Joanna Whaley Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we dive deep into the harmful theological concepts weaponized against LGBTQ+ individuals, including the notion that we are “born sinful” and how that narrative has been used to silence and marginalize queer identities. I share my personal journey, from enduring years of Conversion Therapy to confronting misguided spiritual ideologies that reinforce heteronormative views and oppressive beliefs. We explore how certain religious doctrines, like atonement theory, have historically positioned LGBTQ+ people as victims of both societal and spiritual aggression. Plus, we look at how toxic masculinity in Christian teachings influences perceptions of transgender women and restricts their roles within faith communities. Join me as we challenge these harmful ideas and begin to reshape a more inclusive and loving view of humanity and spirituality. It's time to break free from shame and embrace the divine truth of our full, authentic selves.

SUPPORT  THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donate
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store
GET SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/joannawhaley

REFERENCES:

Craig Nessan (2000). Surviving congregational leadership: A theology of family systems. Word & World, 20(4). p 396-7. Green, E. L. (2016, June 26). The Christians who believe they’re being persecuted in America. The Atlantic. D. Sue (2020). Understanding abnormal behavior (11th ed.). Cengage Learning. p 6,24,66. Nouwen, H. J. M. (1997). Henri Nouwen: Selected writings. Orbis Books. p 23.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

The concept of "freedom" has become a battleground, often weaponized by voices of bigotry and a narrow, Christian heteronormative worldview. Today, we delve into this complex issue, unpacking how this appropriation impacts queer individuals of faith. Join us as we explore navigating this challenging landscape, finding strength in our intersectional identities, and reclaiming the true meaning of liberation. 

SUPPORT  THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donate
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store
GET SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/joannawhaley

REFERENCES:

AP News. (2024, March 2). Trump administration reverses Obama-era transgender protections in new order. Associated Press. Bible, New Revised Standard Version. (1989). Malachi 3:3. In The Holy Bible (p. 1195). National Council of Churches of Christ. Dobson, J. (n.d.). Purity. Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. https://www.drjamesdobson.org/broadcasts/tag/purity. Harris, J. (1997). I kissed dating goodbye: A new approach to relationships and romance. Multnomah Books.  Mark Allen Powell (2014). Introducing the New Testament: A historical, literary, and theological introduction. Baker Academic. Pg 548-549. Salamon, M. (2024, September 1). Doomscrolling dangers. Harvard Health Blog. Harvard Health Publishing. HRC. (2023). Meta’s new policies: How they endanger LGBTQ+ communities and our tips for staying safe online. Human Rights Campaign. Folkenflik, D. (2013, August 12). Murdoch's Fox News sued by ex-workers over alleged bias against women, blacks, and gays. HuffPost. Strain, J. (2022, November). Strain of media overload. Monitor on Psychology, 43(10). McCammon, S., & Campbell, N. (2020, October 12). We asked Americans how they feel about the U.S. flag. It got interesting. NPR. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

THIS WEEK WE REPLAY ANOTHER POPULAR EPISODE. The show will be back next week with brand new episodes.

In this episode of the podcast, join us on a journey of self-discovery and liberation as we delve into the profound topic of shedding harmful theology from a queer perspective. Hosted by Joanna Whaley, this episode creates a safe space for candid conversations about the impact of restrictive religious beliefs on the LGBTQ+ community.

SUPPORT  THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donate
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store
GET SUPPORT: https://www.patreon.com/joannawhaley

REFERENCES:
 Muhammad A. Ali, Omer Bajwa, Sondos Kholaki, Jay Starr, Mantle of Mercy (West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Press, 2022) pg 41, Winston D. Persaud, Dialog: Towards a Trinitarian Theology of Justification and Vision of Eco-Justice (St. Paul, MN: Dialoag Inc, 1992) pg 295. Paul Timothy McMain, The Book of Concord, St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2006) pg 34. Loreen Maseno, Elia Shabani Mligo, Women Within Religions (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2020) pg 3,77

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Today on the show we replay one of the more popular episodes from the show. We will be back with live episodes on the show in March. 

Join us as we unpack the complexities of navigating faith and identity, challenge the ways Christianity is wielded in political agendas, and discuss the details of Project 2025 and its opposition of embracing an inclusive, compassionate approach to spirituality. Whether you’re a person of faith, a member of the LGBTQ community, or simply curious about the conversation, this episode is for you.

GET FURTHER SUPPORT:https://www.joannawhaley.com/support
JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/JoannaWhaley
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store
ASK A QUESTION ON AIR: https://www.joannawhaley.com/live 

REFERENCES: 

