Today's episode is an interview with writer, podcaster, life coach, teacher, LGBTQ+ advocate and queer theology enthusiast, Mike Maeshiro. Mike is also the founder of Numa, an organisation that supports people recovering from religious toxicity.

Mike has a powerful quote that summarises what he stands for: “HUMANS MATTER MORE THAN THEOLOGY.” The ethos behind that quote comes across loud and clear in this conversation as we take a deep dive into the human experience of being gay.

We also discuss other things over the course of the conversation, such as Mike’s writing, how he stays emotionally regulated in the midst of horrendous bullying and backlash, why he currently uses the word pastor in his bio, and a look into his journey into self-acceptance and embracing every aspect of who he is.

For more of Mike’s work, be sure to check out his podcast, Confessions of a Reformer, which can be found on all the platforms where you get your podcasts. You can also check out his website, mikemaeshiro.com. He is also active on Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok and YouTube.

This podcast is edited and produced by Stephen Garton. All the music is original work composed for the show by Stephen Garton.