Our first guest, Pastor Alex Sheppard-Witt, joins us in discussing healing holy harm, also known as religious harm, and building affirming faith spaces. While this episode focuses on Christian faith spaces we feel it is applicable to a broader range of settings. What healing looks like is up to you. What building affirming faith spaces looks like is up to you. Here we provide some guidance, some ideas, and our experiences to help faith communities choose active allyship and building affirming spaces. Thank you for being here.

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In this episode we discuss bystander intervention, understanding your own risk tolerance for intervening, and the role of intervention in allyship.

00:00:28 Episode Intro: Bias, Marginalization, & Allyship00:01:26 Host Introductions00:02:08 Personal Experiences with Bystander Interventions00:09:12 What Does Bystander Intervention Mean?00:10:23 Why Intervene at All?00:16:34 Acknowledging and Assessing Risk00:21:01 Safety Pins and Risk Considerations00:23:13 Example: Silent Witness Peacekeepers00:27:57 Factors to Consider When Deciding How to Intervene00:36:31 A Framework for Intervening00:38:23 Scenario 1: Preemptively Asking How to Intervene00:39:14 Scenario 2: Misgendering & Over-Apologizing00:42:09 Scenario 3: Restroom Harassment00:47:47 Putting It Into Practice00:50:57 Summary and Parting ThoughtsAs always let us know your thoughts in the comments or ask questions at this google link.

Sometimes being visibly affirming and willing to learn is a simple way to be an ally to marginalized and minoritized communities. What does that look like to you? In this episode, we jump in to discuss why we are visibly affirming in our roles as a teacher (Casey Anne) and pastor (Bob), and what that's looked like for us as we learn to navigate our own allyship to marginalized folks.

Want to ask a question and have it answered here on the podcast or on other social media? Click this external link to fill out the anonymous google form, DM us, or ask us in the comments!

00:00 - Introduction & Everyday Representation01:45 - Pedagogy of the Full Self in the Classroom02:43 - Creating Safe Spaces & Breaking Down Echo Chambers05:40 - Passing the Mic in Education & Allyship08:25 - The Difference Between an Ally and an Accomplice11:20 - A Pride Festival Moment: Finding "Micro" Labels13:26 - Using Privilege & Standing Up as Affirming Clergy19:05 - The Power of Seeing Yourself Represented21:25 - How Affirming Adults Protect LGBTQ+ Youth25:00 - Disability Justice & Realizing You Belong28:45 - Planting Seeds & Long-Term Impact31:00 - Practical Steps to Increase Everyday Representation37:10 - Signal Boosting Marginalized Voices39:00 - Holding Leaders Accountable for Diversity44:00 - Put It Into Practice: Actionable Questions for You

In this episode we discuss labels and why they matter as more than something to google for many members of the LGBTQ+ community. Focusing on terms related to gender and sexuality we explore the importance of our own labels to us as individuals and how other's communicating their own labels to us makes a difference. 00:00:00 – Preview & Introduction to Micro-labels00:01:12 – Welcome to the Affirming Practice Podcast & Host Introductions00:02:13 – Episode Overview: What's That Label?00:02:44 – Why Do Labels Matter? (Bridges vs. Barriers)00:05:47 – Personal Identity Labels, Positionality, and Safe Spaces00:08:55 – Descriptors vs. Slurs (Addressing "Cis" and Assigned Sex at Birth)00:11:31 – Broad Categories vs. Narrow Categories (Micro-labels)00:13:32 – Normalizing Pronouns and Challenging Gender Assumptions00:15:32 – Distinguishing Pronouns from Gender Identity00:16:54 – Unpacking Masculinities and Societal Expectations00:18:54 – Overcoming "Not Blank Enough" ("You Are You Enough")00:22:07 – Medicalization of Attraction & History of the Word "Homosexual"00:24:03 – The History, Complexity, and Reclaiming of the Word "Queer"00:25:57 – Understanding "Political Queerness"00:31:36 – Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Congregations & Language Intentions00:33:42 – Answering "What Does the Q Stand For in LGBTQ?"00:38:07 – Respecting Personal Names, Pronouns, and Nuance00:39:06 – What Is Gender-Affirming Care? (Medical, Therapy, and Cis Contexts)00:41:07 – Lived Reality vs. Ideology: Why "Transgenderism" Is Inaccurate00:42:53 – Sexual Orientation vs. Romantic Orientation (The Split Model of Attraction)00:45:24 – Diversity of Gender Experiences, Dysphoria vs. Euphoria00:47:15 – Polyamory & Relationship Models00:48:09 – Interconnected Oppressions: Why Gender and Orientation Are Grouped Together00:49:50 – Defining "Agender" and Questioning Gender Constructs00:52:32 – Self-Reflection on Evolving Language and Identities00:53:02 – Put It Into Practice & Closing Reiteration ("You Are You Enough")

In Episode 11 of the Affirming Practice Podcast we tackle the dreaded idea of "It's just a phase." with the perspective that phases are beautiful and real no matter how temporary. From queer identities to how we embrace our neurodivergences or who we are, phases are complex, messy, and constantly evolving beautiful chaos - yet always real and valid.

In this episode we discuss the harmful trope of telling people who they are is just a phase, and reframe phases as integral parts of human experiences and growth. Yes, even your cisgender heterosexual grandma has has a phase or two in her lifetime.

00:00 - Introduction: What a Beautiful Phase

01:14 - Host Introductions: Casey Anne Brimmer & Pastor Bob Ierien

02:26 - Icebreaker: What Phase Are You in Right Now?

03:14 - Navigating Self-Acceptance & Rebuilding

04:25 - Unpacking Past Phases: Conversion Therapy & Self-Discovery

05:41 - Vocation vs. True Self

07:42 - Rethinking Work-Life "Balance" & Dynamic Identities

12:25 - Intersectionality: You Are More Than Just One Thing

14:11 - Life’s Eras & "Just a Phase" Misconceptions

16:16 - Evolving Identities: From Naval Officer to Pastor

18:10 - Why Do People Fear Change & Complexity?

22:36 - Neurodivergence & Embracing the "Full Self" Phase

24:24 - Privilege, Cis-Normativity, and the Effort of Growth

In this episode we discuss disability unfiltered through our own experiences and provide resources for allies and disabled folks alike. Both Casey Anne and Bob discuss aspects of their disabilities and how they impact our day to day experiences with the world and both systems and institutions that aren't always disability friendly.

00:00 Introduction & Language of Disability00:27 Host Introductions01:09 Episode Overview: Disability, Allyship, and Ableism02:04 Scope and Categories of Disability02:28 The Social Model vs. Medical Model of Disability03:09 Identity-First vs. Person-First Language05:12 Dynamic and Invisible Disabilities08:00 Ambulatory Wheelchair Use & Fluctuating Needs10:45 Euphemisms and Language Choices13:15 Defining Ableism and Systemic Barriers16:30 Internalized Ableism & Personal Reflections21:10 Communicating and Accommodating Access Needs26:40 Practicing Authentic Disability Allyship32:15 Etiquette, Respect, and Avoiding Pity38:00 Building Accessible Environments and Systems44:30 Disability Affirmation in Faith Communities51:00 Challenging Microaggressions and Biases56:20 Practical Takeaways for Everyday Action1:00:15 Closing Thoughts and Outro

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!