In this episode we jump into the revolutionary act of finding and expressing joy within marginalized communities. While society often highlights the struggles and trauma of being queer or disabled or otherwise marginalized, we discuss why celebrating our joy as members of marginalized communities is a form of resistance against systems designed to break us.From the idea of whole-person media representation to finding joy in our beautiful and vibrant communities, this episode isn't "inspiration," it's reality. It is also a reminder that joy is hope. Remember, to like, subscribe, comment, and share if this podcast is supporting your in your journey of allyship or any other way. We want to hear from you! Have a question? DM us or fill out this google form.Episode Timestamps00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to the Affirming Practice Podcast01:00 – Episode Overview: Exploring Queer Joy and Marginalized Identities01:25 – Defining Joy vs. Happiness: A Theological and Biblical Context04:45 – The Science of Joy: Psychological Definitions and Embracing Emotional Nuance07:03 – Can Joy and Sorrow Coexist? Finding Contentment Amidst Grief09:07 – Why Celebrating Joy in Marginalized Communities Matters12:35 – Queer Joy as a Site of Resistance Against Oppressive Systems14:06 – Redefining Disability: Representation, Media Tropes, and Claiming Community19:26 – Book Discussion: Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha20:22 – Sobriety Joy: Breaking Stigmas and Building Vibrancy in Recovery Communities22:54 – The Importance of Whole-Person Representation vs. Dangerous Stereotypes24:55 – Understanding Gender Euphoria, Trans Identity, and Expressing Gender Joy28:11 – Cisgender Privilege, Masculinity, and Reflecting on Gender Expression46:39 – Outro & Call to Action: Share Your Stories of Joy!

In this episode we discuss the power of language, the words we choose to keep, and the words we choose to let go, and our responsibilities as allies to use the language marginalized communities choose. Language is a dynamic social construct that continuously changes over time. We explore why we must listen when marginalized and minoritized folks reclaim or reject words and phrases. From the ethics of naming and not deadnaming to understanding culturally closed language this episode is about using speech to respect human dignity. Tune in to explore the idea of language and how "Anything about us, without us, is not for us." Remember to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments. We look forward to hearing from you soon!Timestamps:00:00 – The Power of Our Words00:35 – Moving Beyond Basic Safety01:53 – Ethics of Naming and Deadnaming05:22 – Language as a Social Construct08:34 – How Language Changes Over Time10:24 – Personal Boundaries in Micro-Societies13:25 – Labels and Social Engagement Expectations14:45 – Affirming Identity Through Proper Pronouns18:22 – Precision, Inclusivity, and Thriving Communities19:49 – Respecting Culturally Closed Language Boundaries21:25 – Navigating Reclaimed Slurs as Allies25:24 – Linguistic Shifts in Disability Community

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Welcome back to the Affirming Practice Podcast! In Episode 7 we discuss the concepts of power, privilege, and oppression and how they play a role in creating affirming environments. We discuss our own privilege and what it means to use our privilege to create a more affirming world. 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Affirming Practice Podcast 00:00:54 - Defining Privilege, Power, and Oppression 00:02:06 - Cultural and Religious Privilege in Everyday Life 00:05:02 - Intersectionality and Recognizing Social Location 00:05:58 - How Whiteness, Gender, and Neurodivergence (Autism/ADHD) Shape Healthcare and Job Hiring 00:09:00 - Bias in Resumes and Gender Disparities in the Workplace 00:12:47 - Cultivating Empathy by Listening to Different Experiences 00:14:17 - Hidden Privileges: Literacy, Affluence, and School Resources 00:16:54 - Systemic Inequity in Local Neighborhood Infrastructure 00:17:23 - Police Interactions and the Blue Envelope Project for Autism 00:18:47 - Navigating Dynamic Disabilities and Mobility Aids 00:20:15 - Parenting and Preparing Children for Identity Inequities 00:20:45 - Sizeism and Navigating Weight Bias in Medical Care 00:24:11 - Debunking Health Inequities and fatphobia as a Moral Judgment 00:25:54 - Choosing Education Over Willful Ignorance 00:26:37 - How to Constructively Use Your Privilege and "Pass the Mic" 00:28:53 - Using Institutional Privilege to Stand with Trans Youth and Marginalized Communities 00:33:20 - Proactive Inclusion and Wheelchair Etiquette 00:34:58 - Understanding "Isms" and Systemic Power Dynamics 00:37:23 - Recognizing Media Stereotypes, Internalized Oppression, and Historical Divides 00:42:01 - Put It Into Practice: Reflecting on Your Own Identities 00:43:26 - Audience Feedback and Closing RemarksAs always remember that you can be a part of the podcast by liking, commenting, or tagging us in videos with questions or comments and we'll engage with those contributions made in good faith. The link to submit questions anonymously is here.

