest. What should Catholics, Protestants, and atheists actually do next?

00:00 Rise of Gen Z Catholicism
02:47 Personal Faith Journeys
04:54 Debating Apologetics
07:33 Youth and Theological Exploration
10:26 Navigating Online Religious Debates
30:22 The Role of Apologetics in Faith
34:26 The Futility of Online Religious Debates
36:32 The Impact of Apologetics on Personal Faith
43:31 The Evolution of Christian-Atheist Debates
49:41 Advice for Catholic Apologists and Atheists

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

My infographic about this case: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a6-vYf6qIZ8r9xS3G_dRGTaF6qi-hOVK/view?usp=sharing

A new “victim” has entered the culture war stage at the Supreme Court. After the “No Cake” baker and the “No Website” designer, meet “No Therapy” Kaley— a Christian counselor recruited by well-funded right-wing legal groups to challenge Colorado’s bipartisan ban on conversion therapy for minors.

In this episode, I break down the Salazar case, the PR tactics behind it, and the dangerous history of conversion therapy. We’ll look at how billionaires bankroll fake plaintiffs, how discredited psychologists invented “reparative therapy,” and why banning conversion therapy is actually a win for both kids and conservative faith communities.

00:00 Background on Conversion Therapy Laws
01:46 Manufacturing a Victim
03:33 The Case of Kaley Chiles
04:52 Public Narrative and Legal Arguments
09:53 The History and Pseudoscience of Conversion Therapy
16:00 Impact on Religious Communities
23:02 Conclusion and Personal Reflections

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

On this episode of The Intrinsically Ordered Podcast, I sit down with SC Neely—therapist, author of 30+ books, and specialist in religious trauma and queer/trans identity. We explore the real signs of religious trauma, how it overlaps with complex PTSD, and the unique challenges queer people face when deconstructing from high-control religious environments.

We cover the roadmap from questioning to deconstruction to rebuilding identity, how trauma shows up in the body, why labels can feel overwhelming, and practical steps for reclaiming identity, sexuality, and community outside of religion.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your religious past still affects your identity today, this conversation will give you clarity, compassion, and tools for healing.

00:00 Understanding Religious Trauma
08:28 Navigating Identity After Leaving Religion
29:15 Practical Steps for Rebuilding Life Post-Religion
41:47 Recognizing Self-Sabotage from Religious Trauma
46:47 Dealing with Feeling Behind in Life
51:01 Managing Anger After Leaving Religion
54:54 Exploring Queer Spaces and Identities
01:10:49 The Lifelong Journey of Healing from Trauma

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In this episode, I share my raw and personal journey through Catholicism—from being raised in a suburban Catholic family to becoming an intense religious fundamentalist who nearly entered a monastery. I explain what it was like to give every waking moment to prayer, theology, and the dream of becoming a monk, only to have my life upended when I was rejected for being gay.

What followed was a painful process of leaving not just Catholicism, but religion itself. I open up about the collapse of my community, meaning, and identity—and how I rebuilt my life through running ultramarathons, reconnecting with purpose, and creating content to help others on their journey.

This isn’t an argument against belief; it’s a memoir of faith, loss, discovery, and resilience. Whether you’re religious, questioning, or completely secular, I hope my story resonates with you.

00:00 My Religious Beginnings
02:37 Religious Awakening
05:29 Deepening Faith
11:42 Embracing Fundamentalism and the Latin Mass
15:36 COVID Lockdowns and Monastic Aspirations
19:18 Rejection and College Life
22:04 Life Decisions
30:16 Questioning Catholic Teachings
32:46 Departing Catholicism
35:08 Struggles with Identity
38:07 Finding New Meaning
41:40 Embracing a New Life
46:55 Reflections on Religion and Personal Growth
53:19 Living Authentically

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

What happens when you attend a traditional Latin Catholic Mass in the morning and a drag brunch in the afternoon? Surprisingly, these seemingly opposite worlds share more than you’d expect. In this episode, we unpack seven parallels between Catholic liturgy and drag performance—from ritual and belonging to performance, morality, and meaning.

For us, this isn’t about mockery. It’s about understanding how humans create community, how rituals give us identity, and how art—whether sacred chant or drag lip-sync—can lift us beyond ourselves.

00:00 Weekend Adventures: Latin Mass and Drag Brunch
01:03 Understanding Drag Brunch
02:12 Commonalities Between Latin Mass and Drag Brunch
02:35 Personal Backgrounds and Reflections
03:55 Seven Commonalities: An Overview
04:31 Disclaimers and Respectful Comparisons
07:06 Social Conformity in Rituals
15:02 Navigating Social Scripts
20:38 Reinforcing Community and Morality
31:30 Entertainment and Performance
32:34 Choosing Preferences in Drag and Religion
33:18 Community and Performance in Mass and Drag
34:00 Diversity and Aesthetic Preferences
36:31 Social Investment in Rituals
40:31 Shedding the Self in Group Activities
47:33 The Role of History and Trauma
56:32 Intentional Community Building
01:00:19 Finding Your Community

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In this episode of Intrinsically Ordered, Evelyn from  @leavelaughlove   joins me to tackle one of the hardest questions we get asked: how do you talk to loved ones who are falling into fundamentalist Catholicism?

