
Found Family with MaryB. Safrit
Welcome to Found Family. Every Tuesday, I have honest conversations celebrating the creative ways our guests make community in their actual lives and providing tips about how you can do the same.
Episodes
191 episodes
Better Ways to Read the Bible (feat. Zach W. Lambert)
Today, Zach W. Lambert and I talk about embracing an expansive Christianity.Zach W. Lambert (he/him) is the lead pastor and founder of Restore, a church in Austin, Texas. Under his leadership, Restore has grown from a launch team o...
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47:52

Reconstructing Faith and Belonging in Queer Community (feat. Pastor Ray Low)
Today, Ray Low and I talk about welcoming diverse perspectives on the Bible.Pastor Ray graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree and is currently serving in New York City as Director of Communit...
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1:00:29

What Does Hope Look Like Right Now? (feat. Nia. Chiaramonte)
Today, Nia Chiatamonte is back on Found Family to talk about her new memoir, ...
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56:31

Centering Our Most Vulnerable Neighbors (feat. Karen González)
Today, Karen González and I talk about practicing generosity without a savior complex. Karen González (she/her) is a speaker, writer, storyteller, and immigrant advocate, who herself immigrated from Guatemala as a child. Karen is a form...
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48:11

Contemplative Spirituality for Queer People (feat. Matt Nightingale)
Today, Matt Nightingale and I talk about why we need queer only spaces for spiritual conversations. Matt Nightingale (he/him) is a pastor, musician, speaker, writer, and spiritual director from San Francisco’s North Bay Area. He is ...
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50:06

Reimagining Church (feat. Eugene Kim)
Today, Eugene Kim and I talk about practicing mutuality in church communities. Eugene Kim (he/him) is an ordained minister with over 25 years of experience in local church ministry. However, recognizing the need to rethink tradition...
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44:29

Releasing Certainty and Embracing Mystery (feat. Cara Meredith)
Today, Cara Meredith and I talk about what church camp gets right (and wrong) about community.Cara Meredith (she/her) is the author of Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation (Broadl...
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38:37

Decolonizing Our Way Toward Holistic Belonging (feat. Rohadi Nagassar)
Today, Rohadi Nagassar and I talk about the challenges of creating the belonging we crave. Rohadi (he/him) is a writer predominantly engaging the topics of decolonizing and deconstructing Christianity. Discover Rohadi’s latest book,...
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53:39

Losing Our Good Christian Reputations and Finding Ourselves (feat. Aimee Byrd)
CW: spiritual abuseToday, Aimee Byrd and I talk about finding the courage to admit we were wrong. Aimee (she/her) is an author, speaker, blogger, podcaster and former coffee shop owner. Aimee is the author of several...
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49:00

How Stories Shape Our Gender and Identity (feat. Shannon TL Kearns)
Today, Shannon TL Kearns (he/him) and I talk about the complex journey to understand masculinityA former fundamentalist who became the first openly transgender man ordained to the Old Catholic priesthood, Shannon TL Kearns believes in th...
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56:09

How to Know What You Want (feat. Tracey Gee)
Today, Tracey Gee and I talk about the unexpected vulnerability of naming what we want. Tracey Gee (she/her) is a certified leadership coach and consultant dedicated to guiding individuals toward transformative self-awar...
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53:06

Reclaiming Deconstruction from White Dudes (feat. R. Scott Okamoto)
Today, Scott and I talk about his journey out of Christian higher education.Scott Okamoto (he/him) is a 4th generation Japanese American (sansei) writer, musician, and podcaster. He grew up in a conservative evangelical household but fou...
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1:00:26

Queer Theology Is for Everyone (feat. Rev. Brandan Robertson)
Today, Brandan Robertson and I talk about navigating the spectrum of queer faith in community. Rev. Brandan Robertson (he/him) is a noted author, activist, and public theologian, dedicated to exploring the intersections of spiritual...
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53:35

What to Do When You're Not Seeing Progress (feat. Ashley Nadine Lopez)
Today, Ashley and I talk about finding community that fuels you. Ashley Nadine Lopez (she/her) is the founder of Life Curious Women, a thriving platform empowering millennial and Gen Z women leaders to build confidence, pursue their...
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49:45

From Othered to Belonging (feat. Jenai Auman)
Today, Jenai Auman and I talk about reclaiming our agency after experiencing othering and religious trauma. Jenai Auman (she/her) is a Filipina American writer, artist, and author of Othered. She draws from her years in chu...
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52:16

Looking for Belonging? Try the Church Basement (feat. Ian Morgan Cron)
Today, Ian Morgan Cron (he/him) and I talk about why the twelve steps are for everyone.Ian is a bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, Episcopal priest, and the host of the popular podcast Typology. His books in...
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53:50

Let's Talk About Mental Health (feat. Ayana Lage)
CW: Ayana and I discuss some tender topics today, including mental health, pregnancy loss, and postpartum psychosis. If you are struggling, please reach out to a hotline such as the NAMI Helpline
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44:06

Mothering in Found Family (feat. Amber Flannery Field)
Today, Amber Flannery Field (she/her) and I talk about the journey from nihilism to hopeful action and community.Amber is a New York City tour guide. New York Magazine named her among their "things we love about New York," and CBC Radio ...
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49:14

The Art of Showing Up as Yourself (feat. Emma Claye)
Today, Emma Claye (she/her) and I talk about persistence in the midst of rejection. You can follow Emma on social media @emmaclaye. Listen to Emma's music wherever you stream music. Join the
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49:13

How to Deepen Our Friendships (feat. David Jay)
Today, David Jay (he/him) and I discuss how we can push back on the systems that make us feel lonely. Get your copy of
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1:08:06

Healing Ourselves Through Inclusive Storytelling (feat. Natalie Naudus)
Today, Natalie Naudus (she/her) and I talk about the beauty and necessity of queer stories. You can follow Natalie on Instagram, TikTok, and X @natalienaudus. Get your copy of Gay the Pray Away wherever you get books or aud...
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47:25

How to Make Friends as an Adult (feat. Kat Vellos)
Today, Kat Vellos (she/her) and I discuss very practical ways to make friends outside of church. You can sign up for Kat's newsletter at weshouldgettogether.com. Here are the links for Kat'...
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50:33

8 Hacks for Fun and Sustainable Get Togethers
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 Hospitalit...
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14:15