This week we unpack some of the common understandings of intersectionality from Kimberle Crenshaw's 1989 perspective to MLK Jr, and Martin Niemoller. We examine how systems of power, privilege, and oppression intersect and discuss systems of power that cause inequality for marginalized people. 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Affirming Practice Podcast 00:00:54 - Defining Privilege, Power, and Oppression 00:02:06 - Cultural and Religious Privilege in Everyday Life 00:05:02 - Intersectionality and Recognizing Social Location 00:05:58 - How Whiteness, Gender, and Neurodivergence Shape Experiences 00:09:00 - Resume Bias and Gender Disparities in the Workplace 00:12:47 - Cultivating Empathy by Listening to Different Experiences 00:14:17 - Hidden Privileges: Literacy, Affluence, and School Resources 00:16:54 - Systemic Inequity in Local Neighborhood Infrastructure 00:17:23 - Police Interactions and the Blue Envelope Project for Autism 00:18:47 - Navigating Dynamic Disabilities and Mobility Aids 00:20:15 - Parenting and Preparing Children for Identity Inequities 00:20:45 - Sizeism and Navigating Weight Bias in Medical Care 00:24:11 - Debunking Health Myths and Weight as a Moral Judgment 00:25:54 - Choosing Education and Awareness Over Willful Ignorance 00:26:37 - How to Constructively Use Your Privilege and "Pass the Mic" 00:28:53 - Using Institutional Privilege to Stand with Marginalized Communities 00:33:20 - Proactive Inclusion and Wheelchair Etiquette 00:34:58 - Understanding "Isms" and Systemic Power Dynamics 00:37:23 - Internalized Oppression and Historical Divides 00:42:01 - Put It Into Practice: Reflecting on Your Own Identities 00:43:26 - Audience Feedback, Questions, and Closing RemarksTo submit questions visit this google form, or leave a comment on any of our platforms.

In this episode we cover why we still need LGBTQ+ pride in 2026 from both Casey Anne and Bob's perspectives and including data from the ACLU and HRC.

In Episode 5 of the Affirming Practice Podcast we dive into the idea of "blind -isms" including colorblind racism and the harm "I don't see you gender/orientation, I just see human" can do. Discover why allyship means actively choosing to see, validate, and celebrate people's lived experiences of intersectional identities. Whether you are looking to understand structural biases, learn more about identities different from your own, or figure out what allyship and building affirming spaces looks like in your life, this conversation is for you.Put It Into Practice: Have you ever been on the giving or receiving end of a "blind-ism"? What does it mean to you to be fully seen? Let us know in the comments below, or drop a question in our Google Form linked here: https://forms.gle/wEM9dbByuw8HQNr1A.00:00 - The Emotional Pain of Not Being Seen 01:02 - Welcome to the Podcast & Introduction to "Blind-isms" 01:51 - What is Colorblind Racism? (Eduardo Bonilla-Silva's Framework) 03:24 - Overcoming the "I Don't See Race" Mindset 04:28 - Why Gender Visibility Matters: Bathrooms, Pronouns & Dysphoria 06:43 - Challenging Cisnormative and Heteronormative Assumptions 08:13 - Storytime: A Church Conflict Over Pride Flags & Homophobia 11:10 - The Risks of LGBTQ+ Visibility & Street Harassment 13:15 - Finding Hope: The Importance of Visible Queer Adults 15:45 - "Pray the Hate Away" & Confronting Bigotry Online 16:59 - Dynamic Physical Disabilities & Invisible Illnesses 19:35 - Late-Diagnosed Neurodivergence (Adult Autism & ADHD) 23:04 - Sensory Processing and Environmental Awareness 26:20 - Demystifying Privilege: Why It's a Morally Neutral Fact 30:53 - Intersectionality: When Identity Makes Life Harder 32:40 - Put It Into Practice: Homework for the Comments! 34:14 - Final Thoughts: Celebrating Unbridled Queer Joy