We unpack:

Why people get drawn into high-control religious groups
How to maintain healthy boundaries without burning bridges
Why “debating” rarely changes minds
Compassionate approaches that keep relationships intact
When it’s okay to let go
Whether it’s your child, spouse, parent, or friend, this conversation offers realistic and empathetic strategies for navigating these difficult dynamics.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:23 Today's Topic: Relating to Fundamentalist Catholics
01:06 Personal Experiences with Fundamentalism
01:49 Understanding the Rabbit Hole
02:57 Starting the Conversation
06:07 The Importance of Boundaries
09:49 Maintaining Relationships with Compassion
13:08 Navigating Conversations and Debates
21:22 The Role of Community in Fundamentalism
23:55 Setting Clear Boundaries
31:17 Respecting Individual Journeys
37:45 Navigating Conflicting Emotions
38:48 Maintaining Relationships Despite Differences
40:26 Understanding High-Control Religious Beliefs
44:22 Advice for Parents of Religious Teens
56:43 The Deconstruction Process
01:04:32 Setting Boundaries and Finding Supportive Relationships
01:13:13 Final Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In this episode of Intrinsically Ordered, I sit down with Isabelle, who grew up immersed in traditional Catholicism—daily rosaries, novenas, and all. Over time, she shifted toward progressive Catholicism before beginning a slow and painful unraveling of belief. We talk about mental health, OCD masked as virtue, the reality of Catholic marriage and NFP, gender and sexuality, and the psychological manipulation baked into so many teachings. Isabelle shares how motherhood, philosophy, and her relationship with her non-Catholic husband helped her reclaim agency and begin truly living. It’s raw, real, and deeply moving.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
00:21 Early Catholic Upbringing
01:08 Struggles with Faith and Mental Health
01:57 Deconstruction Journey Begins
04:42 Neurodivergence and Religion
13:18 College Years and Evolving Beliefs
19:11 Marriage and Catholic Rules
25:16 Challenges with Natural Family Planning
32:32 Realizing the Harm of Church Teachings
33:59 Questioning God's Behavior
35:12 Struggles with Church Teachings on Parenting
36:32 Self-Doubt and Leaving the Church
43:58 The Impact of NFP and Personal Choices
45:45 The Tipping Point: Intersex Identities
48:46 Final Steps Away from the Church
49:42 Life After Leaving the Church
52:21 Reflections and Final Thoughts

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.

In this episode of Intrinsically Ordered, I'm joined by Greg and Oliver—two seasoned left-wing voices who’ve appeared on Jubilee, the Whatever podcast, and in brutal six-hour debates with professional sexists, racists, and homophobes. Together, we unpack the ethics of debate, how to survive the emotional toll, what it’s like to be in the room with Jordan Peterson or Michael Knowles, and why the left can’t afford to stay silent anymore. Whether you're thinking of joining a debate or just curious how to counter the right-wing media machine, this is your crash course in becoming a better debater—without losing your mind, your values, or your sense of humor.

Oliver's Youtube:  @oliverniehaus
Oliver's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivermniehaus/
Oliver's TIkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@oliver.niehaus?lang=en

Greg's YouTube:  @GregDoesVideos  
Greg's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregfromvideo1/
Greg's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregfromvideo1?lang=en

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:10 Meet the Guests: Greg and Oliver
00:26 Debate Experiences and Reflections
01:20 The Role of Online Political Debates
04:57 Challenges and Criticisms of Debating
10:17 Strategies for Effective Debating
12:49 The Impact of Debates on Public Perception
35:49 Encouraging More Left-Wing Debaters
36:16 Advice for Aspiring Debaters
38:28 Setting the Stage: Debate Preparation Insights
38:54 Handling Misinformation in Debates
40:59 The Importance of Honest Feedback
41:44 Extensive Preparation Techniques
42:40 Staying Disciplined During Debates
43:17 Avoiding Gotcha Moments
45:41 Using Personal Experience Effectively
51:40 Managing Emotions in Debates
01:09:31 Building a Debate Network
01:20:09 Handling Hate Comments
01:21:26 The Power of Blocking on YouTube
01:24:09 The Reality of Viral Fame
01:26:44 Debate Strategies and Real-World Impact
01:33:17 Security and Privacy Concerns
01:36:32 The Fun and Challenges of Debating
01:40:29 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up
01:50:34 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

To join our discord community for $1 or to support my work/get early access to content, check out my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/gayextrad

To be a guest on the episode, visit my YT channel and send me an email.