Mandate for Leadership: Project 2025.” Project 2025, Heritage Foundation, 2024, pg 4,62,258,284,582,583-5, 644. Taylor N.T. Brown, and Kerith J. Conron. "Conversion Therapy and LGBT Youth." The Williams Institute, 2018. Human Rights Watch. "License to Harm: Legal Discrimination Against LGBT People in the US." Human Rights Watch, 2018. Southern Poverty Law Center. "Hatewatch: Anti-LGBT." Southern Poverty Law Center, 2020.Human Rights Watch. "License to Harm: Legal Discrimination Against LGBT People in the US." Human Rights Watch, 2018 Currah, Paisley. "The Transgender Rights Imaginary." Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law, vol. 4, no. 4, 2003, pp. 705-720. Mallory, Christy, and Brad Sears. "Evidence of Housing Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: An Analysis of Complaints Filed with State Enforcement Agencies, 2008-2014." The Williams Institute, 2016. Badgett, M. V. Lee. "The Economic Cost of Stigma and the Exclusion of LGBT People: A Case for Inclusion." The World Bank, 2014.Richards, Hannah. "Elon Musk Criticizes Gender-Affirming Care in Interview with Jordan Peterson." USA Today, 22 July 2024. Deism." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 21 Jul. 2023, Armstrong, Karen. A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Ballantine Books, 1993. "Deism." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.  Israel, Jonathan I. Radical Enlightenment: Philosophy and the Making of Modernity 1650-1750. Oxford University Press, 2001. Shanks, Andrew. What Is Truth? From the Academy to the Vatican. Routledge, 2001. Buckley, Michael J. At the Origins of Modern Atheism. Yale University Press, 1987.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Today on the show Joanna talks on the weekend of the Super Bowl about how sports can teach us to fight for our lives. Joanna discusses the odd experience of living life as a woman and having experience in testosterone rich sports! 

GET FURTHER SUPPORT FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/support
JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/JoannaWhaley
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store

REFERENCES: Edman, Elizabeth M. Queer Virtue: People Revitalize Christianity. Fortress Press, 2023. Pg 25. Michael P. Nichols and Martha B. Straus. The Lost Art of Listening: How to Improve Communication and Connection in Your Relationships. 2021. Pg 229-230. Nouwen, Henri J.M. Henri Nouwen: Selected Writings. Orbis Books, 2005. Pg 25

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

On this live episode. Joanna speaks at a church that offers an alternative service for those who either have special needs or identities that make them feel unsafe in standard church services. In this short episode we discuss the faith of a mustard seed and how it can keep us going and produce good work in the face of a nation that is fighting agains our existence. 

GET FURTHER SUPPORT FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/support
JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/JoannaWhaley
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we dive deep into a thought-provoking exploration of societal and spiritual decline, beginning with a powerful passage from Isaiah 1:21-23. The prophet's lamentation over a "faithful city" turned into a "prostitute" offers a striking parallel to America's own struggles with justice, righteousness, and corruption. How have we gone from a society built on ideals of justice to one where "rulers are rebels" and “partners with thieves”?

Join us for a conversation that connects ancient wisdom with modern-day struggles and challenges us to reflect on where we’ve gone wrong—and how we might find our way back.

GET FURTHER SUPPORT FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/support
JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/JoannaWhaley
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store

REFERENCES: Holy Misogyny: Why the Sex and Gender Conflicts in the Early Church Still Matter. Bloomsbury, 2014. Pg 118. Maria Wiering. (2025, January 20). Wisdom, strength, humility focus of Inauguration Day prayers for President Trump. OSV News.Donald J. Trump. (2025, January 20). Defending Women from Ideology and Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth in the Federal Government. The White House. Concordia Publishing House. (2013). The Lutheran study Bible for youth ministry. Concordia Publishing House. Whaley. J (2025, January 26) Gender and Jesus: A Theological Response to the White House’s Executive Order on Gender, joannawhaley.com.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

This week we replay one of the most famous episodes of the podcast.  We pick up todays episode with a conversation of a mother of a trans/non-binary child. Beverly St. Amour is Joanna's chosen sister and has been parenting a non-binary child after being raised in fundamental evangelical Christianity. Today on the show we explore what it looks like to retell the Christian narrative of Jesus from a feminine viewpoint. We will discuss  what Faith would look like if we would allow ourselves to see Jesus as female.

GET FURTHER SUPPORT FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/support
JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/JoannaWhaley
MERCH FROM THE HOST: https://www.joannawhaley.com/store


REFERENCES:
Richard Rohr, Universal Christ (New York, NY, Convergent Books, 2019) pg 16,20,70,71. Chris Greenough, Queer Theologies: The Basics (London, UK, Routledge Publishing, 2019) pg 54. Lutheran Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version (Minneapolis, MN, Augsburg Fortress, 2009) Is 40:31, Matt 19:28, Romans 12:2
Titus 3:5. Troy M. Troftgurben, How Not to Fall for the Next Big Jesus Expose (Delhi, NY, Lutheran Forum: ALPB, 2018) pg 46. John Bowker, World Religions: Great Faiths Explored and Explained (New York, NY, Penguin Random House, 2021) pg 155, 179, 184, 332, 333. Melissa M. Kelley, Grief: Contemporary Theory and Practice of Ministry (Minneapolis, MN, Fortress Press, 2010) pg 23.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Today on the show we discuss why Christianity is obsessed with the oppression of the LGBTQ+ community, and how to move beyond it.

GET FURTHER SUPPORT: https://www.joannawhaley.com/support
JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/JoannaWhaley
DONATE TO THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donate
ASK A QUESTION ON AIR: https://www.joannawhaley.com/live

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Today on this show Joanna discusses on the eve of the four year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection how to look at America and evangelical love for Trump from a the lens of queer theology.

GET FURTHER SUPPORT: https://www.joannawhaley.com/support
JOIN THE PATREON COMMUNITY: https://patreon.com/JoannaWhaley
DONATE TO THE SHOW: https://www.joannawhaley.com/donate
ASK A QUESTION ON AIR: https://www.joannawhaley.com/live

Support the show