In this episode we break down the idea of a social construct and how these "made up" ideas and societal ideals impact people's lives in real ways. From gender and sexuality to profession, race, and disability, social constructs shape our lives.Join us as we share personal stories about unpacking privilege, navigating safety, challenging harmful biases, and learning how questioning the constructs we are raised with is a vital step toward genuine allyship.00:00 - Introduction: What is a Social Construct?01:03 - Meet the Hosts: Dr. Casey Anne Brimmer & Pastor Bob Ierien 01:31 - Unpacking Personal Identities (Non-Binary & Pastoral) 04:30 - Do Identities Mean the Same Thing to Everyone? 05:37 - Respecting Pronouns & Navigating Personal Definitions 07:48 - A Deep Dive into Social Construction Theory 11:51 - Discussing Privilege and Safety in Society 15:02 - Chosen Identity vs. Inherent Identity 17:22 - Storytime: How Children Are Taught Social Constructs 19:22 - The Medical Model vs. The Social Model of Identity 23:16 - Language, Slang, and Sex as Social Constructs 25:20 - Race, History, and the Misuse of Scripture 28:40 - The Context of "Homosexuality" in Biblical Translations 34:04 - Real Implications: When Social Constructs Lead to Real Harm 37:12 - Experimenting with Identity Like Clothes 39:50 - Navigating Closets, Stereotypes, and Fear for Safety 44:02 - Privilege is Not a Right: Creating Safe Spaces in Community 47:50 - Free Speech, Actions, and Facing Consequences 49:16 - The Rewards of Being a Good Human 50:41 - Put it into Practice & Final Reflections Put it into practice: What questions do you have about gender, sexuality, disability, or other socially constructed identities? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, or use the link below to ask anonymously!https://forms.gle/tzdXkAFJDzkL4VfT6

Ready to move past "everyone is welcome"? In Episode 3 of The Affirming Practice Podcast, Dr. Casey Anne Brimmer and Pastor Bob Ierien dive into what it truly takes to build deeply affirming, accessible, and nurturing spaces for LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities.

Discover why passive hospitality is a low bar, how to stop treating marginalized individuals as logical afterthoughts, and the actionable steps you can take to make people feel truly integral to your community.

💬 Join the Conversation: What is a small thing an organization did that made a massive difference in how you felt included? Let us know in the comments!

👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into active allyship, intersectional identity, and building inclusive practices.

• 00:00 – Meet your hosts: Dr. Casey Anne Brimmer & Pastor Bob Ierien

• 00:58 – The Spectrum of Belonging: Guests vs. Integral community members

• 01:48 – Moving past the "low bar" of passive welcoming

• 04:55 – Proactive accessibility: Shoveling ramps & gender-inclusive language

• 08:58 – Passive vs. active harm reduction in organizations

• 11:50 – Welcoming vs. Inviting: Navigating social anxiety in new spaces

• 16:45 – Single adults, Ace/Aro visibility, and institutional exclusion

• 21:36 – The Riddle Scale of Homophobia: Moving from tolerance to nurturance

• 28:39 – Analyzing Sara Ahmed's On Being Included & dismantling institutional racism

• 34:58 – How to learn from marginalized communities without tokenizing them

• 41:30 – Who actually benefits from gender-neutral facilities?

  46:02 – Put It into Practice: Weekly reflection & closing thoughts

• LGBTQIA inclusion, active allyship, church accessibility, disability justice, Sara Ahmed On Being Included, Riddle Scale of Homophobia, gender inclusive bathrooms, creating welcoming communities, neurodiversity in community spaces.