We Were Christian Kids with Justin Randall and Calvin Arsenia

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) take a look back on the entire We Were Christian Kids journey since beginning the podcast in December. They reflect on why they started, what they've learned and where they are now. And they also have an announcement to make. We love you all!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) are joined by Mark Manning (@wednesday_midday_medley)! Mark is a radio DJ and producer for KKFI 90.1 FM, queer advocate, theatre artist and performer. He also leads a community garden program for schools in Kansas City, Kansas. They discuss both growing up in and leaving the church, creating art that directly counters bigotry, coming out of the closet and being an advocate for queer youth. We love this episode and you will too!!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) are joined by amazing guests Marley Allenbrand (@marleyann) and Anna Dimmel (@annadimmel). We talk about -- naturally -- Christian upbringings, both evangelical and Catholic. We also discuss coming out, doing it safely, and working toward healing internalized homophobia. Best of all, we hear all about Marley and Anna's beautiful relationship!!! AND (bonus) -- Anna interprets a dream for Calvin. This episode is very special!!!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) discuss being "gayvangelical," a term Calvin coined (we think, we didn't Google it). How is the coming out process, the finding of new community and the attempt to bring others into your understanding similar to the conversion experience for evangelicals? And can we be PROUD gayvangelicals? Maybe -- we might make shirts!!! We also dive into some emails and voicemails from our listeners. Yay!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) do the cringiest thing ever: they dive back into their super-Christian Facebook statuses from 2008, when they were seniors in high school and deeply brainwashed. This episode is hilarious if you like hearing what two nerds sound like!! They also dig into the background around each post... what they were probably thinking when they wrote each status. Praise God!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) are joined by the hilarious Max Crumm (@maxcrumm) in this delightful interview. They hear a new perspective: being a Christian kid but knowing it wasn't a good fit all along. Also! Worship leading, coming out, and what the church needs to do right now. This is fun!!!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) sit down with host of The Gayly Dose podcast, Helmut Domagalski (@helmut_smile)! They talk about his youth in the Church of Christ, his journey to coming out, and what it's like being a gay dad in 2021. We also discuss the beauty of being queer and the unique gift it affords us!! 

It's Pride month!!! So Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) are sharing their coming out stories in all their Christian-kid detail! They also discuss what "pride" means to them and how being their authentic selves has changed how they see the world. They are glad to be gay, baby!!!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) are joined by Anna Joy Walker, who grew up in a number of charismatic churches and went on to be a leader in ministry at an internationally-known 24/7 house of prayer and worship. She discusses trauma - largely religious - and the journey to recovering from traumatic experiences. We talk about a type of therapy called EMDR and how experiences from childhood are sometimes stored in the body until healed. Also: getting drunk in the Holy Spirit! This is a fascinating episode!!!

Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) and Calvin Arsenia (@calvinarsenia) talk about allll the things they were forbidden to do as Christian kids. Some were self-imposed (in Calvin's case) and some were off-limits by parental mandate. Harry Potter, Aladdin, Halloween, all non-Christian music and of course anything SEX related... we go down the list. See if you can relate!

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